Did you know that the medications used to treat anxiety and depression can be as addictive as heroin or cannabis?
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders in today's society. For the sufferer, it can often be a crippling condition and can impact immensely on their health, their relationships as well as their overall well-being.
Anxiety is a broad umbrella term and can include but is not limited to:
- Phobias
- Panic attacks
- Obsessive-compulsive disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder as well as
- Generalized anxiety disorders.
In terms of treatment, sufferers commonly choose to either do nothing about it or resort to pharmaceutical means which in turn, can adversely affect their health and sanity.
Commonly prescribes drugs such as Valium, Xanax and Ativan are able to help exert a calming effect by boosting the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter in the brain.
Activation of GABA will trigger the release of dopamine - another neurotransmitter, which plays an important role in behaviour and cognition, voluntary movement, sleep, mood, attention, learning and memory. Dopamine is also responsible for regulating the "reward pathways" such as feelings of punishment and sexual gratification.
Studies haves shown that people with higher levels of dopamine in their brain tend to be more prone to addictive behaviours.
It is alarming how in today's society, medication is fast becoming the preferred treatment method for people with anxiety, depression and other mental health related disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder.
Something that is also quite disturbing, is how much easier it is to obtain prescribed drugs rather than illicit drugs for the purpose of satisfying addiction.
In lieu of this, as a natural therapist, these are my suggestions for how you can combat anxiety without the need to medicate:
1. Exercise and Diet.
Whatever happened to "the good old days" when Doctors would prescribe exercise and diet?
Exercising three times a week for 30 minutes at a time, with enough effort to raise a sweat will help to increase the level of serotonin and endorphin in the body. These are your body's natural "feel-good" chemicals which prescribed drugs seek to imitate and activate.
It is also important to be eating plenty of raw fruits and vegetables as part of your daily diet rather than rely on processed and manufactured foods.
2. Natural Therapies.
Acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage and meditation are great ways to help calm your mental and nervous system so that you are better able to deal with any anxiety and/or stress.
While acupuncture can help to stimulate the body's natural energy flow (Chi), it is also beneficial in treating anxiety and depression as it can help to restore harmony within the body.
Likewise, meditation is a wonderful way to become more relaxed and grounded, which helps you to deal more effectively with stress.
Massage is a great way to release the physical tension that builds up in your body, and combined with aromatherapy can be most beneficial on a physical, emotional and mental level.
3. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Behavioural Therapy and Hypnotherapy.
Despite the popularity of drugs for anxiety disorder, these conventional methods of treatment are simple and effective ways of teaching someone how they can deal with anxious situations through identifying triggers and teaching the person safe and immediate methods of coping with the situation at hand.
For more information about any of the above mentioned natural therapies and also hypnotherapy, please visit our website: www.sydneyremedialmassage.com.au.
Yours in health until next time!
Please note: We appreciate that anxiety can be a very serious disorder for some people. All information contained in this article should be used as a guide only - please seek appropriate medical advice and consultation before commencing and/or discontinuing any currently prescribed medications.
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