Anxiety is Rising, Can You Feel it?

Ann McCarthy | 24 November, 2021

🩺 Conventional Medicine Approach

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates that 40 million American adults (18% of the population) have an anxiety disorder.

But more people feel it. A 2019 American Psychiatric Association (APA) survey showed that 68% of people polled felt “extremely and somewhat anxious” most of the time.

Possible Causes

- Stress: long working hours, long commutes, unemployment, money problems, losing someone close to you, feeling lonely or isolated
- Traumatic life experiences
- Genetics/family history: can lead to certain traits that can make worry worse
- Problems with serotonin production
- Too much alcohol intake or drug use
- Lots of caffeine or sugar
- Hormone fluctuations: thyroid problems, pregnancy, PMS or menopause

Conventional Treatments

- Medications: SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), Buspirone (serotonergic), and sedatives like benzodiazepines.

- Therapy: usually cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) which helps neutralize the anxious thoughts.

- Mindfulness: generally meditation is recommended

🌿 Integrative + Functional Medicine Approach

The focus here is really digging for the root cause, which can be very different for each person. That doesn't mean conventional medicines should be avoided if they are needed. They can help acutely while you work to find and address the root cause. It can take a significant amount of time and medication as a bridge. Here is a list of some places to consider searching.

- Deep breathing, yoga, and acupuncture

- Exercise: high intensity interval training (HIIT) is best

- Focus on food and supplements: foods high in magnesium, zinc, the B vitamins, calcium and omega-3s

- Fill up on fat: increase the amount of healthy fats in your diet to provide fuel for your brain (MCT oil, coconut oil, ghee, avocados, egg yolks, macadamia nuts)

- Fix your circadian rhythm: get 7-9 hours of regular sleep each night, normal schedule for meals, regular sleep/wake cycles, watch the sunrise and sunset

- Socialize and volunteer in the community

Integrative Therapies

- Deep breathing, yoga, and acupuncture

- Exercise: high intensity interval training (HIIT) is best

- Focus on food and supplements: foods high in magnesium, zinc, the B vitamins, calcium and omega-3s

- Fill up on fat: increase the amount of healthy fats in your diet to provide fuel for your brain (MCT oil, coconut oil, ghee, avocados, egg yolks, macadamia nuts)

- Fix your circadian rhythm: get 7-9 hours of regular sleep each night, normal schedule for meals, regular sleep/wake cycles, watch the sunrise and sunset

- Socialize and volunteer in the community

🔮Hippie Medicine Approach

Here, I share some crazy stuff from a wide range of sources and places. If any of it resonates with you, great. If not, ignore it and throw it out.

What is anxiety and why is it so prevalent? Some think it’s really quite simple. It's the simultaneous interaction between two states – danger and powerlessness.

The expression of danger is felt when headed into a frightening or unknown situation. While at the same time feeling powerless, helpless and having no control.

When both of these are active, the individual can no longer think clearly - thus anxiety.

Anxiety is thought to come from distrust in the natural flow and process of life.

A great affirmation: I love and approve of myself and I trust in the process of life. I am safe.