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Have you ever tried anxiety medications? Some people find them to be helpful and others find they’re more trouble than they’re worth. Either way, you can expect to experience some side effects – especially if you take anxiety medication regularly. With holistic anxiety management, you learn how to overcome the illness by healing yourself as a whole person; holistic anxiety management focuses on healing all factors and symptoms, and not just the physical ones.
Side effects of anxiety medication
Depending on the type of anxiety you suffer from, you may be on antidepressants, benzodiazepines, buspirone, hydroxyzine and/or beta blockers. Each type of medication has its own set of risks, benefits and potential side effects. And some anti-anxiety medications can be very addictive.
But in reality, if you’re diagnosed with anxiety, your doctor may start you on an antidepressant first. For anxiety, the antidepressants that are most commonly prescribed are called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). They help the body make serotonin, which helps regulate mood. Common SSRIs include Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Paxil, and Lexapro.
Side effects include:
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Sexual problems
For some people, the benefits outweigh the side effects, and the decision to take medication is a no-brainer. But what if you could get the anti-anxiety benefits without the side effects?
What is a holistic approach to anxiety?
Anxiety can have an impact on your entire life, from your mental to physical health. You know how you get queasy when you’re feeling super anxious? Or how you feel your heart racing when moments are tense? So it should come as no surprise that your physical and mental health are intertwined.
Holistic anxiety management involves treating the entire body to help bring yourself back to a state of good health.
It’s about restoring vitamins and minerals to healthy levels, training the mind to live in the present moment and getting all the brain-boosting effects of exercise.
Benefits of a holistic approach to anxiety
There are many benefits of a holistic anxiety management but first, let’s address the elephant in the room. The holistic approach is more work than popping a pill. But if you can commit to the work, you will reap more benefits than you ever imagined.
The following are a few benefits of a holistic approach to anxiety.
- Immediate results – Whether you choose a holistic or medicinal approach, you aren’t going to cure your anxiety overnight. But with holistic approaches like exercise and meditation, you’ll see some results immediately. This is because both result in an immediate increase in feel-good chemicals. Stick with it and the benefits will only get better over time.
- Total transformation – If you adopt a holistic approach to anxiety, you’ll address underlying issues like nutritional deficiencies that could be impacting all areas of your life. The holistic approach to anxiety management will help you restore your body to a state of wellness.
How to adopt holistic anxiety management
Here are some quick and easy tips to help you get started on a holistic approach to anxiety management.
- Pay attention – Become aware of your anxiety triggers and face them head-on. If you know something triggers you, ask yourself why that might be. The more aware you are, the more likely you will be to overcome your anxiety.
- Take care of yourself – The body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to function properly. In order to ensure you’re getting the right nutrients, eat a varied diet filled with fruits and vegetables. Avoid drinking too much caffeine and alcohol because these things can worsen anxiety.
- Mediate – Meditation helps train your mind to live in the present moment, which can help alleviate the source of anxiety for many people. If you think about it, we’re usually most anxious about things that have happened or things that have yet to happen.
Whether you choose medicinal or holistic, expect it to take time to get your anxiety under control fully. With holistic anxiety management, you may not see some immediate benefits, but stick with it and you’re likely to see lasting benefits that help put anxiety in the rearview mirror.
