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‘ Don’t worry be happy’ is easier said than done, for anxiety spares no person. Every one of us has, at some point or the other, experienced worry and anxiety — a gnawing feeling in the pit of the stomach that crops up for a brief period or hovers like a cloud over your mind. Unchecked and uncontrolled, anxiety can even drive a person to the brink of depression. It can hamper day-to-day activities.Symptoms Excessive worry is a key
symptom of anxiety. But there are many little tell-tale signals that
can indicate the onset of anxiety. These may include:
Irrationally irritable behaviour: Worries have a low patience level and little things can pre-empt bouts of anger. A missing comma becomes enough reason to fire the steno. Out of control: You feel overwhelmed with the burden of your duties and responsibilities. Being procrastinating: Just keep on thinking about your problems you end by doing nothing to better the situation. Instead of taking quick decisions and swift actions, you spend time deliberating over them. And unable to actually work on your problems you begin to feel guilty which causes you to worry and sets off the viscous circle. There’s no time to relax: Unable to set your problems aside, you can’t remember the last time that you relaxed. Your worries cast a constant shadow over you, keeping you on the edge. Not enough sleep: Inadequate sleep, waking up in the middle of the night or staying up until the wee hours of morning are all alarm signals. Erratic eating habits: Either you binge or have switched off food completely. Anxious students often complain of drastic weight changes during examination days. Addiction trap: Turing to alcohol, cigarettes or finding succour in anti-depressants is common among people suffering from anxiety. Anxiety also leads to irrational patterns like compulsive gambling or shopping. Check your blood pressure: Anxious people often complain of high blood pressure, stiff muscles, headaches and vague aches and pains. Among most people,
anxiety is non-clinical. It’s a temporary state that dissipates over
time. Clinical anxiety, on the other hand, can develop into phobias,
obsessive-compulsive syndrome and post-traumatic stress. 0Clinical
anxiety requires medical treatment. If unchecked it can become deep
rooted and have serious repercussions.
Ordinary or non-clinical anxiety is due to circumstance and disappears within a matter of time. As one readjusts to the changed circumstances, gains control over the anxiety-producing environment and comes to terms with altered relationship equations, anxiety melts away. Herbal help Herbal remedies like kava and chamomile tea also soothe frayed nerves. Kava is essentially a muscle relaxant and is also recommended for menstrual cramps. It also helps to reduce anxiety-related to menopause. It is a natural remedy for stress, nervousness and over-worked psyches. It produces both physical and psychological relaxation responses. It is available in a tablet form. Kava is not habit forming. It calms the nervous system without interfering with mental alertness. However, if you are already taking antidepressants or taking any medications that affect the central nervous system you should consult your ayurved expert before using kava. Chamomile is an herb, which has a soothing and a sedating effect on the body. It helps calm frayed nerves and drives away anxiety. You get chamomile tea in certain shops that keep herbal teas. It is also known for its antispasmodic effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It is not habit forming nor is it toxic. However, some people can be allergic to it. So use it with caution. Avoid it completely if you are allergic to it. Just one cup of brewed tea should help calm your frayed nerves. Eat, sleep and meditate Nutrition habits and
sleeping pattern can also help combat anxiety. People suffering from
anxiety need to maintain a special diet, which emphasises on replacing
nutrients lost during stressful periods. Anxiety-ridden patients often
eat adequate food – but all of the wrong type like refined and junk
food. This creates stress on the system, as do sugary and fried foods.
Drugs like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol do more harm than good. Once
this drug induced sense of well being fades away, reality seems much
harsher and anxiety increases. Sleep your fears away. Sleep gives the
body various metabolism much needed respite. The body gets time to
recoup its defences and refurbish energy. Severe sleep deprivation can
lead to psychosis. Have time in your daily schedule for adequate hours
of sleep. If unable to sleep try grandmother’s remedy like a glass
of warm milk at bedtime. Try doing a strenuous bout of physical
activity that will tire you to sleep (though not in late evening, the
adrenalin may keep you awake). Yoga and meditation techniques also
help in smoothening frayed nerves. Pressures and tensions are a part
of life, but staying calm through them is living life!
The writer is is a nutritionist. She treats obesity and related health disorders online . She can be reached at ask@health-total.com / www.health-total.com Foods that help handle anxiety
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