A wellness approach to treating anxiety - Bangor Daily News (Maine, USA)

Dr. Michael Noonan

Anxiety is becoming increasingly common, as are the drugs prescribed for it. Like any complex health problem, anxiety is best seen as a condition that has many causes.
It appears that while there are hereditary tendencies toward anxiety, for most of us it does not become a problem unless triggered, typically by our lifestyles. While it is quite common — 18 percent of the adult population is affected by it every year — only about 4 percent of the population is severely impacted by the disease.
Anxiety sometimes is described as an imbalance in the chemistry of the brain. The biggest influence on our brain chemistry is our diet. A healthy brain balance is supported by — this should be a surprise to no one — a healthy diet. Highly processed foods, artificial flavorings and preservatives, crops raised on chemicals instead of fertile soil and animals raised on grains instead of their natural foods all affect our brains. This especially is true of sugar, which causes a blood sugar “spike” and then a “crash” that stresses our systems, including the brain.
The dietary recommendations for anxiety are the same for diabetes, heart disease, obesity, etc. Eat whole, minimally processed, preferably organic foods and avoid or at least limit “non-foods,” such as soda, chips, ice cream and pastries.
Of course, chronic stress is a huge trigger for anxiety. Over time, the effects of stress build up in the body; if it is not released somehow, it can become a problem. Exercise is one of the best ways to address this problem; just walking 30 minutes per day helps. Doing just the opposite — sitting quietly, without the computer or TV on, for 5 minutes, then gradually working your way up to 10 minutes or more — can go a long way toward easing this build up of stress and anxiety.
On the treatment side, plenty of wellness options are available. In my experience, acupuncture is one of the most effective. There are many different approaches in acupuncture, ranging from using several needles throughout the body to using only a few select points or even treating only ear points. Auriculotherapy, acupuncture to the ears, has been increasingly used by the military with good results.
Not every patient reacts the same. Sometimes, a few styles have to be tried before the patient gets the full benefit.
There also are herbs used to control anxiety. One of the key benefits of herbals is the fact that they do not have serious side effects, like anti-anxiety medications. Their downside is poor quality control. In a recent report, the attorney general of New York had “off the shelf” herbal supplements tested from stores including Walmart, Target and GNC. A shocking 80 percent of the supplements had none of the active ingredients listed on the bottle. Contaminants also were found in the supplements. This is why I do not recommend buying herbals at a local store. I use a company that has their products extensively tested for quality and to ensure the dosage is consistent, and they provide information and training on proper usage, including drug interactions.
There is natural, drug-free help for many, if not most, anxiety sufferers. In my experience, the most severe cases seem to respond best to medication, but the majority of patients can control their symptoms naturally, with lifestyle changes and some wellness-based care.

http://bangordailynews.com/2015/05/21/health/blogs-and-columns/a-wellness-approach-to-treating-anxiety/