Natural Remedies for Anxiety & Depression

Are you tired of fighting anxiety and depression with minimal relief from medications? Learn why medications don’t always work. Discover possible causes and natural remedies for anxiety and depression.

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health conditions. In fact, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Anxiety affects more than 18% of adults American. Sadly, these conditions are not reserved for adults. Approximately 20% of our teen population will experience depression before reaching adulthood. Shockingly, 1 in 3 persons between the ages of 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder. There are gaps in treatment approaches and medications may not be the best treatment option. Learn the possible causes and more natural remedies for depression and anxiety.

Know All Your Treatment Options

It is vital to know all treatment options in order to make a well-informed decision. Psychiatric medications are often accompanied by undesired side effects. They also have long-term effects when taken for longer periods of time. Many people often experience serious withdrawal symptoms when attempting to taper off medications for anxiety and depression. You should consider that most physicians typically prescribe medications to treat symptoms rather than treating the cause.

Our Environment May Contribute to Anxiety and Depression?

Your environment includes everything around you or outside of ‘you’. This includes every aspect of nature and the society around you, and how you interact with both. Genetics is directly related to the genes you’ve inherited. This means that certain conditions may ‘run in the family. Both influence episodes of depression and anxiety in people of all ages. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on environmental causes for depression and anxiety. Let’s take a look at a few things within our environment that can have an impact on our mental health.

Chemicals Are Invading Our Health

Synthetic chemicals, such as food additives and preservatives, pesticides, many medications and hormones, and byproducts are present in food and infiltrate our environment. These chemicals are invading the health of Americans at unprecedented rates. There are also non-chemical sources of environmental stress that we encounter. This includes natural catastrophic events, noise pollution, and electrical pollution natural disasters. While we have much less, if any, control over these non-chemical causes, we do have control over the influence of synthetic chemicals when it concerns our mental and physical health.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) recognizes the relationship between environmental pollutants and depression. It is already known that air and water pollution can have serious physiological consequences such as cancer and birth certificate. Many persons believe that pollution in our environment also plays a significant role in our mental health.

Natural Remedies to Help with Anxiety and Depression

Food plays a significant role in overall health. Antioxidants help to prevent cell damage. So it’s important to consume a diet high in antioxidants.

• Brazil nuts may improve mood by reducing inflammation because they are high in selenium. Inflammation is often higher in those suffering from a mood disorder, such as anxiety. Other nuts and vegetables, such as mushrooms and soybeans, are also an excellent source of selenium.
• Vitamin E is an antioxidant. Low levels of Vitamin E may lead to depression. A few foods with high Vitamin E content may include, sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, red sweet pepper, turnip greens, mango, and kiwi.
• Fatty fish are high in Omega-3, which has a strong relationship with cognitive function and mental health. Omega-3 rich foods, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and trout, provide EPA and DHA. These two fatty acids regulate neurotransmitters, reduce inflammation, and promote health brain function.
• Vitamin D is believed to be linked to mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Taking a Vitamin D supplement may help to improve mood and reduce symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder.

Food Plays a Significant Role in Overall Health

• Eggs are more than just a source of protein. They contain all the essential amino acids needed for growth and development. They also contain tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical neurotransmitter in the brain that helps to regulate mood, sleep, memory, and behavior.
• Turmeric is an Indian and South-East Asian spice. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin may help to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress that often occurs in people suffering from anxiety and depression. Curcumin may also increase DHA in the body, which can help to reduce anxiety.
• Chamomile tea has been used for years as an antiflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and relaxant. Users believe that the flavonoids present in chamomile help to reduce symptoms of anxiety.
• Green tea has been touted for years for it’s many benefits to both mental and physical health. Green tea’s active ingredient is an amino acid called theanine. Theanine offers and anti-anxiety and calming effect and may help to increase the production of serotonin and dopamine.

Mental Health Conditions

Mental health conditions may also be due to causes other than an imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain. Many people have been treated by environmental health physicians for Candidiasis (candida overgrowth). Candidiasis symptoms often mimic conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast that lives in your mouth and gut. Its purpose is to assist with digestion and nutrient absorption. Candidiasis is a very common condition and occurs when there is an overgrowth of candida in the body. The symptoms of Candidiasis include brain fog, mood swings, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, depression, constipation, bloating, skin problems or rashes, vaginal infections, allergies, refined sugar and carbohydrate cravings, difficultly concentrating, and lack of ability to focus.

Symptoms of Candidiasis

Seek an evaluation if you’re experiencing many of the symptoms of Candidiasis. If candida is the cause of your symptoms, then all the medicine in the world will not change your symptoms. Treatment for Candidiasis involves killing the candida and eliminating the host, the environment that candida thrives in. This means incorporating a strict diet that focuses on eliminating refined sugars and yeast. Medications, such as Nystatin can help to reduce the overgrowth of candida.

Consider TMS Therapy: A More Natural Treatment Option

TMS therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, is a more natural treatment option for depression and other mood disorders. The reason for this is TMS treats the condition at its source. TMS is a simple outpatient treatment, typically performed in the doctor’s office, that is non-invasive, and requires no downtime. The treatment takes about 20 minutes. Unlike medications, such as antidepressants, TMS does not cause any systemic side effects.

Insurance Typically Covers TMS

Insurance typically covers TMS for adult patients with moderate to severe depression. However, many TMS clinics offer TMS at affordable rates for those who wish to receive TMS for conditions not covered by their insurance. TMS Directory offers a list of TMS providers across the U.S. Most clinics offer a free TMS consultation. If you are experiencing moderate to severe depression, anxiety, or other mood disorder, it would be a could idea to schedule a consultation with a clinic near you. Educating yourself with all treatment options is one way to be your own best health advocate.

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