Although plenty of people have success with anti-anxiety medications (i.e a marked reduction or removal of symptoms including panic attacks and obsessive worry) many do not. Those who do not have success with anti-anxiety medications fall into two categories: those for whom the tablets have no effects, and those for whom the idea of taking tablets is abhorrent or the side effects are too great.
Whatever your reason for avoiding anti-anxiety medication (and it’s a perfectly reasonable personal decision to make) the idea of supplements becomes alluring. There are two major drawbacks to using supplements. Firstly, proper scientific research is generally lacking and books and practitioners tend to rely on anecdotal data or historical records. Historical proof that a herb has been used for millennia doesn’t mean that it works! The second drawback is that there tends to be as many different recommended doses as there are books and manufacturers.
Should this stop you trying supplements to help beat anxiety? Of course not, it’s just a reminder to do your homework before you spend your money. Of course consult your doctor before you try them, and that is especially true if you are on medication of any sort or pregnant as some supplements can not be taken with other medication.
Then you’re into the minefield. What supplement should I take?
- Passiflora
- Fish Oil – Omega 3
- L-Theanine
- Multivitamins
- Niacinamide
- B vitamins
- Tryptophan
- 5-HTP
- Kava Kava
- Grape Seed Oil
- Flax Seed Oil
- Glucosamine
- Cod Liver Oil
The list goes on and on and any self respecting salesperson in a healthfood shop can send you away with empty pockets if you are not careful.
I will be putting a page on Anxiety 2 Calm shortly with more info on herbs and supplements. Until then remember that B vitamins are important for the nervous system, tryptophan is good for building serotonin, flax seed and fish oils contain omega 3 fatty acids which are essential for a healthy brain. As for the rest…watch this space and do your homework!
