Anxiety Solutions in a Fear-Filled World

What is the difference between anxiety and stress overwhelm?

What is an anxiety attack, and what is happening in the body?

How can you reduce, and even eliminate anxiety naturally, and without medications?

We'll be discussing many natural ways to better cope with the stressful, fear and anxiety-producing world we live in these days.

(CNN) – “Generalized anxiety disorder is the single most common 

mental health diagnosis, and yet it's still taboo to talk about it.”

There are several forms of anxiety disorders, including phobias, posttraumatic 

stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social 

anxiety. However, we’ll be focusing on generalized anxiety disorder (also 

referred to as GAD; Mishkova, 2013).

 According to the official Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 

(more commonly referred to as the DSM-5; ADAA, 2016c; Glasofer, 2017), 

GAD is identified in adults as experiencing three or more of the following 

symptoms on the majority of days for at least 6 months, in addition to 

excessive worry on most days that is difficult to control: 

• Restlessness 

• Easily fatigued 

• Difficulty concentrating 

• Irritability 

• Muscle tension 

• Sleep disturbance (sleeping too much or too little, sleep not restful) 

WHAT IS ANXIETY?

Technically, anxiety is apprehension over an upcoming event. We 

anticipate the future with sometimes scary predictions that don’t 

necessarily have any basis in truth.

WHAT HAPPENS TO US AS A RESULT OF ANXIETY?

In everyday life, anxiety’s physical and emotional symptoms can 

mean an increased heart rate, poor concentration at work and school,

sleeping problems, and just being a total Crankasaurus Rex to family,

friends and co-workers.

HOW IS ANXIETY DIFFERENT FROM HIGH STRESS?

Anxiety and stress are physical and emotional responses 

to perceived dangers. But in general, ANXIETY is the mental 

“awfulizing” that brings on the body’s STRESS RESPONSE. 

STRESS IS THE BODILY CHANGES THAT HAPPEN when engaged

in anxious thoughts and worries.

CAN I REALLY BEAT ANXIETY ATTACKS WITHOUT 

MEDICATION?

CNN DOC:

Scott Stossel, author of "My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search

for Peace of Mind"; Daniel Smith, author of "Monkey Mind: A Memoir of 

Anxiety"; and psychiatrists Dawn M. Porter and Scott Krakower joined me for a 

robust, hour-long video chat about treatment, taboos, triggers, and the breaking

of bad habits.

Here are 10 things we learned from that conversation:

1. Military families may be especially susceptible to anxiety.

2. Physical symptoms are par for the course, but they'll pass.

3. Anxiety begets more anxiety.

4. Medications are not one size fits all.

5. Younger people may feel less stigma about mental health than 

their parents.

6. Cultural taboos can get in the way of people seeking help.

7. Anxiety can be the enemy of romance.

8. Gender expectations take a toll.

9. Anxiety doesn't have to define you, so make peace with it.

10. It might not feel like it in the thick of things, but it's possible to fight

back.

15 NATURAL SOLUTIONS

1. Get enough sleep.

2. Smile.

3. De-clutter the brain.

4. Express gratitude.

5. Eat right.

6. Learn to breathe.

7. Meditate.

8. Create a vision board.

9. Play around.

10. Be silent.

11. Worry.

12. Plan ahead.

13. Visualize anything positive.

14. Smell something relaxing.

15. Hang out.