Article by R.D. Hawkins

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is that feeling of uneasiness, dread, uncertainty, and fear in response to or in anticipation of a real or imaged event or threat. An example of this would be a parent who worries about their child competing in a sporting event. They ask themselves questions like will they get hurt, will they win, and what will the other parents, coaches and players think? All legitimate concerns that produce a great deal of anxiety. This is simple everyday anxiety and the symptoms can include problems concentrating, irritability, restlessness, appetite loss, insomnia, excessive sweating, fatigue, light headedness, heart palpitations, diarrhea, indecision and dry mouth, just to name a few. But what if anxiety escalates past the point of average everyday anxiety? When this happens it is referred to as anxiety disorder.

If you are suffering from an anxiety disorder you are not alone. It is estimated that an estimated 25 million people in the United States alone suffer from an anxiety disorder in any given year and one out of every four will fall victim to an anxiety disorder in their lifetime.

Anxiety disorders fall into the general category of mental illness and can range from mild to extremely serious. Unlike common everyday anxiety, anxiety disorders are best described as long lasting fear, dread, unease, apprehension, obsession, compulsions, and unpleasant physical symptoms, such as sweating, elevated heart beat, shaking and trembling. Examples of anxiety disorder are Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Can Herbal Remedies Help?

The simple answer is yes, especially in mild to moderate examples of anxiety. This is particularly true when they are combined with psychotherapy. Part of the appeal of natural alternative treatments for anxiety is that they produce far fewer side effects that the current list of conventional prescription medications such as tranquilizers, antidepressants, sedatives, and benzodiazepines. So when you combine safety and affordability they become an option that many people will at least consider. Let’s briefly look at three of the most popular herbs found in herbal remedies.

*St. Johns Wort: This herb has been used effectively for centuries to balance mood and maintain mental wellness and equilibrium. There is good scientific evidence to support its effectiveness.

*Passionflower: This herb is very popular in South America and Europe and is well known for its ability to soothe anxiety. It also is used to help with insomnia, seizures, and hysteria.

*Valerian: This herb has been used for anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia since the second century A.D. It is generally considered to be a safe and effective alternative treatment.

What Next? If you are considering treating your anxiety with herbal remedies check with

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