Natural Anxiety and Depression Treatments
Anxiety disorders can wreak havoc in a person’s private, social and professional life. Without proper medicine for anxiety, a person suffering from anxiety disorder may have to cope with its symptoms on a lifelong basis.
Anxiety disorders can be caused by a combination of various biological and social issues. Unpleasant events like stressful incidents at home or work, a shocking event or chronic illness can devastate the subconscious mind and make the person incapable of thinking or functioning properly.
From a clinical standpoint, treatment for anxiety is decided based on one’s specific symptoms and severity. The choice of therapy or drugs largely depends on the preferences of the sufferer. The duration of treatment is also different for each individual. While some people recuperate within a few months, others may take a year or two.
Over-The-Counter Medications For Anxiety
Medications for anxiety disorder are necessary if the patient is severely affected. Here are some common pharmaceutical classes of medication for anxiety used in treating mild and acute forms of anxiety.
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI): This is the earliest form of antidepressant that is quite effective in treating anxiety disorder. However, since it has side effects like insomnia and weight gain, it is usually used only when anti-anxiety medications fail.
• Tricyclics: These antidepressants are also effective in curing anxiety disorder. Initially, the anxiety sufferer is prescribed a low dosage of Tricyclic medicine. Then, the dosage is gradually increased depending on the response of the person. These medicines have been observed to cause drowsiness, dizziness and sexual dysfunction.
• SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors): These new FDA approved antidepressants work by regulating the flow of serotonin – a neurotransmitter of the brain that controls moods. Three SSRI depressants that have been approved for treatment of anxiety disorder are venlafaxine (Effexor XR), sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil).
• Benzodiazepines: These fast-acting antidepressants can actually provide anxiety relief within 30-90 minutes of consumption. However, Benzodiazepine drugs like Valium, Tranxene, Restoril, Kalma and Xanax have side effects such as fatigue, drowsiness and poor muscle coordination. In addition, these drugs cannot be used over a long period since people often get addicted to them.
• Beta blockers: These drugs address symptoms of anxiety disorder like sweating, tremors, heart palpitations and other physical responses to anxiety. These drugs are most effective when taken about an hour before the person has to face a stressful situation. However, beta blockers like Tenormin and Inderal do not alleviate the negative thoughts that lead to anxiety.
Natural Antidepressants - A Healthier Choice
Now, you have a safer, affordable and more effective choice when considering medicine for anxiety – natural, herb-based antidepressants. Being natural, these medications usually have little or no side effects – making them healthy solutions to getting cured.
Amoryn is a natural antidepressant that contains St. John’s Wort, 5 HTP, vital B vitamins and plenty of mood-enhancing nutrients to help anxiety sufferers regain positive feelings. However, the price of Amoryn is a bit on the higher side.
If you would like to get a more affordable natural cure without compromising on the efficacy, try Exulin. This product contains most of the active ingredients in Amoryn plus Gingko biloba that improves brain function and blood circulation.
Then there is SociaTropin that works by regulating the flow of four vital neurotransmitters in the brain. SociaTropin contains antioxidants, adaptogens, amino acids and natural energy boosters to aid the body’s natural mode of relaxation.
No matter what anxiety treatment you choose, always ensure that you maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, adequate exercise, ample sleep and an active social life.
