Anxiety can paralyze even the strongest among us.  But what is the solution?  Pop another pill?  

Mood-altering drugs, including Prozac and Paxil, are highly addictive and have been linked to suicide, especially in the younger population.  Also, as the number of prescriptions for these drugs have risen, cases of anxiety-related disorders have dramatically increased – almost to epidemic proportions.

Clearly, there has to be a better choice.

Understanding some of the contributing factors to overall health may be a good first step.  Questions to ask yourself include:

WHAT ARE YOU EATING?  Food affects mood.  Foods with preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colors and dyes, and/or refined, processed ingredients can aggravate any condition.  In times of anxiety, certain chemicals are naturally produced in the body; poor food choices can exacerbate the effects of these chemicals, making a bad situation worse.  

HOW ARE YOU EATING?  Are you eating for comfort?  Do you eat sporadically?  Do you binge eat?  Do you have any appetite at all?

ARE YOU EXERCISING?  Exercise actually helps your body release positive chemicals that counteract the negative chemicals anxiety produces.

HOW STRESSED ARE YOU?  We are all affected by stress, but too much can be detrimental to our health.  How are you coping with it?

Once the root causes of runaway anxiety are identified, there are positive steps that can be taken.

ADRENAL TESTING.  A simple, non-invasive test that can help to determine whether there is a physiologic basis (medical cause) for your anxiety.

ACUPUNCTURE.  It can be used to lower anxiety by balancing energy levels that have become imbalanced.  

DIETARY CONSULTATION.  By identifying the foods and eating patterns that may be exacerbating anxiety levels, a more balanced dietary plan can be developed and implemented.