| Everyone experiences anxiety, even children. In | | | | worsen the symptoms of anxiety and disrupt |
| fact, being unable to do so can be the sign of | | | | sleep. Many people reach for a drink to calm their |
| quite a serious problem. In our hazardous world, | | | | nerves, but the consequences of overindulgence |
| anxiety is a strategy that the body uses to help | | | | can outweigh the benefits of initial relaxation. For |
| the mind recognize and keep well out of the way | | | | some, a hangover, insomnia and dehydration |
| of danger. As with most mental illnesses, it's not | | | | make one feel worse than before one had a |
| the presence of anxiety alone that creates | | | | drink, and the depressants in alcohol can make |
| problems. It is more about how severe it is and | | | | you feel sluggish and anxious. Alcohol, like a simple |
| how much it gets in the way of life. | | | | sugar, is rapidly absorbed by the body. Like other |
| Most people feel anxious at some time in their | | | | sugars, alcohol increases hypoglycemia symptoms; |
| lives. However, about five per cent of people | | | | excessive use can increase anxiety and mood |
| experience severe anxiety but rarely seek | | | | swings. |
| professional help. Anxiety is a mixture of physical | | | | Eat complex carbohydrates. During anxious times, |
| and mental symptoms. They are part of what | | | | turn to comforting carbs. These foods act as a |
| psychologists call the "fight or flight" response. | | | | mild tranquilizer by increasing the amount of |
| When the body is under threat, it automatically | | | | serotonin, a calming neurotransmitter, in the brain. |
| prepares either to defend itself or run. | | | | Complex carbs, such as potatoes, wholewheat |
| Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps | | | | bread and pasta, take longer to digest than |
| one deal with a tense situation in the office, study | | | | sugary simple carbs like white bread, so one can |
| harder for an exam, keep focused on an | | | | stay fuller longer and blood sugar is likely to stay |
| important speech. In general, it helps one cope. | | | | steady, eliminating stress and anxiety. |
| But when anxiety becomes an excessive, | | | | Carbohydrate-rich meals and snacks are thought |
| irrational dread of everyday situations, it can | | | | to increase the amount of serotonin in the brain, |
| become a disabling disorder. Effective treatments | | | | which has a calming effect. |
| for anxiety disorders are available, and research is | | | | Be sure to drink eight or more glasses of water a |
| yielding new and improved therapies that can help | | | | day. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches |
| most people cope with anxiety disorders lead | | | | and stress. One should be well hydrated and |
| productive and fulfilling lives. | | | | drinking lots of water a day can decrease |
| However, studies have shown that having a | | | | symptoms of anxiety. |
| healthy diet may reduce signs and symptoms of | | | | Take multivitamins and mineral supplement. B |
| anxiety. Although food can't cure an anxiety | | | | vitamins, whose role is to unlock the energy in |
| disorder, consider some changes to your diet: | | | | food, are crucial, particularly B-6, which helps |
| Avoid or limit caffeine intake as much as possible. | | | | manufacture serotonin in the brain. Choose a daily |
| Caffeine is present in many soft drinks, not just | | | | supplement that supplies 100 per cent of the daily |
| tea and coffee and it can set up its own vicious | | | | recommendation of all vitamins and minerals. |
| cycle. It can speed up heart rate and disrupts | | | | Although tension and daily stresses are |
| sleep which are signs of anxiety. Trying to | | | | unavoidable, one can relieve tension and manage |
| overcome tiredness by drinking more caffeine | | | | stress and anxiety better by what a person do |
| only makes the long-term problems worse. | | | | and don't eat. |
| Avoid too much alcohol. Similarly, alcohol can | | | | |