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