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