The anxious state increases or distorts the sensitivity towards certain stimuli, and in addition to anxiety it also triggers some psychosomatic reactions (increased heart rate, pulmonary ventilation, sweating, brain activation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, etc.).
Anxiety can be primary or secondary to other medical conditions, especially psychiatric ones.
When it is frequent, persistent and affects the person's lifestyle, it is referred to as "anxiety disorder" (generalized, panic, social or specific phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder).
The material published is intended to allow quick access to advice, suggestions and general remedies that doctors and textbooks usually dispense for the treatment of anxiety; these indications must in no way replace the opinion of the treating physician or other healthcare specialists in the field who are treating the patient.
), will administer a short, mild anxiolytic therapy or refer the person to a psychiatrist (for a specific diagnosis and more targeted drug therapy).It may be necessary to prevent worsening or chronic anxiety by contacting your doctor IMMEDIATELY. The factors that suggest this solution are:
- Familiarity with anxiety disorders.
- Psychiatric illnesses (eg self-harm).
- Alcohol abuse.
- Use of narcotic substances (especially intravenous).
- Depression.
Those who do not fall into the aforementioned categories, do not consider the use of drugs necessary, do not willingly lend themselves to psychological therapy and believe that it may be a purely biochemical condition, can request a blood test.
The investigation in question will reveal the concentrations of specific enzymes (such as Ache, Bche etc.) and will put them in relation with age, body mass index, etc. to evaluate their normality.
as cheap as ethyl alcohol.
NB. Anxiety is part of the symptomatic picture of eating disorders; in particular: binge eating desorder, bulimia, anorexia nervosa, grignotage and borderline conditions, etc.
The molecule that most affects the anxiety state (but also in depression) is serotonin. It is a physiologically produced neurotransmitter by the body. It is synthesized from tryptophan, an essential amino acid taken with food, however, some foods also contain pure serotonin.
It should be noted that (contrary to depression) the link between serotonin and anxiety is not fully known. The disorder can be triggered by the excess but also by the defect of this neurotransmitter.
This means that, while not an independent remedy or cure, the amount of serotonin and tryptophan in the diet could affect anxiety. It is therefore necessary to consume the various food sources in the right quantities:
- Foods rich in serotonin:
- Cocoa and dark chocolate: 5-10g / day is enough.
- Walnuts: 4-5 walnuts per day are enough.
- Fruits: Kiwi, Pineapple, Cherries, Sour cherries, Tomatoes, Bananas, Plums: between fruit and vegetables you can easily reach 600-800g / day.
- Foods rich in tryptophan:
- Milk, yogurt and cheeses: milk and yogurt even every day and up to 500ml / g in total. For cheeses, a couple of portions a week are sufficient; the amount varies according to the skimming.
- Griffonia: a legume used more frequently as a food supplement in dry extract.
- Coffee, also with ginseng: due to the presence of caffeine.
- Guarana: due to the presence of caffeine.
- Fermented teas: due to the presence of theophylline.
- Cocoa and chocolate: due to the presence of theobromine.
- Energy drinks: they contain cocktails of various stimulants.
- Alcohol: due to the presence of ethyl alcohol which causes an immediate feeling of relaxation which is followed by a worsening of anxious symptoms.
- Psychological therapy: it can be considered a natural therapy. When hormonal alterations are secondary to emotional states (for example caused by: bereavement, abandonment, job loss, etc.), psychotherapy is certainly the only way of healing. Medicines can be complementary, as they help reduce the symptom; however, they do not act on the triggering cause.The methods are different but the choice is purely within the competence of the therapist.
- Phytotherapy: based on the intake of plants capable of increasing the levels of relaxation and decreasing those of stress, in particular: valerian, hawthorn, lemon balm and especially passion flower.
- Oligotherapy: based on the administration of minerals, in particular manganese and cobalt. This is taken once a day for 3 weeks; afterwards it is reduced to 2-3 intakes per week. It can be supplemented with magnesium.
- Gemmotherapy: based on the administration of gems, in particular: Ficus carica (fig) e Tilia tormentosa (linden).
- Aromatherapy: based on the inhalation (or cutaneous absorption) of neurosedative volatile essential oils, in particular: lavender, lemon balm, chamomile and bitter orange.
To learn more, read: Drugs for the Treatment of Anxiety
