"The Truth About Anxiety

Anxiety is defined by the dictionary as, "uneasy thoughts or fears over the possibility of coming misfortune; troubled, worried, or uneasy feeling." It's something we've all experienced to a greater or lesser degree, especially in this fast-paced society in which there is much to be anxious about. A fluctuating economy, political unrest, rampant crime...the list of sources of anxiety is endless.

In 1980, the mental health industry took notice of this fact, and began treating anxiety as a mental disorder. Now, a search through the Internet on the word yields hundreds of anxiety-related sites which recommend various therapies designed to alleviate anxiety.

Unfortunately, most of these therapies involve medication, and it may surprise you to find out that these medications have no root in scientific fact. If you've ever contemplated taking a medication for anxiety, you owe it to yourself to have the following information.

The Missing Cause

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association, the bible for these types of disorders, lists no physical causes for anxiety in all the 51 detailed pages devoted to anxiety disorders. That's interesting, especially considering that several major pharmaceutical companies have been marketing drugs purporting to "treat" anxiety for over 20 years. If no physical cause for the disorder has been found, how can a drug treat it?

If you can't readily come up with a logical answer for that question, you're in very good company: Neither can the pharmaceutical companies. Phrases such as, "It is believed..." and "scientists believe that..." and "it may be that..." fill their text under causes of this disorder, and the cause of anxiety is stated to be exactly the same as the cause of depression -- that is, certain neurotransmitters (chemicals in the nervous system that assist nerve impulses to travel from one nerve to the next) may be deficient in people with this disorder.

Working with people taking benzodiazepines has shown using a cherry extract to combat anxiety and anxiety attacks works. This cherry extract - Body Calm - does promote the production of glutathione. October 31, 2005 a clinical study demonstrated how the right type of glutathione in the brain works and and hand with specific genes and regulates anxiety.

The study also provides evidence it was never neurotransmitters but only enzymes. Click here to read story.

If it seems just a bit too convenient to have one pharmaceutical treatment for all these disorders, that's because it is. For none of these disorders, including anxiety, have ever been clinically proven to have their causes in neurotransmitters. You can read through the literature for these drugs, or you can ask your doctor, for nobody can argue with that statement and, in fact, nobody will.

Fact and Fiction

Interestingly, anxiety as a disorder only began to be treated in 1980 -- right about the time that the first in the line of a new, widely marketed series of antidepressants were released.

And amazingly (or not), the drug companies suddenly found that antidepressants could be used to "treat" anxiety.

Basically, the same line of faulty logic was being used in the medicinal treatment of anxiety as was being used for depression -- that the level of certain neurotransmitters could be raised, thereby possibly alleviating the anxiety.

What Should You Do?

If you have already started on a course of medication for anxiety, we urge you to first read for yourself the full list of side effects for the drug you are taking. There is a step-by-step method to taper off anxiety medications as well. click here .

If you have not started on a course of medication for your anxiety, we urge you not to do so. Please re-read the above information if need be, but please do not become another victim of a well-financed scam aimed at cashing in on your troubles. "
- Article by Bruce Boyers

Alternative Remedies

Alternative remedies which can be used to help relieve depression and anxiety include exercise,.: Even a 30-minute daily walk is proven to help depression more effectively than drugs.

Although any nutritional deficiency can cause and intensify mental and emotional symptoms, those which most obviously affect depression include several of the B Vitamins, Vitamin C, and a fatty acid called Omega-3.

Magnesium - Not only does magnesium help relieve stress and sleeplessness, but given that is has been found that nearly 75% of Americans are already deficient in magnesium, the need for this nutrient is doubly important. You can find Natural Calm by Peter Gillham in almost any health food store.

B-12 This vitamins works with folic acid, and has been found to be deficient particularly in those over 50 years of age. Supplementation of folic acid and B12 often produces dramatic results in people who are depressed because of deficiencies.

For a great way to get these B vitamins with a breakthrough formula that really delivers, go here to B-Vitamins and read why this product really works.

Vitamin C Deficiency is this vitamin can cause anxiety. It is common in those who have a poor diet (e.g., many Americans), or one low in fruits and vegetables.

We have found a great Vitamin C supplement too - this brand is a whole food supplement that the body recognizes as food and thus it actually gives you body what it needs Go here to
Vitamin C

Omega 3 (Essential Fatty Acids) eficiency in Omega 3 fatty acids is especially common in people on low-fat diets. Population studies in different countries have shown that decreased consumption of Omega-3’s correlates with increased rates of depression. Omega-3 can be found as a supplement, or can be included in your diet. It is common in certain seeds, canola oil, soybean oil, egg yolks, and cold-water ocean fish.

Where can I get these products? (click on the link next to the vitamin)

How to get off of Psych Drugs, go here

For articles regarding Anxiety and other mental health problems go here

Home Health Tips Health Concerns Site Index Glossary

We take privacy and security seriously, read about it here

We have used our best judgment in compiling this information. The Food and Drug Administration may not have evaluated the information presented. Any reference to a specific product is for your information only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.