ANXIETY and depression are two very widespread pathologies between the world’s population and often neglected and not recognized. In the West 400.000.000 peoples have anxiety disorders. They are almost more women between 30 and 50. In Italy 16 persons on 100 suffer anxiety i.e. between 5% and 8% of the people. In particular the 21% of kids between 8 and 17 suffers of some form of anxiety specific or generalized. 15% of children suffers of obsessive-compulsive forms.

But what is the anxiety?

WHAT IS THE ANXIETY?

The anxiety is the symbol of a life felt as wasted, because we feel useless, not necessary, because we don’t know where we’re going, because we can’t find a sense in the things we do. The anxiety represents the vital energy which wants to came in contact with our awareness, our consciousness, maybe too much rigid. In the age of stone this state was a bell for dangerous situations. Instead today encourages us to achieves objectives sometimes essential to life itself.

It’s not surprising that anxiety accompanies man for a long time. But when this state remains even after the end of potentially producing-anxiety events we can talk about a pathological anxiety, which can compromise functional and judgment capabilities. With over time the civilization grew up and a form of anxiety about personal success, people and race has been established, i.e. the anxiety of power to conquer and obtain prestige and wellness.

In the modern times economic boom introduces the idea of wellness based on the economic possession, the anxiety is released from real needs and orients towards the ephemeral. Today we have everything and the anxiety is about the overcome of the limitations.

Certainties, economic securities and emotional are the objectives imposed in the last 50 years, convincing us that life it’s all about these. So when these values are lacking the anxiety comes, the fear to lose everything.

It shows with an emotional state of danger that the individual can’t control as if his consciousness has cancelled.

Progressively increases the fear of crowded places, of the dark, until getting into panic attacks characterized by a deep discomfort that brings to the progressive reduction of activities and paralysis.

The anxious lives in a constant state of alarm which takes him from one side to fear disgraces, accidents and failures, and on the other to not tolerate the expectations and competitive situations.

The panic syndromes procure illnesses that are transmitted to organs:

Heart with palpitations or hypertensive crisis;

Respiratory system with the sensation of not being able to breathe;

Gastrointestinal tract with diarrhea and vomiting;

And also tremors, dizziness, muscle spasms and need to urinate.

CAUSES OF ANXIETY

Anxiety can be caused by biological and psychological factors.

Psychological: deaths, separations, failures, retirings, quirrels, but also happy events like a birth, a wedding, or a new love.

Biological: some scientists think that if the organism doesn’t product a sufficient quantity of substances capable of stimulating the receptors of GABA (butyric amino acid) so the anxiety comes out.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE AN ANXIOUS

A chronic anxious suffers insomnia, is very irritable, has problems with memory and concentration. He expresses psychological conflicts through somatic symptoms: gastroduodenitis, tachycardia, irritable bowel, impotence, premature ejaculation or frigidity in the case of a woman.

HOW TO FIGHT THE ANXIETY

The rule to fight the anxiety stats from a unique assertion, that THE ANXIETY NOT BE FOUGHT.

We must not fight , WE MUST SURRENDER. We should not demand too much from ourselves, learning to do the things as we know and not as “should” be done. The idea to not improve can give us a state of peace. Sometimes we try to be a model for the others, a point of refer, we try to do the right thing in the right moment, but this distances us from our real wishes, when we impose to ourselves to be that model, so our mind rebels to that rigidity that doesn’t allow us to express ourselves as we wish. We must receive the anxiety as an advice that our body gives us against that figure of perfection that we impose ourselves everyday.

Learning just to became ourselves with our limits and imperfections, that will give us a sense of real, of inner peace, of belonging and contentment of life.

Abandon the idea of appear in order to be, and give more space to our wishes, take distance from ephemeral, undress the social mask that day by day remove our real personality.

MEDICINES OR NATURAL CARES?

The medicine is not the only remedy against the anxiety. Today non-conventional medicine has a wide range of remedies that goes from the use of plant extracts to the psychotherapy, to the eastern disciplines as reiki, yoga and tai chi that don’t replace the drug therapy but complete it, reducing, in the most of cases, the time of care.

NATURAL REMEDIES

There are several plants can help us in the early stages of disease (because it’s a disease), they have relaxing effects and can be used in combination between.

They can be used in drops or in bars more times at a day. The advantage in the use of natural remedies is to obtain results without collateral effects like sedation, addiction, or abstinence “rebound” syndromes at the suspension.

HERBAL REMEDIES

There are a lot of officinal herbs useful against the anxiety, some of which are semi-unknown, but these are certainly the most common available in any herbalist’s shop.

Camomile Matricaria recutita

The camomile as we know is famous for its relaxing effect, it makes an effect like Valium, but obviously in a more delicate way and without collateral effects. Reduces the effects of the enzymes produced by the body in times of particular stress for the brain, promoting instead the secretion of adrenal healthy hormones (such as cortisol). It relieves pain and spasms, helps digestion, relieves cramps and back pain. Finally camomile facilitates a restorative sleep.

Melissa officinalis

Melissa, a relaxing and invigorating herb, that reduces anxiety, restlessness and nervousness with particular effectiveness. It helps in case of panic attacks reducing palpitations and heartbeat; Melissa it also indicated to reduce the hyper activity of the thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Melissa can help against the digestive disorders caused by stress or anxiety, nausea, indigestion, colic; finally used with other herbs is an efficient anti-depressant.

Humulus lupulus

It is the very common hop, an officinal herb belonging to the family of cannabacee (hemp). It calms nerves, relieves anxiety, agitation and tension. It is also indicated for headache caused by stress, for insomnia, indigestion, and to contrast the alcohol effects. Caution: for its sedative properties is not suitable for use during the depression.

Valeriana officinalis

Sedative and relaxing, valeriana is maybe  the most known herbal remedy: it helps to fight the stress, muscle tension and pain derived from cramps of nervous origin.

It is a great help against restlessness and insomnia caused by too much work or too much study.

It is useful to fight the after-effects of the influence and ultimately to alleviate drug addiction (medical an recreational drugs).

We can also use the thorn tree (Crataegus oxycantha MG 1 DH) and the linden (Tilia tormentosa MG 1 DH).

The aromatherapy provides us with various aromatherapy essential oils to evaporate into the ambiance with the appropriate essential oil burner. We have MELISSA, BASIL, LEMON, LAVENDER and PETITGRAIN or we can also use body creams enriched with lime, mint, may lily, ylang-ylang, patchoully, magnolia, sandal, liquorice and violet essential oils.

BACH FLOWERS are a great help to deal and manage with anxiety and to delete it bringing peace and serenity in our lives.

Agrimony is the remedy for the anxiety caused by an inner trouble we hide to the others.

Walnut is the remedy for the anxiety caused by transformation or pressure that the world practice on us.

White Chestnut is the remedy for the anxiety caused by circular thoughts. Those who suffer from it for a period are subject to their own thoughts without being able to channel them.

By Ielena Iel

Translated by: Julianfire