Anxiety is a normal and natural response to stressful situations. It triggers our body’s inbuilt mechanism to help us get away from a threat and it can be helpful to understand what’s going on behind the scenes when we feel our stress levels rising.
As we start to become anxious, our adrenal glands release various hormones to help us cope with whatever stressor we’re up against. Cortisol increases the glucose levels in our blood stream to feed our vital organs when it is needed the most. At the same time, it slows down some other bodily functions that aren’t so crucial in a fight or flight situation. Meanwhile, adrenaline increases the heart rate, elevates our blood pressure and boosts energy and Oxygen supplies to where it is most needed. Together this hormonal combination gives us the best chance of coping with the situation we’re facing.
But whilst this response can be a life-saver in some circumstances, a state of anxiety that becomes too intense or too prolonged can have a detrimental impact on our health and well-being. Symptoms can vary amongst individuals, but commonly include feeling nervous, restless or tense, trembling, rapid breathing and palpitations, sweating, sleeplessness, nightmares etcetera.
Conventional treatment for chronic anxiety usually involves a psychological therapy such as counselling or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which can help people to process their experiences and find ways to minimise and deal with their stress. In some instances, medication may be prescribed, but this often comes with unwanted side effects or concerns about drug dependency.
Homeopathy offers a safe and natural option to help us with the challenge of anxiety because many homeopathic remedies are designed for specific symptoms of anxiety and the beliefs associated with them.
It’s okay to use homeopathic remedies at home to help yourself through an acute bout of anxiety resulting from a known cause (e.g., a recent trauma, shock, or loss, examination, sleeplessness etc). But the best way to heal chronic, ongoing, or disabling anxiety is a comprehensive consultation with a professional homeopath, along with supportive psychotherapy as needed. Treatment may change as you heal and grow.
Here are some remedies that homeopaths often use to help people with anxiety:
• Aconite:The patient needing this homeopathic remedy is restless and anxious with an anguished kind of fear.
This remedy can be helpful if a person panics with insomnia. Fear and agitation come on suddenly when the person is drifting off to sleep, or may even wake a sleeping person up.
This remedy can be particularly helpful for those who have experienced a fright before sleep.
• Arsenicum album: The person requiring this homeopathic remedy is often the restless, meticulous type of person who cannot get to sleep because they have to get everything ordered in their mind. They may be so restless that they feel the need to move from place to place during the night. They tend to be chilly by nature and may struggle with sleep after midnight – particularly after 1:00AM. They also tend to be thirsty for small sips of water at regular intervals.
• Cocculus: Here is a homeopathic remedy that one may think of for someone who has been deprived of sleep, as is the case for those who are caregivers for others. The person needing this remedy will often feel exhausted to the point of feeling weak – particularly in the muscles of the neck and small of the back. They may also feel mentally foggy and at times a bit dizzy – particularly on rising from bed. Like Natrum muriaticum (see below), the patient may also be sad, absorbed within himself or herself, brooding, moody, and silent.
• Coffea cruda; Whilst a strong dose of coffee in the morning will certainly wake most people up, the Homepathic use of the remedy (when potentized) is quite the opposite. It can calm a restless mind, slow down over-flowing thoughts and help promote a restful night’s sleep. Use this remedy for insomnia stemming from restless anxiety, excited imagination, flow of ideas, and basically too many thoughts rushing around your head. There is great tiredness, with a desire to lie down and shut the eyes, but then finding it impossible to switch off your mind and drift off to sleep. Once finally asleep, there is frequent & sudden starting and waking.
• Argentum nitricum: Fearfulness and anxiety about many things especially bridges, closed spaces, heights, and personal health. Speaks quickly, in a big hurry, and tends to have diarrhea (everything is in a rush!). Everyday scenarios cause worry, leading to obsessive-compulsive behavior. This can become abject terror, leaving the person feeling lost and insane. Warm blooded, craves sweets and salt, and complains of anxiety in the morning and before appointments.
• Calcarea carbonica: Craves stability, protection, and status (as a form of protection, not ambition), and dreads disaster. Anxious when things are left undone or not going according to plan. Anxiety may manifest as anger, envy, hatred, withdrawal, unresponsiveness, despair, or indifference.
• Gelsemium: Apprehensive and timid, these people feel they haven’t the resources to do what they’d like to do. They dread performances of any kind, for fear they’ll lose control or something terrible will happen. Vertigo, weakness, trembling, chills, diarrhea, drowsiness, and even speechlessness from fright. When trembling, they want to be held. They fear falling, crowds, and fainting (or heart attack); they desire light and quiet.
• Ignatia: Acute, recent grief or loss of someone. Sensitive, refined, and heartbroken people who are biting their lips or cheeks, repeating to themselves, “I just can’t believe it, I can’t believe it…” Averse to consolation, they may appear defensive, sigh frequently (as if to ground themselves back into their bodies), and experience radical mood swings—bursting into tears or laughter.
They may sigh and yawn a lot, yet find sleep difficult to come by, and when they do sleep – find it fitful at best. They may twitch, toss and turn and be subject to nightmares.
• Natrum muriaticum: This homeopathic remedy is also frequently indicated for those with sleeplessness after the death of a loved one, a slight, or loss. The pattern of sleeplessness here may be associated with feeling isolated, feeling aggrieved and perhaps crying themselves off to fitful sleep. Those needing this remedy are often sad – but made worse when someone tries to console them. Interestingly – Natrum muriaticum patients are very uncomfortable in the heat of the sun. If you find you are a true sun worshipper – chances are very good that this remedy will not work for you.
• Nux vomica: A person needing the homeopathic remedy Nux vomica is often one who can fall asleep early, but awakens at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. with great mental activity or worries. After this period of restlessness and worry, the patient finally feels able to sleep and often does, only to wake in a tired, irritable state. Sleeplessness for those needing this remedy is commonly brought on by the overuse of drugs and/or stimulants including alcohol, coffee, and wine, or by overwork or excess studying. Nux vomica patients are typically irritable, easily angered, and impatient – as well as chilly, nervous, and excitable.
• Lycopodium: Any new challenge creates anxiety due to a severe lack of confidence. They may have an emotional swagger but are easily intimidated by anyone perceived as more powerful. Responsibility in work or relationships can create debilitating anxiety and fear of failure, which may manifest in sexual difficulties, irritability, digestive complaints, and claustrophobia.
• Phosphorus: People needing this may be bright-eyed, social, loving, and empathic—but when frightened, they are excitable, suggestible, “spaced out,” easily vexed, fearful of robbers, and in need of reassurance. They gulp cold water (but then either vomit it or get nauseated by it) and are much worse at night. Their anxiety often has something to do with love; they worry endlessly about the object of their attachment not returning their affections. They can be very angry about rejection and obsess on it.
• Pulsatilla: Sensitive, easily upset people who need a great deal of consolation and reassurance and are as changeable as an April day. They tend toward childish rumination and pouting if they don’t get the attention and emotional security they crave, quickly becoming fearful of rejection. Dependent on others for reassurance. Worse in warm rooms, being covered in bed, and after eating rich foods; better from fresh air, mild exercise, and consolation.
• Silica: Lack self-confidence and fearful of new undertakings, especially speaking in public. Yielding, yet obstinate. Overly conscientious/anxious about trifles (obsessive); they overwork and exhaust themselves to avoid failure. Chilly, thirsty, chronically constipated, and better with consolation and sympathy.
• Stramonium: Night terrors, both in sleep and waking states. The person is anxious, obsessive-compulsive, and feels forsaken or alone in the wilderness (similar to Pulsatilla); but a mild demeanor may mask violence of thought or action. Mania, delirium, or diabolical delusions may be present.
As we’re living through challenging times right now and some people may be feeling more anxious than usual. Try homeopathy to help manage rising levels of stress and anxiety.
But, remember the key to choosing the correct remedy is ALWAYS the same. Match the characteristic symptoms of the patient to the characteristic symptoms produced by our many remedies. This could be rightly achieved through the help of a professional homeopath. An homeopath will be able to prescribe you the best medicines based on your condition and symptoms. Avoid self-medication.
For individualized homeopathic remedy selection and treatment for anxiety, consult the homeopath Oluwafunmise on 08028366901 or 08183554665.
