Anxiety
Anxiety can manifest in a variety of emotional and physical ways. Common signs include excessive worries and fears, irritability, and sleep disturbances, often leading to insomnia or poor-quality rest. People with anxiety may experience depression, fatigue, digestive issues, and irregular heart rhythms. Mentally, anxiety may cause poor focus, lack of confidence, stress, and feelings of indecisiveness and being overwhelmed. Emotional symptoms often include unhappiness, feelings of worthlessness, phobias, loneliness, panic attacks, obsessions, and compulsive behaviors. These symptoms can severely affect daily functioning and quality of life.
Causes of Anxiety
Several factors contribute to anxiety, including imbalances in nutrition and brain function. Macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies, such as a lack of essential vitamins, minerals, or amino acids, can disrupt brain chemistry and mood regulation. Fatty acid imbalances, particularly low omega-3 levels, also play a role in mental health issues. Environmental toxins, like pollutants and chemicals in food, water, and personal care products, can contribute to neuroinflammation and worsen anxiety. Additionally, dysregulated brain waves, particularly when the brain’s natural rhythms are disrupted, can lead to anxiety and stress.
Common Medications and Psychotherapy Approaches
Medications used to treat anxiety include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline (Zoloft) or fluoxetine (Prozac), benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), and beta-blockers. While effective for symptom relief, these medications can come with side effects such as drowsiness, weight gain, dependence, gastrointestinal issues, and sexual dysfunction. Psychotherapy approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are widely used to address anxiety by helping patients change negative thought patterns and behaviors. Mindfulness-based therapies and exposure therapy are also common techniques that support emotional regulation and reduce anxiety symptoms. About 50% of patients will experience a resolution of their symptoms using these approaches.
Holistic Approaches at Living Well Nutrition
At Living Well Nutrition, we focus on addressing the root causes of anxiety through a holistic approach. Our team integrates nutritional psychiatry, using targeted nutrition plans to correct deficiencies and imbalances that may be contributing to anxiety. We incorporate neural entrainment to help synchronize brain waves, supporting mental clarity and emotional regulation. Epigenetics allows us to address how lifestyle factors like diet, stress, and trauma affect gene expression, improving mental health at a genetic level. Lastly, we use detoxification to reduce the body’s toxic load, alleviating the impact of environmental toxins on brain function and overall well-being. This comprehensive, personalized approach addresses root causes, helping manage symptoms and support long-term mental and physical health.
