Approximately 4 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with anxiety. The prevalence of anxiety in this society is definitely on the upswing. Anxiety is very real to those who experience it, ranging from mild and a simple annoyance to extreme. Symptoms include feelings of helplessness or hopelessness, vulnerability, suppressed or overt anger, pessimism and low self esteem. It is a state of over-worrying, expecting the worst to occur. It is based in fear, and that fear becomes the controlling factor. It can be triggered by countless events, both known and unknown. Sometimes a sound, an odor, an impending event or ruminating about a past event can trigger an “attack.”

There are a number of things you can do to work towards resolution naturally. Those that seek out the services of an alternative health clinic do so because they either don’t like how they feel on the medications prescribed, or realize that the medications are simply dulling the anxiety and not getting to the root cause. They generally help, but don’t heal. Many people have tried to stop the medications on their own and find that the anxiety symptoms return full force and they are forced to go back on them. This is because the underlying issue was never addressed. The advantages of non-drug treatment options is that they achieve lasting changes and long-term relief.

While short term medication use has its place, because the medications work by reducing brain activity, most people feel like their emotions are dulled and their thinking feels foggy. They feel sedated, not alive and certainly not clear-headed. Most will deal with that because it beats the feelings of anxiety that can sometimes overtake their world.

Getting to the root cause means taking responsibility for and making the changes necessary that provided the foundation for anxiety to occur in the first place. This means taking a look at dietary factors — those things that are in the diet that exacerbate anxiety, and those things missing from the diet that prevent the person from getting well. It means taking a look at the lifestyle factors that can provoke an “attack,” or that keep anxiety stirred up.

While there are several helpful natural remedies for anxiety, nutrition and acupuncture are two of the most effective remedies available today.  There are many herbs that can be taken, but again, although helpful, they too don’t really get down to the cause and remedy it from the foundational level. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to help resolve a variety of emotional maladies such as depression, stress, obsessiveness, mood swings, and of course, anxiety. By addressing many different systems responsible for emotional balance, acupuncture is quite effective in supporting natural healthy emotional responses.

On Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. I will hold an “Acupuncture Happy Hour” workshop. This is an opportunity to learn more about how acupuncture can help in dealing with stress and anxiety AND receive an introductory stress and anxiety relieving acupuncture treatment for only $45. RSVP: (208) 765-1994.

Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 30 years of experience. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’ Alene clinic. Visit Dr. Carling’s Web site at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Dr. Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Dr. Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.