Three Ways To Heal Anxiety

Currently, anxiety is classified as a mental disorder but is treated with medication. According to NAMI, 300 million people suffer from it. However, this was not always the case. In the 1960s, renowned psychiatrist Claire Weekes, M.D., successfully treated anxiety without pills.[1] Her two books, Peace from Nervous Suffering and Hope and Help for Your Nerves (available on Amazon), describe her cognitive approach to recovery. As she wisely notes, a cure requires a bit more awareness and effort than simply taking pills but is more effective in the long run.

#1 – Recognize that the real problem is fear
Anxiety isn’t a random event; it always comes from fear. Fear originates in our thoughts. There are two types of fear: real and imaginary. It’s healthy to fear real dangers, like a wild animal, a financial crisis, or a child in danger. In these cases, the surge of adrenaline and other chemicals in the body strengthens us for survival. But imaginary fears that aren’t real create the same chemical reactions in the body and, over time, lead to physical symptoms. These worries are based on what-ifs, not facts, and tend to spin in the mind, gaining momentum and increasing bodily stress over time. Questions like “What if I’m alone?” “What if I run out of money?” “What if so-and-so abandons me?” “What if I get sick?” are unhelpful imaginary scenarios without solutions that cause tension and stress. Eventually, a person may become so anxious that they feel mentally or physically overwhelmed, seek medical advice, and are prescribed medication. Most medications have side effects like addiction, drowsiness, and emotional numbness. Since the root problem is never addressed, the dependence on medication often lasts a lifetime. Once you face the fear and commit to a solution, the fear disappears.

#2 Don’t Medicate It
The primary treatment for fear (diagnosed as anxiety) is benzodiazepines, unless you develop painful physical symptoms, in which case other medications may be necessary. Although doctors claim benzodiazepines aren’t addictive, research shows otherwise. Masking symptoms doesn’t address the root cause. The best way to treat anxiety is to face it: close your eyes and take three deep breaths. When you focus entirely on deep breathing, you might be thinking of imaginary fears. Instead, you can say, “I’m safe right now,” “Every problem has a solution,” “I’m willing to live in the solution instead of the problem,” or “There’s no fear I can’t face.” Dr. Weekes suggests floating with the feelings that come up and letting time pass. Other psychiatrists like Kelly Brogan are embracing non-prescription treatments for mental disorders. It requires more effort than taking pills, but if you choose to be in charge rather than giving your power to an unruly mind and pills, you can master anxiety fairly easily.

#3 Reduce the stressors
Most anxiety comes from unmanageability. Running late, not managing finances, and ignoring life’s warning signs are all things within our control. Also, certain chemicals like caffeine, sugar, and alcohol increase anxiety. If we address these issues and live in the solution (arriving early, sticking to a budget and paying bills on time, and facing reality about health and relationships), we can reduce most of our fears and remain calm. Otherwise, our mind operates like a jackhammer, jamming us further into anxiety and distress.

When we manage our lives constructively and live in the solution, we can conserve our emotional resources for real danger. Meanwhile, we can recognize that our mind is under our command and not the other way around. If you enjoy freedom, especially from stress and anxiety, you are free to take charge whenever you want. Recognizing and solving your fears, refusing to medicate them, and reducing the causes of stress will help you to live a peaceful life. After all, isn’t that what you deserve?

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