Has anybody used anything natural for anxiety problems?

[lilb09]

I know that I can use Cognitive Therapy, and stuff like that, but has anybody used something else that has helped out with their anxiety. I have heard that message therapy, acupuncture, yoga, stuff like that has helped with anxiety. It would be nice to go to a councilor or psychologists, but my goodness that charge ALOT! It's hard being 20 and paying for college, plus paying 150 dollars an hour. Has anybody found something that they use besides medicine that immediatly soothes anxiety? Some people say they use lavendar or something like that to instantly calm them. I'm thinking I need to fill my anxiety with something else. So if anybody has any advice, that would be great!

[nursegirl6572]

Sometimes lifestyle changes can make a difference.  Exercise, healthy eating, getting good sleep, avoiding alcohol...are ways to help with anxiety.

I agree with JG that your University should offer some kind of mental health support, probably including therapy.  It's worth looking into!

If your anxiety gets worse, or you feel it is affecting you where you are not functioning, you may have to look into other options...but there are a lot of things you could try!

[JGF25]

You are in college you said.  I am sure they have counselors in the health department that you can talk to who are probably free of charge.  They might not be psycholoogists but I'm sure they can give you some strategies.  Colleges are full of people with anxiety so I'm sure they see it all the time.  

Exercise is great for anxiety because it increases the amount of brain serotonin you have.  Also, there are several books out there that can help you as well.  I know there is at least one by the author whose last name is Weekes.  I have not read those books so I really cannot say much about them.  Maybe someone else will chime in who has.  I have read Self-Coaching by Joseph Luciani and that was very helpful to me.  

Those other things you mentioned, massage, acupuncture, they cost money too.  You can pick up a yoga DVD for cheap I'm sure.