Any good natural remedies for anxiety/depression

[sillygiraffe]

Any suggestions on natural remedies for anxiety? Want to try and be a bit more calm about things overall and really do not want to take medication from gp if I can help it.

Been having a bit of a rocky time with dd lately which has brought me down a bit (not her fault really - just me coping badly with things). Always had problems with worrying FAR TOO MUCH about everything and over reacting.

So any ideas what I can try? (dont say exercise please!)

I think you'd be best off to take advice from your GP even if you don't want medication. Even natural remedies can interact with other things you might be taking.

Have you heard of mindfulness?
Also meditation helps. There are apps or CD's you can listen to.

I think magnesium supplements can help with anxiety (and other things) but I haven't tried them myself. Mindful breathing really helped me - I used breathing exercises from a yoga class.

Hope you find something to help

I agree with the above as well as talking therapies.

That said, FWIW I have mild anxiety. Have had depression and anxiety in the past, treated through counselling. I still get a mild level of anxiety every now and then. So I take Kalms tablets. I find that they do help but would be happy to accept that they work by making me feel that I am doing something and am "in charge" rather than the actual ingredients IYSWIM.

A chat with your GP might be a good way forward.

Do you have a pet ? Animals can brighten up the darkest of days.

St John's Wort is meant to be very helpful for low level depression/fed up ness (but can interfere with some medication including contraceptive pill so be aware of that!)

Rescue remedy really works for me! Few drops of that and some deep breaths.

I run (stagger) when having a bad spell, it really clears my head. The first day is always horrid, I literally get ready in three stages and meditate. It really helps.

Sillygiraffe, sorry you are feeling low. I'm very much like you. Too much worrying and overreacting. I have been diagnosed w untreated postnatal depression followed by further depression.
I'd like to echo what the others said about mindfulness. I'm trying to learn it and even with my stumbling attempts it's very helpful.
I started taking St Johns Wort just over a week ago and have taken it in the past. Again what a previous poster said-it can interfere with other meds/the pill.
Rescue Remedy is great. There is also a night version. I take it before bed and not sure if it is that but I certa have no problem going to sleep.

Yoga, meditation, walking outside in a park/nature.

I had a good experience with st johns wort. It took a bit of tweaking to get the right dose but its really helped me to get my 'me' back. I think others posters non-medication suggestions are really good too.

Buying OTC "natural" stuff is not a good idea. St. John's Wort works, however it does interfere with other medication including birth control, also causes light sensitivity.
If you don't want to pop pills, don't think that OTC pills don't count. Exercise is helpful, also might be worth reading up on CBT.

Mindfulness and progressive body relaxation. Herbal tea (camomile). Warm bath, milky drink before bed. Hot water bottle. No reading-screen time in the hour before bed. Regular walking/exercise. Using a CBT book such as the For Dummies ones.

I had severe anxiety that hospitalised me and these were all recommended alongside CBT. I haven't needed meds for ages even though I'm going through a divorce and feel better than I have since my teens.

I am not on any other medication whatsoever so OTC stuff would not interfere with anything and if its natural then whats the harm. I've been on medication in the past and I dont want to go down that route and I would rather try more natural stuff. I probably could do with counselling but I'm a bit scared to go to the doc and admit I have a problem.

Don't be. I was scared and ended up leaving it til I was right in the shit. You wouldn't be scared of admitting to migraines or leg pain and mental health in no different. I only wish I'd got help sooner - therapy/counselling is fab.

Meds, natural or otherwise, are fab up to a point, but CBT or counselling will give you the skills to manage things going forward, as does learning relaxation/mindfulness etc.

Exercise helps...I suffer from both and always feel better if I've done some even just a walk round the shops

Yoga has been the best thing that worked for me - not only to calm down there and also long lasting effects - better sleep, and it's quite nice to switch off for a couple of hours. Also - a good balanced diet and regular meals. Sounds daft but there is some science behind it around blood sugar levels that can affect anxiety.

I did yoga in the past when I had a very bad spell. It definitely helped and it's something I'd like to get back into.

Sparklepup, do you go to a group/class? Is it as beneficial if you just do it on your own??

YouTube - laughing babies and silly pets always put me in a good mood.

Listen to some great music - recently I've bought Rio 2 CD and it is very invigorating!
I have also bought some other Samba/Salsa music CDs, no formal excercise needed, I dance about and feel better.
But any "get your arse in gear" music is great.

A hot shower always cheers me up too, I was find myself planning to do positive things.

Pinterest - search for funny photos and quotes.
Laughter really is a good medicine, it releases much needed endorphines (so does the dancing)

Get organised, make lists, tidy up, do hobbies, bake something nice, make something nice.
And hoover up. a clean floor makes any room instantly tidy, it is a very unlikely but efficient way to lift your mood.

These are my coping strategies.
I suffer from imsonia, have a lot of pent up anger & frustration and still get anxious & have panic attacks every now and then. I'm very highly strung.
I have 7 kids and believe me they are stressful. And I could probably do with some sort of medication to calm me down, but I don't want to get addicted to pills.

I had counselling for my anxiety & panic attacks 8 years ago and it really helped. Weirdly the most interesting & unexpected "find" was that I had a massive problem with time management.
When I'm organised I find I'm calmer.

I hope these ideas are helpful for you OP

oh and drinking lots of water. I'm rubbish at sticking to it, but when i do my body & brain function way better

I like yoga to help lift my mood & calm me down, meditation and a long walk in the fresh air either on the beach or with my favourite tunes on. My favourite thing if I'm really feeling down or stressed is a walk in the woods at dawn - gives me the quiet to sort out my thoughts. Eating well will help too. Speak to your GP about mindfulness courses being run locally - you might have an NHS funded one in your area. Talking helps too - maybe a few counselling sessions - GP could refer you for that too.

ScandiS I go to a class once or twice a week and yes it can be just as beneficial if you do it on your own. I personally like the class as learn new things every week and it's allowed me to meet a new different circle of people. I told my teacher at the start I had anxiety and she said that modern life makes us hold tension and stress in our bodies and that yoga poses help release this tension. It's definitely worked for me

'if it is natural then what's the harm'...

don't pick those pretty deadly nightshade berries!

please read:

www.senseaboutscience.org/pages/making-sense-of-chemical-stories.html

Getting enough good quality sleep should make a big difference. I use Asphalia (search online) which is a melatonin rich natural grass product. Works beautifully for a very restful sleep. Another melatonin rich supplement is called Cherry Active, which I haven't tried.

Tissue salts are also useful. Kali Phos, Calc Phos and Mag Phos. They aren't quite so easy to get now - used to be available in H and B - but can be found online.

I would try asphalia first.

Holy basil

Magnesium oil is what im trying. Ive only had it a couple of days though so dont know if its helping yet.