Stress and anxiety are extremely taxing on the body, often resulting in loss of energy and tiredness. The remedies for stress are either prescriptive medicines or natural herbal treatments.

Prescriptive Remedies

The stress and anxiety surrounding life events can be debilitating for many. For worst for many are the medications often prescribed for these conditions.

Having myself been prescribed paroxetine [Aropax] for post traumatic distress syndrome, I found that after four weeks, the side effects were worse than the condition and showed no signs of abating, in fact, they got so bad I could barely get through half a days work. I woke up tired, could not manage a simple workout routine without stopping at least 4 times and would have happily gone back to bed by midday. In a desperate attempt to regain a normal functioning day, I tapered off the dosage over 5 days then stopped – the withdrawl side effects then kicked in with fury.

Intense dizziness, acute nausea, spontaneous disorientation. Apart from the chronic dizziness, other symptoms only lasting a couple of seconds, but were actually quite frightening at times. Rather than the black spots type dizziness one experiences at times when rising too quickly from sitting, this is more like that feeling one gets as one is put under anaesthetic. It’s a momentary rapid fading away feeling. Quite alarming for those that may not realise that this is a common side effect.

The real issue for me is that it appears from the many accounts on the Internet of those having been prescribed this drug, that the doctors don’t tell you any of this at the time they prescribe the drug. I certainly questioned my Doctor and was not informed of any of these side effects of either taking the presciption or withdrawing from it.

Once the withdrawl symptoms were not abating after 5 days I decided to seek out some natural remedies to help ease through this time as Christmas Day was only a week away and my daughter was arriving from overseas to spend a few days with me before her partner joined us. This was the first time we had spent 1:1 time like this for about 15 years, so I was keen to be in better shape during her stay.

Natural treatments for anxiety are a welcome treatment option for any debilitating mental disorder. The best I found were three supplements and a Bach Rescue Remedy.

Anxiety Supplements

There are three primary supplements with anti-anxiety benefits:

Melissa Officinalis [Melissa] - a general herb to improve overall well-being, anxiety and cold sores.

Melissas antispasmodic properties make it one of the best natural treatments for anxiety. Helping to soothe nerves throughout the body, alleviating discomfort associated with anxiety such as "butterflies " feelings

Lavandula Augustifolia [Lavender] – also an antispasmodic, the scent from lavender is sufficient to relax and relieve depression in many people.

Passiflora Incarnata [Passionflower] - relieve nervousness and anxiety, controls nausea and "butterflies in the stomach.

Passionflower tea is a common form of taking this anti anxiety supplements, many preferring to mix passionflower, Melissa and lavender together in equal parts.

Different properties of the leaves are used to treat each of the different conditions, but the same parts of the plant are used in all Melissa supplements.

Bach Rescue Remedy

Bach Rescue Remedy is an inexpensive [around $13] remedy developed by Dr. Edward Bach, a Harley Street Doctor, Homeopathic Researcher, Bacteriologist, and Physician.

It is readily available in health food stores or online in tincture, cream for skin irritations, or spray form for rapid absorption.

This remedy contains:

Impatiens - useful for irritation and frustration.

Star of Bethlehem - after effects of shock, or bad news.

Cherry plum - for fear of losing control

Rock rose – mental trauma associated with accidents or witnessing an accident.

Clematis - hard to live in the real world

Together, the combination is designed to help balance the emotions, relieve stress, and reduce fear and nervousness in stressful, traumatic or emergency situations.

It is also useful for both people and animals to aid recovery from injury, fright, illness, travel fatigue, chocolate ingestion and irritation. Also helps with sleeplessness and depression.

For Animals - put a few drops in water bowl. For transporting stressed or injured animals, rub a drop on the animals ear or put a drop on a towel in their carrier.

These flower essences are free of harmful effects and can be used along with conventional medicines.

Ingredients: 5X of combined Malus Pumila HPU.S., Helianthemum Nummularium HPU.S., Clematis Vitalba HPU.S., Impatiens Glandulifera HPU.S., Prunus Cerasifer HPU.S., Ornithogalum Umbellatum HPU.S.