What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal emotion, which is essential for our existence. Our body has an F3 or fight-flight-freeze response to protect itself from potential danger. This response is vital to our survival in the face of real danger.
In prehistoric times, humans needed adrenaline (a type of hormone) to compete or live in the wild. However, once the animal is killed or found a safe place, the body returns to normal. But today, we neither fight the attacker nor do physical labor. We just get upset and stunned.
When a person starts worrying very rapidly and continuously about everyday life situations, then nervousness or restlessness becomes a problem.
Even if there is no danger but we feel that there is danger, then in such a situation panic increases the F3 response. For example, you might be worried about your office presentation and yell at your child for no reason. Or when you are leaving the cafeteria of your office, at that time your eyes fall on someone with whom you are not comfortable. That person should join your group (Flight). Or while giving a lecture, your mind starts feeling completely empty (Freeze). These situations may not be dangerous, but your system is put on high alert.
Too much worry leads to panic. Panic attacks and anxiety attacks occur for the same reason but manifest differently. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, breathlessness, chest pain, headache, fatigue, tremors, and insomnia.
Panic attacks subside suddenly after some time, but after an anxiety attack, the feeling of panic does not go away completely and can increase at any time.
Anxiety disorders are a group of mental disorders that include feelings of fear, generalized anxiety, panic disorders, phobias especially social phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Doctors believe that possible causes include genetics, hormone-related imbalances, endocrine disorders, personality type, social causes, and drug addiction.
Various physical, mental and emotional problems can arise due to work pressure, deadlines, constant noise from behind, exposure to artificial light, and constant overstimulation of the nervous system due to insomnia. Divorce, loss of a loved one, financial crisis, major illness, or difficult situations like being in war for a long time also include other causes of these problems.
According to a study by WHO in 2015, the global prevalence of anxiety disorders was estimated to be 3.6%. The study also found that women are more prone to anxiety disorders than men.
Ayurvedic diet to deal with anxiety
Eat regularly on time
Eat food cooked in oil only hot. Avoid dry foods like popcorn and chips
Include beetroot, cauliflower, sweet potato, sweet corn, pumpkin, and radish in the diet
Lentils like Moong, Toor or Arhar, etc. can be included in the meal, but it needs to be cooked properly.
Include homemade milk, ghee, fresh butter, and buttermilk
Avoid sugar, caffeine, artificial fizzy drinks, raw and frozen foods, and fried foods
drink lukewarm water
