Anxiety or Stress in Children and Adults

Anxiety or Stress in Children and Adults and How Homeopathy can Help

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a mental health complaint that is diagnosed on the basis of the symptoms provided by the patient. It refers to a mental state of nervousness, fear, and worry on a fairly regular basis. Getting anxious or nervous once in a while on certain occasions is a regular part of life. For example, getting anxious before an examination, while giving an interview or during stressful events like going to the doctor, is somewhat normal. These type of anxieties on such occasions are short-lived and temporary.

Anxiety becomes a problem when the reaction of the adult or child in a given situation escalates to a highly intense form and/or out of proportion than what one usually expects or if becomes a constant in the person’s life. If the episodes of such extreme anxiety appear frequently, they will interfere with the normal activities in everyday life and might have an adverse impact on relationships too.

Anxiety

What are the five major types of anxiety disorders?

There are mainly 5 types of Anxiety:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD, this is the most common and is characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviours or compulsions. Examples are repetitive behaviours such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or to reduce them. Performing these so-called “rituals,” however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing them markedly increases anxiety.

Panic disorder

Panic disorder or Panic attack is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, usually develops after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical or mental/emotional harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.

Social Phobia

Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation – such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others – or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a adult or child experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around other people.

Anxiety

Conventional Treatment for Anxiety

There are various conventional treatment options available for anxiety disorders. The two most common treatments are psychotherapy and medications, as well as cranial electrotherapy stimulation.
Psychotherapy is a talk therapy based which aims to help individuals to learn tools and strategies to cope with anxiety.

Medications – these are all prescription medications, as all have side effects and most create addiction, to help relieve or suppress the symptoms of anxiety disorders, while under the influence of the active drug.
Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) is also a treatment option where pulses of a low-intensity electrical current are applied to the earlobes or scalp. These pulses affect brain activity in a way that may help to reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Homeopathic Treatment

Homeopathic therapy works seeking insights into the psychology of the adult or child to bring about a complete recovery, by matching the most indicated homeopathic remedy. The remedy will act in a mild, gentle and effective manner to gradually reduce the physical and mental reactions associated with anxiety, without suppressing symptoms, side effects or addiction.

The homeopathic remedies are made of natural substances, making them safe for use in children and adults without any side effects. These can be used to address anxiety that varies from mild to severe in intensity (like general nervousness to panic attacks). Since they are natural and not habit forming, there is also no risk of drug dependency.

In addition, homeopathy can be used in conjunction with conventional medication to help gradually the individual to tamper off the anti- anxiety medications like antidepressants, beta-blockers, anti-psychotics, etc., in a gradual process. Homeopathic remedies are based on energy and do not contain material doses of the respective substances, therefore do not cause interactions or have the potential effect of cancelling, diminishing or increasing the effects of conventional medication.

Most Common Homeopathic Remedies for Anxiety with main indications

Aconitum Napellus – Cold sweat on the body during an anxiety attack, a constant chain of changeable thoughts, fear of death, talkativeness, fear of public spaces these are key symptoms that indicate the need for this medicine. Drinking cold water may offer relief.

Arsenic Album – extreme anxiety about health where the adult or child experiences extreme restlessness. Symptoms like changing positions from one side to another, sadness, gloom, fear, trembling, chilliness, weakness, and nausea. All symptoms tend to get worse after midnight.

Anxiety

Argentum Nitricum – anxiety that directly relates to anticipation, also known as anticipatory anxiety. Anticipatory anxiety meaning anxiety from constant thoughts about events that are about to take place in the future, like a public meeting to be attended in the future. The individual constantly thinks about the event until it happens. Diarrhea may set in during the anxiety phase. There is an internal feeling of hurry, impatience, and weakness in the legs may be present.

Coffea Cruda – anxiety with sleeplessness. Thoughts crowd a person’s mind when attempting to sleep, along with palpitations and nervousness. The adult or child may toss and turn from side to side in the bed in anguish and remain wide awake all night due to anxiety.

Gelsemium Sempervirens – anxiety related to making a public appearance. If the adult or child has to go and engage with many people, excessive anxiety and nervousness arise, along with exhaustion and drowsiness. Sadness, melancholy, and confusion of mind, irritability, and diarrhoea may be present. This is one of the top remedies for stage fright.

Ignatia Amara –for anxiety with depression. The adult or child has anxiety as a result of long-standing grief from the past. Sadness, social isolation, and aversion to talking are the predominant symptoms, along with brooding about past events. There is also an aversion to speaking, and sudden mood changes may occur.

Lilium Tigrinum – anxiety where an adult or child fears contracting an incurable disease. The symptoms include nervousness, restlessness, and hurriedness. Palpitations, fear of becoming insane and fear of being alone are present. Remaining busy or engaged in work seems to relive the symptoms even if temporarily.

Anxiety

Opium – anxiety that arises from fright. The adult or child needing Opium usually have a history of some kind of fearful incidence in the past that triggered the anxiety. The shock and fright of that event becomes imprinted reoccurring time and time again, leading to bouts of anxiety.

Phosphorus – anxiety about the future where the adult or child experiences sadness, restlessness, melancholy, indifference, weariness from everyday life and extreme irritability. Sweating on the forehead, nervous exhaustion and fatigue are other associated symptoms, which tend to get worse in the evening.

 

About the Author

PRACTICING CLASSICAL HOMEOPATH AND DOCTOR OF MICROBIOLOGY
ALEXANDRA CARNEIRO DE MELO, PhD MSc, PhD (London), DIHom (Pract), FBIH, RSHom

Education Personal

Accreditations:

  • BSc – Food Engineering, 1989 – Porto University, Portugal (High Class Honors)
  • MSc – Food Microbiology, 1991 – University of Reading in the UK
  • PhD – Applied Microbiology, 1997 – King’s College, London
  • DIHom(Pract) – Diploma in Homeopathic Medicine, Practitioner Level British Institute of Homeopathy
  • FBIH – Fellowship for life, British Institute of Homeopathy
  • RSHom – Member of The Society of Homeopaths

As a homeopath, my ultimate goal is to help you live to your fullest capacity, where the entire spiritual, mental, emotional, social and physical being is restored to the natural state it was created in. Please do get in touch if you are ready to begin your healing journey.

Website: www.alexcmelo.com

Alexandra Melo

1 thought on “Anxiety or Stress in Children and Adults and How Homeopathy can Help”

  1. What do we give a 12 year old that is constantly being bullied
    on line and as a result of this also at school

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