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Anxiety Can Be Treated & Supported Naturally

A U.S. Task force is recommending that children between the ages of 8-18 should be screened for anxiety. While it is true that anxiety disorders and feelings of anxiousness are on the rise in children and adolescents, this screening creates opportunity for those who score “high” or “moderate” to be made vulnerable to prescription medications to treat their anxiety.


Generalized Anxiety Disorderis a crippling mental health issue for anyone who endures it. The DSM-5 defines Generalized Anxiety Disorder as: “excessive worry and apprehensive expectations, occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities, such as work or school performance.”



However, having temporary feelings of anxiousness or worry during school or as a result of a bump in your interpersonal relationships is something everyone experiences at some point. Young children who are answering questions about “If they have felt worried or anxious in the past week” will likely all answer that they have felt that way. The questions in this screening are nonspecific and very general.


Here are a few of the questions listed in the screening:

"Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following:

-Trouble relaxing?

-Being so restless it is hard to sit still?

-Becoming easily annoyed or irritable?

Select one of the following options for each question: not at all, several days, more than half the days, nearly every day"


It is a massive concern that children who answer "more than half the days" or "nearly every day" to many of these questions may be considered for prescriptions that they have no need for. It can be common for young children to be worried about tests, school, home life, etcetera, but if a child has anxiety, medication should not be the only route. Of course, my philosophy is that nobody should be using prescription medications (especially long-term), but to possibly be putting these drugs in children who don’t need them is absurd. The same task force is also recommending non-medicated options for children, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which could be beneficial for children with symptoms impacting their focus and temperament. But, the possibility of medication is always an option and could be suggested by health care providers.




Mental health is more important than ever, and there are natural ways to support depression and anxiety that are safe for both children and adults. There are supplements on the market that contain Magnesium, L-Theanine, GABA, and Lemon Balm that are extremely effective in alleviating anxiety.


My favorite product that combines all of these ingredients is the “Nervous Wreck” Anxiety Time Release patches. They can be cut in half or in quarters depending on your desired dose, and they work for me almost instantly. For those who need some help with anxiety before bed, the Calm-Pro is amazing as well, which contains L-Theanine. We also carry Magnesium Citrate as a stand-alone ingredient supplement. Lemon Balm is an herb that can be made into tea and eaten in salads or other fresh dishes, & it is also available at natural health food stores and online in tincture form.



Younger children may not need to use multiple supplements depending on the severity of their anxiety, so starting with lemon balm tea might do the trick. Ask your child’s pediatrician about other supplements if you are unsure.


Melatonin is also a natural hormone that is safe for children to use. It is great for kiddos who can’t sleep due to feeling stressed or anxious, and it is also great for special needs children. Another option for the young girls who have begun menstruating and suffer from anxiety and depression is to use bio-identical progesterone. Many doctors will prescribe birth control as a method of treating these symptoms, but birth control is made from synthetic hormones that could damage the body, increase risk of reproductive cancers & blood clots, and bring on other symptoms such as weight gain, estrogen dominance, and even more anxiety.


The Recommended Products for Anxiety:


“Nervous Wreck” Anxiety Time Release Patches

Contains: GABA, Magnesium, L-Theanine, Ashwagandha Root, Lemon Balm; 1 full patch lasts 8-10 hours

For children, VICI recommends starting with ¼ or ½ of a patch as needed.



Calm-Pro

Contains: 100 mg of L-Theanine/tablet



Magnesium Citrate

Contains: 170 mg of Magnesium/capsule



Melatonin Sublingual (3 mg/tablet)

Contains: 3 mg of Melatonin/tablet



Restful Night Melatonin Crème

Contains: 2.4 mg of Melatonin/¼ tsp



Pro-HELP Moisture Treatment Crème


Contains: 20 mg of USP Micronized Progesterone/¼ tsp



If your child is anxious, medication does not have the be the answer. If you are an anxious adult, medication does not have to be the answer. Take advantage of God’s pharmacy; you do not have to defer to man’s pharmacy!


For questions or more information, please email me here: barbara@askbarbarahoffman.com

We were not designed to suffer, and that includes our children!

Love you!

Barbara

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