Ayurveda for anxiety

Anxiety is a peace thief, stealing your peace and power. India's holistic health system Ayurveda offers many effective suggestions to safeguard your serenity against this pervasive pilferer.

- Caroline Robertson

Anxiety disorders affect one in four Australians in their life, according to healthdirect.gov.au. The WHO (World Health Organization) states "anxiety disorders are the world's most common mental disorders, affecting 301 million people in 2019."

The word anxiety originates from the Latin angere, to choke, and the condition can cause a slew of strangling symptoms from mild apprehension to recurring dread, even escalating to persistent panic. The symptoms of anxiety are recognisable but will differ from person to person. Which anxiety signs affect you or someone you know?

Whatever way anxiety manifests for you, try sitting with the sensations, sending them a loving smile, tenderly touching the area affected saying, "I'm aware of you, I'm looking after you, I let you go."

Jitter triggers

Nature and nurture both contribute to anxiety. Ayurveda attributes anxiety largely to mental trauma or mano abhighata. Samskaras or mental impressions of past trauma, including in utero, intergenerational and past life, affect all aspects of your being if left unattended.

These things can get on your nerves, according to ayurveda.

• Depletion through poor eating or sleeping
• Emotional or physical shock
• Excess pressure to perform in career, relationships etc
• Exposure to weather extremes
• Internal toxins
• Irregular lifestyle
• Stimulants
• Substance abuse or withdrawal
• Unresolved issues such as external stressors or internal illness.
• Weak organs and tissues - particularly the endocrine and central nervous system.

What's your anxiety type?

There's a vast array of ways we express anxiety including:

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) -GAD sufferers are far from glad. Worry is their • • default setting with anything potentially triggering anxiety.