Joint post with my friend Cory Rodriguez on the possible root causes of anxiety!
What if there was more to anxiety than most people are told?
We’re taught that anxiety is a genetic chemical imbalance, and if we have it, we’ll always have it. This may be true for some but is not always the case.
In fact, so much anxiety is a direct result of how we live and the things we eat and drink. Some of these things are completely under our control.
Anxiety can be reversible and can be managed!
Even if your anxiety was said to be genetic, it still comes down to how you manage it on a daily basis.
This obviously will be different for every person, but let’s dive into some of these potential reasons…
1. Blood sugar – if you get hangry or anxious, you’re probably on a blood sugar roller coaster. Keep your blood sugar stable by eating plenty of protein and healthy fats, and avoiding sugar and refined carbs.
2. Caffeine – caffeine is not an inherently bad substance, but some of us are sensitive to it, and it put our nervous system in a stress response.
3. Sleep deprivation – there is no better medicine for anxiety than good sleep. Go to bed early and get the phone out of the bedroom.
4. Chronic stress – set boundaries, say no, reframe, and generally opt out of the busy trap and trying to eek out as much productivity as possible. Do less and savor your time.
5. Hormones & thyroid – irregular periods and thyroid dysfunction can both masquerade as anxiety disorders. Get checked and get things back in balance.
6. Gut dysfunction – when your gut is inflamed, it sends a message straight to your brain that things are not okay.
7. Chronic inflammation – an inflamed brain is an anxious brain. Eat an anti-inflammatory based diet.
8. Food sensitivities – a common cause of gut dysfunction and chronic inflammation.
9. Micronutrient deficiencies – common issues, like B12 deficiency, can lead to anxiety.
