Vitamins for Anxiety and Panic Disorders

Anxiety Disorders are one of the most common types of psychiatric disorders in the United States. There are a variety of types of anxiety disorders, all with different symptoms, but they each share the underlying symptom of irrational fear. Panic Disorder is one of the most severe forms of anxiety disorder and is often classified as its own illness. It affects more than 2 million adults in America every year, but it seems to affect twice as many women as men. Panic disorder also accounts for about 70% of all anxiety disorder cases.

There are actually a number of different types of anxiety or panic disorders, but they are all linked by the underlying symptom of an irrational fear or anxiety. People with anxiety disorders worry about things that shouldn’t cause excessive worry. Sometimes, this worry gets so great that it cause intense and debilitating fear. Many anxiety disorder sufferers can’t go to work, attend social events, or even be seen in public because of their anxiety.

Overcoming anxiety can be challenging but also extremely rewarding. Depending upon your anxiety disorder, there are numerous available treatments to reduce your symptoms. Anti-anxiety medications, panic attack treatments, and natural treatments for anxiety are all beneficial. Before trying any treatment, though, it is important for you to speak with your health care provider to ensure that it is the right choice for you.

Below is a list of some of the most common and effective vitamins that can be used to help manage and relieve the symptoms of Anxiety and Panic Disorders. Be sure to consult your physician before adding anything new to your diet.

• B vitamins - Biotin, niacin (100mg per day), thiamine, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, B6 (100mg per day), B12, folic acid are all important for the production of the key chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters. Thiamine is very important for those prone to panic, anxiety and depression. Every time you become angry, cry or feel run down - you are burning thiamine. A daily B-Complex (50 to 100mg per day) supplement is a great way of getting the B vitamins your body needs.
• Tryptophan is a calming agent, which also helps bolster the nervous system.
• Calcium (600mg + Vit. D per day) is a muscle relaxant. It helps calm you down during an anxious period. Vitamin D allows your body to absorb Calcium properly.
• Alpha-linolenic acid There have been quite a few studies that have focused on alpha-linolenic acid and anxiety disorder. A good percentage of individuals suffering from panic attacks for a decade have reported back a significant improvement within 2-3 months of consuming additional amounts of alpha-linolenic acid.
• Magnesium (200mg 2 to 3 times per day) may be beneficial during anxiety and panic because it assists with muscle relaxation.
• Vitamin C (250 to 500mg per day) reduces swelling and helps your immune system function better.
• Coenzyme Q10 (50 to 100mg one to two times per day) improves oxygen delivery to tissues and has antioxidant activity.
• Depending on your symptoms and their severity, the above list can be used as a guideline of vitamins that you can consider adding to your diet. The vitamins listed above should be used in conjunction with your other medications and over time you may find that other medications can be reduced or possibly stopped. This is a decision that should only be made under medical supervision.