If anxiety is something you deal with, you know that it can show up in lots of ways. One of the most common symptoms is a racing mind, with worrisome thoughts that feel impossible to shut off.
Especially now, anxiety is on the rise — and it continues to be one of the main issues my clients seek help with. As a functional medicine health coach, I’m aware of powerful anti-anxiety remedies that work fast to alleviate and prevent anxiety — but none more life-changing than the one I’m about to share.
However, before I share it, it’s critical to understand something:
👉 Without exception, all health issues, concerns, challenges, etc. stem from a root cause. If we don’t address, treat, and/or eliminate that root cause, symptoms will keep returning and likely get worse.
That’s why anti-anxiety medications are — and will always be — just a temporary relief.
It’s also why functional medicine is so powerful and effective for healing anxiety and ANY health issue — because it addresses the root causes of issues. 🎯
So, before I share my favourite anxiety-busting hack — which I’m happy to do — we need to ask this question:
What is the root cause of anxiety?
– Internal Stressors such as an imbalance of gut bacteria, and
– External Stressors, which is probably the one you’re most familiar with – Psychological STRESS.
Yes, stress and our 21st-century lifestyles have lots of unhealthy effects on us. But one of the most insidious ones that I hardly hear anyone ever talk about is this:
Over time, stress can leach precious, vital minerals from our bodies. This includes the all-important mineral magnesium.
Magnesium is quite literally a “miracle mineral” that is vital for everyday functioning — particularly with regard to stress management. Magnesium turns on the body’s natural healing mechanisms by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, and it helps dampen the cortisol-stress response.
It’s also required for just about every cellular and bodily function. In fact, depleted magnesium levels can lead to:
– Anxiety
– Atrial Fibrillation (racing heart)
– Calcium loss (poor bone density)
– Ear ringing
– Headaches
– Hormonal imbalances
– Kidney stones
– Muscle spasms
– Restless Leg Syndrome
– Sleep issues
– The list goes on
As you can see from this list, magnesium deficiency is linked to many health concerns, including anxiety.
That’s why every sleep-deprived, hormonally-imbalanced, stressed-out client I work with learns about the value of incorporating magnesium into their diet, or via smart supplementation.
So how do you choose the right form of this mineral?
If you go to a local supplement store you will notice there are multiple forms of magnesium. From Epsom Salts to Magnesium Supplement capsules, they all come in varying strengths and bio-availability, i.e. levels of absorption. Apart from including more magnesium rich foods into your diet, such as those listed above, supplementation is the simplest solution.
But please don’t rush off and buy a random bottle of magnesium. Choosing the right form of this mineral is essential if you want to effectively alleviate anxiety and prevent it from returning.
If you go to a local health food or supplement store, you’ll notice there are multiple forms of magnesium. From Epsom salts to magnesium capsules, it comes in varying strengths and bio-availability (levels of absorption).
On that note, here are some key points to keep in mind as you consider a magnesium supplement:
– If your anxiety is disrupts your sleep, magnesium citrate is my go-to. It starts working quickly to relax your body and turn off those whirring thoughts.
– You can also use a spray or gel to get magnesium directly into muscles, which can be very calming and relaxing.
– Dosing levels will vary based on your individual needs. I’ve found personal success with one dose in the morning, and one dose before bed, to keep me balanced.
– During more stressful times, where it’s easy to get distracted, I increase my dose gradually to what my body can tolerate — and practice more meditation so that I can become more mindful of certain triggers.
– It’s always best to work with a provider who understands supplementation and the difference between drug store and supermarket brands, versus high-quality, food-based, therapeutic-grade supplements.
– It’s also best to test your gut health with lab work and consult a health professional to understand if you’re absorbing nutrients and rule out any internal stressors.
When combined with changes in beliefs, behaviours, relaxation practices, and personalised nutrition, magnesium is a powerful tool in your anti-stress and overall-health-supporting toolkit.
If you think you’d benefit from the guidance of a functional medicine health coach in stopping your anxiety in its tracks — and preventing it from returning — I’d love to help.
