Thinking about getting off anxiety meds?
I’ve been surprised at how many women reach out to me because they want to get off anxiety meds or have been told they should consider taking them and are looking for other options.
Some women don’t like being dependent on a pill, or are concerned about long term liver damage or the effects of medication during pregnancy. Others are experiencing major side effects or just a feeling of being numbed out and not really there.
Whatever your reason, I want you to know that it’s absolutely possible to heal anxiety naturally, holistically and permanently.
When you understand the root causes of anxiety, you can start building a foundation of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health, strength and stability now - you don’t need to wait. Cultivating a feeling of stability within will give you the confidence to transition off of medication when you’re ready.
If this is your case, you can go through these 5 things first
Increase your vagal tone
That’s the connection between your heart and lungs via your vagus nerve. When that connection is weak, we can’t calm our heart down effectively and we get overwhelmed easily. Before you go off meds, make sure you have strong vagal tonne so you can easily navigate difficult or challenging emotions and situations
2. Increase your CO2 tolerance
CO2 tolerance refers to he amount of CO2 that your brain can tolerate before flipping into emergency mode. Stressful situations cause our CO2 levels to rise, and anxiety and panic indicate a low CO2 tolerance. Before you go off meds, make sure your CO2 tolerance is high.
3. Increase your oxygen circulation
Your thoughts travel on your breath. When your breath is restricted, your thoughts start to spiral. Cultivating a breathing practice is the most reliable way to calm the mind. If you have trouble with deep breathing or activities which require sustained focus, you need to lay a foundation with Steps 1 and 2 first
4. Build mental muscle
We need to build mental muscle the same way we build physical muscle. When your thoughts feel out of control it’s just a sign you need to get into the mental gym it’s not magic, it’s a method!
(Check out “How to be that annoying person…” for a complete breakdown of the most important mental muscles)
5. Cultivate a faith practice
Research shows that a strong faith practice is one of the best predictors of mental health and overall resilience. A faith practice helps us experience our intrinsic connection to something greater, which takes the pressure off having to handle all the ups and downs of life by ourselves.
In resilience,
Caitlin