Healing Anxiety

Do you struggle with anxiety? You’re far from alone.

A review of 62 studies found that almost half of all people with fibromyalgia, about 47%, also struggle with significant anxiety. Another analysis of 88 studies showed that more than half also experience depression. And it’s not just those with fibromyalgia: around 20% of the general population lives with anxiety, a condition that can be deeply disruptive to daily life.

Fortunately, anxiety is highly treatable, and this article will walk you through more than a dozen natural and lifestyle approaches to help you recover. Among them is a standout herbal remedy called AnxioCalm®, which research shows can be as effective as Librium (a Valium-family medication), but without the risk of addiction or side effects.

Anxiety can range from mild and occasional to intense and overwhelming. The good news is that most anxiety conditions, even PTSD, can be successfully treated by focusing on four key areas. Sometimes, working on just one of these is enough to bring real relief, but when they’re combined, the results are often even more powerful.

4 Key Domains of Anxiety

Anxiety can be triggered by different systems throughout the body, and each offers its own pathway to relief. You can start with any one of these areas and often notice real improvement. But when you address them together, the effects can be especially powerful. My advice is to begin with the approach that feels like the best fit for you:

1. Biochemistry

A variety of factors can intensify anxiety, including excess adrenaline, low blood sugar from adrenal fatigue, and nutrient deficiencies (especially magnesium and B vitamins). The good news is that there are some simple, effective ways to address these key triggers:

1. AnxioCalm®. Many people are familiar with cannabinoids like THC and CBD for easing anxiety, but they can be expensive and often come with side effects. What most don’t know is that a special extract of echinacea, available only as AnxioCalm®, can activate calming cannabinoid receptors in the brain—naturally.

   Research has shown that AnxioCalm can work as effectively as Librium, a Valium-family medication, but without side effects or risk of addiction. It’s a small pill. Just be sure to swallow it rather than chew it, since chewing causes a funny taste. You can take it daily or as needed, and its effectiveness builds over about six weeks, making it a remarkable natural option.

2. Magnesium and B Vitamins. Nutrients like vitamins B6, B12, B2, B3, and magnesium play multiple roles in calming the nervous system. Bringing these nutrients to optimal levels can noticeably reduce anxiety for many people. A simple way to do this is with a high-quality multinutrient powder, such as the Energy Revitalization Drink Mix, which makes it easy to get the right balance in one step.
3. Supporting the Adrenals. If anxiety suddenly hits and eating something makes you feel better within minutes, the cause may be low blood sugar from adrenal fatigue, especially if the anxiety feels irritable or edgy. In this case, the supplement Adrenaplex®, one to two capsules each morning, can help restore adrenal balance, often improving anxiety, energy, and brain fog within a week or two if adrenal fatigue is the issue.

2. Release the Muscle Memory of Trauma

People who work with wild animals are familiar with the instinctive response known as “playing possum.” If you’ve ever watched a cat catch a mouse, you may have seen it too: the mouse goes limp, appearing lifeless. The cat might drop it and bat it around with its paw, testing whether it’s really dead or just pretending.

The moment the cat looks away, the mouse often springs back to life and runs off. Once it reaches safety, it goes through a period of trembling. This shaking helps the mouse release the “possum state,” a survival response in which it becomes both numb (to appear dead) and hyper-alert (to detect danger).

This isn’t unique to mice—most mammals do this in moments of extreme threat, including humans. For us, this response often develops during childhood traumas, such as abuse or growing up with alcoholic parents.

Most animals instinctively tremble to release this numb-and-hyperalert state. Humans, however, often suppress the trembling because it feels strange or embarrassing. As a result, we can end up carrying that stored trauma for years—or even decades.

Interestingly, this natural trembling is where the phrase “shake it off” originates. If you ever feel your body starting to tremble and you’re in a safe place, allow it to happen. Don’t try to stop it. When the trembling finishes on its own, you’ll often feel emotionally lighter and more at ease.

This process happens in layers, so the trembling may come and go over time as your body gradually releases what it’s been holding. With each wave, you may find yourself feeling steadily better and more free.

To learn more about this simple, very effective, and free technique (you can do it easily on your own), I highly recommend the book Waking the Tiger by Dr. Peter Levine.

For those with PTSD or severe emotional traumas, I highly recommend an in depth program developed by Dr. Levine called Somatic Experiencing®.

3. Psychological Component

Talk therapy can be helpful, especially with a skilled psychologist, but for many people, it only goes so far on its own. It often works best when it’s combined with other approaches, like the biochemical and body-based methods discussed earlier.

Meanwhile, the media landscape doesn’t make things easier. The unspoken motto seems to be “fear and divisiveness sell.” A lot of what’s circulated is designed to keep people agitated, and much of it isn’t even true.

If what you’re watching or reading consistently makes you feel worse, turn it off and redirect your attention toward something uplifting. Think nature, music, comedies, prayer, or meditation. Learning to focus on the present moment can also make a big difference. Most anxiety happens when we’re caught up in the past or future, not in the here and now. A great resource for this is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, which offers practical guidance on how to stay present.

For those with severe sensitivities, autonomic nervous system retraining programs such as DNRS or ANS Rewire can be very helpful. These approaches not only reduce anxiety but can also bring significant improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms.

Finally, breathing techniques that emphasize a slow, prolonged exhale can help calm the nervous system quickly. There are many simple tutorials available online to get started.

4. Biophysics

Although medicine tries to ignore that this even exists, it is a powerful part of releasing anxiety and old traumas. Especially when they are very severe. Techniques such as the Emotional Freedom Technique (also called “Tapping”) and EMDR can be very helpful.

For those who would like more information on the above, I recommend my book From Fatigued to Fantastic. As part of recovery, in addition to treating the numerous physical components of CFS/FMS/Long Covid, it also addresses psychological healing, including from anxiety and even PTSD, in detail.

It’s time for you to heal.

Love and blessings,

Dr. T