I have recently taken several on line tests from which i have found out that i may have social anxiety disorder. I have no insurance, or doctor that i can go to. What would you recommend for me to do in order to get examined and if diagnosed to get some treatment? I live in Illinois close to Chicago. I would greatly appreciate your advice.
Why not treat it with a combination of vitamins, exercise and possibly some calming herbal supplements?
While for the vitamins, going to a good doctor would be helpful as they can do a blood test and determine if you have any vitamin deficiencies or any other underlying causes of how you’re feeling (such as an underactive thyroid, hormonal imbalance or a lack of certain amino acids) you might want to start by taking some good multi-vitamins.
If you’re not exercising regularly, beginning a regular program of exercise is another way you can combat anxiety. Evidence suggests that exercise postively affects the levels of certain mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain. Exercise may also boost feel-good endorphins, release tension in muscles, help you sleep better and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It also increases body temperature, which may have calming effects. All of these changes in your mind and body can improve such symptoms as sadness, anxiety, irritability, stress, fatigue, anger, self-doubt and hopelessness.
And finally, here are some herbal supplements that may help you (herbs are available at the corner drug store and at health food stores):
Kava (Piper methysticum) is a member of the pepper family that has been cultivated by Pacific Islanders for over 3000 years for use as a social and ceremonial drink. The first description of kava came to the west with Captain James Cook, who traveled through the South Seas in a number of celebrated voyages. To this day, when village elders or others in the Pacific Islands come together for a significant meeting, they begin with an elaborate kava ceremony. Currently, kava is used in Europe and increasingly in the United States to treat stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
Valerian: Nature’s valium. Another favorite for the treatment of anxiety is valerian. Derived from the dried rhizomes and roots of this tall plant, which grows in wet soil in many countries, valerian has been used for thousands of years as a folk remedy. As a natural relaxant, it is useful for several disorders including restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, menstural problems, and "nervous" stomach. Valerian acts on the brain’s GABA receptors to produce a tranquilizing action that is similar to Valium-type drugs, but without the same side effects.