• 60-minute Massage Certificate - $50
• Two 60-minute Massage Certificates - $90
• 60-minute Massage AND 1 Hour Facial Gift Certificate - $100 (facial compliments of our friends at Salon on the Parkway)
• Services must be used before February 28, 2011

• Friday, December 24
• Sunday, December 26
• Friday, December 31

Coping with Anxiety

The song says it's the most wonderful time of the year, but many people find themselves struggling with depression and anxiety during and after the holidays, more than any other time of the year. A seemingly permanent fixture in many people's lives, anxiety not only affects the mind but the body as well.

Of course, feelings of anxiety (as well as sadness, depression, fear, loneliness, etc.) are completely normal, (contrary to what the manufacturers of antidepressants will have us believe) especially given the tumultuous environment that we find ourselves in today. What is not normal is when these feelings pervade our entire being and are no longer remedied by simple resolution of stress.

Diet, Caffeine and Anxiety

A poor diet can be a major factor in anxiety. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) may contribute to anxiousness and can be caused by infrequent eating or unbalanced dietary choices, such as too many simple carbohydrates and not enough complex carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Symptoms of hypoglycemia - anxiety, fatigue, hunger, drowsiness, poor concentration, irritability, sweating, hunger, tremors, and palpitations - are thought to be the result of the brain's perception of lowered blood sugar levels. Many people can identify with these symptoms which typically occur in the late afternoon after eating no lunch or a very small lunch that contained little in substantial calories.

Caffeine, that well-known stimulant, is another dietary factor that plays a large role in anxiety. Several studies have examined the similarity between caffeine's effects on the body and anxiety, as well as the ability of caffeine to escalate feelings of anxiety in those prone to feeling anxious.  People who are prone to anxiety should make sure they are eating a balanced diet (small, frequent meals, with little to no simple carbohydrates) and avoid caffeine.

Treatment & Prevention

• The B-vitamins (specifically B-6 and B-3) are helpful in addressing anxiety due to their part in neurotransmitter formation for healthy brain function, and they serve to lessen anxiety through their role in the entire nervous system.
   
• Magnesium acts as a gentle sedative and exerts a calming effect on the brain; it can even lessen pain-related anxiety. 
   
• The botanical medicines Lavender (lavendula officinalis) and Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) are well known treatments for anxiety, depression and nervousness.  These herbs have an inhibitory, or calming effect on the brain as well.
   
• The supplements 5-HTP and melatonin also have a hand in calming feelings of anxiety, in addition to their benefits as sleep aids.

Numerous pharmaceutical drugs are available for the treatment of anxiety, but drugs have a high level of side effects and discomfort reported. Anxiety treatment without pharmaceutical intervention strives to prevent the initiation of anxiety using nutritional and/or botanical medicines that work to alter the patient's susceptibility to anxiety. Counseling and other forms of psychotherapy are effective in assisting the anxious person in working through and addressing anxious patterns. 

Anxiety is a condition with multiple causes and multiple treatments for different individuals. Decreasing anxiety with adequate nutritional sources may alter anxiety levels and offer a greater quality of life. Discovering one's own way of relaxing and engaging in stress reducing exercise and mental exercises can play an important role in maintaining the inner peace that seems so illusive at times.