Brad asked me the other night why anxiety and depression are seemingly so widespread, including the use of prescription medication to manage their symptoms. We had been discussing my anxiety and depression and my recently-undertaken quest to wean myself off the two medications I currently take. We agreed that it seems to affect women more than men.
A female coworker asked for a private word with me the next day. She told me she was trying to wean off of an antidepressant medication (Zoloft) she’d been taking for years, and she was struggling badly with the side-effects and withdrawal symptoms.
Another female coworker of mine recently had a full-blown panic attack at the office and had to leave early. She is now on Zoloft as well, and she’s struggling with the side-effects of getting ON the medication.
Brad asked me why it seems to affect women more than men. I joked with him that women’s superior multi-tasking ability brings into our awareness the overwhelming laundry list of things that all need to be done right away to stress us out. In all seriousness, most of my stress and anxiety comes from the list of to-dos in my mind that just seems so overwhelming.
I was very intrigued when I came across an article two days later on managing stress, particularly for women. The article is from Dr. Northrup, a female medical doctor who has specialized in women’s health. Here’s a quick excerpt from her article titled “Five Natural Stress Busters from Dr. Northrup:”
“Today, women run from task to task trying to do more and be more than at any other time in history. At first, we push ourselves, relying on an adrenaline rush, the boost of cortisol, and maybe some extra caffeine to address today’s crisis (real or perceived).
But when we call upon these stress hormones to boost us to heroic heights time and again, our bodies can do nothing else but operate in fight-or-flight mode 24/7. This sets the stage for all kinds of medical problems—and a very unhappy life.”
My own personal experience seems to be in line with Dr. Northrup’s observations on women’s stress.
Here are her 5 tips for natural stress relief:
1. Get more Vitamin D
2. Increase Your Magnesium Levels
3. Do Something Enjoyable Every Day
4. Always Breathe Fully and Deeply
5. Use Flower Essences (like Bach’s Rescue Remedy)
