Magnolia bark extract has potent anti-anxiety properties and has been found to have similar effects in the brain to benzodiazepines. Your doctor can offer guidance on treatment options based on your needs, ensuring a comprehensive approach to managing anxiety while monitoring your symptoms. A study published in the Annals of Medicine and Surgery found that vitamin B6 increased GABA concentrations, and participants reported feeling significantly less anxious after four weeks of supplementation. This increased resilience can help alleviate anxiety-related symptoms such as irritability, sleep issues, and difficulty concentrating.

• It’s not fully understood how benzodiazepines work, but it’s widely agreed that they enhance the activity of the brain chemical GABA.
• The term “therapist” can apply to a range of professionals including social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychoanalysts.
• Various natural anxiety tools can help you manage overwhelming feelings in the moment and find a sense of calm.
• If your anxiety is disrupting your daily life or becomes unmanageable, reach out to a trained mental health professional or doctor who can help you get your symptoms under control.
• Regularly review your progress with your healthcare provider, making adjustments to your plan as needed to ensure a smooth transition and sustained anxiety relief.
• It doesn’t make you lose focus, concentration, or have any impact on short or long term memory.

The Best Lifestyle Alternatives to Xanax

In the study, the meditating participants took regular mindfulness classes, but if you’re interested in trying meditation, you can easily start on your own with meditation apps or other online resources. Breathwork has been proven to improve anxiety symptoms, both on a day-to-day basis and in acute episodes of anxiety, like panic attacks. Fortunately, many alternative treatments that offer relief from anxiety do exist, ranging from other medications to proven non-medical strategies. In this article we’ll detail the dangers of Xanax and other ways you can treat your anxiety.

Start with just five to ten minutes per day and slowly work your way up; guided meditation is a great option if you’re a beginner. Psychiatrists are doctors who have specialized training in diagnosing and treating complex mental health conditions through medication management. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or similar, a psychiatrist may be a good place to start. One therapy modality that has been shown to be especially effective in treating anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. CBT works by helping you identify, understand, and stop negative thought cycles.

Alternatives to Xanax (sold as alprazolam) include natural medicine, calming therapies, relaxing practices, herbal remedies, counseling, change in diet, and much more. Natural and alternative treatments for anxiety have been used for ages, long before prescription drugs like benzodiazepines were developed. It is a blessing from nature that these straightforward, but powerful alternatives exist. Xanax is highly addictive, has a high risk of abuse, can come with many harsh reactions — and can be incredibly difficult to stop taking. Many individuals would be blown away by the power of natural Xanax alternatives and how efficient they are.

How can I treat my anxiety naturally without medication?

Toxic mold syndrome causes symptoms like confusion, depression, dizziness, anxiety, and many others. The agri-food-industrial use of pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics, flavor enhancers, and preservatives has been long-scrutinized. There is a growing awareness of what these neurotoxic all natural xanax substances can do to our health. An excellent source of information on chemicals added to cosmetics and other hygiene products is called Skin Deep 65 which can help identify products you may want to avoid.

Xanax Alternatives for Natural Mental Health

• I was contacted by the makers of a product called Phenibut XT, and they were looking for someone to test out there product and write a review.
• CGMP is a system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards.
• I first tried Phenibut XT by itself to gauge it’s effectiveness, dosing with 2 capsules, which is about 1 gram.
• However, there are non-medication strategies for treating anxiety that actually have sufficient scientific research backing up their effectiveness.
• Along with its anxiety-reducing properties, chamomile also exhibits antidepressant activity (30).
• This effect of passionflower can lower the activities of the brain, thus reducing stress and anxiety.

In the next sections, I’ll explore these natural Xanax alternatives in depth. It’s these potential pitfalls of Xanax that lead many to search for alternatives. Over time, the body can build a tolerance to Xanax, meaning that higher doses may be required to achieve the same therapeutic effects. Xanax, also known as alprazolam, has undoubtedly provided relief to countless individuals who struggle with anxiety. The anecdotal history covering at least two millennia records millions claiming cannabis has relieved their anxiety.

Health Conditions

While all vitamins and minerals are essential for ideal mental health, here are a few that are particularly critical if you have anxiety. Kava is a well-studied herbal remedy that has been found to be a safe and effective alternative to prescription anti-anxiety drugs but without side effects. Sign up for Jordan’s newsletter and join the 50,000 readers who are using his practical solutions to improve their brain function and mental health. Cutting back or eliminating caffeine can serve as a natural approach to reducing anxiety, making it a lifestyle alternative to medications like Xanax. Not surprisingly, exercise is recommended by many experts as their number one piece of advice for optimal brain function and mental health.

Lifestyle Alternatives to Xanax

If you don’t want to quit caffeine completely, switch from coffee, soda, or energy drinks to tea. New theories are emerging to explain why GABA supplements may work despite this obstacle. Magnesium is an essential mineral often called “nature’s Valium” because of its ability to make you feel more relaxed. Vitamins and minerals may not sound heavy-duty enough to take the place of Xanax, but if you are lacking certain core nutrients, your brain can’t function at its best. Most prebiotic foods are vegetables, but bananas and chocolate are two prebiotic foods that also make healthy “comfort food” snacks.

Not only does l-theanine relieve anxiety by increasing levels of GABA, but it also brings about a relaxed brainwave state similar to that experienced during meditation. Amino acids are building blocks of proteins, and two of them are among the top natural alternatives to Xanax. A foundational principle of mental health and cognitive performance is to supply the body with the best nutrition possible. It’s almost impossible to live a lifestyle that provides all the nutrients needed for good brain health and performance. All of us confront multiple nutrient thieves — stress, poor diet, insomnia, pharmaceuticals, pollution, and more — that steal nutrients that the brain needs to thrive. Here’s a look at the biggest problems with Xanax and similar anti-anxiety medications.

Learn About Amino Acids

While benzodiazepines aren’t generally used to treat depression, they may be prescribed in certain cases where a patient with depression also experiences severe anxiety or panic attacks. If your anxiety is disrupting your daily life or becomes unmanageable, reach out to a trained mental health professional or doctor who can help you get your symptoms under control. There are many options of remedies you can try, from CBD to essential oils to journaling. But even with the best natural tools at your disposal, you may still need medication or therapy to at least figure out what activates your anxiety and how to help relieve it. You can reach out to a therapist or another mental healthcare professional for support if you’ve felt anxious most days for at least 6 months. If these feelings have started to disrupt your everyday life, your health, or your relationships, this is another sign that you should consider seeking help.

Instead, their presence alone offers emotional stability and unconditional love, which can significantly reduce feelings of anxiety and loneliness. The presence of calming l-theanine in tea softens the effects of caffeine, making it a better choice than other caffeinated drinks. Vitamin C is also a well-known stress buster that can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms. While you can get l-theanine from drinking tea, it’s not practical to rely on tea alone to reduce anxiety. Moderate anxiety symptoms often improve within 30 minutes after taking l-theanine and the effects can last for up to 10 hours. Ironically, withdrawal symptoms that occur when quitting Xanax include anxiety and panic attacks — the very reasons it’s prescribed in the first place.

Some evidence suggests that herbal products like lavender essential oil can be calming without sedation. A 2017 literature review found that lavender oil supplements can effectively reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. These natural alternatives to Xanax offer a range of options for those seeking to manage anxiety without relying on prescription medications. While they may not provide the same immediate relief as Xanax, their long-term benefits and lower risk of side effects make them valuable components of a holistic approach to mental wellness.