Please let me start this off by saying, you are not crazy.

Sometimes hearing that makes all the difference in the world when you’re a closet anxiety sufferer.

You wake up with that heavy flutter in your chest and a feeling of doom. And the hardest part is that sometimes you don’t even understand why.

Work becomes challenging with even the smallest task feeling like a major chore. And reaching out is difficult since the last thing you want to feel like is a Debbie Downer.

But maybe you can speak to your partner? Problem is—men see a problem and, bless their sweet hearts, but they tend to look for a solution, but you’re not a car and in those moments you just need a hug and to be supported before you can be fixed, right? I mean who would understand that you can cry at the drop of the hat and no, this isn’t PMS, thank you very much.

Who could possibly understand that all you want to do is go back to bed and hope to God that you can wake up and press reset?

Actually many women out there would be able to relate and you may one of them.

What you need to realize is that it isn’t just you—it could be your hormones.

The majority of us live in a fast-paced, everything was due yesterday world and are living under a state of chronic stress.

Problem is, most people think that stress is just a mental thing, but diet and lifestyle factors like: high alcohol consumption, not enough sleep, smoking, etc. all are forms of stress. And when we’re under stress, our adrenal glands will secrete a hormone called cortisol. By doing so, it increases levels of sugar and fat into your bloodstream as a natural defense, as though you’d have to run or fight for your life. More stress hormones increase insulin levels, stimulating our ovaries to produce more testosterone.

Ladies, this is bad news if you suffer from PCOS since more testosterone means more facial hair, anovulation and infertility.

So what can be done?

Magnesium

When you factor in that for every sugar molecule you consume it takes 54 molecules of magnesium to process it, then it’s no wonder why an estimated 70% of the population is magnesium deficient.

This is a problem when you factor in that one of the roles of magnesium is to relax us.

Then take a look at PCOS sufferers who have higher levels of insulin in their system making them crave sugar even more, leading to a kaleidoscope of hormonal effects. So I’d suggest consuming 400mg of magnesium bisglycinate per day spread out with meals.

Support yourself & cut the crap

I know that while you may be tempted to live a healthier lifestyle after looking at Facebook ads about getting a svelte body, cutting out sugar and refined foods is easier said than done.

So, what I suggest to my patients is adding in a teaspoon of a bitters formula or unpasteurized apple cider vinegar directly in the mouth during cravings that will really help to curb them. Focusing on lighter foods like greens, lean proteins small amount of gluten free grains and low glycemic index fruits is the ticket.

And don’t forget your water intake because chances are when you’re hungry, you’re actually thirsty. Dehydration causes stress and you guessed it, anxiety.

Estrogen: removals & introductions

Remove all forms of estrogen mimickers from the body, especially plastics and hormone-fed meat.

Ditch the soy and introduce cruciferous foods like broccoli that mitigates estrogen’s effects. An improper high level balance of estrogen in the body can signal it to grow, so we see issues like endometriosis, cysts and yes, anxiety in many cases.

There are natural alternatives to anxiety and physiological reasons why you may be feeling the way you do. What it boils down to is addressing the hormonal and dietary component.

Until then, it’s time to get your power, realize that you’re not crazy and that you’re certainly never alone.

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Assist Ed: Tawny Sanabria/Ed: Sara Crolick