Acute anxiety or panic attacks

Inhale, exhale

Anxiety, as described, is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. But we all experience it differently, we all have different symptoms and therefore we all need different remedies. This is actually the explanation of the homeopathic way. Always highly individualised approach.

Ideally, we would best eliminate the cause or trigger of our fear. But there are moments in life when it just all becomes bigger than us at some point and instead of taking a harmful approach, we can choose to support our wellbeing with a natural, beneficial and correct homeopathic remedy. Not only will it not have any side effects, but it will also support your own healing response, thus contributing to our own strength to deal with similar symptoms in the future on our own.

Here are remedies that you can use in a state of acute anxiety or panic attack. If your anxiety is chronic, I would recommend seeing a certified homeopath to make an individualised treatment specifically for you to help you regain your wellbeing again.

Aconitum napellus or Aconite 

The most frequently used medicine for managing anxiety. The key indications to use it are anxiety with marked fear, panic, shaking and restlessness. Those needing it move around and change sitting positions frequently. With this, a chain of bad thoughts sets in the mind and cold sweat can be present. It also tops the list of homeopathic medicines to deal with panic attacks when there is intense anxiety, heart palpitations and an extreme fear of death. There may be tingling and numbness in the fingers or limbs.

Arsenicum album

It is well indicated for those who worry and get anxious about little things. People needing this remedy could have marked anxiety regarding their health and future and anxiety about others. They have a specific fear that they will surely contract some disease or catch some infection. They may also have a fear of death. Fear of financial loss and facing poverty is another thing that may persist in their minds. Any of these could be a triggering factor for anxiety. They feel better when they are warm and comfortable.

Argentum nitricum 

It is about anticipatory anxiety, due to constant thoughts about events that might take place in the future. A person may get anxious about a public meeting or a family function to be attended in the future. The person tends to think constantly about the event until the final day comes. He or she keeps planning for that event and the mind is always preoccupied with various thoughts. Diarrhoea may set in during the anxiety phase. Hurriedness, impatience, and weakness in the legs are other associated symptoms. 

Kalium phoshoricum 

Is an important medicine for anxiety, nervousness and fear. Negative thinking and excessive sensitivity are the other symptoms. Those needing it suffer from certain fears. These include fear of crowds, open spaces, being alone and fear of death. All these may set off an anxiety attack. Slight noises may also trigger anxiety, and the person may feel tired and fatigued all the time. 

Gelsemium 

It is the foremost medicine for anxiety related to making a public appearance or performance. Sadness, melancholy, confusion of mind, irritability and diarrhoea are associated symptoms. This remedy relieves apprehension or stage fright accompanied by a feeling of general weakness, trembling, dizziness, headaches and difficulty focusing and recalling memories. Anxiety is brought on by the anticipation of any unusual ordeal and the nervous dread of appearing in public or doing something that can bring on diarrhoea. Think of Gelsemium when fearing the dentist.

Phosphorus

The anxiety of this remedy is mainly centred on the “fear that something will happen.” This anxiety is usually worse in the dark or twilight and is also worse by being alone; their anxiety is better when they are in close contact with people. The Phosphorus person is easily frightened but easily reassured. And having someone to talk to about it may give them relief. The person needing this remedy may feel anxious for others. Their physical anxiety tends to start with a fluttering of the stomach. As a general note, physical contact seems to help them feel better and more reassured. So for a child, holding hands or sitting on your lap can help to make them feel better.

Dose: low potency 2 to 3 times a day and when there is some relief, lessen the dose.