The Best Natural Anxiety Relief and Stress Support to Promote Relaxation, Balance, and Calm
Anxiety is a very common symptom with a wide variety of possible underlying causes.
For many, this can be one of the most challenging and unsettling symptoms to experience and try to manage.
Here we will explore what anxiety is and what it entails. We will also explore some of the possible underlying causes of anxiety, the stress response of the human body, some of my own personal experiences, and some of the best natural anxiety relief options.
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means that if you click the link and subsequently make a purchase on the merchant’s website, we may earn a small commission at absolutely no additional cost to you. All opinions are entirely my own. I have used all products mentioned personally for years.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a general term that is used to describe various feelings, states of being, and sensations of or relating to distress and unease.
Anxiety can be experienced in different ways and to different degrees of intensity/severity depending on the person and depending on the underlying cause.
Anxiety can be experienced as a combination of mental and physical sensations.
Mental states and feelings that can be involved with anxiety include:
- Unease
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Worry
- Panic
- Apprehension
- Fear and feelings of being in danger
- Consternation
- Tention
- Stress
- Feeling of impending doom and terror
- More
Physical sensations that often accompany anxiety can include:
- Rapid heart rate
- Heart palpitations and heart pounding
- Muscle tension and/or twitching
- Sweating
- Rapid breathing or hyperventilation
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain and/or tightness
- Dizziness
- Headache/migraine
- Trembling/shaking
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- More
Possible Underlying Causes of Anxiety
Instead of being a standalone “condition” of its own, anxiety is usually a symptom with an underlying cause.
There are many physical imbalances that can impact the brain, nervous systems, adrenal glands, hormone balance, gut, and the body’s stress response, all of which can result in the symptom of anxiety.
Some of these physical underlying causes can include:
- Biotoxin Illness/Mold Toxicity from mold exposure or Lyme
- Estrogen dominance
- Mineral imbalance/heavy metal toxicity such as Copper Toxicity
- Gut imbalance or infection such as parasitic infection
- Adrenal fatigue or insufficiency
- Thyroid imbalance such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
- Other hormone and neurotransmitter Imbalances
- Limbic system impairment
- Autoimmune conditions
- Heart conditions
- Systemic inflammation
- Nutrient deficiencies such as zinc and magnesium deficiency
- Increased oxidative stress
- Expressive gene variants that have to do with glutamate/GABA metabolism, detoxification capacity, hormone balance, and other similar gene variants
- More
Then of course there are mental and emotional causes that can contribute to anxiety.
These mental and emotional causes can include:
- Trauma
- Stressful life circumstances such as loss (especially sudden unexpected loss such a death or job loss), divorce, injury, illness, moving, and more
- Experiencing abuse
- Mental illness
- More
The Stress Response
Anxiety is closely related to the stress response of the body, also referred to as the “fight or flight” response.
This is the body’s way of responding to stress and ensuring its survival.
This response involves several key glands, organs, and systems in the body which include specific areas of the brain, the adrenal glands, and the nervous systems.
Stressors that can ignite this response can be physical such as illness or injury, or emotional/mental such as stressful life events, abuse, and more.
The amygdala is a part of the brain that is part of the limbic system. The amygdala is largely involved in the stress response, as it is what initially sends out the stress signal to another gland in the brain called the hypothalamus, in response to a stressor.
The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA axis) is then activated to release various adrenal stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. The adrenal glands are small triangular shaped glands that sit on top of each kidney.
The hormones that these glands release are responsible for causing the physical sensations of stress and anxiety as outlined above.
The brain communicates with the rest of the body during the stress response through the autonomic nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system consists of 3 parts: the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, and the enteric nervous system.
The sympathetic nervous system involves the “fight or flight” stress response and the parasympathetic nervous system involves the “rest and digest,” calm state of being. It is in the parasympathetic state that the body is best able to heal, digest and assimilate nutrients, and function optimally overall.
What can happen is we can become stuck in this “fight or flight” response, chronically occupying the sympathetic nervous system, with the HPA axis remaining activated.
Remaining in this physiological state can have many adverse health implications and cause many symptoms including anxiety.
What is key to be aware of as well is that the body can experience different forms of physical illness as a form of stress, so the illness can catalyze a trauma response or a heightened stress response.
This is part of why anxiety is such a common symptom of so many different possible physical causes as mentioned above.
The body can also perceive other physical catalysts such as environmental toxins as a form of stress as well.
Furthermore, our contemporary world is very much a fast paced, stimulating environment, so our bodies are often also on overdrive and prone to a chronic stress occupation due to the nature of our modern world.
All of these factors can and do lead to anxiety.
Some of My Personal Experiences with Anxiety
Personally, I have experienced quite a few different forms of anxiety while moving through the number of chronic illnesses that I have had including Biotoxin Illness from mold exposure, Copper Toxicity, abnormal gene expression, gut infections, and endometriosis/estrogen dominance.
The anxiety has ranged from mild to moderate at times and then extremely severe at other times.
The severe times were essentially panic attacks where I would feel an overwhelming sense of impending doom, my heart would be pounding, and I would feel incredibly nervous. That blood turned cold feeling. This happened a number of times when healing from Copper Toxicity and also Biotoxin Illness.
These panic attacks, for the most part, were not triggered by anything in particular, they would come on sporadically and without warning.
Then there would be a general anxiety feeling that I would experience throughout the years that was also sporadic. This was more of a general sense of uneasiness and nervousness.
When having endometriosis flare-ups, it would increase, as well as when eliminating gut pathogens/parasites.
Furthermore, I have several forms of expressive gene variants such as MTHFR and GAD which can cause anxiety as well.
Whether it was mild or severe throughout my healing journey, it was uncomfortable and exhausting and I was in great need of finding a natural solution to help manage it while I was working to heal the underlying causes.
All of the following natural healing agents have helped tremendously in reducing these anxiety symptoms and promoting a sense of calm.
To say I’ve been grateful to have found them would be an understatement, as these have been an absolutely essential part of my protocol.
Natural Anxiety Relief and Stress Support
The following are all natural anxiety relief options that I have found to be extremely helpful and effective. I’ve been using all of these for years.
These can be used to help relieve the symptoms of anxiety and can also be used to support the body during times of increased stress.
-
Vibrant Blue Oils Parasympathetic Oil
As explained above, it is in the parasympathetic state that the body is best able to heal, digest and assimilate nutrients, and function optimally overall.
The parasympathetic state is also the state that promotes calm and relaxation.
Due to this, encouraging the body’s occupation of the parasympathetic state is very helpful for reducing and relieving anxiety.
Vibrant Blue Oils’ Parasympathetic essential oil blend is a simple combination of lime and clove bud in a base of fractionated coconut oil.
Vibrant Blue Oils is a wonderful line of oils based in Seattle, Washington. They are by far my favorite line of essential oils, as they have proven to be the best quality and most effective out of the many that I have tried.
This oil helps to encourage the body to move into the parasympathetic state and out of the fight or flight response, and hence greatly helps to reduce anxiety and support the body when experiencing increased stress levels.
Administration: 1-3 drops applied to the vagus nerve, behind the ears on the mastoid bone, 1 to 3 times per day. Massage the oil into the skin thoroughly. It can also be used aromatically by holding the bottle close to the nose and breathing in and out 3 to 4 times.
In addition to being an overall stress response support, it can also be used to promote general relaxation and improve digestion, as we digest our food best when in the parasympathetic state.
Parasympathetic can also help to improve focus, energy levels, and elevate mood. It’s a great “all around” oil and also great to start with if you are new to using essential oils for healing.
After using the Parasympathetic oil for about 2 weeks, I noticed that it helped to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety, improved my sleep quality, and reduced brain fog. It has also helped to improve my energy levels and stamina throughout the day.
I keep a bottle of this oil in my purse at all times. It smells delightful, as it has a refreshing, uplifting scent and really opens the airways when used aromatically as well.
Click here to check out the Parasympathetic oil.
- Vibrant Blue Oils also offers a bundle where you can buy 4 bottles of the Parasympathetic blend and receive the 4th free. Click here to access this bundle.
⭐️You may use code WELCOME10 at checkout for $10 off your first order :)⭐️
-
Vibrant Blue Oils Adrenal Oil
This is an oil that is designed to support the adrenal glands comprehensively.
As explained above, the adrenal glands play a big role in the stress response, as they produce the main stress hormones such as cortisol.
Many of the emotional and physical underlying causes of anxiety can impact the adrenal glands causing either reduced function or overactive function.
The adrenal glands can also become taxed when stuck in the fight or flight stress response as explained above.
When the adrenal glands are overactive or underactive, the symptom of anxiety can result.
The Adrenal oil can help both overactive adrenal function such as excessive stress hormone production and it can also help an underactive adrenal state where hormone production is depleted.
It is a blend of cinnamon, galbanum, manuka, rosemary, and thyme in a base of fractionated coconut oil.
Administration: apply 1-2 drops directly over the adrenal glands, which are located on the lower mid back and the upper middle abdomen below the ribs, 1 to 2 times per day. Massage the oil into the skin thoroughly.
It can also be used aromatically by holding the bottle close to the nose for 3 to 4 full breaths in and out.
Several of the conditions I have had as mentioned above can have an intense impact on the adrenal glands, as they catalyze a state of stress within the body. Due to this, the adrenal glands overproduce stress hormones, leading to extreme exhaustion, anxiety, and hormone imbalance, among other effects.
As a result of this, when I would experience the anxiety symptoms, I would also feel a tingling, slight burning sensation on my adrenal glands.
After several months of this sensation, I purchased Adrenal and applied the oil over my adrenal glands on the front and back of my abdomen.
The very first day that I applied the Adrenal oil, the sensation completely ceased. It was absolutley amazing and one of the most impressive and quick effects I’ve experienced from a product throughout my lengthy and involved healing journey.
When used along with the Parasympathetic oil, the Adrenal oil has also been helpful in reducing anxiety overall.
This oil can be used for any type of imbalance that impacts the adrenal glands and/or as a tool for general anxiety and stress response support.
Click here to check out the Adrenal oil.
⭐️You may use code WELCOME10 at checkout for $10 off your first order :)⭐️
More on essential oils and their many uses can be found here.
-
Nature’s Answer Passionflower Tincture
Passionflower, also known as passiflora incarnata is a
plant that is a powerful natural tool to use for anxiety relief.
Researchers have determined that passionflower can help relieve anxiety likely because of its effect on boosting our GABA level in the brain. GABA is an abbreviation for gamma-aminobutyric acid, and it acts as an “inhibitory” neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) in the brain.
GABA helps to lower brain activity which contributes to its calming effect. GABA also helps to reduce and balance its counterpart neurotransmitter, glutamate. When GABA levels decrease, glutamate can increase because these 2 neurotransmitters have an inverse relationship.
Glutamate is considered an “excitatory” neurotransmitter, and having high levels of it in the brain can cause anxiety. 
So increasing GABA levels by way of using passionflower can also help to indirectly reduce glutamate, contributing to this calming effect.
I have tried several passionflower supplements and have always come back to the Nature’s Answer tincture, as it has always proven to be the most effective.
The standard dose for this product is 1 to 2 ml (about 40-80 drops) in water 2 to 3 times per day.
It can also be used on an “as needed” basis.
I use this by putting about 50-60 drops under my tongue and holding it there for at least 5 minutes and then swallowing. This method has been the most helpful for me to give the most quick relief.
I’ve used this when experiencing the panic attacks mentioned above and it has helped tremendously in combination with the essential oils included here as well.
Some people can experience drowsiness when taking passionflower, so it is important to only take it at night at first to determine if this effect is experienced. The majority of people, however, can take passionflower any time of day without experiencing this effect.
I keep a bottle of this tincture with me at all times.
Click here to check it out.
Use code HJE at iHerb for 5% off all products on the site and 10% off of iHerb brand products
-
Dynamic Neural Retraining System
DNRS is a highly effective way of healing from mental, emotional, or physical trauma. It involves rewiring the limbic system in the brain via neuroplasticity, so that the body is brought out of the chronic stress state and back into balance.
This henceforth heals the physiological effects of stress/trauma and its coinciding symptoms such as anxiety.
Along with the trauma that can be experienced from mental and emotional catalysts, the physical illnesses described above can also cause a stress/trauma response within the body.
That is, the body experiences them as an extreme form of stress.
Over time, this can cause the limbic system of the brain to become stuck in the stress response/fight or flight state.
Anxiety can be a symptom of limbic system impairment, along with many other possible symptoms including chronic
fatigue, multiple chemical sensitivity, digestive upset, POTS, brain fog, depression, and many more.
The DNRS program was developed to rewire and retrain the limbic system so that your brain and henceforth your body are brought back into balance.
Limbic system retraining involves a minimum of 6 months of daily exercises, a shift in cognitive associations, and more.
It is an online program that involves a self-paced initial instructional period, then the independent application of the exercises and tools presented.
I have personally done this program and am still actively engaged in it.
DNRS can be used as a healing tool for trauma of any kind, for various chronic illnesses themselves, and/or a combination of both.
DNRS has been an awesome help for relieving anxiety as well as an effective component of my healing protocol for Biotoxin Illness from mold exposure. Mold exposure can ignite a physical trauma response in the body, which causes limbic system imbalance and a cascade of other physiological effects.
The DNRS program has been one of the most effective tools that I have used throughout my healing journey and one of my most valuable investments.
The effects are experienced over time for most people. After about 3 months doing the program, I noticed a notable decrease in anxiety along with other improvements.
My energy levels have continued to improve and I also experienced a notable decrease in brain fog and began to feel generally more alive.
These improvements have all of course been truly welcomed throughout a long journey of healing.
Click here to check out the program.
If you have any questions regarding my experiences with this, feel free to reach out! You can comment below, email me directly at megan@healingjourneyessentials.com, or you may submit the form on our contact page :).
Also, an extended exploration of the program and my experiences can be found here.
In Closing…
As we’ve explored here, anxiety is a common symptom with many possible underlying causes.
While experiencing anxiety of any kind can be very challenging, there are a number of powerfully effective natural tools that can be used for relief.
These tools not only help relieve anxiety, but can also help to move the body our of a chronic stress state and into a more balanced state, where true healing can commence.
REFERENCES