Over The Counter Medicine For Anxiety And Depression

Depression And Anxiety Disorders Statistics

Mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, are common in the United States. Nearly 52.9 million U.S. adults have a mental illness in 2020. Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. [2]

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Top 7 Over The Counter Medicine For Anxiety And Depression

Over the counter medicine for anxiety and depression aren’t often the first recommended option, as treatment options like prescription medications and therapy are usually the most effective. However, these OTC options can supplement these two main treatment methods as examples of complementary and alternative medications.

Some OTC vitamins and supplements may effectively reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Still, it is always important to consult your provider before taking a new vitamin or supplement, especially if you take any other medications. While more research is needed to establish how effective supplements can be, if you use them properly, they are generally not harmful.

1. Magnesium

OTC Anxiety and Depression Meds: Magnesium is an essential vitamin from leafy green vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Aside from supporting your regular cell function, magnesium may also support your moods and emotions, and inadequate magnesium has been linked to anxiety and other health problems.

Studies have found that magnesium can be an excellent remedy for mild anxiety and may be particularly helpful for people dealing with anxiety and depression as symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. [5]

4. Lavender

OTC Anxiety and Depression Meds: Taking lavender orally, or using lavender for aromatherapy, may also be very effective at lowering feelings of anxiety. Lavender has been used in medicinal remedies for centuries and is well-known for its aroma and color. Several trials have shown that lavender can be a great way to reduce minor anxiety symptoms, and it may also help with insomnia.

7. Valerian

OTC Anxiety and Depression Meds: Valerian, like chamomile, is also a flowering plant widely used as an herbal supplement and can be very effective at treating insomnia. Studies have shown mixed results regarding its effectiveness in treating anxiety, but this herb may be largely beneficial for you if you have insomnia-related anxiety. Some studies have suggested that valerian does reduce anxiety and stress. In contrast, other studies have reported no changes at all, so more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of this remedy.

Anxiety And Cortisol: Anxiety Early Morning Waking How To Reduce Cortisol

Cortisol morning anxiety: An increase in cortisol levels is a common cause of anxiousness to awaken in the morning. Eat a nutritious breakfast that is high in foods rich in magnesium, such as oatmeal, to reduce morning anxiety. To reduce anxiety, you should also abstain from caffeine, engage in physical activity, and create a daily routine.

Can High Cortisol Cause Anxiety?

A little cortisol can do a lot of good. Cortisol’s heightened level of arousal, which it produces in response to stress, is energizing and beneficial. At the end of the episode, cortisol levels return to normal. However, when free-floating anxiety gets in the way, there is no way for the cortisol to get rid of itself, which leads to the fight-or-flight response going awry.

Cortisol levels continue to be high, which increases anxiety and eventually leads to a wide range of major health problems, such as digestive problems, immune system inadequacies, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Cortisol Awakening Response Anxiety

Anxiety cortisol: cortisol and other stress hormones can be produced more readily as a result of eating problems. This in turn feeds panic, worry, and depressive thoughts. Additionally, eating disorders are anxiety-based illnesses even when issues with food, exercise, and body image are their outward manifestations.

In order to escape the cycle of anxiety, you must first take care of your body’s dietary requirements. Coping strategies that trigger the relaxation response not only provide your brain with the nutrition it requires, but they can also help you feel less stressed.

Cortisol Blockers For Anxiety

The brain instructs the adrenal glands to produce cortisol into the bloodstream while you’re under stress. Cortisol levels that are consistently high might cause weight gain, especially around the midsection. “Cortisol blockers” have substances that are intended to reduce stress by calming your anxiety.

Traditional Anxiety and Depression Treatment Methods

While over the counter medicine for anxiety and depression options may be helpful if you start dealing with your conditions, they may not always be the most effective option for some people. Here are some more traditional treatment methods, like prescription anxiety medication and therapy. 

Antidepressants such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are some of the most commonly prescribed medications for anxiety and depression. However, psychotherapy, paired with medication, is even more effective. Regarding getting high-quality, professional mental health treatment, We Level Up FL has your needs covered, and we are here to help you get back to being you. 

With total access to mental health services right from treatment options backed by science, we will work with you every step of the way to come up with a personalized treatment plan that will get you back on track.  The process starts when you take your free assessment by contacting us, and then we will match you with one of our expert providers. Your provider will work with you to adjust your treatment accordingly, as many times as needed, until you find what is suitable for you. 

We offer evidence-based therapy, medication, and a combination of both, and your provider will prescribe any necessary medications. Furthermore, lifestyle changes, including exercise, stress reduction strategies, yoga, mindfulness practices, and meditation, are other excellent options that can be highly effective in helping you cope with and manage your anxiety and depression. 

Anxiety and Depression Mental Health Treatment

The co-occurrence of depression and anxiety disorders is extremely common in primary care. The clinical implications of depression/anxiety comorbidity include the following:

• Increased risk of suicide
• Increased risk of psychiatric hospitalization
• Increased disability
• Decreased compliance with treatment of medical illness

Patients with depression/anxiety comorbidity tend to have more chronic and recurrent illnesses requiring long-term treatment. This puts a premium on medications, such as SSRIs, that have broad-spectrum efficacy (notably sertraline and paroxetine), expansive therapeutic windows, and favorable pharmacokinetic and drug-interaction profiles (such as sertraline and citalopram). SSRIs are well tolerated regarding side effects (such as weight gain), contributing to compliance with long-term treatment.

Popular Over The Counter Medicine For Anxiety And Depression FAQs

4 Mental Health Tips & Advice From A Therapist To Remove Your Everyday Anxiety Video

4 Tips For How To Cope With Anxiety

“Anxiety, when gone untreated, can increase over time.

So here are four tips to calm your everyday anxiety.

Take a breath.

Do something that you enjoy.

Remove yourself from the situation and go for a walk.

If you do these four things, you have a better chance of calming your everyday anxiety.”