Magnesium is also depleted during times of stress and via hyperventilation. Meaning that people with already low serum magnesium levels can actually worsen their situation when they experience anxiety and stress for extended periods of time. This results in even lower serum magnesium. Keep in mind, it is unlikely that low magnesium actually causes anxiety, but it can aid in producing the physical symptoms associated with anxiety.

Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? Discover how others cope with uncertainty. Ask your friends and family how they cope with uncertainty in specific situations. Could you do the same? For example, if you’re worried about your child taking the bus to school, asking a neighbor how they deal with the uncertainty could help you feel less anxious. While the above relaxation techniques can provide some immediate respite from worry and anxiety, practicing them regularly can also change your brain. Research has shown that regular meditation, for example, can boost activity on the left side of the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for feelings of serenity and joy.

Self-Exposure/Desensitization Therapy

Those three factors had a crumbling effect. It led me toward a breakdown that I needed. I think it’s a breakdown we all need. It wasn’t a nervous breakdown, but a breakdown of my self-sufficiency. God will always provide grace for the day. It is when we bear the burden of the next day, it is too much for us. George Macdonald said: “No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today, that the weight is more than a man can bear.” 6 Kent Hughes adds: This is just a small sample of the many strategies for reducing anxiety. Some people find relaxation exercises like visualization and progressive muscle relaxation to be helpful. Others find goal setting, staying socially active, and spending time with fun distractions to be all they need. Others need to consider herbal supplements like kava and passionflower that can help control anxiety.

If you are interested in understanding more, the book The Art of Breathing is highly recommended. Here are my favourite positive anxiety quotes on the power of slow breathing:

You can ask your doctor for a referral to a psychologist or other mental health professional who uses Masana MF, Tyrovolas S, Kolia N, et al. Dietary Patterns and their association with anxiety symptoms among older adults: The ATTICA study. Nutrients. 2019;11(6):1250. doi:10.3390/nu11061250 Our worries are often more damaging to us than any potentially negative outcome. The following is one of the most insightful quotes about anxiety I have come across: