Cooling off summer anxiety

Summer is supposed to be a time to relax. Mellow out. Hang by the

beach and catch some rays.

But what if you are not a carefree student who’s lounging at home

for the summer or a trust-fund baby who has no need to work? What if

the kids are out of school and one needs a ride to soccer practice

and the other is dying to go surfing with his pals but the pool guy

is supposed to stop by sometime in the next 12 hours to fix the

drainage system?

There is only a 10-degree difference between summer and hell.

The heat is sweltering. The air conditioner is on the fritz.

Little Mikey got poison oak at wilderness camp. Money is tight. Back

to school shopping is near. The dog has fleas. Your bathing suit from

last year somehow shrunk. Grandpa needs help in his garden. Mother is

getting her hip replaced. Suzie thinks she is wearing what on the

beach!? Oh, yeah, and the terror alert was just raised back to

Orange.

Phew, I stressed myself out just writing that. Quick, somebody get

me a Prozac, Xanex, whatever you’ve got.

Or something else.

Allen Green, a Costa Mesa doctor who specializes in holistic

medical therapies, said people don’t necessarily need a prescription

to help them come up for air.

“Drugs are not the only way to go,” Green said. “... I am a

physician, so I do everything but I have a strong belief in the value

of natural medicine and the incorporation of it with conventional

medicine.”

Holistic remedies don’t necessarily take the place of

pharmaceutical drugs, but can help lower the dosage of those more

toxic medications and, in some cases, forestall surgery or other

invasive medical techniques.

Green specializes in natural medical therapies, including vitamins

and herbs from all over the world. Valerian Root, Passion Flower,

Skull cap and magnesium can all help loosen muscles and encourage

relaxation, he said.

People who have a lot of stress can also have trouble falling

asleep or staying asleep. Green suggests staying away from

caffeinated drinks, avoiding exercise late at night, steering clear

of overly stimulating entertainment, such as action or horror movies,

that raise adrenaline levels. Oh yeah, and don’t watch the news.

“It often tends to be negative and people have become more and

more worried about the world and its problems,” he said. “[The news]

instills fear and fear is not an emotion that aids sleep.”

For those who need to stay up to date on world affairs, Green

suggests talking about what is going on and venting feelings of

frustration or worry, instead of simply watching and internalizing

everything.

“If you are feeling frustrated or angry or scared it helps to

discuss those feelings,” Green said.

What about alcohol?

“Alcohol can be relaxing for a lot of people but in the evening it

can make people not achieve as deep a sleep,” Green said.

Stressed out about your stress levels? Worried you are not doing

enough to relax? Must put magnesium on shopping list. What else in

your life is robbing you of precious sleep, weakening your immune

system and taking years off your life?

Relax. Let it go. Here are some things to quell that anxiety.

Exercise -- but not too late. It is better to get that heart rate

pumping in the mid afternoon. Drink a hot cup of tea -- but not

caffeinated. A nice herbal tea, in a dimly lighted room, with some

soft music playing should take some weight off your shoulders.

Pray. Meditate. Read. Take a hot bath. Massage your feet. Or read

this column -- you’ll be snoozing in no time.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and

covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or

by e-mail at [email protected].