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Anxiety, stress and anger
I am a 28-year-old professional female suffering from anxiety and stress. I also have a real problem controlling my anger which often flares up into rage. I did take Prozac and Paxil for a few years but want to find something more natural with fewer side-effects. What can you suggest?
Flower Remedies are so good at rebalancing the emotions and transforming negative feelings into positive ones that many practitioners use them alongside other therapies. If you live near Chard, in Somerset, you may even be lucky enough to be a patient at the surgery of Dr Andrew Tresidder, a GP who has been prescribing flower essences, alongside conventional treatment, for the past five years.
He is also the author of a brilliant new book called the Lazy Person’s Guide To Emotional Healing - Using Flower Essences Successfully. (Newleaf, £8.99) which explains how the different essences work. His remedies include my own favourite - Bitch Mix, which is made up of Beech, Cherry plum, Holly, Impatiens (Bizzy Lizzie), Pine, Vine and Willow essences to help banish bad moods and PMT.
Dr Tresidder says flower remedies are gentle but potent tools for change which we should not underestimate. The essences he suggests you try to help rebalance your emotions include Cherry Plum and Rock Rose to bring inner calm and stability and Impatiens again for impatience. Holly and Willow can help foster a more loving attitude to others and Walnut will help you deal with the stress of your work.
Cherry Plum, Rock Rose and Impatiens are all included in the best-selling Bach flower Rescue Remedy so this ready-made combination is likely to help you too. Otherwise, making your own remedies could not be easier. Just fill a 30ml dropper bottle with 9 parts fresh (not boiled) water and 1 part brandy or vodka to preserve the mixture. Then add 3 drops of each of your chosen remedies. To self-dose, drop 2-3 drops of this mix on to your tongue. Repeat 4-6 times daily for up to six weeks.
As you take the remedies over the days and weeks, you will, says Dr Tresidder, begin to notice changes in yourself. He warns that one seeming side effect may be that underneath this surface layer of anxiety and stress may be deeper unresolved issues such as a past bereavement or sadness which you will need to treat with a different combination or another therapy.
*Flower Essences are completely safe and do not interfere with other medication so you can self-dose. The original Bach Flower Remedies are on sale in Boots, Holland & Barrett and other health stores. A 10ml bottle costs £3.15. Rescue Remedy is £3.70. You can also mail order from Nelson, the manufacturer on 0207-495 2404.