Magnesium & Panic Attacks

If you are deficient in magnesium a panic attack can be triggered. A magnesium deficiency is thought to contribute to panic attacks. This makes sense as magnesium helps to calm nerves and relax muscles.

Do you have heart palpitations? They are often caused by magnesium deficiency too, and mistaken for anxiety. Try some magnesium supplements. There is a great deal of scientific research suggesting that that magnesium can be beneficial in reducing panic attacks. It's inexpensive and since we need it anyway, it's worth exploring.

Magnesium could be the ultimate mineral for your body because it’s an essential part of over 300 essential functions in your body. It's also used by every one of your organs. This mineral is responsible for activating enzymes and helping to metabolize food to give you energy, helping your body supply you with the energy you need to get through your day. Without it your body is not able to absorb vitamin D (it is so important that you have enough of this vitamin for calm happy mood control), potassium, and zinc.

Good Magnesium Sources

Squash and pumpkin seeds, spinach, almonds, barley, legumes, whole grains and nuts (especially Brazil nuts), are all good sources of magnesium. Generally meat is not, although shellfish and halibut are.

Most of us in the industralized world are deficient in magnesium due to processed foods in the typical American diet. In addition conventional farming methods which use mineral depleted soil don’t provide much magnesium, either. So most of us should consider using a supplement.

Panic, Anxiety And Agoraphobia

Panic attacks, anxiety and agoraphobia have been linked to a deficiency in magnesium. Some of the symptoms include numbness, tingling and other 'weird' sensations that are familiar to anxiety sufferers.

Personally, I have had what I call 'electric shocks' and 'mini explosions' that I feel very strongly in my brain. It also feels like I can hear it in my ear. This happens rarely, but it has happened more than once.

These sensations are not frightening (to me). They are more a nuisance and make me very irritable. I've also had feelings of suddenly dropping into a hole and being yanked back, all in a split second, causing me to be startled.

Whether by coincidence or not, these gradually decreased after I increased my magnesium intake. I believe there is a strong magnesium panic attack connection.

Blood Sugar, Magnesium & Panic Attacks

Do you suffer from blood sugar issues? High or low blood sugar can make you feel anxious, shaky, dizzy, light headed. These symptoms can be mistaken for a panic attack. You should know that magnesium plays an essential role in helping your body regulate blood sugar levels. In addition, this mineral helps relax muscles and nerves and helps to ease anxiety, hypertension, restless leg syndrome, abnormal heartbeat and poor sleep patterns.

(If you have kidney problems, please be very careful with your magnesium intake. Speak to your doctor. Your kidneys may have difficulty in eliminating magnesium, causing toxic buildup.)

Generally speaking, taking magnesium supplements are helpful for anxiety, panic and other mood conditions. If you are interested, there's a really good book by Dr. Carolyn Dean called "The Magnesium Miracle". It outlines how important this mineral is and will really open your eyes. An excellent resource to have.
Special note on magnesium supplements: Some people have trouble swallowing tablets - that's why I like to use liquid drops instead.

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