Anxiety is one of the most common conditions nowadays. Many people diagnosed with anxiety have to rely on strong medications (such as benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors –SSRIs). But due to their side effects and the peril of growing tolerance and addiction in the short and mid-term, patients are now looking for natural alternatives to anxiety medications.
Because of the popularity that kratom is gaining, anxiety patients often wonder if they can use kratom for anxiety. Kratom is an effective natural remedy to treat anxiety without the dreaded side effects of the drugs used in the traditional treatments for this condition.
Not that long ago, anxiety was not even considered a disease. It was regarded as a mere state of nervousness and there was a general feeling that it was not even serious. Unfortunately, anxiety goes much further than “being nervous”. Everybody feels nervous or anxious sometimes in their lives. However, in the case of anxiety, the state of nervousness does not simply go away and is accompanied by much more serious symptoms, which can provoke that anxiety sufferers are not capable of carrying out everyday activities (like shopping or working) or even leading a normal life.
Anxiety symptoms
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
- High heart rate and palpitations
- Chest pain
- Stomachache (commonly known as «a nervous stomach»)
- Difficulty to breath
- Dizziness
- Fear of dying or of something bad happening
- Disturbing thoughts
- Insomnia
- Blurry vision
- Over worrying about trivial facts and issues
- Obsessions
- Extreme fear of people’s reactions and opinions
- Fear of losing sanity
- Panic attacks
There are different types of anxiety, depending on how and what it makes you feel and how it affects your daily life: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia or social anxiety, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Kratom As a Remedy for Anxiety
Medications commonly used for treating anxiety include benzodiazepines, SSRIs, Tricyclics, and antidepressants like monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). While these drugs work quite quickly, the tolerance patients develop to them grows up also very quickly, resulting in higher doses and even addictions in the short and mid-term. These medications for anxiety also have very unpleasant side effects, like drowsiness, nausea, headaches and even amnesia.
Because of all this, people suffering from anxiety are looking for alternatives to the traditional medications. Kratom is a good alternative for treating anxiety.
Using Kratom for Anxiety
Kratom is often used for relieving pain (muscle pain, headaches, menstrual pain, arthritis, rheumatism…). But because of its calming, relaxing properties, many users claim it is also helpful in lessening anxiety and some of its symptoms:
- it calms the mind,
- mitigates stress,
- alleviates muscle tension,
- relieves stomach ache and nausea
- and helps sleep.
The best kratom varieties for treating anxiety are Indo and Borneo strains (red Borneo or Bali). Borneo is probably the most sedating type of kratom, which may be the effect that many anxiety patients seek. It can also help with depression and to relieve pain.
Indo strains show the same strength as Borneo, but it lacks the euphoric effect of the latter and it does not provoke the numbness that some Borneo users feel.
Kratom For Social Phobia
Social phobia (or social anxiety) is one of the most common types of anxiety disorders. Sufferers from social phobia fear interacting with other people and engaging in social activities, and have a constant irrational feeling of being judged and criticized. Social anxiety can way too often interfere in the lives of those who suffer from it, stopping them from performing many social and regular activities.
The best kratom strains for social anxiety are green Malay and green or white Sumatra.
Green Malay kratom has euphoric effects which, combined with its energizing properties, make this kratom variety a great alternative when dealing with social phobia. Green Malay enhances sociability, vivacity, and even focus.
White vein Sumatra also has euphoric and energizing properties. There are many users who claim that it is also a nootropic, as it improves attention, focus, and memory.
Recommended Dosage of Kratom for Anxiety
If you are using kratom for social anxiety, it is recommended to take small or medium doses. A higher dose will be effective for attaining a calming, relaxing effect that will be useful for general anxiety disorder.
In any case, the recommended routine when using kratom for anxiety is taking it for 1 or 2 days and then a 2–3 days break.
It is also recommendable to combine kratom with other therapies for anxiety, like meditation, relaxation, or breathing exercises.
Does Kratom Have Side Effects When Used for Anxiety?
While kratom can provoke a slight sense of stress and increase adrenaline levels in your body, if used properly (that is, with the recommended kratom strains and dosage) kratom should not have any side effects, let alone worsen anxiety or cause panic attacks.
However, high doses of kratom can cause constipation, nausea, or dizziness.
It is important to bear in mind that kratom batches may vary depending on several factors, such as time of the year or the weather conditions. Due to this, whenever you are trying a new kratom batch you should start with doses smaller than those you usually take in order to test its effects first.
If you are experiencing side effects like an increase in excitability, just leave kratom aside for a week or so: sometimes our body needs a break from kratom and a small rest will not do us any harm.
