Chronic Condition Management

Anxiety greatly impacts emotional processing and stress management and, when excessive, can disrupt everyday life. Anxiety is linked to numerous health issues, including insomnia and depression. Factors like environmental stress, lifestyle shifts, or hormonal changes can trigger anxiety.

Anxiety can manifest in various ways, such as difficulty in concentrating, restlessness, and a constant feeling of being overwhelmed. These symptoms can, in turn, exacerbate other health issues, leading to a cycle that impacts both mental and physical health. It’s important to recognise these signs and understand that they are not a normal part of life; they are indicators that you might need professional help to manage your anxiety effectively.

If anxiety affects your daily routine, it’s crucial to consult a doctor. Your Natura doctor can listen and explore treatment options with you.

Chronic pain is any type of noticeable, unpleasant sensation in the body that lasts for a period greater than three months. Examples include arthritic pain, backpain, migraines and neuropathic pain with varying underlying causes. Consequently, the experience of chronic pain is unique to the individual, making it one of the most difficult and frustrating conditions to treat and live with.

While many other conditions have clear signs of when to see your doctor, individuals suffering with chronic pain often spend years coping with their condition without relief. In short, if the pain does not go away with the intervention of simple and commonly-used treatments, or is getting progressively worse, it is important to speak to a doctor. Chronic pain is usually diagnosed when it has persisted for a minimum of 3 to 6 months and treatment of the underlying cause shows little to no improvement.

Talk with a Natura doctor about your situation.

Insomnia is a lack of quality sleep despite having the motivation, time and space for it to happen. Sleep is imperative for physical, emotional, and mental recovery and is more than just a time to recharge the batteries. Sleep is at the heart of optimal brain function as well as maintaining an effective immune system. A lack of sleep can be the underlying cause for numerous physical and mental disorders including anxiety and depression.

Multiple studies show up to half the adult population in western societies has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or both; resulting in less than the 7-9 hours of sleep recommended by most health authorities. Changes to the sleep environment, stress levels or physical changes (aging, for example, leads us to produce less of the hormone melatonin – one of our sleep triggers), can impact our quantity and quality of sleep. If a lack of sleep is causing a physical or mental disruption to your daily life, it is advisable to seek out professional medical advice.

Talk with a Natura doctor about your sleep issues.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes a wide spectrum of unpredictable seizures, Epilepsy can have a catastrophic impact on the life of those who suffer. Epilepsy can differ greatly from person to person in terms of seizure types which are usually recurrent and unprovoked. Many people living with Epilepsy experience more than one type of seizure.

A diagnosis becomes likely after a person has two or more unprovoked seizures where there is no known underlying medical condition that is reversible. While brain injury or family tendencies can be early indicators for this type of disorder, the cause is often unknown.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms of PTSD can vary widely among individuals but generally fall into four main categories:

• re-experiencing the trauma through intrusive memories or flashbacks,
• avoidance of reminders of the event,
• negative changes in thought and mood associated with the event, and
• heightened states of arousal that weren’t present before the trauma

These symptoms may manifest as nightmares, severe anxiety, uncontrollable thoughts about the incident, emotional numbness, guilt or blame, and being easily startled or frightened.

Understanding PTSD is crucial for those experiencing it and their loved ones. Symptoms typically begin within three months of the traumatic incident, but in some cases, they may not appear until years after the event. These symptoms must last for more than a month and be severe enough to impact personal or professional life to be considered PTSD.

PTSD often occurs alongside other anxiety disorders, depression, or substance abuse. Treatment options usually include a combination of therapy and medication,  tailored to the individual’s symptoms and needs. Due to some of the negative side effects of traditional pharmaceutical treatments, there has been an increase in research looking into natural treatment pathways as a further approach to managing these conditions

Recognising the signs of PTSD and seeking professional help is the first step towards recovery. Talk with a Natura doctor about your situation and options.

Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrial-like tissue grows outside of the uterus on other organs such as the ovaries. Depending on the severity the sufferer might experience intense pain or problems with the bladder or bowels.

While it is normal to have some pain during the menstrual cycle, continuous or intensifying pain, that persists despite painkillers, may be a sign to seek medical attention. The only way of diagnosing endometriosis definitively involves a laparoscopy, a minimally-invasive surgery where a small incision is made close to the navel and a camera inserted into the pelvis to examine the organs.

A conversation with a Natura doctor can help you understand your options.