As with depression, dehydration rarely causes anxiety as a cause by itself, but not drinking adequate water puts you at risk for increased anxiety symptoms now, and possibly the development of higher anxiety levels in the future.
Another large study found people who drink five cups or more of water per day were at lower risk of depression and anxiety. In comparison, drinking less than two cups per day doubles the risk. This link was less noticeable for anxiety alone (although feelings of depression and anxiety often influence each other).
Excessive Urination/Sweating During periods of anxiety and anxiety attacks, many people sweat and/or urinate more frequently. These are natural reactions to anxiety. These also cause water loss, and may cause you to need more water during the day than you're used to.
Dehydration leads to reductions in brain volume and changes in neural activity in brain areas involved in fluid homeostasis,15 but little is known about the factors responsible for the alteration in cognition.
Dehydration rarely causes anxiety on its own, but if you're not drinking enough water you may be putting yourself at risk for worse anxiety symptoms now, and the development of greater anxiety in the future. Thus, especially if you are prone to anxiety, you will want to work to ensure you are properly hydrated daily.
Water has a powerful physiological effect on your body – so much so that even drinking a glass of water can calm your nerves. This is because water triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's 'rest and digest' response.
Aquaphobia is a fear of water. People with this specific phobia feel anxious when they think about or see water. They may avoid baths, showers, pools and bodies of water. Many people with aquaphobia have had traumatic experiences with water.
Dehydration, on the other hand, has its own suite of detriments; including memory lapses, poor mental clarity, increased anxiety, and, of course, brain fog.
Magnesium and potassium are two electrolytes that many people are low in. Taking magnesium supplements daily can help replenish stores and prevent magnesium deficiency that's responsible for symptoms like anxiety, trouble sleeping or muscle cramps.
If you aren't properly hydrated, your body won't be able to get enough tryptophan into your brain to convert to serotonin. Dehydration also depletes the levels of other amino acids in your brain, leading to feelings of anxiety, dejection, irritability, and inadequacy.
Alcohol is a depressant. It slows down processes in your brain and central nervous system, and can initially make you feel less inhibited. In the short-term, you might feel more relaxed - but these effects wear off quickly. In fact, if you're experiencing anxiety, drinking alcohol could be making things worse.
The practice of relieving your stress, anxiety, or any other negative emotion through physical stimulus is known as self-soothing. The best stress-relieving drinks include ginger, chamomile tea, valerian, black tea, coconut water, milk, green tea, coffee, lemon balm tea, water, and vegetable and fruit juice.
Fill a bowl of water and ice. Put your face in the bowl. This will calm you downcome up when you need to breathe, but repeat until you feel better.
In general, however, it usually takes about two hours for your body to rehydrate fully after drinking a significant amount of water. As for how you should rehydrate, water is the best choice. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade, can be helpful for athletes who need to replenish electrolytes.
For more mild or moderate cases of dehydration, expect your body to feel better after just a few hours, but full rehydration won't happen until about three days later. That's why even if you feel better fairly quickly, you shouldn't rush back into your regular routine.
Boosts serotonin production
Increasing your water intake will promote happiness, allowing your brain to continue making serotonin. The correct amount of serotonin in the brain keeps us happy, emotionally level and stable. And to have enough serotonin in the brain, we must ensure we stay hydrated.
Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe. Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an exam, or having a medical test or job interview.
A large 2020 study in BMC Psychiatry found that people with iron deficiency anemia had a significantly higher incidence and risk of anxiety disorders, depression, sleep disorder, and psychotic disorders.
“Studies have shown that not eating enough can cause prolonged periods of anxiety and depression in teens and adults,” says Beal.
Foods naturally rich in magnesium may, therefore, help a person to feel calmer. Examples include leafy greens, such as spinach and Swiss chard. Other sources include legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Foods rich in zinc such as oysters, cashews, liver, beef, and egg yolks have been linked to lowered anxiety.