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Rosanna’s Story: Managing Anxiety with a Drug-free Toolbox

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Rosanna Blacker was first diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in her early 20s. Although her primary care physician prescribed medication, at that time she chose to look for natural approaches to manage her symptoms. Rosanna became a master reiki and certified essential oils aroma therapist, as well as a certified Yoga and Pilates instructor. After traveling around the world as an editor for a tourism publication, Rosanna eventually settled in Oahu, Hawaii with her family.

The Pitfalls of Prescription Medication

Rosanna Blacker at the eastern U.S. coast.

But her balance shifted in February 2016, when she relocated with her husband, son, and daughter to Farmington Connecticut. She experienced a panic attack while driving, and went to a new doctor who prescribed a benzodiazepine. The medication provided some relief for her heightened anxiety, and she came to depend on it. But Rosanna soon found herself in a dark cloud of unwanted side-effects.

“I began to feel withdrawn. I couldn’t concentrate. I was like a marionette puppet being moved by a little pill.” Rosanna lost healthy weight and felt uncomfortable changes in her skin. She also lost her unique spark and energy, and even stopped her beloved work as a fitness instructor. This made her even more anxious, but it was challenging to discontinue the medication. She tried to go cold turkey with the benzodiazepine.  

“I went into a severe panic attack. My body was shaking and I was hyperventilating and having palpitations. Extremely negative thoughts took over. It was a very scary feeling that made me want to run. I did not recognize myself.”

Healing through Whole-Person Treatment

That’s when Rosanna went to see licensed naturopathic doctor Jaquel Patterson.

“My naturopathic doctor took the time to really listen. She helped me understand that it is harder to build a healthy relationship with anxiety than just pop a pill, but that’s what I would need to do to find real healing.”

Rosanna Blacker

Anxiety can have a variety of root causes from genetic to biological to environmental. While pharmaceutical drugs can provide symptom relief, these same drugs often have limited effectiveness, cause unwanted side effects, and become highly addictive. Naturopathic doctors treat the whole person, addressing underlying causes of anxiety, including neurological imbalances, digestive/microbiome dysfunction, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction.

Dr. Patterson helped Rosanna rebuild her health with a whole-person treatment approach that combined clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, and behavioral medicine. Herbal supplements, teas, and tinctures, homeopathy, acupuncture, and exercise were all personalized to address Rosanna’s anxiety. The objective was to restore healthy function while meeting Rosanna’s unique biological and lifestyle needs. Dr. Patterson collaborated closely with Rosanna’s therapist Ryan McGuire, who counseled Rosanna through the process. After following her naturopathic treatment protocol combined with counseling for two months, Rosanna began to feel better.

Original art by Rosanna Blacker.

It took Rosanna a year to taper off the prescription medication. “There were many times when I said, ‘I cannot do this.’” But with the support of her tight-knit family and her health care team, which she affectionately calls ‘my beloved healing crew,’ Rosanna persevered. “My naturopathic doctor took the time to really listen. She helped me understand that it is harder to build a healthy relationship with anxiety than just pop a pill, but that’s what I would need to do to find real healing.”

Experience the benefits of personalized natural healthcare with a trusted, licensed naturopathic doctor in your area.
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Experience the benefits of personalized natural healthcare with a trusted, licensed naturopathic doctor in your area.
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Thriving with an All-Natural Toolbox

Rosanna wants to provide hope and freedom to others struggling with anxiety.

In November of 2017, Rosanna relocated with her family once more to Mooresville, North Carolina. This time, it was a smooth transition thanks to her improved state of health. Today, she continues to follow-up with both Dr. Patterson and her therapist via telemedicine and manages her anxiety with a drug-free medicine toolbox.

“The whole family is healthier now. Everyone eats more veggies and fruits. We are more active and more positive.”

Rosanna Blacker

Some of her most valuable natural instruments are food, the right battery of supplements, and most importantly, the will to conquer fears. Rosanna sticks to a diet high in vegetables and fruits and free of dairy, meat, gluten, and other toxins, as described in Anthony Williams’ Life Changing Foods. “Food is mood,” she has learned from Ryan McGuire. Though it was hard work to change past eating habits, Rosanna has noticed a huge difference: improved sleep, calmer mood, healthier skin, nails and hair, freedom from constipation, and less brain fog. “I am me again!” she celebrates.

These days, Rosanna is enjoying her part-time work as a Parent Liaison for her local school district, practicing Yoga and Pilates, making art, helping and inspiring others who struggle, and enjoying quality time with her husband and children.

“The whole family is healthier now. Everyone eats more veggies and fruits. We are more active and more positive. The kids have learned that if mom can overcome a big challenge, they, too, can be empowered. There is a feeling of content and happiness that we didn’t have before.”

Rosanna and family enjoy their newfound happiness.

Rosanna is preparing a video series of her journey with an action plan to provide hope and freedom to others struggling with anxiety.

For more on Rosanna’s story, follow her on Facebook.

This article is provided by

The Institute for Natural Medicine, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. INM’s mission is to transform healthcare in America by increasing both public awareness of naturopathic medicine and access to naturopathic doctors for patients. INM believes that naturopathic medicine, with its unique principles and practices, has the potential to reverse the tide of chronic illness that overwhelms existing healthcare systems and to empower people to achieve and maintain their optimal lifelong health. INM strives to achieve this mission through the following initiatives:

  • Education – Reveal the unique benefits and outcomes of naturopathic medicine
  • Access – Connect patients to licensed naturopathic doctors
  • Research – Expand quality research of this complex and comprehensive system of medicine

About The Author(s)

Author

Institute for Natural Medicine Staff

Our dedicated content team of professional staff writers represents decades of experience covering essential natural health topics in an accessible, evidence-based, and engaging way. Guided by a shared passion for holistic well-being, each and every one of our writers strives to empower our readers to take charge of their health.

Supported by a rigorous fact-checking and medical editing process from licensed naturopathic doctors that examines the latest in peer-reviewed research, our team brings their in-depth knowledge of natural health practices into every piece of content we produce. We strive to be the gold standard for evidence-based natural medicine, providing trustworthy information and inspiring narratives to help you live your best health, naturally.

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