Anxiety

Anxiety disorders encompass a group of conditions characterized by excessive, persistent worry, fear, or apprehension that is disproportionate to the actual threat. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, and panic disorder are common subtypes. Chronic anxiety activates the HPA axis, elevating cortisol and promoting physiological stress responses that can contribute to hair loss, sleep disruption, and immune dysfunction. Supplements with anxiolytic evidence include ashwagandha (cortisol reduction), L-theanine (alpha wave promotion), magnesium (GABA modulation), and certain probiotic strains (gut-brain axis). These are adjunctive to, not replacements for, therapy and medication.