Water Helps Ease General Anxiety!

Today I want to look at something so simple and yet equally powerful in alleviating the symptoms of general anxiety. This tip also helps reduce the frequency and strength of panic attacks.

Fresh Drinking Water

There is no quicker way to significantly reduce general anxiety than adopting good eating and drinking habits. One of the most easily implemented and effective additions to your diet is fresh water.

Water is a great quencher of thirst but more importantly here –a great quencher of anxiety.

Nearly every function of the body is monitored and pegged to the efficient flow of water through our system. Water transports hormones, chemical messengers, and nutrients to vital organs of the body.

When we don’t keep our bodies well hydrated, they may react with a variety of signals… some of which are symptoms, of anxiety. Here is some interesting information about water

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so
weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism
as much as 3%.

4. One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for
almost all of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water, is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Regular fresh drinking water is a vital ingredient to your diet. This is something the medical profession has been telling us for years. When we are dehydrated our cells can feel this at a molecular level and communicate this to the subconscious as an underline subtle anxiety or threat to survival.


The key to re-balancing a deficit of fluids is to drink eight glasses of fresh water daily. You must spread this intake throughout the day and not drink it all in one go! Otherwise you don’t give your body a chance to absorb it.


Have you noticed the effects of dehydration on your emotions before? If you have ever suffered from a serious hangover after a night out on the town, you will understand the feeling of dehydration all too well.

Hangovers result from dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. I’m sure many of you are familiar with the “the hangover fear”. This is a heightened sense of anxiety and jumpiness that results from the dehydration of hangover.

The surest way for someone who suffers from high anxiety to experience yet more anxiety, is to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and wait for the hangover to set in the following day.

It is important to be aware that dehydration is a factor that contributes to anxiety and nervousness. The good news is that it is easily remedied by drinking regular fluids. Personally, I have found that not only does regular intake of water ward off any subtle feelings of anxiety, but it is also incredibly useful for building stamina and avoiding fatigue. Give this some real consideration. Simply increasing the amount of fresh water you drink is a very easy step to incorporate into your daily routine. Most of us fall short of consuming the recommended amount.

Always remember that there is a lot of hope for an immediate and successful recovery from all forms of panic attacks and anxiety disorders. You can have the life of your dreams – Anxiety does not have the right to steal that hope from you.

Sometimes taking very small steps can lead to massive improvements. One of my favorite writers wrote about how everyone should approach their problems with the same philosophy as the woodpecker.

Keep chipping away at it and eventually the whole damn tree will collapse!

Barry Joe McDonagh

If you want to post a comment to about this articel simply click ‘Leave a reply reply’ below.

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308 Comments

  • Monica Reply

    I have suffered from panic attacks for the last 3 months and did not understand what was going on. I was admitted to A&E so many times I was told there is nothing medically wrong with you. I was sure the doctor I was seeing was overlooking something and even went on to get other opinions from other doctors but they told me the same thing…there is nothing wrong with your body, you are perfectly healthy , you are just suffering from general anxiety disorder…your mind is tricking your body to get redy to react to something that is unrealistic. My only hope was to pray to GOD for understanding & healing. I am thankful that the first time I went on the net to find some cures my God directed me to your website. The first mini-series I recieved via email and tried, it worked for me straight away. I can now walk round by myself and go to the shops without having to fear if an attack will come. I cannot thankyou enough. I am writing from Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific where education and knowledge of mental health is hard to get.

    Barry, I would like to say thankyou for the life saving work that you are doing. I wish i could meet you in person to personally thank you. May the good Lord bless you richly and give you more wisdom in this area.

  • Graven Reply

    its being long haven’t heard from you.,
    with all the wishes n prayer.

  • vicky Reply

    i had my first panic attack when i was 13 years old i thought it was because i smoked marijuana..i didnt know what it was and i was scared…thyen recently i had anither 1 and it freaked me out i really thoght i was going to die..the only way i control them is thinking that they cannot kill me but its still not a vice feeling at all..reading these comments has been a great help and has put my mind at rest..they havnt fully gone but i know now that the best way to deal with a panic attack is to want to have 1 and i thankyou very much for this

  • Leng Reply

    Thanks for your emails . Its really a great help . Thanks.

  • Amy Reply

    Thank you for these newsletters! I was just drinking a glass of water as I was reading this, so I must be on the right track! I have noticed that inadequate sleep also stimulates my anxiety. But after a night of drinking it is also very noticeable, I never thought water had anything to do with it! Makes perfect sense though. I really appreciate these newsletters, and will definitely keep reading them! It’s is also good to know there are many people out there with my same feelings.

  • Devendra bhattarai Reply

    thank u 4 wonderful advice. I think it will be must useful tonic 4 me because i m a health woker.I have soo many patients suffring from mental illness… Hopping ,it will be one of the best way in my treatment therapy.

  • sudhir Reply

    ya…i m feeling some sort of improvement..

  • Janice Reply

    I was just having a terrible time of panic/nervousness. I have been told that my A1C is high and that has not helped since I had been having a hard time with hbp, which has finally come down. I thought that would make me feel better, but now to worry about the sugar and it just won’t go away. So I decided to try the water. Sometimes I can’t even make myself swallow it, but today it is working and I do believe there is something to it. Thank you for your compassion in sending these messages and trying to help. Hope it works!!

  • Lamon @17.04 Reply

    Hi ,

    I have been drinking a lot of water and it helps calm me down. thanks a lot.

  • Junior Reply

    I found out that the quote used at the end of this is helpful and true. The Buddha once said that a bucket of water is filled one drop at a time. So the process of recovery should be takin the same way. Anxiety can be defeated but slowly and also by taking the neccessary steps to achieve that liberation. I found Panic Away a great “medicine” because it really teaches you how to overcome anxiety by not fueling it. A fire burns only when there fuel to keep it going. Panic is fueled only when false fear and doubt is present. What has helped me cope with panic and think of it as nothing more then a transient emotion (where it is no different then happyness now) is to love myself so much and know that this fear is not to be feared because nothing will happen from it. Verily I find taking care of yourself (both mentally and physically) will make your mind and body work in unison. Protect your mind from thoughts that are not real, you have everything you need in this world and perfect already to natures and faiths degree. I see panic and all other mental defilements as a blessing because after that you find traces of honest personal strenght and enligtment, and for me it makes me have a profound and new love of life because it shows me that I can have absoluely nothing but my love for self and others and still be contented. When you realize that everything in life comes and goes you learn to love yourself become brave, determined, wise and take the steps needed to become the person you want to be. For me that is happyness and Im brave enough to say…not at this moment not in the past nor future but just say in a certain mental stand still that I am not afraid and I say this without doupt. Thanks all for your thoughts of kindness, which is greater then any material the world and universe can offer. Live your life with contentment and love for all, become wise and live worry free. 😉

  • ankit sharma Reply

    thank u for such an boosting ideas and methods to reduce anxiety. thanks again…god bless panic away programme..

  • ankit sharma Reply

    thanks……panic away programme…it helps me a lot to reduce my anxiety programme….

  • Jim Reply

    Just wanted to say that I am very lucky to have found your site. The things expressed by, not only you, but the many subscribers to your program have, in themselves help me to realize I am not alone. I cannot believe how many things mentioned I can relate too. I just read the replenish water suggestion, again right on the money. It is amazing, for example, the holidays sometimes brought a little over indulgence and the next day was terrifying. Didn’t seem worth the fun I had the night before, but have found that dehydration is a much more apparent problem than originally thought. This anxiety isn’t any fun. When I go to the doctor, I fear my BP will be high, so naturally as soon as they put that cuff on my arm, it’s off to the races. I will be getting your system soon but I want to thank you for your enlightening letters that have already, like I said, let me know I’m sure not alone.

  • Karen Reply

    Simply Thank you

  • algz29 Reply

    thank you so much for always updating me on how i will overcome my panic attach or nervousness it really helps me to do my best slowly but improving. more power and God bless you. please continue updating me .

  • Jim bryan Reply

    Hey Barry first I’d like to say wow I haven’t had the chance to buy your program yet but these newsletters have been very helpfull and informative. Ive had panic attacks for about 11 years or so now everything from mild to actually fainting twice most of the time I can usually put the feeling down and move on now but I still get them all the time and still bad ones sometimes it’s nice to know that it’s possible to be rid of them forever. And this article about the water makes so much sense for one it’s a medical fact we need lots of water to be healthy and two when I thought back on the times when it was really bad I could think of quite a few times when I was probably dehydrated. thanks for the advice and help and everything

    Sincerely jim

  • vincent Reply

    Thank you for all your wonderful advice and excerpts that i have been receiving. It has helped me on my tortuous journey of recovery and getting back my life from anxiety and panic attacks that have plaqued me for the last 2 years!
    I am happy to read about how water helps, and unknowingly i have been doing exactly that!
    Thank you so much!

  • LUSIN Reply

    Dear barry, I prayed so much for that serious problem, which seems a minor problem for me today( I mean after I found your own method. Thank you , it really helps me.

  • Seanero Reply

    i really felt much better than b4 after reading articles and steps listed..

  • Laura Reply

    I’ve lived with anxiety since i was a teenager and a change in jobs has made it even more difficult to manage. I’m new to Panic Away and am looking forward to the information pack coming my way. Nice to get emails of different ideas to help even as simple as making sure you are driking enough water.

  • ClaireLucy Reply

    I have found your daily e mails extremely interesting, logical, informative and most of all EFFECTIVE! I can’t believe the results that I have had from your first e mail which said something I had myself only just worked out after recurring anxiety and panic attacks over a 10 year period – It is NOT the anxiety that is the problem it’s my reaction to it. So I took your advice and instead of saying to myself “oh no here it’s happening again, oh this is awful, I can’t take any more of this, I’m not right in the head, normal people don’t get this” etc etc (I think ALL anxiety suffers will be able to add a few of their own ! ) I said to myself “okay so you’re feeling a bit anxious, come on then, bring it on, let’s have the worst anxiety ever, let’s see how much I can panic” along with “okay so there’s some anxiety, let’s acknowledge that, it’s a chemical reaction to stress, let’s label it as such and now let’s move on”.

    It has worked like a miracle. And now I realise that I RARELY drink water and that I have become shaky at times and had all the symptoms of dehydration. Thank you for some really fantastic advice !

  • Karen Reply

    Thank you so very much for sharing the article about fresh water and its benefits and effects on significantly reducing anxiety in general. I know that I am part of the 75% of Americans that are seriously dehydrated. And, after reading your article today, I will spring into action today and making a change. I have rebuked my panic and anxiety disorder after having a terrible, horrifying one the other night right in the comfort of my bedroom and that had never happened before! Since 2004, I have “accepted” that I could not go into crowded elevators which over the past year has almost went to not riding elevators or trying to avoid them and also taking medication in order to board an airplane. My panic triggers often if its hot and I feel trapped. Over the past year I have started to have new sensations such as swollen tongue and throat and could not swallow. I now have 3 experiences associated with that where it was out of control! But, after the episode the other night… I have denounced them and following the advice I’m getting here which encourages us to “bring the panic own and tell it to do its worst” realizing I’m in no harm! I have felt the panic attacks try to creep up and I tell myself “false alarm” and thank my panic monster for trying to protect me or either to come full force in order to retrain my false alarm button! Thank you so much for all of your help!!!!!

  • Charles Reply

    Thank you very much. I look forward to more sage advice

  • Rhoda Reply

    your updates have given me a hope and a new lease of life .May God bless you with more wisdom as you continue to give us hope.

    Rhoda

    Kenya-Africa

  • Deborah Reply

    July 24, 2012: Sitting here in Brooklyn, New York at 7 am. Starting to get a Panic Attack, not pleasant…. but opened Email sent to me by Mr. McDonagh and also starting taking notes and the writing mechanism almost seemed to calm me. His words ring true and make sense. I have suffered with Panic Attacks for over 30+ years and after being in a bad car accident and having sustained numerous injuries, I do note that yes bodily sensations to include pain can trigger Panic Attacks… After reading Mr. McDonagh’s emails, It has helped me understand why I have been suffering so, needing Xanax for the past few years to just get through a day of life. I am starting to apply some of his techniques and I must say they are helping me.
    Lost my job, but when I can look forward to purchasing the whole program. Thank You Mr. McDonagh and God Bless!

  • Julie Reply

    I have been have anxiety and panic attacks most of my life i guess I’m 39 years old and had them on and off. I never really knew what they were when I was younger. I recently (past 9 months) have been having them all the time. I feel them coming on and I just want to run and hide somehwere. I went to a Phsycologist and was prescribed xanax. I take half .25 which everyone tells me is actually hardly anything. But they are now my security blanket. I take it once a day at 4:30pm or 5:00 I will panic if I go past 5. great huh! this illness is the weirdest thing I would have ever thought I would have. My doctors say it’s stress. My sister died 2 years ago of Leukemia and I was her caregiver. I was with her everyday and was with her when she took her last breath. I endured this with my sister for 8 months. I was prepared for the heart break for when she died, but 1 year after her death I became very nervous, panicking all the time about everything, weird thoughts, and terrible anxiety. I thought I was going to die. Anyways! I want to thank you for the breathing techniques they have really helped me. The emails are awesome and I’m so glad I’m not alone. Go figure thought I was the only crazy one in the world right! hhahahahah…thanks again!

  • Karen Reply

    Thanks alot on things that I have from got out things that you have set to read really does help out alot I’ve been struggle with anxiety attack for a while have been off from work because of them I would like to here more things about anxiety attack thank you so much that has been their

  • Dan Reply

    I have noticed that fresh water helps me a fair old bit with my GAD. The only problem I face is constantly going to the toilet as a result!! This said, it is worth it as water really helps a lot! I found that the affects did not become apparent until a few days after I started drinking 8 glasses a day.

  • Karen Reply

    Never would though that fresh water could to this because i don’t drink water then need to drank more water if this wll help me I will try this thanks so much I love to read new thing that will help me karen

  • Sandy E. Hurtado Reply

    Hello! I’m panic attacks FREE since I found your web site.
    I can’t thank you enough! I’m taking 1/4 of clonopin and I’m not taking anymore
    ambience to sleep. Soon I will not take any more pills.

    Good work! I’m very lucky to have found you! I will drink a lot of water please keep sending me your excellent articles!!!!

    GOD BLESS YOU <3

  • Marcela Navratil Reply

    Thank you from Sydney,
    Thank God I found you when I did. I was so desperate and did not understand what was happening to me. The tips you’ve been sharing in your emails have been SO effective and are helping me recover from such debilitating disorder! I use them all the time and have helped me immensely!! THANK YOU. You are the light at the end of the tunnel. God bless you and everyone of your readers!!!!

  • bryan Reply

    Well, the first time I had a major attack they put me on xanax but it messed with my head really badly and I had memory issues. My discharge papers noted that while medicated by it I had little to no acknowledgement of externally inflicted bodily harm/pain. What I do remember is waking up the next day with a swollen ankle and multiple bruises that hurry like hell from walking into things or just letting the car door close on me.
    Later, someone recommended me this treatment, and I’m very grateful with it, i can go anywhere i want without problem, no anxiety, no panic attacks, i’m a new person. Read this article, it helped me a lot : panicsolutionkey.com

  • lynn STRATCH Reply

    You have helped me more tha any threapist I have gone to and I can’t wait until I have the money to buy your book. Thankyou LYNN

  • Yudistira Reply

    I have to give this method a try!

  • geraldine Reply

    actually, my level of anxiety, sometimes help me a lot but all the time it makes me depress.good thing i have some friends with me to talk to and to cry to.my husband is my shock absorber somehow..support system is a must for me and prayer, after i pray, crying to God for help, releasing my burdens to Him..gives me peace of mind and comfortable breathe.
    so many things,that happens in my life,past experiences that triggers my anxiety,to have fear and low self confidence, afraid to sleep that i could not wake up even alarm clock was set already..over thinking, sensitive to minute things in life.over reacting.so on and so forth. i didnt take any meds but in order for me to sleep i take antihistamine for me to sleep but not all the time.i know its not a good practice.
    I would like to encourage everyone that living a positive outlook in life, in tune spiritually and having good lifestyle( like involve in sports, join in a group,community or church), good nutrition, family bonding, constant communication with friends and love ones will help eradicate this anxiety…and no more panic attack.

  • isaac oberndorfer Reply

    You are correct about water. But you forgot one thing. SALT. Of course not poison table salt but Hilmalaen unprocessed SEA SALT. Very necessary to retain water in the cells. Refer to book YOUR BODIES MANY CRIES FOR WATER. Just water without salt you likely will pee out most of it.
    Thank you.

    • akilah Reply

      I must admit that after reading some information about panic attacks from Barry, I have eliminated the fear of it all. I am now dealing with the symptoms of panic attacks without the fear of it all. I now want the symptoms to go away entirely. I know that with prayer and reading about this enemy, it will eventually go away for ever.

  • Abhinav Asthana Reply

    Thank you. Great article.

  • Kamila Reply

    Thank you for your Articles

  • Matt s Reply

    I have recently began having anxiety after a tragic event. I’ve found your site and after only a week I’ve seen big improvements in starting to stop anxiety and panick from taking your advice.sometimes it’s a real struggle,but I’m finding comfort in knowing I’m not alone and there is hope. Thank u Barry. You’ve become an important piece to my missing puzzle

  • williams ocasio Reply

    Thank you for taking the time to share some light on my anxiety problem

  • Mary Reply

    VERY INTERESTING!!! THANK YOU

  • John Deans Reply

    This was great information. I have notice before that drinking water helped me through difficult anxiety building situations. Thanks for sharing.

  • Evangeline Reply

    I also forgot to mention that you need to drink lots of water when you are swallowing the drenamine vitamin

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  • sesli Reply

    Hi There! siblings simply love your awesome site thanx and please keep on going

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