Natural Stress and Anxiety Relief

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All of us experience stress and anxiety in our lives. We are all familiar with the sources of stress and anxiety. They include financial concerns, work deadlines, providing for our children, countless tasks to do and errands to run, heavy traffic, relationships with co-workers, family relationships, and the list goes on. The irony is that the responses of our physical bodies that are designed to protect us can turn against us when stress and anxiety is without relief or prolonged. Under stress, our heart rate and blood pressure increase to provide our brains with more blood flow for oxygen and nutrients. Our blood sugar increases to provide us with more energy as we would need in a crisis. Our blood is routed away from our intestines in order to provide energy for the large muscles in our arms and legs for fight or flight. If the source of our stress and anxiety subsides after a brief period of time, our bodies return these functions to their normal process. If the source of our stress and anxiety remains constant then our physical responses become harmful to our health. We begin to experience insomnia, joint and muscle inflammation and pain, fatigue, hypertension, perhaps heart constriction, indigestion, higher cholesterol levels, impotence, either lack of or excess appetite resulting in weight loss or weight gain, weakened immune system making us vulnerable to colds and flu, and so on. Emotionally we experience feelings of irritability, impatience, lack of sexual interest, lack of concentration, depression, restlessness, excessive alertness and reaction to normal external stimuli, or feelings of being constantly overwhelmed and helpless.



Our bodies need time to recover from being in crisis mode due to stress and anxiety in order to restore normal physical balance and functioning. We need a break from and relief from the stress and anxiety in order to maintain our health. Some of us have had experience with prescription, synthetic drugs to ease anxiety and stress, but have suffered the potentially harmful and discomforting side effects which, ironically added to our feelings of stress and anxiety. Fortunately, many of us have discovered substances provide by nature that our bodies readily absorb and utilize to deal with stress and anxiety without the possible harmful side effects of prescription, synthetic drugs.



When dealing with stress and anxiety, our bodies need a proper balance of vitamins and minerals that can be obtained in multivitamin formulas some of which are specially created to provide extra stress protection with calcium, potassium, magnesium, a full spectrum of B vitamins and pantothenic acid.



Essential fatty acids provide us with Omega 3 and Omega 6 which help balance blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and provide our neurotransmitters in our brain to function quickly and efficiently. Essential fatty acids help reduce joint and muscle inflammation and fatigue, and enhances the functions of our respiratory and intestinal digestive system providing our muscles organs, and brains with the oxygen and nutrients needed to deal with stress and anxiety. Flaxseed oil with lignans and fish oils which have been filtered to remove heavy metals can provide us with the essential fatty acids that we need for dealing with stress and anxiety.



GABA i.e. Gamma-aminobutyric Acid, which is an amino acid, effects the neuro-receptors in our brain. This helps us deal with stress and anxiety by lowering over-reaction to potentially stress causing stimuli and enables us to be detached in an emotionally healthy way providing us with the calmness and poise we need to deal efficiently and effectively with what we are presented.



Herbs e.g. skull cap and passion flower can help us relax and receive the rest and sleep that we need. L-tyrosine is an essential amino acid often used to treat insomnia, depression and anxiety as well as helping to control appetite and elevate our mood. Melatonin and herbal formulas are available to us to provide the restful, restoring sleep we need in order to deal with anxiety and stress.



Aromatherapy which is the use of aromas from plant essential oils can be added to our baths, used in massage oils, or released into our living space with aromatherapy candles. As we inhale these aromas, they quickly reach our brain and help provide us with feelings of calm and relaxation. The aromatherapy essential oils that are most effective in easing stress and anxiety are bergamot, cypress, geranium, jasmine neroli, rose, sandalwood and ylang-ylang. Lavender is the most popular essential oil used to provide us with a feeling of calm and well being.



These are just a few of the all natural substances and formulas available to us to help keep our bodies healthy as we experience the stress and anxiety that accompanies our too often hectic and prolonged stressful life experiences. Other all natural formulas that increase the functioning of our brains in the areas of attention, concentration and performance are also available to us. Our bodies need extra help in dealing with stress and anxiety. Cognitively and emotionally we need breaks and periods of rest and release from stress and anxiety. The safest, non-addictive way to obtain the help we need for dealing with stress and anxiety is with all natural health care products that do not present the possibility of harmful side effects that actually increase stress and anxiety.

What Causes Social Anxiety?

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Social Anxiety Disorder is a fear of social situations that involve interaction with other people. People who have social anxiety often fear that they are being watched, judged, and evaluated by other people. It is often mistaken for shyness or low self-esteem. There are many different causes of social anxiety, however, the cause of social anxiety in some people simply cannot be explained.

A common cause of social anxiety is a traumatic social experience. If a person is 'picked on' or made fun of during childhood, they are likely to develop social anxiety. Social Anxiety can even develop during adulthood, as a result of a traumatic social experience. Some researchers believe that adult onset social anxiety, due to a traumatic social experience, is the easiest social anxiety to treat, because the person simply needs to regain their self-confidence. This isn't necessarily so for everyone.

Another common cause of social anxiety is a learned response. If a child has parents who have social anxiety, there is a good chance that the child will learn to fear social situations as well. As children, we learn everything from the people who are around us the very most. Alternately, some people who have vivacious, outgoing parents develop social anxiety as a result. They have underlying fears that make them feel that they could never live up to the standard that their parents have set - so, instead of being outgoing, they withdraw, and develop social anxiety as a result.

Furthermore, social anxiety can develop due to misleading or inaccurate information. For instance, if a girl is a tomboy as a child, and she is often discouraged from playing sports and climbing trees - while being encouraged to play with dolls, she could develop social anxiety. She would succumb to social pressure from friends and family members to 'do what girls do, not what boys do.' This could become a big problem as she grows up. Dating could become a problem, because she will not feel that she is not feminine, or 'lady like' enough for any boy to be interested in her - she likes sports after all. The thought process is totally inaccurate, but it is what she learned as a child. She would be confronted with the issue over and over as time goes by, and eventually, she would develop social anxiety - never feeling like she fits in, and always feeling like she is being judged.

Researchers now also believe that social anxiety can be inherited genetically. Research has shown that identical twins, who share identical genes, experience similar social anxiety symptoms, while fraternal twins, who do not share identical genes, do not experience similar social anxiety symptoms. Research in this area is still ongoing.

The causes of social anxiety vary from person to person. Often, the cause can be found through therapy. Therapists agree that once the underlying cause of social anxiety is found, most people are able to begin dealing with their social anxiety in effective, successful ways.

Anxiety Disorders

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Anxiety Disorders

 

Introduction

Medicine, psychiatry, and dualism:

In the past, psychiatric diagnoses have been regarded as ‘mental' in nature, in contrast to the ‘physical' nature of medical diagnoses. This distinction reflects the absence of gross pathology in most psychiatric disorders, and the fact that these conditions usually present with disturbed mental states or behaviour rather than physical symptoms.

Underling this division of illnesses into physical and mental, is the assumption that a parallel distinction can be made in healthy people ‘body-mind dualism'. This has and continues to exert a profound influence on medical thinking.

Co-morbidity means the occurrence of two disorders. The term has been extended to describe the co-occurrence of prominent mental symptoms and bodily pathology since these patients are usually given a psychiatric and a physical diagnosis. In particular neither of these diagnoses may lead to effective treatment because a focus on either may lead to neglect of the other. An example is the widespread neglect of depression in patients with medical disease.

Somatization some patients have somatic symptoms but no evidence of bodily pathology. It is then unclear whether their illness should be categorized as medical or as psychiatric. In the past these conditions were generally given the medical diagnosis of functional illness (function is abnormal but there is no pathology). Now these conditions are usually given the psychiatric diagnosis of somatoform disorder. Such patients receive both a medical diagnosis (organic disorder) and a psychiatric diagnosis such as somatoform disorder (functional disorder) and the resulting confusion and controversy is well illustrated by literature about the condition called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CSF) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

Modern (integrated) approach:

New scientific knowledge, such as the demonstration of the neural basis to many psychiatric disorders (esp. with the functional imaging and genetics) has shown that crude dualistic thinking is untenable. Evidence for the effect of psychiatric disorder on the outcome of medical conditions such as MI (Frasure-Smith et al 1993) has pointed to the same conclusions.

Mind and brain are now increasingly regarded as two side of the same coin. This shift implies that psychiatric disorders are no more distinct from medical conditions than the higher nervous system is from the rest of the body. As Eisenberg (i986a) put it, psychiatry has to become less ‘brain-less' and medicine less ‘mind-less'. Correspondingly medical and psychiatric care need to be more integrated.

The ‘biopsychosocial' approach which can be further divided into predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating causes can go a long way to bridge the gap and most importantly, serve the patient.

Anxiety Disorders

Abnormal state in which the most striking features are mental and physical symptoms of anxiety, occurring in the absence of organic brain disease or another psychiatric disorder

Symptoms of anxiety:

Psychological arousal

• Fearful anticipation
• Irritability
• Sensitivity to noise
• Restlessness
• Poor concentration
• Worrying thoughts

Autonomic arousal

• Gastrointestinal: dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, epigastric discomfort, excessive wind, frequent loose motions
• Respiratory: constriction in the chest, difficulty inhaling
• Cardiovascular: palpitations, discomfort in the chest, awareness of missed heart beats.
• Genitourinary: Frequent or urgent micturation, failure of erection, menstrual discomfort, amenorrhoea

 Muscle tension

• Tremor
• Headache
• Aching muscles

 Hyperventilation

• Dizziness
• Tingling in the extremities
• Feeling of breathlessness

 Sleep Disturbance

• Insomnia
• Night terror

 Although all the symptoms can occur in any of the anxiety disorders, there is a characteristic pattern in each disorder which will be described later. The disorders share many features of their clinical picture and aetiology but there are also differences:

• In generalized anxiety disorders, anxiety is continuous-though it may fluctuate in intensity.
• In phobic anxiety disorders, anxiety is intermittent, arising in particular circumstances.
• In panic disorder, anxiety is intermittent but its occurrence is unrelated to any particular circumstances.

 The Classification of anxiety disorders (ICD-10):

•  Phobic anxiety disorder:

 Agoraphobia (with or without panic disorder)

Social phobia

Specific phobias

•  Panic Disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Mixed anxiety and depression disorder.

 (OCD in ICD-10 is diagnosed separately, in the DSM-IV it is under anxiety disorder)

 

Generalized Anxiety Disorders

Clinical Picture

The symptoms in GAD are persistent and are not restricted to, or markedly increased in, any particular set of circumstances. All the previously mentioned symptoms can occur, but there are characteristic pattern comprised of the following features:

• Worry and apprehension that are more prolonged than those oh healthy people. The worries are widespread and not focused on a specific issue as they are in panic disorder (on having a panic attack) or social phobia (on being embarrassed). The person feels that theses widespread worries are difficult to control.

 

• Psychological arousal which may be evident as irritability, poor concentration, and sensitivity to noise. Some patients complain of poor memory.

 

• Autonomic overactivity experienced most often as sweating, palpitation, dry mouth, epigastric discomfort, and dizziness. Some patients ask for help without mentioning the psychological symptoms of anxiety.

 

• Muscle tension often as restlessness, trembling, inability to relax, headache (usually bilateral and frontal or occipital) and aching in shoulders and neck.

 

• Hyperventilation which may lead to dizziness, tingling in the extremities and, paradoxically, a feeling of shortness of breath.

 

• Sleep disturbance include difficulty falling asleep and persistent worrying thoughts. Sleep often intermittent, unrefreshing, and accompanied by unpleasant dreams. Some patients have night terrors in which they awake suddenly feeling intensely anxious. Early morning waking is not a feature of GAD and its presence strongly suggests a depressive disorder.

 

• Other features include tiredness, depressive symptoms, obsession symptoms, and depersonalization. These never prominent. If so, another diagnosis should be considered.

 

Clinical signs

The face appears strained, the brow is furrowed, and the posture is tense. The person is restless and may tremble. The skin is pale and sweating is common, especially from the hand, feet, and axillae. Readiness to tears, which may at first suggest depression, reflects the generally apprehensive state.

Note that there is no clear dividing line between GAD and normal anxiety. They differ both in the extent of the symptoms and the duration (in DSM-IV 6 month, in the ICD-10, more flexible; symptoms should have been present on most days at least several weeks at a time, and usually several month'

Comorbidity is common:

• Anxiety and depression
• Schizophrenia
• Dementia
• Substance misuse
• Physical illness e.g. Thyroid disease, hypoglycaemia.

Epidemiology:

Life time rate 4-5 %

Incidence 3% per year

Aetiology:

Biopsychosocial, Interaction between stressful events, genetic causes, early experiences, personality and social circumstances.

Areas of the brain most likely involved: the amyygdala, the hippocampus.

Na, 5-HT, GABA and recently CRH (corticotrophin releasing hormone)

Prognosis

Duration is important and the longer the GAD the worse the prognosis.

Co-morbidity (physical or psychiatric) worsen the prognosis

However GAD has a very good prognosis if treated.

 Treatment

• Counselling: involving clear plan, explanation, reassurance, problem solving, advice about life style (e.g  caffeine)
• Relaxation training has to be regular to work
• CBT (Cognitive -Behavioural Therap)
• Medications:in the short term, long acting BDZ (not more than 3 weeks, risk of addiction). For the long term, antidepressant are effective, SSRI first line and Venelafaxine is 2nd line.

 

Phobic anxiety disorders:

1. Specific phobia

Same core symptoms as GAD, but occur in particular circumstances, there may be anticipatory anxiety. Grouped into:

 

• Situation(e.g. crowded places)
• Objects (e.g. spiders)
• Natural phenomena (e.g. Thunder)

The following specific phobias will be described briefly:

Phobia of dental treatment: 5% of adults.

Phobia of flying: CBT or behavioural treatment (desensitization is effective)

Blood injury phobia: unique in that fainting does occur, tensing works effectively with behavioural treatment.

Phobia of choking: exaggerated gag reflex (usually past experience). Desensitization works.

Phobia of illness: though recognised as irrational and not resisted.

Epidemiology:

Incidence 4.4 %per year

Prevalence 4% in M and 13 % in F.

Most start in childhood.

2. Social phobia

 Clinical picture:

Inappropriate anxiety, experienced in social situations in which the person feels observed by others and could be criticized by them. Avoidance and escape are characteristic. Can be generalised or specific (e.g. public speaking). Associated with depression and substance misuse

Two discrete social phobias require separate consideration:

1. Phobia of excretion: patient become anxious and unable to pass urine in public lavatories, or fear of incontinence, patient arrange their lives so as never to be far from a lavatory.
2. Phobia of vomiting: fear of vomiting in public places, feeling of nausea and anxiety.

 Prevalence 7%. M=F (seeking treatment). F>M (community).

Treatment with psychotherapy or medication (SSRIs and ? blockers).

 3. Agoraphobia

Patients are anxious when they are away from home, in crowds, or in situations that they cannot leave easily. They avoid these situations, feel anxious when anticipating them, and experience other symptoms. Especially panic attacks and fear of fainting and loss of control. Anticipatory anxiety is common, also depression, depersonalization and substance misuse.

 Epidemiology:

Life time prevalence 6-10% F>M

Usually begins in mid twenties (later than social or specific phobias)

 Panic disorder:

Clinical features:

Symptoms (at least 4) , more than 4 attacks in 4 weeks, or one attack followed by 4 weeks of persistent fear. Symptoms are:

•  Shortness of breath and smothering sensation
• Choking
• Palpitation and accelerated heart rate
• Chest discomfort or pain
• Sweating
• Dizziness, unsteady feelings or faintness
• Nausea or abdominal distress
• Depersonalization or derealization
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Flushes or chills
• Trembling or shaking
• Fear of dying
• Fear of going crazy or doing something uncontrolled.

 Epidemiology:

 Life-time prevalence is 5%.

Herdedibility is high, up to 30-40%.

F>M 2:1

Amongst men mortality is higher from cardiovascular disorders.

 Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder

This diagnosis is reserved when the diagnostic criteria for depression or GAD are not severe enough to meet the criteria. Mild illness

Influence of culture on anxiety disorders:

In several cultures the presenting symptoms of anxiety disorders are more often somatic than psychological. e.g. Koro ,occur amongst Chinese men , there are episodes of acute anxiety, lasting 30 min to a day or two, the person complain of palpitation, sweating, pericardia discomfort and trembling. At the same time he is convinced that the penis will retract into the abdomen and that when this process is complete he will die.

References

•1.      Stevens L, Rodin I. Psychiatry: An illustrated colour text, Churchill Livingstone 2001

•2.      Steple D. Oxford Handbook of Psychiatry, Oxford University Press, 2006

•3.      World Health Organization (WHO). ICD-10 Classification of mental and behavioural disorders. Churchill Livingstone

•4.      American Psychiatric Association (APA). DSM-IV-TR. Fourth Edition Text Revision. APA Publication

 

 

 

  

 

Separate Forms of Social Anxiety

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Social anxiety, or social phobia, is a condition that doesn't necessarily have a great deal of notoriety, bit it's a particularly painful and difficult dysfunction to cope with. Those people who are aware of social anxiety, perhaps in particular those who suffer with it, are likely to define social anxiety in terms of being anxious in and or fearful of social interaction. In truth however, social anxiety can actually be defined as one of three conditions.



What's known as generalized social anxiety is the most common social anxiety form. Generalized social anxiety is a form of social fear or social apprehension that isn't related to any specific social situation. The person with generalized social anxiety feels apprehension in the face of any circumstance where they have the potential to be noticed by others. This is an especially broad possibility: the likelihood of being noticed in a social situation would seem to be a constant. Considering this it's not difficult to see how a person with the generalized form of social anxiety is perpetually fearful and agitated.



Another social anxiety form is referred to as situation specific. Certain types of social anxiety that are situation specific can be quite common. Fear of public speaking for example is a form of situation specific social anxiety that many people share. Some of the types of social anxiety that are situation specific can genuinely interfere with common functioning. Anxiety about using public bathrooms, having to write in public, and eating in public are examples of social anxiety that is situation specific. These are not uncommon activities to undertake, yet some people will go to great lengths to avoid them, sometimes even changing how they live their lives in the process.



The final social anxiety form is often referred to as avoidance disorder. In this most extreme social anxiety form, a person will actually stay away from social settings to avoid the fear and upset social settings cause them. Someone with avoidance disorder can hide themselves away, avoiding any form of social contact except with things that are completely familiar. While this sort of behavior may come across and peculiar and even amusing to some observers, the person with avoidance disorder tends to suffer greatly because, like most people, they covet interpersonal connection but can't move past their fear to achieve it. What results is typically an extremely hurtful way of life.



Though social anxiety in each form it presents is typically quite painful to cope with, social anxiety is a very treatable condition, thankfully so. It's not necessarily easy to overcome social anxiety, but it can absolutely be accomplished. And once social anxiety is overcome, an entire new world opens up for the person whose life was once controlled by fear and apprehension.

Medical Depression

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All forms of depression are basically categorized as medical related. There are many stages to depression. It begins with mild depression, with bi-polar disorders or manic depression in the middle, to the top rung of major depression. Depression is no doubt considered a disease. Although it is a mental illness it is no different than heart disease or lung disease. It is a disease that affects one of the bodily organs. You aren't somehow less just because you have depression. You aren't crazy if you have it. It's a disease that needs attention.

To begin depression is invisible. People get sad sometimes. When things don't go our way we get down in the dumps. This alone does not constitute depression. Depression is not a situation where you are depressed temporarily. Depression sticks with you for a long time. If the depressed mood seems to linger week after week and begins to affect your daily life than that is a sure sign of depression . If your mood changes with the wind and you can be up one minute and down the next than you are certainly showing signs of depression. If you are suffering from consistent insomnia or bad eating habits, these are also sure tell signs.

Medical depression is often difficult to tag. A variety of possibilities and causes have to be examined. Stress is a major factor in depression. There is so much stress in our lives today. Relationships bring stress. We confront stress everyday as we try to conduct our financial obligations. It seems the bills always over take the money you have coming in. Medical depression often results from the stress involved in child rearing. Some forms of medical depression come on after losing a loved one. It becomes even more complex when you consider biological and environmental factors, as well as DNA.

The positive result is that there are cures for medical depression. 17 million people nation wide are affected with medical depression yearly. 2/3 of those will never seek medical attention. Without diagnosis there can't be a cure. Talk therapy as well as medications and natural herbs can treat it. There are also many different support groups that allow you to associate with those who suffer and feel the same as you do. It's not wise to go it alone when dealing with medical depression. It will not heal itself. If you or anyone you love is showing signs of battling medical depression seek medical help immediately.

I hope this information will help. If you want to more information of the above subject, you can follow my series of articles and Visit This Site To Relieve From Depression

 

How Anxiety and Depression are Connected

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/LhgAU)

Depression is a disorder that does not get nearly enough attention. Depressed people are often told to "cheer up" or to "look at the bright side" of things, and may spiral even deeper when they are unable to simply snap out of the mood that has such a hold on them. While depression can often lead to fatigue and listlessness, it has a close cousin by the name of anxiety. Anxiety causes the opposite effect, putting our bodies into the "fight or flight" mode that protected us in the wild.



Anxiety attacks can feel like heart attacks, and even at more moderate levels, anxiety can have a dangerous and very negative effect on our lives and on our quality of living. Anxiety can also lead into depression, when a sense of worry and fear for the future leads into the sense of helplessness and hopelessness. That is a classic symptom of depression. Depression and anxiety are often seen together, and can sometimes lead into one another.



Anxiety is a way of describing a certain way of feeling. It may represent a sense of fear, dread, or a sense that you are in immediate danger, even when you are safe and have no reason to feel this way. There are several different kinds of anxiety disorders, including phobias or irrational fears, situational anxiety, panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorders among others.



These disorders can lead to a state of almost constant high stress, and can affect your daily life much to the worse. You may be unable to function in certain situations, or you may come to fear leaving your own home, and if untreated, the symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to many of the same problems as depression, including insomnia or a reluctance or fear to leave the house or to be around other people.

Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression


Anxiety symptoms can also feel like heart attacks, with palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pains, and more. You might begin trembling and shaking, your mouth might go dry, and you might become dizzy from the stress of the situation. The body becomes "hyped up" by your reaction to the situation, and your senses go into a sort of overdrive that is unlike the depression of the system that happens when you suffer from clinical depression.



Depression disorder actually slows the body in some ways, making you feel sluggish rather than ready to run or fight, and hopeless rather than actively panicked or fearful. If you have been suffering from anxiety attacks, the attacks themselves may lead into depression because of the hopelessness that you feel at the hands of the attacks and because of the fears that are associated with possibly having another attack.



If your anxiety symptoms have changed to include listlessness, a disinterest in things that used to engage you, or feelings of hopelessness and self-loathing, then you may now be suffering from depression disorder, and should be treated accordingly for your medical condition.



Depression is not a constant state of being, nor is anxiety. You might think that because you have a good number of "good days" that your depressive days are just bad moments that will pass, however depression can become worse over time if it is not treated and taken care of, and can lead to suicide if left untreated long enough.

Anxiety and Depression Treatments


Anxiety can worsen over time as well if it is not handled properly. There are ways to help with anxiety even without medication. Therapies are different depending on the type of anxiety that affects you and on the level of anxiety that you suffer. For a phobia, you might be exposed at increasing levels to the thing that you are afraid of. Other therapies might require talking your problems out, and others might just provide techniques to help you ride out your panic attacks and get on with life without letting them affect you more than necessary.



Depression treatments are also varied, mostly depending on your own personal preference. Medication can provide you with an effective way of dealing with depression; however medication is not for everyone. If you are not interested in medication, then you might consider other kinds of therapies with a psychologist who has experience working with depression.



Depression and anxiety are related disorders that can have a huge impact on your overall health and quality of life if left untreated. However, both are manageable conditions that do not have to have an effect on your daily life.

Conquering Anxiety

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/cbwak)

Life normally includes anxiety at different points. However, if you are constantly anxious for no reason you can figure out, and if your anxiety is difficult to control and long-lasting, you may have an anxiety disorder(http://ping.fm/Pqkjr). The components in this natural treatment formula are designed to relieve anxiety as well as general nervousness. Included are powerful botanicals which have been proven to ease tension and facilitate peaceful sleep. St. John's Wort Extract, Hops Extract, and Valerian Extract are some of the botanicals included in this formula.



Anxiety has many related unpleasant symptoms and associations. These include restlessness (as well as fatigue); trouble concentrating; irritability; muscle tension and sleep problems. St. John's Wort Extract helps to maintain a steady mood and supports mental health. Hops Extract and Valerian Extract can act as sedatives, inducing sleep and relieving anxiety and tension.



When people reach middle age, the gel-like vitreous begins to liquefy and contract. The vitreous gel pulls away from the back wall of the eye, causing a posterior vitreous detachment. It is a common cause of floaters, and it is more common for people who are nearsighted, have undergone eye surgery, have had laser surgery of the eye, or have had inflammation inside the eye.



Anxiety has many related unpleasant symptoms and associations. Some of the symptoms of anxiety include restlessness, and also, contrarily, fatigue. Other symptoms are difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep problems. St. John's Wort can facilitate a steady mood and support mental health. Hops Extract and Valerian Extract can act as sedatives, inducing sleep and relieving anxiety and tension.



St. John's Wort Extract helps to maintain a steady mood and supports mental health. Hops Extract and Valerian Extract can act as sedatives, inducing sleep and relieving anxiety and tension. Valerian Extract should be taken 30 minutes before bedtime. Skullcap Extract has historically been used as a sedative for people with nervous tension and insomnia, and may therefore be helpful in the natural treatment of anxiety disorder(http://ping.fm/fGtOq). Chamomile Extract contains active constituents that contribute to smooth-muscle relaxing action. People with anxiety disorder (also known as Nervousness or Panic Attacks) are often deficient in essential nutrients, including Calcium, Magnesium, and B Vitamins. Zinc is an essential mineral that is a component of enzymes that protect against free radicals caused by anxiety, and may be important in the natural treatment of anxiety disorder.



The ingredients in this formula include St. John's Wort Extract. St. John's Wort has a positive effect on mood and mental health. Hops Extract and Valerian Extract act as sedatives and can serve to induce sleep and relieve anxiety and tension. Valerian Extract should be taken 30 minutes before going to sleep. Historically, Skullcap extract has been used to calm those with nervous tension and insomnia. Therefore it is likely to be helpful in the natural treatment of anxiety disorder. Chamomile Extract contains active constituents that contribute to smooth-muscle relaxing action. Anxiety is sometimes exacerbated when the body is lacking essential nutrients. Lack of such nutrients as Calcium, Magnesium, and B Vitamins may contribute to anxiety. Enzymes that protect against free radicals contain Zinc, which may be important in the natural treatment of anxiety disorder(http://ping.fm/UQqM8).

The Phobias Of A Black Widow Spiders

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Black widow spiders sock phobia in the hearts of many people around the world. Many people are horrible of all spiders because they don't know how to classify one species of spider from another. By educating yourself on how to spot a black widow spider you can evade eminent into contact with one. Nevertheless you don't have to be overly terrified of these or any other species of spider. They are an important part of controlling the populations of other insects and arachnids that are much more bothersome to humans.

The acrimony possessed by the black widow spider is more heady than several species of malicious twist. However, it is singular for an otherwise healthy person to die from a black widow spider taste. People can advance a moving and even deadly allergic outcome to the rancor injected from a mouthful, but this doesn't happen very often. The malice when injected into the soul causes bother and strict boil near the maul spot and surrounding tissues. In grave bags, the bane injured nerves and the apposite arise of blood to a recognize or toe can be restricted causing a thrashing of feeling or ability to move the unnatural addition. Sometimes this allows for gangrene to set in, and the unnatural handle or toe is amputated to avert the leftovers of the body from befitting lethal.

Birds and other small predators can eat black widow spiders without being killed or paralyzed by the toxicity of the spite. Nevertheless many of them elect this is one meal that is best agreed up because ingesting these spiders, often causes them much stomach distress. Black widow spiders attrition an alarm spot that many would be predators have scholarly to identify and use to evade these spiders. The same counsel made can be used by humans to identify black widow spiders and, hence elude them whenever workable.

Heed the Warning Label Female black widow spiders are larger than their gentleman counterparts. The female has a glossy black pallor on her body excepting on her tummy she has a hourglass contour that is a carroty to red coloring. Typically, they also have a red or another brightly dyed dot located near the spinnerets. This is her warning sticker to predators and humans that she carries powerful acrimony. A female blacked widow spider can grow to a dimension as big as 1 1/2 inches. Male black widow spiders are not as big as the females. They have longer legs but commonly have half the body volume in comparison to female black widow spiders. Males are a bleak bronzed and do not have a hourglass structure on their bellies. Nevertheless they do have an an orange to rosy painted stripe on the abdomen and an alike painted dot near the spinnerets

Teenage female black widow spiders have brightly painted marking on their backs that will be exchanged for a glossy black bodysuit once maturity is reached. The function of this coloring on the back is too alert predators that she is a spiteful spider while she is walking on the ground in obtain of the site where she will determine her web system. Male spiders can also exhibit such coloring on their backs, but they do so to motion to females that they are interested in mating.

Did you know? Some people presume the spiders only live one time and then die off and another generation of spiders takes their place. A female black widow spider can live while five existence, while a gentleman spider typically has an existence of about two and the half years. Female black widow spiders lay their eggs during summer, depositing them into silk sacs. They can give enough eggs for 5 to 9 egg sacs per summer with 100-500 eggs in each sac. Only about a third of these infant spiders endure to adulthood due to predators and environmental conditions such as a lack of food and territory.

The webs of black widow spiders are most often located near the ground, disparate other species of spiders that desire to assemble their webs up higher. Inside homes, most spiders prefer the evil wetness found in most basements. They not only size their webs on rafters but can shape web networks under washer and dryers and even inside large enclose cracks.

Seek Medical Treatment for a Bite. If you do receive a chew from a black widow spider, seek checkup awareness as presently as potential. Even if you are not certain what kind of spider has just bitten you, it is a good idea to leader to your physician or the crisis department for medicinal mind.

Black widow spider unwilling-poison has been urbanized to counteract the affects of the poison that has been injected into the body by a tang. Receiving this anti-venom as soon after spiciness as feasible can significantly drop the severity of the effect you can experience from a black widow spider hurt.

Dealing with General Anxiety and Depression

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/Iz7Ci)

General anxiety and depression very often occur together. Sometimes the anxiety comes alone first and then leads to depression, other times depression leads to anxiety. General anxiety, or "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" as it's called by the medical community, refers to one particular type of anxiety disorder. The symptoms of GAD are numerous, but one common element is the tendency to get overly worried.


According to the National Institute of Mental Health, People who suffer from this are stressed and worried even when there is nothing to realistically worry about. They are usually fatalistic in their outlook on the world, always expecting the worst, "They anticipate disaster and are overly concerned about health issues, money, family problems, or difficulties at work. Sometimes just the thought of getting through the day produces anxiety."(NIMH).


General anxiety and depression can each greatly limit the lives of both the individual suffering from it and the people around her. When the two occur in combination, it can make it difficult to lead a normal life. It is not uncommon to treat both general anxiety and depression with a combination of medication and therapy. In some cases, generalized anxiety disorders are even treated with antidepressants like SSRI's, Tricyclics or MAOI's. All of these antidepressants can be helpful in treating anxiety symptoms, but there are often side effects, and they usually require 4-6 weeks before they fully work.


In addition to anti-depressants, there are specific medicines available to treat anxiety symptoms. These anti-anxiety drugs can often relieve the symptoms of anxiety, but they usually carry a high risk of dependency and many people experience that their tolerance increases with time, and they require higher and higher doses to get the desired calming effect.


In some cases, medication can help stabilize people so they are more receptive to treatment, but they are often not a good long term solution. It is important to know that medication does not cure anxiety or depression, but rather temporarily stabilizes the mood. In addition, studies show that youth and young adults through the age of 24, that are treated with SRI's, have more suicidal thoughts than people in their age group diagnosed with depression but not treated with SSRI's.


In addition to medication, the most common form of treatment for both generalized anxiety disorder and depression is cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of psychotherapy focuses on changing the way you think and behave, believing you're your negative thought patterns and habits are responsible for a lot of anxiety and depression.


As long as the general anxiety and depression is mild to moderate, the person struggling with it can often can function in that he or she can hold a job and perform basic everyday tasks. When the anxiety and depression worsens, basic things like going to work or taking care of one's grocery shopping can become un- manageable tasks.


Managing general anxiety is not always easy, but there's a lot you can do to help yourself. You are not a victim, and there is nothing outside of you threatening to harm you. Whether you take care of yourself, or get professional help with your general anxiety and depression, remember that you are the one in control and at the end of the day; you are the one who has to do the work.

Do Anxiety Or Phobia Affect You? Then Try This and Relax!

(My Original Blog Post: http://anxiety-helper.car-manuals.biz/do-anxiety-or-phobia-affect-you-then-try-this-and-relax)

Exercise is one of the quickest, easiest and most effective ways to reduce anxiety and depression. Exercise every day for a minimum of 30 minutes. Don't ignore exercise it is absolutely a key to recovering from anxiety. It has been medically shown that mental well-being improves in direct correlation to level of physical activity, which is great news for anxiety sufferers. Physical activity also reduces the incidence of anxiety, panic attack and phobia.

For moderate to intense exercise the greatest relief from anxiety symptoms is felt during the first few hours immediately following exercise. Endorphins, the chemicals produced by exercise, make you feel absolutely fantastic; they are the bodies "feel good" chemicals. A 10 minute run will help to clear your mind, brighten up your perspective on life, and help to you assess things from a more optimistic and even a more rational perspective.

Long story short, if you exercise regularly, you will feel a thousand times happier and healthier mentally and physically, your anxiety will reduce in direct correlation to the amount of exercise you do, and everyday activities will be a great deal easier for you to do because your body will be stronger, more resilient, and less prone to everyday aches and pains. Consequently you will be better able to cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life; talk about positive reinforcement! Other than just aerobic exercise, you will benefit greatly from resistance exercises, to improve strength, reduce recovery time, improve blood circulation, and release even more endorphins than aerobic exercise alone.

So, if you suffer from anxiety, or any mental condition, make a habit of regular vigorous exercise. If you're not 100% certain that you are able to engage in vigorous exercise, for whatever reason, consult your healthcare professional before attempting any form of exercise, to find out what is safe for you. If you are not able to do vigorous exercise then Yoga or Tai Chi might be a more suitable option for you. For those who practise yoga or Tai Chi the combination of meditation, controlled breathing exercises, relaxation and flexibility work-outs, improves harmonization of body and mind and makes them feel fitter, healthier, more energetic, and happier and reduces anxiety.

Taking long walks on a regular basis is also great for mental and physical health and well-being. Such as a quiet stroll through a forest or along a beach, the scenery and environment increase endorphin release while you unwind. Although, if you are able to, then strenuous and enduring exercise does provide the greatest relief from anxiety. Have you ever heard of the blissful feeling that runners get after a long run? This is known as "runner's high", and it's quite true. It's the same reason, its endorphins, the bodies feel good chemicals that cause runners to feel so great. Now you know why they run so much. It's this feeling of bliss that makes them run, and keeps them feeling super!

Exercise is probably one of the most effective, most accessible, most natural and safe cures for anxiety. After checking with your healthcare professional, I recommend you exercise regularly to see your anxiety, stress, fear, panic, or phobias gone from your life for good!

Panic Attacks: Why Is Education Important

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/9JnVp)

It's like having a heart attack. Your hands feel numb, your heart is racing that you have difficulty breathing, and a feeling of terror strike suddenly and repeatedly without any warning. A panic attack is almost like a violent experience. You may feel disconnected from reality. In between attacks, there is dread and anxiety that it's going to happen again. The reason why education in important is to assist you and your family in understanding what is happening and to recognise the onset of a panic attack.
Panic attacks are symptoms of panic disorder, a type of anxiety disorder affecting millions of adults in the U.S. today. It usually develops during the late teens and early adulthood, and may afflict twice as many women as men. However, not everyone who experiences panic attacks will develop panic disorder. While the exact cause of panic disorder is yet to be known, researchers suspect a combination of biological and environmental factors may contribute to the development of the condition. It includes family history, stressful life events, drug and alcohol abuse, and thinking patterns that exaggerated normal physical reactions.
Though panic attacks usually produce a sense of unreality, it is a real illness that can be treated successfully. It can be a truly terrifying experience and may occur at any time, even during sleep. An attack usually peaks within 10 minutes, but some symptoms may last much longer. During a panic attack, your heart will pound and you may feel sweaty, weak, faint, or dizzy. Your hands may tingle or feel numb, and you might feel flushed or chilled. You may have nausea, chest pain or smothering sensations, a sense of unreality, or fear of impending doom or loss of control.
When faced with a problem or a situation, people experience anxiety. It's quite normal to be anxious about stressful situations. However, someone who is suffering from panic disorder may react to the same pressures with an exaggerated physical reaction. This makes panic attack even more frightening because despite of the absence of real danger, episodes can still happen anytime, anywhere. It can occur while strolling in the park, chilling out with friends, shopping at the mall, and even in the middle of the night while you are sound asleep it is why education is important, to recognise when you are having these attacks.
Fear of having another attack usually haunts a person suffering from panic disorder. Such fear can severely affect daily activities. There are people who would refuse to leave their houses for fear of becoming vulnerable to such attacks, or they try to avoid being reminded of previous attacks. Over time, they may develop other mental disorders or phobia, such as agoraphobia or the fear of being outside of known and safe surroundings.
Panic disorder is often accompanied by other serious problems, such as depression, drug abuse, or alcoholism. The good news is that there is a variety of treatment and education in dealing with your panic, the panic away program has been very successful in helping sufferers eliminate panic and anxiety symptoms for good..
Panic Attacks: Why Is Education Important:
Many people believe someone suffering from these types of symptoms are neurotic, helpless, attention seeking individuals. It is important you understand and educate yourself in this area so you can recognise the onset of these attacks. You also need to educate friends and family of your symptoms and help them better understand panic and anxiety disorders and what they are about.

Math Tutor Nyc – Get Rid of Your Math Phobia

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/hxKAd)

Are you one of the students who dread their math exam more than anything else in this world? Do you always look for excuses to avoid practicing mathematical calculations for you feel that you might commit a mistake? If yes, then you can now gain your confidence in mathematics with the assistance of math tutor NYC. Your linguistic skills may be extraordinary and you might fair well in all your subjects except your dismal result in mathematics. Hence, seeking the tutorial services of a math expert can help you improve your calculations and perform better even in math.

When you detest math, you are not alone! There are many students who do not even wish to dream about the thought of memorizing umpteen theorems, derivations and formulas. The only way out for all such students including you is the services made available by math tutor NYC. These math experts are one of the most coveted people in the field of education.

However, cracking mathematical problems is not a rocket science but for many students who have a math phobia, it is nothing less than that for sure. Qualified and experienced math tutors in the New York City explain the concepts and basics of all problems in a slow and easy manner so that the students can understand and grab what has been explained without stressing much.

At times, it is also the inexperienced and incompetent teachers who make math seem like a monstrous subject to students. When the students are not able to comprehend what has been taught in class, they lose confidence in their capabilities and develop a phobia for the subject. Math tutor NYC thereby provides a sigh of relief to all such school students.

Another advantage of a math tutor is that many students hesitate to clarify their doubt with teacher in the classroom. This is because many of them are afraid that they might not ask any stupid question with an obvious answer that might make them a laughing stock for others. With math tutor, students have a comfort level so they clarify their doubts, whatever they may be and become gradually become more confident of their concepts. So, students also start responding to teacher’s questions in the classroom and appreciation by the teacher boosts their confidence even more and slowly the math phobia vanishes on its own.

Some students are also great muggers; they memorize formulas, theorems and at times even steps of some mathematical problems without understanding the logic behind them. So, id these students forget one step in between, they lose marks for the whole question in the exam leading to poor math result. Math tutor explains the logic or explanation behind every mathematical step of the entire calculation. Hence, students solve questions easily without any hassles.

So, what are you waiting for? If you also consider math as a monstrous subject, it’s time to think again! Math tutor in New York will surely not let you down and soon you will be a good performer in mathematics as well.

Depression and Suicide in Later Life

(My Original Blog Post: http://anxiety-helper.car-manuals.biz/depression-and-suicide-in-later-life)

Depression is diagnosed when people experience at least two of the following symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.

• Low mood




• Fatigue or lack of energy




• Lack of interest or enjoyment in life

Other signs of depression include:

• Decreased or lost appetite




• Insomnia




• Weight loss




• Anger




• Irritability




• Anxiety

What causes depression in later life?

The triggers for depression in older people are similar to those for younger age groups. They can include a range of factors, such as:

• Physical illness and pain




• Poverty




• Loneliness and isolation




• Bereavement




• Being a victim of crime

Older people are often faced with more of these life events and daily stresses than younger age groups and this may explain why they have a slightly increased risk of depression. People over the age of 85 are at particular risk.

It is estimated that 20% of older people living in the community show symptoms of depression with the figure rising to 40% for older people living in care homes. There is evidence to suggest that older people are less likely to recover from depression without specialist help, particularly if they are severely depressed.

Depression in later life is often not recognised or addressed by health services. The stigma associated with mental illness may prevent older people from reporting their symptoms to health professionals. When they do report these symptoms, they may be mixed up with the symptoms of other age-related illnesses such as dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease or Parkinson’s Disease.

Many people assume that depression is a natural or inevitable part of growing older, particularly if the symptoms are linked to a medical condition or physical pain, but depression is not inevitable.

Depression is not part and parcel of old age and it is important that it is recognised and treated in the same way as it would be with younger age groups. If depression goes untreated, it can affect people’s ability to keep up with treatment for other conditions, interfere with recovery from physical illnesses, increase physical decline in older people and make it harder for them to function day to day. It is also particularly important to address depression in older people given its link to suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.

Suicide in later life

The suicide rate in the UK is highest in the older population, particularly in older men. As with younger people, suicide in later life can be the end result of a complex mix of different factors, but the most important psychiatric risk factor of suicide in older people is depression. Research has found that over half of older people who take their own lives were experiencing depression at the time of death. Other risk factors of suicide in later life include:

• Gender and age – men over the age of 75 have the highest suicide rate amongst all groups




• Marital status - for men, being single, divorced or widowed is a risk factor




• Physical pain or illness




• Living alone and social isolation




• Feelings of hopelessness or guilt




• Alcohol or substance abuse




• Previous suicide attempts

Warning signs

The signs that depression might be leading to suicidal thoughts or intentions vary, but they may include the following:

• Experiencing or expecting a personal loss or bereavement




• Feelings of failure, hopelessness or worthlessness




• Feeling and becoming withdrawn and isolated




• Lack of self-care, such as poor grooming or eating badly




• Building up supplies of medication or equipment  which could be used for suicide




• Suddenly making changes to wills, taking out life insurance or giving things away




• Stopping medical routines, such as medications or special diets




• Talking about suicide




• Risk-taking behaviour

Who can help?

Research suggests that two thirds of suicidal older people will let other people know how they are feeling before they attempt suicide. If you are trying to help someone who is depressed or someone who has spoken about taking their own life or has shown some of the warning signs above, it is important that you take their remarks seriously. Have an open discussion and encourage them to talk about their feelings.

Try to persuade them to seek help as early as possible. A GP can arrange for them to receive some professional help, such as medication or talking therapies. Some GPs may not be well equipped to recognise depression in older people so encouraging the person to be open and honest about their depressive symptoms with their GP should help.

The Samaritans offer 24 hour emotional support for people who are feeling low or suicidal on 08457 90 90 90. Calls are charged at local rate and are anonymous. You can also email jo@samaritans.org

Visit http://www.in2town.co.uk for all the latest health news and advice

Performance Anxiety can present in Many Ways

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/D154f)

Performance anxiety can strike virtually anyone at any time. Whenever concerns about pleasing a particular person or an entire audience build up to the point of irrationality, symptoms of performance anxiety tend to show up. These can range from a complete paralyzing fear to undertake the task at hand to such physical signs as sweating, shaking and losing focus. Generally rooted in a fear of failure, this kind of anxiety is considered quite normal under certain circumstances. It becomes a much bigger concern, however, if the problem persists or repeats itself frequently.


This anxiety tends to be known most prominently in two major arenas. The symptoms of both major instances are quite similar. If the concerns are transient or only appear once or twice, the anxiety might not be anything other than a normal reaction to stress and a desire to excel. If symptoms present repeatedly or get worse, an anxiety disorder could be to blame.


Sexual Performance Anxiety


This form of anxiety generally strikes men and hampers their ability to enjoy sexual relations. It commonly presents itself when a man is with a new partner or even if concerns about being able to continually please a long-term partner arise. This type of anxiety can strike young men, as well as older men.


Sexual performance anxiety in and of itself is not an uncommon occurrence and generally isn't a cause for alarm. Most men experience it at one point in life or another. If the condition persists and continues to interfere with ability to perform, professional help might be needed to overcome it.


Stage Performance Anxiety


Stage fight is another form of anxiety that is not at all uncommon. Some people experience this on a mild, but regular basis. Others find they suffer from a single bought and then never experience signs or symptoms again. This type of anxiety is quite common in performers, public speakers and even meeting attendees who are called upon to answer questions. Stories about skilled stage performers getting struck by serious attacks of fright or anxiety abound, so it is important to keep the condition in perspective. In moderation, it is not at all out of the ordinary for most people.


There are certain times when this form of performance anxiety might be cause for concern. As is the case with sexual performance anxiety, if stage fright is severe or persists, professional assistance might be called for.


This kind of anxiety is typically rooted in a fear of failure. Most people suffer from it in one form or another during their lifetime. If the condition persists or its symptoms are particularly severe, professional assistance can often result in a person being able to overcome problems and excel at the desired task.

What is Panic Attack

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/JX8x9)

Panic attack is a period of intensive fear that is often abrupt and is often a sign of mental and emotional distress.

In some individuals they appear without apparent cause and most often the distressed individual reports loosing control of oneself. Often they are provoked or triggered by a sense of trying to escape from someone or from the place where the attack started. Although in normal cases, the individual when subjected to a stimulus often resorts to a fight syndrome as a form of protection, in panic attacks, the individual employs the flight syndrome. Often episodes of panic attack come with chest pain and shortness of breath with a tunnel vision even after seeking medical advice or attention.

Panic attack is different from other anxiety disorders because of its sudden intensity and its occurrence in individuals. Often panic attacks are psychological conditions but may not be a sign of a mental disorder. At least in normal individuals, a panic attack may occur in a year particularly in persons with anxiety and phobias. As a result of a triggering factor, they are often short-lived and will subside once the triggering factor is eliminated. In some individuals exposed to a panic attack, one attack may trigger another leading to a nervous breakdown.

Scientific studies point out to the imbalance of serotonin and norepinephrine as the culprits in the incidence of panic attacks where the neurological function is subjected to a chemical imbalance. Often genetics play a role in the disorder and has been found to run in families.

Common symptoms include trembling, palpitations, and shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation and tingling sensations. Others develop a sense of being choked or smothered. In repeated and unprovoked panic attacks a sign or manifestation of a panic disorder may ensue. However panic attacks are also associated with other common anxiety disorders like in persons with phobias whose exposure to their feared object or scenario trigger an attack.

Panic attacks are potentially disabling, but it can be controlled. The various symptoms of a panic attack are often mistaken as a cardiac attack or a life-threatening medical illness. This misconception often increases the incidence of future panic attacks. People often submit to the hospital emergency rooms when they are having a panic attack, and extensive medical tests are performed to rule out other conditions, which creates further anxiety.

Treatment for panic attacks includes medications and psychotherapy. Normally the mental health practitioners assisting you in the treatment of panic disorder are psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. To submit for a medical treatment for panic disorder however, one should visit a psychiatrist. Psychotherapy may be provided by a clinical or counseling psychologist. Medications can also be used to break any psychological connection between a specific phobia and panic attacks.

Common medications prescribed are antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs in anticipation or during a panic attack.

Some psychologists believe that usual exposure to the phobia trigger with medical assistance can often break the phobia-panic pattern, allowing people to gradually adjust to the stressor without the help of medications. However, minor phobias that develop as a result of a panic attack can be prevented without medication through behavioral therapy or simply by assisted exposure.

Under a combination of therapy and medications, the best results are often seen. For some, a fair improvement may be noticed in a short period of less than 8 weeks. Finding the right pair of medications and mental health professional takes more effort. Appropriate treatment by an experienced professional can often prevent panic attacks or at least reduce its severity and frequency.

Other panic attacks caused by an underlying emotional problem like depression, alcoholism and drug addiction are more frequent in people with panic disorder. The underlying problem needs to be treated before the total panic disorder is completely or at least partially eliminated.

Most less severe and less recurrent attacks submitted to the emergency rooms are advised to breath in paper bags to help boost the carbon dioxide levels in the body.

How often do Panic Attacks Occur

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/U3xCK)

Panic attacks is a recognized serious health problem in the United States regardless of its usual non-life threatening episodes. Typically an attack strikes during the young adulthood years; roughly half of all individuals who have a diagnosis of panic disorder develop the condition before age of 24.

Some sources claim that the majority of young people affected for the first time are between the ages of 25 and 30. Women are also more prone to develop a panic attack disorder than men.

Panic disorder attacks can continue for months or years. Depending on how and when treatment is sought, it could progress unless rapid attention is sought to target its main cause. If left untreated, it may worsen to the point where the individuals life is seriously affected by an attack.

Any attempts to avoid or conceal them may lessen its severity as well. But many people who have had problems with friends and family or lost jobs while struggling to cope with panic disorder are usually left with a severe depression that does not go away unless there is actual treatment of the condition. For people who seek active treatment early in the incidence of a panic attack, the majority of its symptoms can disappear within a few weeks, with no permanent negative effects once treatment is completed.

People who experienced a panic attack in certain situations, for example, while driving, or shopping in a crowded store may develop irrational fears called phobias. Understandably they tend to avoid these situations and begin to feel comfortable without its presence. For some, the occurrence becomes less pronounced as the exposure to a stressor is minimized.

Eventually, the pattern of avoidance and level of anxiety though may also trigger another attack as the individual reaches a point when a panic disorder attack occurs with just a step outside the house. This is one of the most harmful side-effects of panic disorder as it can prevent sufferers from seeking treatment in the first place.

Panic disorder which results to panic attacks has a genetic predisposition and has been found to run in families. This means that inheritance plays a strong role in determining who gets it. However, many individuals without a family history of panic attacks still develop it.

In some individuals, exposure to stressful life events, or an environment, and psychological thinking that exaggerate normal bodily reactions may often play a role in the onset of panic attack. Some individuals who are melodramatic about a stressful life event and often dwell in a distressful situation are often prone to the incidence of such attacks.

Often the first attack is triggered by a physical illness or a major stress. Sometimes it could be due to certain medications or the abuse of drugs. People who are also exposed to excessive responsibilities may develop a tendency to suffer panic attacks.

The exact causes are yet unknown but scientific studies believed that an imbalance of serotonin and norepinephrine are the likely culprits in the incidence of panic attacks where the neurological function is subjected to a chemical imbalance.

In animal studies, the specific brain areas involved in anxiety disorders such as panic disorder are pinpointed. Fear, as a response to danger causes an automatic and rapid protective response that occurs without the need for conscious thought.

It has been found that the body's fear response in panic attacks is coordinated by a small but complicated structure deep inside the brain that is also a factor relevant in eating disorders.

Patients with diabetes suffering from hypoglycemia could also develop panic attacks. This results as the body refuses to respond properly to insulin, thereby interfering with the transport of glucose into the cells.

Since the brain depends on a steady supply of glucose as its source of energy, a fall in blood sugar levels of the brain sends a distress signal to the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline.

Adrenaline as a hormone functions to raise blood sugar levels by converting glycogen into glucose to prevent brain starvation. Adrenaline though is also a panic hormone that is responsible for attacks of fear.

Help for the Shih Tzu With Thunderstorm Phobia

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/1bIao)

 

Is your Shih Tzu afraid of thunderstorms?  In this article read how you can manage your Shih Tzu’s thunderstorm phobia.

 

Dogs are able to sense thunderstorms an hour or more before they hit.  If your Shih Tzu is one with a thunderstorm phobia they may begin to pant, pace, salivate and paw at doors excessively long before the storm ever hits.  When thunder sounds, they might shiver, whimper or even become a bit destructive such as scratching at doors and floors to the point that they hurt themselves.  Strange as it may sound, there are many breeds of dogs, not only the Shih Tzu, who have thunderstorm phobia.

 

Opposite to the Shih Tzu with thunderstorm phobia, I have a Shih Tzu I call Wally who actually tries his best to be outside in the midst of the thunderstorm.  I have a very difficult time getting him inside if one blows up suddenly during thunderstorm season.  He just loves it in a thunderstorm.  Several times I have not been able to get him inside.  When the storm is over he comes in all wet and happy as can be.  He truly enjoys being in the midst of a thunderstorm.

 

However, there are many Shih Tzu and other dog breeds not like my Wally, who are terrified of thunderstorms.  What can you do to help your Shih Tzu during these times?

 

There are sedatives you can use to calm them, and you can also try finding a place for your Shih Tzu where he will feel safe during the thunderstorm.  Try the bathtub, or any place in your house where the Shih Tzu stops the anxiety symptoms.  If you have a room where there are no windows, this may help the Shih Tzu to keep him from seeing the lightning of the storm.  It should be a quiet place.

 

If you use sedatives be aware that although they may sedate the Shih Tzu, he may still have feelings of anxiousness, even though it does not show with signs of agitation.  So there are drugs on the market today to specifically treat anxiety in dogs.  Ask your vet for this possible solution.

 

Animal behaviorists recommend counter-conditioning and desensitization.  In counter-conditioning training for the Shih Tzu, you would teach the Shih Tzu to settle and relax on command.  Teach the Shih Tzu to go to her bed and lay down on command when it is not thundering.  When the thunder comes, she already understands the command when you now give it to her.

 

The worst thing you can do is reward the Shih Tzu for acting anxious.  Do not give the Shih Tzu pet treats, praise and consolation for panting, pacing, and whimpering.

 

Try playing CDs or audio tapes of thunderstorms to desensitize the Shih Tzu to the noise.  Start the CD quietly, and then play it a little louder.  At the same time tell the Shih Tzu to go to its bed and relax.  When the Shih Tzu obeys this command, reward the Shih Tzu with praise and a favorite treat.

 

You can also try a Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) diffuser, an over-the counter product available at most pet stores.  It resembles a Glade Plug-in.  The diffuser releases a pheromone that is similar to the one that mother Shih Tzu releases when their puppies are nursing.  It is suppose to be very calming.  The device simply plugs into the wall.  Combine a DAP diffuser with behavioral training and drug therapy.

 

As you can see, there are several options for Shih Tzu owners with Shih Tzu who experience thunderstorm phobia.  In review, they are as follows:

 

• Medication


• Pheromones


• Training


• Simply allowing the Shih Tzu to seek its own hide-out during the storm


• A combination of all the above

 

Disclaimer:  This article is for information.  Always seek the professional advice from your vet for any kind of physical, emotional or mental problems a Shih Tzu experiences.

 

 

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

A look at chronic depression and it's treatments and symptoms

(My Original Blog Post: http://anxiety-helper.car-manuals.biz/a-look-at-chronic-depression-and-its-treatments-and-symptoms)

Other extended form of depression, Chronic Depression or Dysthymia is much less   severe and nonetheless thought a chronic form.

Dysthymic Depression does not halt a person from performing ordinary functions but prevents him from performing them as well as he could have.

It's thought that some of the reasons of dysthymia could be childhood harm, adaptation difficulties during the constructive adolescent years or strain in the adult life.

People with dysthymic depression could stay depressed for quite a lasting time originating with days lasting for up to two years.

Dysthymic Depression is again a moderately common mental ailment and broadly affects around 3-5 percentage of the society.

Though the symptoms of dysthymic depression greatly resemble those of manic depression, there are not as severe and as such tend to be dropped or misdiagnosed as a subject of psychosomatic illness.

This is the sort of depression I have handled with for my entire lifetime. The prolonged feelings of sorrow and "feeling down" turned out to be dysthymia.

For numerous years I got misdiagnosed because I started experiencing headaches and stomach discomfort which landed my physicians to believe that I had a psychosomatic illness, which is the luxuriant term used when no physical harm is seen in the body. It draws to believe that the reason is strictly mental.

Harvard Health Publications states that, "the Greek word dysthymia signifies 'bad state of mind'

As some of the two primal forms of clinical depression, it usually has  fewer dangerous symptoms than major depression though lasts longer."

At least three-fourths of patients with dysthymic depression also experience a chronic bodily sickness or some other psychiatrical disorder such as one of the anxiety disorders, drug addiction, or alcohol addiction.

The Big Care Journal reads that dysthymia "affects roughly 3% of the people and is connected with fundamental working impairment". Harvard health Publications says: "The rate of depression in the family units of individuals with dysthymic depressions is as high as 50% for the early-onset form of the disorder."

Unfortunately although this type of depression is moderately ordinary most individuals with dysthymic depressions can't say for sure when they first become depressed, inducing the diagnosis quite hard at times.

Confer your physician about this type of chronic depression

Overcoming Your Eye Phobia Before Lasik Surgery

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/9xOeo)

If you belong to the bespectacled population you would know how frustrating it could get to be forever dependant on those two little framed pieces of glass. If you wear glasses for corrective vision, it is something you have to wear day in and day out, whether you are going out or staying home. Maybe you are just fed up of doing it everyday of your life. Maybe you keep losing those glasses amidst all your reading material and end up spending the better part of the day looking for them.



Or it could be that your glasses are scratched from being put down wrongly most of the time and now are so blurry you can hardly see through them. And if you wear contact lenses you could be tired of all the care involved in looking after them and just plain fed up of inserting them into your eyes everyday. Maybe it was high time you considered Lasik eye surgery. Lasik surgery is a corrective eye surgery and it helps you do away with glasses or contact lenses completely. It could give you the much longed for 20/20 vision that you have been looking for.



Though the chances of something going wrong during Lasik surgery is minimal, the very thought of becoming potentially blind is a very intimidating one. Talking to your doctor as well as reading everything you can get hold of on the subject is the best way of getting over these fears. Despite all this knowledge, eye surgery in any form, even one as safe as Lasik surgery is a very difficult reality to accept and you could get the necessary courage and strength from a clinical psychologist.



The best way to overcome your phobia of undergoing Lasik eye surgery is to actually watch a live demonstration while it is being performed on somebody else. You could watch the taped demonstration or better yet, if the other patient agrees, this is one surgery that doctors have no problem performing in the presence of an on-looker. If you are lucky enough to have got the opportunity to sit in at a surgery, you could do a follow up and ask the patient a host of questions relating to all aspects of the surgery – how they felt before, during and after the surgery, how they overcame their fears or any other question that bothers you most.



Don’t forget that old but true cliché – Knowledge is Power. The more knowledge and information you are armed with the better you are able to deal with the impending surgery. Read as much as you can on Lasik eye surgery; ask your doctor or any other qualified person as many questions as you need to. All this will go a long way towards making you feel empowered and more in control. You will find all your fears slowly fading away.



If after reading everything on Lasik surgery and even watching one up close you find yourself still filled with dread at the thought of the impending surgery, then perhaps it is time to consider counseling. A good counselor is successful at helping a person get over just about any phobia and could have you ready to face the surgery in a record short time. If the phobia is really deep seated, stronger methods such as hypnosis and other visual aids could be used to help one get over these fears. Your doctor would be able to recommend a clinical psychologist that he has used before or has heard of.



Another really good option is meditation. Meditation calms your body and mind and helps you get rid of stress-related headaches and can even help you get rid of your phobias. Meditation is such a beneficial practice that phobia or not this daily ritual will help calm your mind and body in preparation of the impending surgery.



Though each of these methods is individually helpful towards overcoming your phobia of Lasik eye surgery, a combination of several or all of these methods may prove to be the best method of all. You are the one who knows yourself best of all. You are the best judge of how badly you want to have that surgery and what you are prepared to do to overcome your phobias and prepare for it.

Guide to Dsm-iv Diagnoses: Anxiety Disorders

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/pipaA)

Anxiety Disorders are diagnosed when people consistently feel fear and experience abnormal sympathetic nervous system arousal (aka the fight-or-flight reaction) despite the fact that there is no real threat or danger to the person, and to the point that it is interfering with their day-to-day lives.



We'll look at each of the major Anxiety Disorders below, along with movies that portray, some more successfully than others, the symptoms.

SPECIFIC PHOBIA



By definition, a phobia is a fear of something specific. The fear of that thing has become so general that the person may react with fear to the thing's name, description, or even to caricatures or cartoons of it.



Phobias are broken into 5 categories:



1. Animal type - snakes, spiders, dogs, rats, bats, and other living creatures fall into this category.



2. Natural environment type - these are triggered by things found in nature: storms, fire, heights, darkness, large bodies of water, etc.



3. Situational type - these are triggered by a particular situation, such as having to deal with bridges, elevators, flying, dentists, tunnels, etc.



4. Blood-injected-injury type - needles, injury, and blood are the most common blood-injected-injury types of phobias, and this type is different from the others in that people with this type of phobia are much more likely to faint when faced with the feared stimulus



5. Other type - Fears that don't fit the other four categories go here; for example, fears of choking, vomiting, or clowns (nice how I put those together, eh?), would go here.



** Movies that portray phobias: The Truman Show, Vertigo, Arachnophobia



** Note: Though Indiana Jones is everyone's favorite example of someone with an animal-type phobia, he actually isn't nearly scared enough of snakes to be diagnosable with a phobia.



Remember in Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indy has to go down into the Well of Souls to find the Ark? He may hate snakes, but he functions extremely well around them. If he had a real phobia, he wouldn't be able to think straight, let alone help Sallah get the Ark out or find an escape after Marion is sealed in with him.

GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER



Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is an ongoing problem with "free-floating" anxiety; that is, with anxiety that is not attached to anything, the way it might be "attached" to dogs in someone with a phobia of dogs. People with GAD often have a lot of small stressors, which psychologists call "hassles," working together in their lives.



** Movies that portray GAD: Annie Hall, Analyze This, Manhattan

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER



Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions (thoughts and feelings of dread that won't go away) that are relieved by compulsions (ritualistic behaviors that ward off the fear caused by the obsession).



Psychologists originally thought that OCD was existential or symbolic in nature. They believed, for example, that fears of germs and compulsive washing were thought to be because the person somehow felt soiled, dirty, or contaminated.



Though some OCD may in fact be symbolic or existential, in many people it seems to have a strong biological component. Medications that increase the brain chemical serotonin seem to reduce OCD symptoms significantly in many patients.



** Movies that portray OCD: As Good As It Gets, Matchstick Men

PANIC DISORDER



Panic disorder is diagnosed in people who are having repeated panic attacks. The best way to imagine what a panic attack is like if you've never had one is to imagine that the next door you open, whether it's your pantry or your office, has a rabid, starving grizzly bear behind it.



Your body would blast adrenaline into your veins, causing your pupils to dilate, your heart to pound, your breathing to quicken, and your palms to sweat. You might subjectively feel that time had "slowed down," leaving everything moving in slow motion. The bear might seem cartoonish, or you might feel like you were watching yourself panic from the outside. (Both of the last two sentences describe forms of dissociation called derealization and depersonalization, respectively.)



Now, imagine having that reaction without moving from where ever you're reading this. You're just reading along, no rabid grizzly in sight, and that feeling hits you. Worse, since there is no obvious trigger, you worry that you're going crazy and that if you give into your instincts to run, cry, curl up in a ball, scream, or fight, people will think you're crazy.



Now that's a panic attack.

Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia



Agoraphobia is a fear of being trapped in a public place from which it would be embarrassing or difficult to escape. (People often inaccurately are taught that it means "fear of wide open spaces," but it literally means "fear of the marketplace" and the fear has to do with the potential for embarrassing oneself in public.)



Panic Disorder is diagnosed with or without agoraphobia. Perhaps you can see why, based on the fear of behaving strangely in public if a panic attack hits, seemingly out of nowhere, in a place where other people might see how frantic the person feels.



** Movies that portray panic attacks: Copycat, Benny and Joon (the character has schizophrenia, but she experiences a panic attack on a bus near the end of the film)

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER



Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is caused by an experience in which you felt horror and helplessness because your life, safety, or physical integrity -- or those of someone you loved -- were in terrible and imminent danger (or you believed they were).



Rape and war are two of the most common causes of PTSD; something about knowing that another human being is doing something sadistic to you seems to "overload" the brain and permanently kick it into "fight or flight" mode.



People with PTSD experience ongoing fear in the form of feelings of danger or dread, panic attacks, nightmares, flashbacks, and an overactive startle reflex. They may tell you they feel like their skin is crawling or like they're "on the ceiling" with anxiety.



If you've ever seen a really scary movie, that jumpiness you feel afterwards -- where every little sound makes you think a serial killer is about to come crashing through the window -- is a very, very mild example of what someone with PTSD experiences almost constantly.



** Movies that portray PTSD: Fearless, Saving Private Ryan, No Escape, Born on the Fourth of July, The Deer Hunter

Dealing with Depression

(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/Gn37U)

Depression, also clinically known as major depressive disorder, affects millions of people around the world but most do not understand that depression is a very real disease. People that have never suffered with depression understand very little about this disease and feel that a person with it should ‘get on with their life and get over the depression'.

They believe that depression sufferers can get rid of their depression by using their willpower. People that are close to, or live with those with depression, are often frustrated and annoyed by this and "snap out of it" hear this far too often.

Most people, uneducated when it comes to depression, have no idea that they have all the signs and are themselves depressed and reaching severe levels. Understanding about depression will make you appreciate what a person goes through who suffers from it.

What is Depression?
Along with other elements, it is an imbalance of the brain chemicals, medically speaking. Primarily treated with medication, major depressive disorder is recognized by the medical community as a disease. Some doctors treat their patients with medication and therapy and for some patients; psychotherapy along with medication is very helpful. Many people fight depression their entire lives and need monitoring to minimize or eliminate reoccurrences of this debilitating disease. Avoiding stressful situations and strictly following the doctor's instructions is paramount.

Symptoms of Depression
The most common symptom of depression is sadness and low mood levels. Others that some people suffer from are:

- Irritability
- Physical reactions become slow
- Not enjoying activities or interests that you liked before
- Reasoning is slower
- Looking on the dark side or expecting the worse - pessimism
- Sex life decreases or lack of interest
- Anger or rages

Mild depression may not cause many problems in some peoples lives and be an annoyance more than anything else. This could turn into severe depression and people suffering from this can become completely debilitated by the disease. With moderate to severe depression, there is more chance of suicide. Depression can strike any age group from young to the elderly. If a teenager that liked school and did well suddenly lacks interest, withdraws from family and friends and has mood swings, he/she could be displaying signs of depression.

Types of Depression
Some subtypes of depression are:

Mono-polar Depression - There are symptoms of depression. Dysthymic disorder is men and a woman with a mild case of mono-polar disorder that does not touch their social activities or work abilities.
Bipolar disorder or Manic Depressive Disease - The manic phase causes a person to sleep and concentrate poorly. The depressive phase cause abnormal elevated moods and impractical optimism.
Physical Symptom Depression - Can cause urination difficulties, digestive problems among other things.

Cure Panic Attack

(My Original Blog Post: http://anxiety-helper.car-manuals.biz/cure-panic-attack)

Panic disorder is a common condition in which a person has episodes of intense fear or anxiety that occur suddenly. Panic attacks can indicate the presence of panic disorder, depression, or other forms of anxiety-based illnesses. A panic attack typically lasts for several minutes and is one of the most distressing conditions that a person can experience. Panic attacks can occur at any time, even during sleep. An attack generally peaks within 10 minutes, but some symptoms may last much longer. At least 1.7% of adult Americans, or about 3 million people, will have panic attacks at some time in their lives. Panic attacks may be symptoms of an anxiety disorder. These attacks are a serious health problem in this country. About 5% of the population will experience panic attacks during their lifetimes. There also appears to be a connection with major life transitions such as graduating from college and entering the workplace, getting married, and having a baby. Severe stress, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or job loss can also trigger a panic attack.



More women than men are affected by panic attacks. Some people are affected by frequent panic attacks, a condition known as panic disorder. A panic attack is a response of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The most common symptoms may include: trembling, dyspnea(shortness of breath), heart palpitations, chest pain (or chest tightness), sweating, nausea, dizziness (or slight vertigo), light-headedness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), sensations of choking or smothering. Many of the symptoms that occur during a panic attack are the same as the symptoms of diseases of the heart, lungs, intestines or nervous system. The similarities between panic disorder and other diseases may add to the person's fear and anxiety during and after a panic attack. Heredity, stress and certain biochemical factors may play a role. Several medicines can make panic attacks less severe or stop them altogether. Paroxetine (brand name: Paxil) and sertraline (brand name: Zoloft) are antidepressant medicines that have been approved by the U.S.



Medications from the beta blocker family (for example, propranolol) are sometimes used to treat the physical symptoms associated with a panic attack. Antidepressants are very effective in preventing anxiety and panic attacks. Antidepressants will not make you lose control or change your personality. These medicines can be used for as long as necessary, even for years. Alprazolam and clonazepam (brand name: Klonopin) are also medicines approved by the FDA to treat panic disorder. These medicines give relief from fear and anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps people learn to deal with panic symptoms, using techniques like muscle and breathing relaxation. Antidepressants, such as Tofranil, often help reduce anxiety and the frequency and severity of panic attacks. Psychotherapy offers support and helps to minimize the fearfulness of symptoms, and sometimes is sufficient to clear up the disorder.



Panic Attack Treatment Tips



1. Alternative treatments like meditation and relaxation therapy are often used to help relax the body and relieve anxiety.



2. Psychotherapy offers support and helps to minimize the fearfulness of symptoms, and sometimes is sufficient to clear up the disorder.



3. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps people learn to deal with panic symptoms, using techniques like muscle and breathing relaxation.



4. Antidepressants, such as Tofranil, often help reduce anxiety and the frequency and severity of panic attacks.



5. Benzodiazepines – These anti-anxiety drugs act very quickly.



6. Antidepressants have been shown to reduce or eliminate panic attacks.