The fear of traveling is the common reference to agoraphobia and it is typically considered an anxiety or panic disorder. There are various ranges for this disorder, it can be a serious condition in which a person isn't able to leave the home entirely or it can be a mild disorder in which a person can't travel more than a few hours away from home. When a person attempts to go beyond what is considered their "safe" boundaries then they go into an agoraphobia panic attack.
The only way for a person to overcome these attacks is to push their limits, which make treatment of agoraphobia panic attack difficult. Before getting better many agoraphobics tend to get worse for this reason. Since all an individual has to do is stay within their "safe" zone they tend to ignore their agoraphobic problem. However, while the problem can be easy to ignore it is a stifling symptom that comes from a chronic panic disorder.
Begin With Baby Steps
Starting by taking baby steps is the best way a person can slow their agoraphobia panic attacks. In order to finally master their fears the individual must set specific goals to overcome their panic attacks. Family and friends are the best people to help a person through this process, they can help a person be assured to their safety while helping them make the baby steps to overcome their panic attacks.
Why the panic attacks manifest in their form and what causes them isn't completely known. It is believed that many of the individuals who suffer from this disorder experienced motion sickness which gave them a propensity for fear of travel before they started developing panic attacks.
The Unknown
To the sufferer themselves an agoraphobia panic attack is very frustrating. This is because an agoraphobic attack is often less rational than the typical panic attacks. While the individual may have a fear to traveling to an unknown place or beyond a certain point, agoraphobia can be caused by any type of anxiety or panic disorders that takes root and leads to agoraphobia.
A fear of public places, especially those where there is a large gathering of people such as a grocery store can develop from a social anxiety. An individual who suffers from general panic disorders can become embarrassed of their disorder which can then cause a fear of traveling and suffering a panic attack in public. This shows that with an agoraphobia panic attack it is difficult to identify and deal with it.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Important Information About Agoraphobia Panic Attack
Precautions Help You to Get Rid of Atypical Depression
Atypical Depression is a very common form of depression. Atypical Depression (AD) is a subtype of dysthymia and major depression which is characterized by mood reactivity that is being able to experience improved mood in response to positive events. In contrast, sufferers of this depression generally cannot experience positive moods, even when good things happen. Moreover, atypical depression is characterized by reversed vegetative symptoms, namely over-eating and over-sleeping.
Despite its name, "atypical" depression is actually the most common subtype of depression and up to 40% of the depressed population may be classified as having atypical depression. Those who are suffering from this disorder do not get depressed or frustrated as there are number of aids and measures to come out of this crisis situation. The sufferer of this disorder lasts for month or may survive with it forever.
The reasons of Atypical depression are Certain medications, with those for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or irregular heartbeat., sleeping trouble, amount of contact to light, heredity, chronic stress, nutritional deficiencies, family history of depression, history of abuse (such as mental, physical, or sexual), current or past alcohol or drug abuse—25% of people with addictions have depression.
One should be aware of its symptoms so that you can work towards curing it accordingly. It’s symptoms are: female sex was associated with all of the atypical symptoms except rejection sensitivity, a duration of illness of greater than three months was positively associated with hyperphagia, leaden paralysis, and rejection sensitivity, fatigue and loss of energy, feelings of hopelessness, extreme difficulty concentrating.
Online mode provides you to get updated with symptoms, causes and cure of atypical disorder. There are several numbers of sites available on internet that works for the welfare of the people suffering from this disorder. These sites guide you with an opinion of experts and doctors and provide you honest and practical information or solutions.
You can find various measures to cope up with this depression with a simple click of mouse like Psychotherapy may work with up to 60% of patients at ten weeks in treatment. It can help with the sleep and eating issues. Also, there is herbal treatment to treat this depression. It includes vitamins, minerals, and other nutritive substances.
There are more measures which you can adopt to treat this state of depression. So, if you are looking to get rid of this depression then click on browser and start searching for the best treatment. If you want to overcome from depression as soon as possible then, start applying these measures on regular basis.
Breakthrough Discovered: How Understanding The Cause Of Anxiety Attack So You Can Prevent It
What causes an anxiety panic attack? There are clear triggers, risk factors and underlying medical causes that anxiety attack sufferers must fully understand. Anxiety attacks can happen anytime, anywhere when you least expect it.
Anxiety is what we always feel when we are in a tense situation, like studying harder for a major exam, rendering a speech in front of many people, or going on a blind date where you don't know what to expect; even a bride definitely feel anxious on her wedding day (maybe thinking, what if she'll be stood up by her groom! What a terrifying thought!).
If you feel anxious or fear for certain circumstances or things and with logical reasons to be, it is just a normal and rational response. But, if you feel unexpected surges of overwhelming dread that comes without warning and for no reason at all, it is no longer regular anxiety but anxiety attack.
Anxiety attacks are far more intense than having the feeling of being stressed or anxious that most people experience. It is described as a sudden attack of intense fear or feelings of impending fate or disaster that strike without warning and for no apparent reason. And this can be immediately followed by several symptoms.
These are caused by a shift in the way the Amygdala, the small organ in the brain which regulates the anxiety response, behaves when confronted with an anxiety provoking thought, sensation or situation. Anxiety attacks occur when a level of anxiety is reached which causes the Adrenalin to produce severe symptoms which reach a peak in just a matter of minutes.
The peak of an attack can range anywhere from 5 to 30minutes, but the symptoms may last a little longer. The symptoms of anxiety attacks are completely harmless, although they can be very frightening. Anxiety attacks belong to a group of anxiety disorder, like panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and agoraphobia.
Some of the symptoms of anxiety attack are intense heartbeat, difficulty of breathing, palpitation, nausea, excessive sweating and trembling, chest pains, fearful of going crazy or about to die, sudden chills, and the like. Some people may experience different or more anxiety attack symptoms but this does not mean that their condition is far worse or that you are suffering from different undiagnosed condition.
Because we are all different, the symptoms during anxiety attacks can vastly vary. You might not find among the listed anxiety attack symptoms what you are experiencing and you'll start to think there's something very wrong with you. The list is just a guide only. Everyone reacts differently.
Anxiety attacks are always a sign of underlying anxiety disorder which itself can be treated successfully with or without having to go through medication or costly therapy. Linden Method offers a cure on panic and anxiety attacks. According to this method, anxiety attacks are not a sign of illness. The way to cure it is to eliminate the causes that trigger anxiety attacks.
About Causes of Depression
Let there be no doubt that depression is a serious mental illness that requires months and sometimes years of treatment on the path to a cure. Millions of Americans across the United States are affected by depression each and every year. The situation becomes worse because only one third of those who suffer depression ever get treated. Because depression is considered a mental affliction, many sufferers shy away from seeking help from a doctor. Rather than being stereotyped, people would rather try to deal with the problem themselves. Unlike a headache depression doesn't eventually stop on its own, and more people suffer from depression than you might think.
What are the causes for depression? There are many factors to consider, so the answer isn't simple. There are so many things factored into the cause of this disease. Here are a few of the parts of depression. A chemical imbalance is widely considered to be the main cause for depression. But what causes the imbalance? Typically the causes stem from biological, genetic, physical, mental and environmental implications. There are those inflicted that never really determine what spurned their depression. Many become depressed when they are diagnosed with a very serious medical condition. This is especially the case if the diagnosis presents the possibility of death or impairment.
Another cause of depression can be the emotional pain felt after losing a loved one. In many cases the loss can be very traumatic. Long periods of emotional, sexual or other physical abuses can result in depression. In addition, many cases of depression are given birth by substance abuse, rather it be drugs or alcohol. People's mental states are fragile. If exposed to the wrong pressures, depression can result. In many cases depression is passed on genetically. Those afflicted have a family history of the disease . Many prescription drugs can cause depression. Studies and tests show a casual relation between many high blood pressure medications and depression.
A major cause of depression is stress. Stress can derive from many different areas in our life. It's not well known, but it's true, that stress can result from the pressures associated with positive events such as a new, high paying job. People tend to stress when they face the unknown, like a new job or new financial obligations. In addition, many are stressed from personal conflicts with their loved ones, associates in employment or friends. Some people have a low threshold for stress. They're affected by events and activities that to others seem to not be stressful. Doctors first look for cause when seeking a treatment for depression. If you or someone you love suffers from depression - please seek medical assistance.
Understanding Your Body - the Beginnings of a Solution to Panic Attacks and Anxiety Disorders
Copyright (c) 2008 Steve Cowley
If you suffer from a panic or anxiety disorder an important part of your recovery process is to gain an understanding of your symptoms. If you don't understand how your symptoms happen, then you can remain caught up in your fears about them.
Perhaps the first thing to say is, you are not alone! Everyone in the world experiences anxiety to some extent or other! It is part of our natural response to danger, whether that danger is actual, anticipated, or just imagined.
The sensations we experience are part of our Fight or Flight response. This is a natural reaction to danger and is found in both humans and animals. When the fight or flight response is activated, hormones are released throughout the body to enable us to either fight the dangerous situation or to run from it. The effects of these changes on our body chemistry can be quite dramatic:
Sweating; Palpitations; Dizziness; Legs go to jelly; Numbness and tingling; Hyperventilating; Chest pains; Trembling; Shortness of breath; Feelings of unreality; Nausea; Diarrhoea; Fainting; Feelings of loosing control.
It is important to realise that these are part of our evolutionary heritage; the natural way the body protects itself. They are not a problem in themselves and usually recede once the immediate danger has passed.
Many people don't realise that the way they think when they have an anxiety disorder, turns on their Fight or Flight response. Our bodies can't tell the difference between the thoughts in our head and a real physical danger.
At this level your brain makes the same judgement call about a very real truck rushing towards you, and that internal voice that says "What if I have a panic attack; What if I make a fool of myself; What if the doctor has made a mistake?" It just sees "danger" and switches on the Fight or Flight response and around we go!
Most non-sufferers of anxiety disorders go through a typical day running their Fight or Flight response at a low level. There may be times where they might peak higher, but these are the exception and not the rule. The causes of these "blips" are usually easy to see - starting a new job, attending a funeral, a heated argument with a colleague, etc.
Others suffer from an elevated level of anxiety on a regular basis. Their feelings can't be attributed to any obvious cause, it is just there. This elevated level of non-specific anxiety is called General Anxiety Disorder or GAD. People with this disorder often lack the ability to concentrate and feel exhausted all the time.
Above this background level of raised anxiety we have the full blown panic attack itself. If you have experienced one you will know just how terrifying an attack can be. Because they are so unpleasant - we feel like we might be about to die - we begin to fear having another attack. This causes even more fear; and so, like a snowball gradually gathering pace and weight as it rolls down a hill, the cycle of fear gains a seemingly unstoppable momentum!
It is important to recognise that any major life change can act as a trigger to panic disorders. It is not a sign of personal weaknesses or inadequacy. Events such as the death of a loved one, moving to a new home, or a divorce, can all act as a catalyst.
Sometimes an initial attack happens in a situation that then becomes anchored to the attack. A person might have their first panic attack in a car and then associate the car with the panic attack, so just going into a car triggers further episodes.
It is when our levels of anxiety start to interrupt our normal life we have a problem and need to take positive action to resolve it.
The first thing to do if you believe you are suffering from GAD, or have experienced a panic attack, is to get a complete medical check up from your doctor to rule out any underlying physical disorder.
Certain foods are also known to make matters worse. Caffeine is a stimulant that can increase anxiety, and excessive sugar can have a similar effect. Turning to alcohol to "relax" yourself is also a bad idea - it is more likely to make the anxiety worse!
There are also many self-help programmes available that can quickly and effectively help you on the road to recovery. The most important thing is to take powerful action to restore both your health and your confidence. The process begins with gaining an understanding of the symptoms and why they happen. This in turn helps us to lose our various fears, and by doing so we can effectively turn down our Fight or Flight response.
Is There a Relationship Between Panic Attacks and Depression?
Well, the short answer is YES… Here’s the details:
In the first place, chronic panic disorder can easily cause depression. This is most likely to occur in people who are exhausted from the chronic anxiety that can come with panic disorder, and also people who have developed agoraphobia (i.e. the avoidance of activities due to a fear of panic attacks) to such an extent that it is forcing them to retreat / hibernate from life (i.e. not going to work, not socializing with friends, no longer driving or leaving the house because of a fear of panic attacks). When panic disorder is clearly causing depression, patients often report that the panic and/or agoraphobia gets worst FIRST, then the depression comes later. They are also likely to report that if I could make their panic and / or agoraphobia go away, then they would no longer be depressed. Such patients would probably benefit from focusing on their panic disorder first rather then their depression per se (unless the depression is so bad that they are having serious thoughts of ending their life).
Very intense depression can sometimes trigger panic attacks. For a large percentage of people, depression and a least some level of anxiety come hand in hand. When the anxiety is intense, this kind of depression is sometimes referred to as an “agitated” depression. If the anxiety component of the depression is strong enough, it can definitely lead to anxiety attacks (i.e. where you can’t stop worrying about the problems in your life) but can also sometimes (more rarely) trigger panic attacks (i.e. intense episodes where you feel like you are dying or going crazy right then and there). Patients who have panic attacks triggered by depression report that their depression got worst FIRST, and that they never have panic attacks unless they are depressed. They would most likely benefit from a treatment that focuses on their depression first.
One final possibility: some people have both panic disorder and depression independent of each other. In other words, they sometimes have panic attacks when they are NOT depressed, and they also sometimes experienced depression when they were NOT having regular panic attacks or agoraphobia. In this situation, the panic can trigger a depression AND the depression can trigger panic (i.e. for most people with panic disorder, any significant change, whether it’s depression, a cold, lack of sleep, or a hangover, can trigger panic because they are so sensitive to their bodies). In these situations, it is best to start with treatment that addresses whichever problem seems the most intense right now. Luckily a number of medications (i.e. SSRI’s, if started at a LOW dose so as not to trigger panic) and / or psychotherapies (i.e. such as cognitive behavioral therapy) work well for both panic disorder and depression.
I hope this information was helpful. Good luck in your fight against panic disorder and/or depression.
When Your Child Under 13 is Suffering From Depression
Is it possible for children less than 13 years old to have clinical depression? It wasn't too long ago that doctors, and even parents, thought otherwise. As doctors and research scientists in the mental health fields learn more about the way people think, as well as increasing their knowledge of medicine, it is now known that children under 13 can have depression as severely as teens or adults.
Long term depression in young children appears to happen in about 5% of children according to researchers. Depression can result from long term illness, a loss, low self-esteem, anxiety disorders and attention deficit problems. It is important to take note of any changes in your young child's behavior in order to determine depression.
Some signs of depression in children under 13 might be:
Frequent sadness or crying
Feeling guilt a lot or low self esteem
Hopelessness
Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
Irritability or anger
Talk of suicide
Very poor concentration
Wanting to be alone, if previously they played with many friends
Causing trouble at school
Having one or two of these symptoms on occasion does not mean your child under 13 has severe depression. Severe depression is when a child may have several of these symptoms continuing for weeks.
Children under 13, who are suffering from severe depression, can even have thoughts of committing suicide and actually do it, despite their young age. Professional depression treatment is important for children suffering severe affects of the disease. Most parents prefer to stay away from prescription depression drugs for their kids under 13 if possible, and it is only recommended as a last resort, and only in severe cases.
There are some natural homeopathic medications to try, for mild depression. Sometimes merely paying more attention to your child and displaying more love is all the natural medicine that is needed. Good nutrition is important also. In addition to that you can try the natural herbs Passiflora and St John's Wort. There are some combinations of these herbs on the market specifically for kids. You will have to determine if your child has a mild case of depression or severe depression based on your observations or your medical doctor's observation.
A decent method of treatment will usually encompass family and individual therapy for children under 13 suffering from mild to severe depression. Two popular types of individual therapy for children are:
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Focuses on individual events such as bereavement or conflict that may be the cause of continuing depression. Children are taught to work through the specific issues causing the depression.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and events. Children are taught to take a more positive view of life and their surroundings.
For severe depression in children under 13, a combination of the above behavioral therapies plus antidepressant medication sometimes is warranted. There has been some caution in giving depression medications to young children since it sometimes increases thoughts of suicide. Children less than 13 years of age who may need the combination of prescription drugs and behavioral therapy are those that may have reoccurring depression symptoms, bipolar disorder, don’t have access to therapy for some reason or they have very severe symptoms that require immediate correction.
Believing in children and knowing that depression can exist in children less than 13 is important. Mild to severe depression is usually treatable and your child will be able to end therapy or medications at some point and live happily from then on.
Unconventional Anxiety Treatments: 5 Alternative Treatments for Anxiety
For many people, alternative anxiety treatments can bring relief from their symptoms when medical approaches (like using anti-anxiety medications) have failed. Not everyone responds to well to prescription drug treatment for anxiety. The side effects and potential withdrawal symptoms can sometimes outweigh any perceived benefit from the drug, especially over the long-term.
Alternative anxiety treatments have the benefit of not relying on habit-forming medications, and many have been thoroughly researched in universities around the world to determine both effectiveness and safety. Although the medical community in the United States continues to focus on medication as a cure for anxiety, there is a growing movement among doctors and researchers toward a more natural or holistic approach to this common emotional problem.
Contrary to popular misconception, anxiety is not a disease or "medical disorder." Anxiety is in fact an emotional state, most commonly associated with an impending feeling of doom, apprehension, insecurity and worry. These feelings can produce very real physical anxiety symptoms. The most common of these are dizziness, breathing difficulties (hyperventilation), rapid heart beat, chest pains, and upset stomach or nausea.
To calm the physical and mental symptoms of anxiety, and its more acute cousin: the panic attack, there is growing evidence that alternative treatments are often as effective as pharmaceuticals, without the potential for harmful side effects. We'll briefly review five well-documented alternative treatments for anxiety.
1. Diet Changes to Reduce Anxiety. It is well known that caffeine can contribute to anxiety; as can excessive amounts of sugar or alcohol. Many anxiety sufferers find relief from their symptoms by simply modifying their diet. Eliminating stimulants such as caffeine and replacing them with herbal teas (for example) can make a great difference over the course of a few weeks. Chamomile Tea and Skullcap tea are two herbal blends that have long been reported to have soothing affects.
2. Natural Herbs and Supplements. St. John's Wort has received a great deal of attention in the media for its calming effects, and has been researched extensively to ensure that it is safe to use. This natural herb has also been shown to be an effective treatment for moderate depression. Melatonin is another supplement that has long been used to combat sleep disorders and insomnia. There are now several studies that suggest melatonin may also be an effective anti-anxiety treatment.
3. Guided Visualization Techniques. Evidence suggests that using visualization techniques to change the emotional state can be as effective as many prescription drugs for anxiety. These techniques can be used independently, or while listening to a guided visualization CD or tape, to assist the user in "visualizing" more peaceful harmonious feelings throughout the body. The combination of soft relaxing music and gentle guidance can be quite relaxing, and when used consistently, can help to reduce both physical and emotional anxiety symptoms.
4. Breathing Exercises. Proper breathing techniques can contribute to a more peaceful, relaxed state of well-being. As hyperventilation is a common problem among anxiety sufferers, practicing controlled breathing exercises can help reduce anxiety symptoms, and reduce the chances of hyperventilating in a high anxiety situation.
5. Relaxation Techniques and Exercises. Research suggests that practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga or tai chi can help reduce anxiety. Practicing meditation has also been shown to calm the mind, promoting feelings of well-being. Tai chi in particular can be beneficial, as it encourages mindfulness and controlled breathing.
Each of these alternative anxiety treatments can be beneficial in its own right, and many natural health practitioners suggest using one or more of these treatments simultaneously, in order to affect the greatest change in the user's emotional state and eliminate the "mental environment" that allows anxiety to flourish. Remember, it is important to talk to your doctor before using natural anxiety treatments, taking herbs or supplements, or beginning an exercise program.
The Connection Between Panic and Anxiety and "Self Medicating"
A lot of people suffering from panic and anxiety disorders tend to "self-medicate". That is, they tend to use alcohol or drugs, both over the counter and illegal, to dull the symptoms of their anxiety. According to the ScienceDirect web site, a study found that as many as 10-40 percent of alcoholics have panic attacks and/or anxiety, and 10-20 percent of people with panic and anxiety abuse drugs or alcohol. The majority of people asked believed that that their self medication worked, even though the researchers found that these people often had more serious situations, including depression.
The study also found that a majority of people reported having anxiety before alcohol or substance abuse.
The relationship between panic and anxiety disorders and alcohol and drugs seems to be a vicious one; people with anxiety and panic use alcohol to self medicate sometimes leading to alcohol and substance abuse, while on the other hand, alcohol and drug use can lead to panic and anxiety disorders.
For years it marijuana was commonly considered not to have any negative long term effects on users, but this has changed. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, not only can you experience anxiety and panic attacks immediately after using cannabis; one of the most common long term side effects of smoking marijuana is panic and anxiety.
Other drugs that can cause anxiety are stimulants such as amphetamines, cocaine or crack. Hallucinogens such as LSD, PCP and ecstasy
In addition to these illegal substances, as previously mentioned, legal substances such as nicotine, alcohol and caffeine can cause panic and anxiety reactions, especially in high doses.
Even prescription and over the counter medication can cause both immediate anxiety reactions and long term anxiety disorders.
Most diet pills contains some sort of stimulant, ranging from caffeine and guarana to ephedrine ( also sometimes called ephedra) and other stimulants closely related to amphetamine. Some of these stimulants are considered harmless in small doses, but are usually found in relatively high doses in diet pills. According to The National Institutes of Health, studies in animals show that the use of diet pills containing fenfluramine, can cause not only panic and anxiety, but also long term brain damage.
If you experience panic and anxiety, it is important to be very aware of what you put in your body. It may be easy to think that a little caffeine or alcohol is normal and maybe even good for you, but if you have anxiety problems, you should probably cut down on the use of these substances or cut them out all together. If you experience negative feeling or anxiety thinking about giving up on these substances, it is quite possible that you are addicted to them, something that makes it even more important for you to give it up.
It might be difficult for you to change some of the habits that are causing your anxiety, and in some cases it may temporarily cause more anxiety to give something up, but if you are suffering from panic and anxiety, you can greatly improve the quality of your life if you limit the amounts of anxiety causing substances you have in your system.
The Connection Between Panic and Anxiety and "Self Medicating"
A lot of people suffering from panic and anxiety disorders tend to "self-medicate". That is, they tend to use alcohol or drugs, both over the counter and illegal, to dull the symptoms of their anxiety. According to the ScienceDirect web site, a study found that as many as 10-40 percent of alcoholics have panic attacks and/or anxiety, and 10-20 percent of people with panic and anxiety abuse drugs or alcohol. The majority of people asked believed that that their self medication worked, even though the researchers found that these people often had more serious situations, including depression.
The study also found that a majority of people reported having anxiety before alcohol or substance abuse.
The relationship between panic and anxiety disorders and alcohol and drugs seems to be a vicious one; people with anxiety and panic use alcohol to self medicate sometimes leading to alcohol and substance abuse, while on the other hand, alcohol and drug use can lead to panic and anxiety disorders.
For years it marijuana was commonly considered not to have any negative long term effects on users, but this has changed. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, not only can you experience anxiety and panic attacks immediately after using cannabis; one of the most common long term side effects of smoking marijuana is panic and anxiety.
Other drugs that can cause anxiety are stimulants such as amphetamines, cocaine or crack. Hallucinogens such as LSD, PCP and ecstasy
In addition to these illegal substances, as previously mentioned, legal substances such as nicotine, alcohol and caffeine can cause panic and anxiety reactions, especially in high doses.
Even prescription and over the counter medication can cause both immediate anxiety reactions and long term anxiety disorders.
Most diet pills contains some sort of stimulant, ranging from caffeine and guarana to ephedrine ( also sometimes called ephedra) and other stimulants closely related to amphetamine. Some of these stimulants are considered harmless in small doses, but are usually found in relatively high doses in diet pills. According to The National Institutes of Health, studies in animals show that the use of diet pills containing fenfluramine, can cause not only panic and anxiety, but also long term brain damage.
If you experience panic and anxiety, it is important to be very aware of what you put in your body. It may be easy to think that a little caffeine or alcohol is normal and maybe even good for you, but if you have anxiety problems, you should probably cut down on the use of these substances or cut them out all together. If you experience negative feeling or anxiety thinking about giving up on these substances, it is quite possible that you are addicted to them, something that makes it even more important for you to give it up.
It might be difficult for you to change some of the habits that are causing your anxiety, and in some cases it may temporarily cause more anxiety to give something up, but if you are suffering from panic and anxiety, you can greatly improve the quality of your life if you limit the amounts of anxiety causing substances you have in your system.
Panic And Anxiety Disorders - How To Live A Fruitful Life With Them
Most of us have been through it, felt it and may even be undergoing it right now, and this is why Anxiety is such a powerful emotion that can have incredible effect on our well being. It’s effect can have far-reaching effects, and that includes panic attack escalations that can reach a point of becoming a disorder.
Among the many known remedies fit for Anxiety and it’s related panic syndrome is management therapy, this involves learning to separate yourself from physical reaction and becoming much of a dispassionate spectator of some sort, a trick that does much to lessen the degree of intensity caused by the attack. Reaching this point is indeed a milestone towards learning how to effectively manage an constant stress and its relative worry that are initial triggers of panic.
It is a common fact that one of the many ways to control Anxiety related panic disorders is by indulging yourself to a positive self-talk when it occurs. This stresses the fact that a positive stream of thoughts initiated prior to a panic attack, can greatly counter its effect and reoccurrence, it is good to remember that panic attacks aren’t physically detrimental and will subside with time. Also engaging yourself in deep breathing that is nerve relaxing can be a plus factor. When you become nervous during an attack, that only serves to worsen the condition.
The mode of treatment in treating both Anxiety and related panic disorders targets two things. First and foremost is learning how to avoid the panic prior to attack, and secondly learning how to control the attack after occurrence. Studies indicate that trying to resist panic attacks will only serve to worsen them further. It’s advisable therefore, to accept the attack when it happens and take good control measures.
The core part of Anxiety and panic disorder control therefore lies in learning how to take care of your thoughts, the tension in your life and the resultant physical reactions. This gives you a wonderful opportunity to get rid of your panic disorders forever. This may involve making lifestyle changes to your life that reduce the amount of stress you are subjected to. Learning to be self-confident and worrying-less of having to control each aspect of your life could be a great start. This will also bolster your self esteem to the better.
When you master the art of coping with stress, Anxiety and panic disorders, they cease to be obstacles to your life. And
enable you to live fully without the unending fear it adds to your every activity. Practicing the various activities like relaxation and affirmative self talk will eventually make panic attacks have lesser impact to your life.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Managing Your Specific Phobias and Panic Attacks
Overcoming your phobias can sometimes be difficult. One of the ways to manage your particular phobia is to find out what exactly is your fear. If you have trouble finding out what that fear may be, then try to talk to a professional who can help you figure out what the fear may be. Once you know what the fear is, then the next step is to find the ways to deal with that fear.
For instance, one of the ways to manage your fear is to challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make your fearful or anxious, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense. For example, your afraid that if you do not get that job promotion then you will be stuck at your job forever. This depresses you, however your thinking in this situation is unrealistic. The fact of the matter is that there all are kinds of jobs available and just because you don't get this job promotion doesn't mean that you will never get one. In addition, people change jobs all the time, and you always have that option of going elsewhere if you are unhappy at your present location. Changing your thinking can help you manage your fears.
Sometimes, we may be nervous doing a certain task that may be scary. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind. For instance, you and your team have to play in the championship hockey game in front of a large group of people in the next few days. Before the big day comes, imagine yourself playing the game in your mind. Imagine that your playing in front of a large audience. By playing the game in your mind, you will be better prepared to perform for real when the time comes. Self Visualization is a great way to reduce the fear and stress of a coming situation.
When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, divide the task into a series of smaller steps and then complete each of the smaller tasks one at a time. Completing these smaller tasks will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success.
As a layman, I realize it is not easy to overcome our phobias. Remember that sometimes our worrying and fears can make the problem even worse. Take things in stride and try not focus too much on the problem. In time, you will find the ways to overcome your phobia. If you have trouble, talk to a professional who can give you additional insights on your situation.
What is Anxiety? Anxiety Disorders & Attacks
ANXIETY
The feeling of anxiety is common to all and we have all felt it many times in the course of our lives. But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it becomes a disorder.
Find out more on Anxiety Disorders and Panic Attacks
Nearly 40 million people above the age of 18 are affected by this disorder in a given year. Anxiety disorder may be caused by a mental condition, a physical condition, the effects of drugs, or from a combination of these.
Some of the common Types of Anxiety Disorders are:
I PANIC DISORDER
This condition is characterized by periods of intense fear or a psychological distress that lasts for about half an hour.
II GENERAL ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD)
This condition is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not for a period of at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities. Having this disorder means always anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money, family, or work. Sometimes, though, the source of the worry is hard to pinpoint.
III PHOBIC DISORDERS
These are persistent, unreasonable, intense fears (phobias) of situations, circumstances, or objects giving rise to anxiety and avoidance. Phobic disorders are classified as general (agoraphobia and social phobia) or specific.
A) Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia literally means “fear of the marketplace”. Therefore, people with agoraphobia are afraid of open or public places. In reality, most people with agoraphobia are actually afraid of having a panic attack in these settings, especially settings in which there will be no one to help in case of panic attack or an actual emergency.
B) Social Anxiety Disorder
The person suffering from this disorder has an excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations. The anxiety in this case arises out of the fear of being closely watched, judged or criticized by people around you.
C) Specific Phobias
A specific phobia is fear of and anxiety about a particular situation or object. Specific phobias are the most common anxiety disorders. Among the most frequent are fear of animals zoophobia), heights (Acrophobia) and thunderstorms (Astraphobia or Brontophobia).
i) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is a type of disorder involving two elements: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are repetitive unwanted thoughts that make you feel anxious. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors and rituals that the patient feels compelled to perform as performing them temporarily reduces the anxiety.
ii) Separation Anxiety
This form of anxiety is a normal developmental stage experienced by a child when separated from the primary caregiver. It typically manifests itself as crying and distress when the child is away from a parent or from home.
ANXIETY MANAGEMENT & TREATMENT
At Home: In certain cases, it is possible to treat anxiety at home. However, these cases are limited to ones where the attack is of a short duration and where you know the reason for the attack. In such cases, stress can be relieved by practicing activities such as: Meditation, Watching TV, Deep breathing , Resting in a dark room etc.
Click here for information on Drug-free Treatment
Medical Treatment: When the nature of attacks is more serious in nature then the patient has to turn to medical treatment. Medical treatment depends on the cause of the anxiety.
There are cases when the cause cannot be identified. In such cases, the only way to treat is control of symptoms.
Medication does not cure anxiety disorders, but it helps to keep them under control while the person receives psychotherapy.
With proper treatment many people with anxiety disorders can lead normal, fulfilling lives.
Cathy M. Ross
Anxiety Attacks - Can You Inherit an Anxiety Disorder?
There are many factors that contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. All of them play a role in creating the necessary conditions for panic attacks, panic disorder and other phobias and anxiety to play an overwhelming role in your life.
One important factor might be the inherited, long term or sustained risk that predisposes you to panic and anxiety.
Inherited risk factors such as biological causes, childhood circumstances and accumulated stress are the long term problems that set the stage for potential panic and anxiety problems. In order for these long term factors to come into play, they usually need to be triggered or activated by short-term problems.
These triggers can include excessive stress, trauma or conditioning. Once panic attacks or anxiety have entered your life, they only stay in your life because you are maintaining the causes that are fueling them.
Your maintenance of panic and anxiety include nervous or agitated self talk, excessive worries, and avoidance of fearful situations.
In people who have panic disorder or some of the other anxiety conditions, the alarm system is triggered even though there is no danger and many scientists don´t know why this happens.
Panic disorder does seem to run in families, which may mean there is a strong biological component but many people with no family history develop panic disorder which suggests that biology is not the only factor at play.
There is a lot of controversy about whether panic disorders, phobias and anxiety can be inherited. Research has not uncovered a magic gene that controls anxiety or clear evidence that your parents are to blame for you condition.
That would be a convenient source of blame but it´s not the silver bullet. However, studies using twins show an increased likelihood that one twin will have panic disorders if the other does. These studies seem to support that at least some of the responsibility falls to your genetic design.
What many researchers and experts on this subject believe is inherited, is a personality type. If the personality type you inherit is predisposed to be anxious, volatile, excitable and reactive you are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder.
However, the manifestations of that reactive personality depend on the stresses you are exposed to in childhood, adolescence and beyond.
You may never had the opportunity to develop full blown panic disorder or agoraphobia because you were raised in a nurturing environment and were surrounded by supportive people. It´s the old nature and nurture argument.
Since nurture plays a role, here are some contributing factors that might predispose you to panic attacks or anxiety disorders. If your parents were overprotective this may lead to an excessive worry and concern for your own safety.
The fearful attitude of your parents about catching a cold, crossing the street, not climbing too high etc. etc. will cause and reinforce a reluctant, fearful view of the world is a dangerous place. If your parents were high achievers and expected the same from you it could have had a detrimental impact.
The high standards and the strive for perfection may have made you a perfectionist and too self-critical. These traits can lead to anxiety disorders because perfection is impossible to achieve and a lifetime of coming up short can certainly fuel a doubtful, anxious personality
Growing up in an insecure environment, either physically or emotionally can lead to anxiety conditions. Aside from the more obvious physical, sexual or emotional abuse, experiences such as divorce, death, or an alcoholic or addicted family member can lead to excessive clinginess and lack of confidence later on in life.
Regardless the reasons for anxiety problems, they can be dealt with and while it may not solve the underlying issue that caused or triggered your panic attacks or other anxiety, it can stop the panic attacks in their tracks and that´s the first step to regaining your life.
Get All Of The Facts In Dealing With Your Fears And Phobias
When dealing with our persistent fears and phobias, it is easy to let our imagination get the better of us. Our negative and scary thoughts can overcome the reality of the situation and can make things worse than what they really are. As a result, here are some techniques a person can use to help gain a better perspective of your fearful situation.
The most important thing is to get all of the facts of the situation. Gathering the facts can prevent us from relying on exaggerated and fearful assumptions. By focusing on the facts, a person can rely on what is reality and what is not.
Do not let your negative thoughts get the better of you. Replace those negative thoughts with positive statements that represent the reality of your situation. Remember that our worrying and fears can make the problem even worse.
Sometimes, we may lack the self-confidence of doing a certain task that may be scary. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind. For instance, you and your team have to play in the championship hockey game in front of a large group of people in the next few days. Before the big day comes, imagine yourself playing the game in your mind. Imagine that your playing in front of a large audience. By playing the game in your mind, you will be better prepared to perform for real when the time comes. Self-Visualization is a great way to reduce the fear and stress of a coming situation.
If you have trouble overcoming your phobias, remember to learn from your mistakes and to give it another try. Doing anything in life requires practice and persistence. For example, remember the time when you first learned to ride a bike. The first few times, you kept following off the bike. With some practice and some time, you were able to ride your bike with no problem. Everything we do is a learning experience so do not get discouraged if you don't make it on the first or second time.
As a layman, I realize it is not easy to overcome our phobias. Take things in stride and try not focus too much on the problem. In time, you will find the ways to overcome your phobia. If you have trouble, talk to a professional who can give you additional insights on your situation.
Are You Suffering Anxiety Attack Symptoms
If you suffer from anxiety attacks, you know that it can manifest in different parts of the body. The reason this occurs is because our sympathetic nervous system responds to a stimulus. This stimulus causes our body to prepare to fight or run using our fight or flight response. Our bodies developed this response in order to protect itself.
Millions of years ago we lived in caves. There were many things in nature that could harm us. In addition, we had to hunt for food to survive. Sometimes the animals we hunted were hunting us for the same reason. When we came upon a giant mastodon we had a choice. Either we could try to take it down with a spear or run for our lives. Either way our body prepared itself.
This response is the same in anxiety attack symptoms. Our body, for whatever reason, feels that it must ready itself for an attack or escape. It does this through what is called the autonomic nervous system. This system is split into two parts: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic.
The sympathetic nervous system is what creates anxiety attack symptoms. It does this by stimulating the adrenal glands that are located in your kidneys. These glands release a substance into the bloodstream called adrenalin. This substance stimulates the heart. The heart beats faster to ensure that oxygen is brought to all the parts of the body. This also helps remove any toxins that need to be excreted. This need usually manifests in the strong desire to urinate or defecate when we become nervous.
The body also sends messages of where blood needs to go. An example is when blood is taken from the skin and sent to muscles so that they can be ready to run or fight. This increases their power and energy.
This natural response is great when it comes to being ready for a tiger attack, but can be miserable as a symptom of an anxiety attack. Because this symptom that deals with the heart, many people that experience anxiety attacks feel that this symptom is the precursor to a heart attack. One surefire way to determine if you have heart problems is to see a doctor. Having an anxiety attack does not mean you are having a heart attack. To compound the problem your body will also decrease the blood supply to the brain. This is not dangerous but it can make you feel light headed, dizzy and even have blurred vision.
Another anxiety attack symptom has to do with the respiratory system. People complain that when they are having an anxiety attack that they feel like they are suffocating. The natural response of the body during a time of crisis is to increase respirations. This brings more oxygen quicker into the body. You might think that slowing your breathing down and controlling your breathing may be the solution to the feeling that accelerated breathing can bring. This feeling is of being breathless and can make your throat feel like it is closing and your chest feels tight.
The contrary is true. If you try to slow your breathing, you are decreasing your body's supply of oxygen. Your anxiety increases as your body steps up its response. Controlling your breathing only makes your anxiety attack symptoms worse.
There are other symptoms of anxiety attacks. Your eyes may be affected by changes in blood flow. Your pupils may dilate; you could see stars or have blurred vision. Another symptom of an anxiety attack is dry mouth which is the result of decreased salivation. As adrenalin hits your digestive system you can experience the symptoms of nausea, butterflies, constipation or diarrhea.
In your muscles you may feel a trembling or a tightness as your body is preparing to strike or run. All of these are symptoms of an anxiety attack, but they are the body's natural response to an anxiety stimulus. When your body has completed its cycle of being ready and alert and when the anxiety has abated, you may feel sick, tired or weak. This is because your body has used up a lot of energy in getting ready to flee or fight.
It is in the area of the mind is where the real cause of an anxiety attack occurs. A symptom of an anxiety attack is that your mind becomes very alert and your senses acute. This is because you are scanning your environment for danger. This magnifies your perceptions. This includes the perceptions of what your body is doing such as your breathing and heart rate. Again this is a natural necessary process, but one that exacerbates an anxiety attack.
If, for instance, a trigger for an anxiety attack is a closed space, your mind will be looking for an exit. As you realize there is no easy exit your anxiety rises and feeds upon itself. It becomes worse because our mind is trying to process what it should do next, and without a solution becomes more alarmed.
The good news is that people can and do over come the symptoms of anxiety attacks. People have found a lot of success with a technique called the 'One Move Technique' which is derived from cognitive behavioural therapy and provides sufferers with an easy tool that they can use immediately and effectively.
How To Handle Panic Attack Disorder
Statistics in the past year, indicated between 10 to 12 % people suffered some form of panic attack. Some the most common related terms are given in the list below.
- General Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Attack Disorder
- Anxiety Panic Disorder
- Peformance Anxiety
- Anxiety Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
Panic attacks make up the number-one problem facing men and women and is second only to alcohol and drug-related problem. As a reponse to stressful situations, like examinations, public speaking, worry of layoffs, up goes anxiety. Such heightened disorder, has become a normal occurrence affecting one out of three persons in the past year.
Symtoms of Anxiety Panic Disorder
Panic attack disorder symptoms include shortness of breath, a choking feeling, heart palpitations, sweating, shaking and trembling, chest pains, dizziness, hot flashes or cold chills, feeling of unreality (such as being in a fog, on the moon, in mid air), and fear of dying, or losing control.
Panic attacks which can come unexpectedly, with at least six or seven of the symptoms you have just read, escalates quickly will subsides within minutes. On the other hand, anxiety panic disorder builds up gradually and is not sudden and unexpected, symptoms are fewer and milder.
Anxiety Panic Disorder is an emergency response
In general anxiety disorder is not that bad though. It keeps us primed, as if it trains us to be always on our toes. It also keeps us psychologically alert, an emergency response. Proper exercises can be good to ensure things may start to get nasty.
When we are engulfed in our 'panic room', we have one of two choices. We can either face it or get away from it. This is better known as the "fight" or "flight" response. Given a choice, would you face it and experience its full impact, or would you rather retreat or run away from it?
If we equate panic to fear (the two are similar in a lot of ways), the easy way out is to avoid it. But there is always a great chance (and you can be sure of it) that it will haunt you again and again. Whatever that fear is, literally speaking, this will keep you on the run and you will always be checking and looking behind you, cowering from it. The more you run away from it, the more it will chase you and make fun of you. It will be like a ghost running after you!
Given this kind of a situation, it is apparently more logical to face panic attacks. But do not "fight" the symptoms of any attack. Try to "flow" with the symptoms and allow yourself to become calm. Keep reminding yourself that what you are experiencing is a natural emergency response.
The more experiences you get out of it, the more confident you become. And when you are confident, what you used to fear will not make you fearful anymore. You will get immune to it. The more instances you are able to handle it, the more capable you will be each time it occurs, like practice. Practice makes perfect. In the end, you will perfect the art of handling your condition, from fearing it to handling it remarkably in a positive way. That's an achievement.
Now, let's go back to the point where you still dread panic attacks with a question you might raise that goes: "Just how am I supposed to face a anxiety panic disorder knowing all too well it might subdue and eat me out of my guts?" The answer: "You don't do anything about it. Just let it be. Let it run its entire course and just experience it". But then you may ask: "What if I don't survive it?" The answer: "You will definitely survive it.
Keep this in mind. This experience is a state of mind, an apprehension. It is just imagined. There is no way a person will experience a brush on something like a heart attack, a coma, or even death because this condition is not life threatening. There is never a recorded case of a person who has died as a result of anxiety. Rest your mind to the fact that this condition is not a physical ailment, even with the physical manifestations like sweating, palpitations, stomach cramps, and all that. You will be able to face and experience its full impact without any life-threatening effects. Bring it on". This is the attitude you must adopt the next time you have a bout with it.
Say silently inside your head "I am becoming calm....It's a matter of minutes only. I can handle it as I have handled it before. . .I am calm and steady. " Like we must always believe, "if you think you can - then you can".
Thank you for reading.
Learn What is Manic Depression
When people discuss bi-polar disorder they refer to a condition known as manic depression. This is associated with unusual and quick switches from a good mood to a sour mood, when someone says “wow, they're bi-polar”. It is just another in the many forms of depression. Manic depression is not the same as just being sad or upset for over something in particular. Manic depression is more serious than that. Another stage of depression is the diagnosis for bi-polar disorder. Manic depression is diagnosed in millions of cases each year in America. Depression of some form touches 17 million Americans annually.
Unfortunately only about1/3 of those will be diagnosed and receive help. Nothing can be cured if the victim doesn't go for help. Many Americans are hesitant to confront a disease that is categorized as a mental illness. They do not want to be stereotyped as one who must be out of their mind. Brain diseases are generally quite complex. When diagnosed there is a stigma that isn't easy to handle. However, as with any form of depression, the affliction does not make you less a person. It does not mean that you are a nut case. It means you have an illness like any other. If it's identified it can be cured.
The causes of all forms of depression are still being examined in the medical profession. Depression is caused by a wide range of issues. Doctors take into consideration many things such as biological factors, the environment, and DNA. A chemical imbalance in the brain helps cause it. Stress is another major factor in depression. Daily life brings stress, period. Issues at school, with loved ones, or just the daily grind can cause it. Depression does not play favorites. It's a disease for rich people and for poor people. It is not racist. No racial group is less likely to contract this disease.
All the types of depression have similar symptoms. Dramatic shifts in personality and up and down mood swings are some. The advent of sleeplessness is another sign of depression. Helpless feelings, or feelings that the future holds no hope are signs. When everyday life becomes a chore, that's depression. But the depression afflicted have hope. Help is available. Prescription medications as well as natural herbs can cure it. There are also medical professionals that can help your illness through 'talk therapy'”. Support groups can be of assistance with manic depression. The first step in the cure is seeking the assistance.
Panic Disorder Symptoms – Controlling Panic Attacks Naturally
Relief and help on avoiding panic attacks are often researched by those that suffer from them. And they will find a lot of cures, but knowing which one to pick isn’t that easy.
Ever since Louis Pasteur there has been a lot of talks about medications that treat panic attacks and natural cures that do the same. Some people combine the two and others use medication only or natural cures for panic attacks only.
To make you understand my point, you should know that a lot of people that suffer from this condition either use one method of treatment or another. My opinion is that natural cures work better for panic attacks. Medication usually only prevents some symptoms, it doesn’t cure it, and here is where natural panic attack cures come in.
Here are the best 3 suggestions that I have for you to deal with anxiety naturally.
1. Medications don't quite do it.
When the symptoms appear at a less frequent pace, most people are in heaven. And who wouldn’t want to suffer less from dizziness, palpitations, trembling, shortness of breath, detachment fro reality, fear of going crazy or of dying. Using medication will relax the patient a little.
This is why medication can make people get a false sense of being cured, only because they have less panic attacks. They think they are cured, but the attacks just happen less often. If you use good medication you will feel better and you will see the attacks happen less often, but they treat the symptoms and they don’t cure.
2. You have the power within you.
Medication can make you think you’re close to being saved, when you’re not. By having less panic attacks, those that suffer from it are surprised when they show up again. When you take medication and the attack comes anyway, the one that suffers from it remains only with prayer to deal with it.
But, if you use natural techniques, you can ease the panic attacks with them. Yes, the panic and anxiety medication will make the attacks happen less, but you don’t have something to fight them when they happen. You can do that with natural cures though.
3. Longer lasting treatment.
The problem is that medication works only if you continue to take it, so there is no end in sight to get rid of it. You should eliminate it with natural cures instead and stop taking panic attack medication that comes with side effects.
Instant relief can be good sometimes, but it’s not the answer. Instead, you should hope for a good future and treat it as soon as possible.
Why Do People Get Depressed
Depression is an extremely complex disease. There is no single cause for depression. There are many different factors that can trigger depression.
Depression runs in family. If you have a family history of depression, you are more likely to get depression yourself. But not everyone who has the genetic makeup for depression gets depressed, it depends. Many people with no family history of depression can become depressed. So genes are not the single cause of depression.
Those who suffer a serious illness and experience a stressful life event tend to feel depressed. Difficult life events, such as parents divorce, separate, and death can lead to depression. Some people may become depressed for events like moving or changing schools.
Not getting along well with the friends, colleagues and partners may cause depression. If a person's relationship with their partner breaks down, they are likely to feel low, to stop seeing friends and family, and to start drinking more, all of which can make them feel even worse, and trigger depression. Personality traits such as introversion, low self-esteem, pessimism, and dependence contribute to depression. Those who have low self-esteem and a negative outlook are at higher risk of becoming depressed. People who feel that they have no control over negative events are very likely to become depressed. For some teens, a negative, stressful, or unhappy family atmosphere can affect their self-esteem and lead to depression.
Loneliness and isolation can trigger depression. Depression rates are higher among people who live alone and have a limited social network. But even people surrounded by family and friends are at risk for depression if those relationships are un-supportive.
Depression may be caused by serious medical conditions. Medical conditions can bring the physical weakness and stress, which are likely to lead to depression. Moreover, depression can make medical conditions worse, since it weakens the immune system and can make pain harder to bear.
Whatever its cause, depression is not just a state of mind. It is related to physical changes in the brain, and connected to an imbalance of a type of chemical that carries signals in your brain and nerves. To keep fit, you should avoid depression as possible as you can.
Anxiety Home Remedies- What You Can Do to Help Your Anxiety
Copyright (c) 2008 Hailey Harris
Anxiety home remedies have become a popular area of interest these days. Now-a-days, almost everyone is troubled with anxiety disorders. Besides medication an individual can also go for the numerous home remedies. These remedies are quite beneficial from the health point of view and they does not entail any side-effects. There is a sequence of home remedies that one can follow as long as it is not the extreme stage of the anxiety disorder. If an anxiety disorder does not affect the normal routine of a person, then he can surely go for anxiety home remedies to overcome the problem.
Different Anxiety Home Remedies
The foremost remedy that a person can follow is to try out certain exercises. Regular exercising not only provides physical relaxation to your body and soul but it also helps to overcome the mental strain. It also enhances the secretion of serotonin chemical secreted by the brain. The release of serotonin in the brain activates the nice and generous senses. So, whenever you are suffering from anxiety disorder, just go outside and take a long walk. Playing your favorite sport will also help in reducing the anxiety disorder. Besides this, if you think about other interesting things, it will definitely give you a feeling of mental and physical relaxation. An alternative home remedy for anxiety disorder is the intake of rich and nutritious diet. There are certain herbs which on included in the food supplements will definitely prove helpful in reducing the level of anxiousness and fear. These include chamomile, skullcap, orange blossom, cloves, balm, thyme, lavender, hops, wood betony and much more.
Another crucial remedy to overcome the anxiety disorder is interaction with the family and friends. Adopting a social attitude will definitely calm the feelings of anxiety. If a person remains in the company of optimistic and fun loving people, his mind remains distracted from all the mental worries and illnesses. Prefer to move in the social gatherings along with your friends or planning a movie outing is also a nice way to overcome the anxiety. Even expressing your viewpoint and sharing your ideas with others can also prove to be helpful.
A final remedial measure to overcome distress or anxiety is to take a hot shower bath. This will definitely revolutionize your thoughts regarding life. Take a time from your busy schedule and plan a weekend or a short holiday trip. This will not provide relaxation to your body but also improves the mental state. You can also spend some time in playing extra co-circular activities.
Ashwagandha- An Anxiety Herbal Remedy
Ashwagandha is a well-known herbal remedy that helps to cure the anxiety disorder. In the Ayurvedic science, it is popular by the name of Indian Ginseng or Winter Cherry.
Ashwagandha is basically a little evergreen shrub found not only in India but also in the major parts of Mediterranean as well as African countries. It contains anti-depressant & anti-anxiety properties. This shrub basically belongs to the pepper family and is used for various medicinal purposes. This shrub is highly used in Ayurvedic medicine. The roots of Ashwagandha contain iron and steroidal lactones, which is termed as withanolides. Besides curing anxiety, it is also good from the health point of view. It also helps to overcome stress, low immunity and osteoarthritis.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Anxiety and Panic Disorder- Treating Anxiety Disorder With Biofeedback Therapy
But it certainly does not mean that diagnosis is the only most important thing if you have generalized anxiety disorder or any other anxiety disorder. On the other hand, the important thing is to know what you can do about this problem. It is quite probable that it is just an anxious phase in your life that will soon pass away. Nevertheless, there is nothing to get despaired if you have any kind of anxiety disorder as there are means that you can use to control your anxious thoughts as well as feelings. Additionally, the best about these means is that you will not need to have prescribed anxiety medications.
One such answer to your anxiety disorder is "Biofeedback Therapy'. This therapy has proved very effective in numerous cases. The best thing is that this therapy teaches you how to become more aware of the breathing. It is essential as rapid or shallow breathing is among the prominent causes of anxiety disorder. Once you are familiar with this therapy, your cognitive thoughts patterns along with psychological responses will be changed.
If biofeedback anxiety therapy is to be explained in simpler terms, it is a therapy that will help you in facing or overcoming your fears. It begins with the bottom. For instance, there are people who suffer from anxiety when driving while there are others who are deadly afraid of crossing bridges. In other words, for anyone suffering from anxiety disorder, there is an anxiety trigger that leads to an anxiety attack. With the help of this therapy you are encouraged to do those things you are most scared of. But it does not mean here that you will be compelled to sit in the car and drive if the anxiety trigger is driving. The main part in biofeedback anxiety therapy is 'self-talk'. It's you who will command to yourself that you will not let your anxiety control the life.
Though there are various biotherapists, but it is not necessary for you to seek their help as there are several sites that provide you detailed information about the working of this therapy and how you can apply it effectively to your day-to-day life. We all know that medications do have its pros and cons and it also holds truth that they can help in lowering the amount of power of anxiety disorder symptoms, but prescribed anxiety medications should not be viewed as a cure to treat anxiety disorders. The thing that works prominently in biofeedback anxiety therapy is your 'will power'. So, if you are having anxiety disorder, it is majorly in your hands to throw it away from your life and live a normal life. Following this therapy seriously with strong will-power will certainly result into the permanent as well as natural removal of anxiety disorder from your life and you can live a very normal life.
Self Help for Fear Phobia and Anxiety
Self help fear approaches can take a number of different forms depending on whether you have a phobia or a panic and anxiety disorder. You can find support to guide you to relief from your anxiousness and fearful feelings. It isn’t necessary to be afraid anymore. You have the power of your mind to overcome your fears.
Self Help Fear
The first step to empower yourself is to become familiar with how fright works. This emotion has an important function that is designed to keep you from harm. This emotion can run out of control, creating unnecessary negative physical responses.
The nature of fear is an alarm system that offers insight into a potential threat. It makes its communication quite clear through powerful physical responses that include difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, dizziness, nausea and other intense sensations.
The experience of being intensely afraid can have significant ramifications on your subconscious mind. This can cause you to have panic attacks. This is because your subconscious has no sense of time. You can experience the feelings and physical responses to intense feelings when there is no immediate threat.
Panic Attacks
Panic attacks emerge out of nowhere and they are like a siege on your mind and body. This kind of experience is terrifying and you have overwhelming feelings of dread. The panic attack experience is one that leads to more anxiety because you fear having another one. This is a prime example of how fear can get out of control.
Phobias
A phobic condition is an irrational fright that practically takes over your life. You might be afraid of spiders. This fright is completely reasonable and normal. However, when being afraid of spiders becomes an obsession that prevents you from functioning normally on a daily basis, it is a phobia.
Self-hypnosis Support
You can find support for your treatment in hypnosis. This approach is ideal because it goes directly to the subconscious mind to address feelings of fright where they live. This approach helps you use the suggestions offered in the hypnotic session in order to overcome your fears.
The task of finding the right composition can be challenging because there are many options available. A professional hypnotherapist who has experience in this field as well as natural talent should create the ideal recording. Following are some suggestions to consider.
Kathy Welter-Nichols offers her many years of experience as a hypnotherapist in her recording found here - Fear Self Help. Another excellent recording found here - Phobia Self Help - was created by legendary hypnotherapist Duncan McColl and it focuses specifically on phobic conditions. Other excellent selections are available here - Self Help Fears. You can find more information by clicking on the links.
Don't Suffer in Silence With Depression
Let there be no doubt that depression is a serious mental illness that requires months and sometimes years of treatment on the path to a cure. Millions of Americans across the United States are affected by depression each and every year. To make things worse it is estimated that only a third of those who suffer the disease will ever seek treatment. Depression has always been classified as a mental affliction. Therefore, many Americans choose not to be placed into that category. They would rather deal with the problem on their own than risk being stereotyped should they seek assistance. Depression is more common- place than you might think and it will not go away on its own.
So, what causes depression? The answer can get very complicated because you have to take many factors into consideration. There are so many things factored into the cause of this disease. Lets examine some of the most notorious. Many medical professionals believe that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. This may be the case, but what causes that imbalance? Typically the causes stem from biological, genetic, physical, mental and environmental implications. There are those inflicted that never really determine what spurned their depression. Many become depressed when they are diagnosed with a very serious medical condition. This is especially the case if the diagnosis presents the possibility of death or impairment.
Another cause of depression can be the emotional pain felt after losing a loved one. In many cases the loss can be very traumatic. Some depression is brought on after years of physical, emotional or sexual abuse. In addition, many cases of depression are given birth by substance abuse, rather it be drugs or alcohol. The mental state of a human can be very fragile depending on their environment and the life events that they have been exposed too. In many cases depression is passed on genetically. Those afflicted have a family history of the disease. There are even some prescribed medications that can bring on depression. It has been clinically proven that some high blood pressure medication can cause depression.
One of the major causes of depression is stress. Stress can derive from many different areas in our life. Some of that stress can even be related to positive events in our lives such as promotions, graduation or moving into a new house. People tend to stress when they face the unknown, like a new job or new financial obligations. In addition, many are stressed from personal conflicts with their loved ones, associates in employment or friends. There are a great number of people who are stressed from simply trying to perform their jobs to satisfaction and trying to support their families from week to week. By determining the cause, medical professionals have a much better chance of administering a treatment. If you or someone you love suffers from depression-please seek medical assistance.
Depression is caused by biological, genetic, emotional and environmental factors. Stress certainly plays a major role in the advent of depression. There are wide ranges of stress related issues that affect us every day in our lives. The online depression test can only assist you in identifying the prospects in your case. It can only educate you to the potential threat and give you the opportunity to follow up on it. There are medications like anti-depressants and natural herbs on the market to treat depression. Medical professionals offer talk therapy and depression support groups offer a way to share those feelings with others who suffer the same disease. If you or someone you love thinks they may be suffering from depression take a depression test and see where you stand.
Important Facts That You Need To Understand About Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety is often just an ordinary and healthy emotion, but when it starts to affect a person's quality of life and is making the daily things harder to do, then there is a problem. It is essential that the person seeks medical assistance in order to find suitable treatment for their condition.
Everyone feels anxious from time to time but when it keeps you from coping and is distracting your daily life then you should certainly think about getting help. An anxiety disorder can make you feel extremely anxious all of the time, even if there is no reason to feel that way. These anxious feelings may be so extremely uncomfortable that you stop some of the activities that used to be so usual and easy to you.
Anxiety disorder can happen to people from all walks of life all around the world. The symptoms of anxiety disorder can be frightening to the person affected and to the friends and family that care about this person. The symptoms of this disorder usually do not go away naturally for many people and intervention by medical professionals is needed for relief of these symptoms.
Symptoms that you need to notice
Even though a person affected by anxiety disorder reacts to apparent rather than real problems, the consequences of the disorder can be very real. The anxiety and tension produced by anxiety disorder often results in a lack of sleep. The weariness and stress of too little sleep produces other real problems.
Anxiety disorder symptoms can also include physical signs including excessive sweating. Some people affected experience twitches because of the constant worry. These poor people often have headaches, and they become short-tempered at small provocations. These people also feel that they are out of breath or lightheaded. Other common symptoms are feel to have a lump in the throat, and have to go to the bathroom frequently. If you notice these symptoms in others or yourself, you need to go to the doctor right away to get proper diagnosis and find out the real sources of the problem.
Diagnosis and types of anxiety disorder
Diagnosis is always the first step to do with any health condition, physical or mental, and so it is essential to find medical help and get a proper diagnosis. If it turns out that you are indeed suffering from anxiety then you will be able to determine what the proper method of treatment for your condition.
There are many different types of anxiety disorder, and they can differ significantly in terms of symptoms and intensity. This is why it is necessary to get medical professionals involvement, so that they can diagnose the right type of anxiety disorder and prescribe treatment options that will be customized to your individual symptoms and condition. This way, you can recover quickly and effectively.
A generalized anxiety disorder is the type of anxiety disorder that comprises of feelings of extreme fear and foreboding that can distract you from every day activities. You may experience physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and an upset stomach. Obsessive compulsive disorder is another type of anxiety disorder that manifests itself with obsessive thoughts that will result in compulsive behaviors. An example of this disorder is a fear of germs and frequent hand washings. A panic disorder will include panic attacks that have physical and psychological symptoms, and will normally happen for about ten minutes. It becomes a disorder when you begin to fear the onset of the next panic attack and this fear starts to get in the way of your daily activities.
Another type of anxiety disorder is phobias, which are unreasonable fears of a particular activity, object, or situation. Anxiety because of separation, which is usually a common stage of development in children, can turn into a type of anxiety disorder when it goes beyond a certain age or interferes with daily life. Social anxiety disorder happens because of an intense fear of public humiliation that keeps you out of many social situations.
Methods of treatment for anxiety disorder
Although treatment differs from one case of anxiety to the next, the first recommendation is generally always relaxation techniques. This method includes breathing techniques and relaxation exercises such as yoga and meditation. Another method is cognitive behavioral therapy. It is one of the most commonly recommended methods of treatment for anxiety, and in essence involves changing the patient's way of thinking to change their pattern of behavior as a result of this.
If your anxiety disorder is severe however you may be put on medication at once in order to help relieving the symptoms and calm your body. This should never be a long-term way out though, and you should keep working with a therapist or counselor, in order to find the sources of your anxiety and deal with them so you can get your life back.
Panics Disorder and How to Control, a Small Guidance for Holistic Remedies
The feeling of panic attacks often occurs to almost everyone and not differentiates on ages. The symptoms have the kinds of feelings everything would jump to your mind so fast and some little trigger on your chest pain and limbs.
Many medications or doctors try to prevent happening and mostly what they do is just by giving sleeping pills or medications that just put off the symptoms not the root.
In ancient eastern the old days teachings, practicing martial art internal energy like breathing posture and meditations is part of the martial arts training and it builds up the not just mentally also spiritual insight.
With lots of practice and guided by real mentor and step by step it really needs time to builds someone character until he is strong mentally inside and outside.
The lessons of life or drama that we have gone through in our daily activity is also a good practice how to control your panic disorder and by virtue understanding your own thoughts and fear this could be exercise in spiritual matter and all those panicking feeling, believe it will go away.
The author is not saying that panic doesn’t happen to even master level but if panic do comes we can feel the symptoms and we know exactly how to switch our mind like a TV remote and “click it” becoming calm, that’s the way I put it.
So whatever you do, always put into the mind that we are living today and presents and now what happens last year, 2 minutes ago, 5 seconds ago we have to put it aside and enjoy the moments and not to predict what will happen in the future that way of living is healthy, you will manage your panic disorder and get away with stress free.
Please study and exercise meditation and spiritual it will benefit and controlling your panics disorder
How to Cure Depression or Home Remedies for Depression
Depression is an illness that engages body, brain and thoughts. It is not a physical weakness that will disappear within days but it’s the state that obstruct with the every day chores of life consequential in poor presentation or output. It gives increase to an unenthusiastic feeling for each and every thing. It may also be distinct as allergy, which triggers a sad reaction. It may be due to affecting or mental stress and strain or due to high eating of antibiotics. From time to time anxiety also results in depression. It also arises out of the monotony and drudgery of an every day schedule without any meaningful variation in urban life. The major threat in tremendous cases of depression is suicide.
Home Remedies for Depression
-Depression remedy – Combine some fresh Rose petals to a cup of boiling water. Add 1 teaspoon sugar it and drink at whatever time feeling depressed.
-Make an excellent mixture of 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg powder and 1 tablespoon of recently extracted Amla juice. Take this combination three times in a day. This is one of the excellent natural remedy for depression.
-Licorice tea is supportive depression treatment. No more than 3 cups of tea should be used per day of licorice tea. This remedy is extremely helpful and one of the easy home remedies for depression.
-5HTP is a substance extracted from the seedpods of the plant known Griffonia simplicifolia. It produces serotonin in the body and cooperative in relieve depression. This is one of the helpful depression cures.
-An Apple eaten with milk and honey is extremely superior to uplift a mood. First-class home remedy for Depression.
-A neutral immersion bath for one hour on a daily basis is also supportive in the depression treatment.
-The root of asparagus is helpful in the treatment of depression. 1 or 2 grams of the powder of the dry root of asparagus can be taken once on a daily basis. This is one of the first-class natural remedy for depression.
-Lots of yogic asanas like sarvangasana, shavasana, halasana, paschimottanasana, shalabhasana, vakrasana, bhujangasana and pranayamas such as kapalbhati, bhastrika are extremely helpful in the depression treatment.
-Get ready a tea by adding 1/4 teaspoon tulsi and 1/2 teaspoon of sage per cup of hot water and drink this tea two times in a day - extremely helpful home remedy for depression.
-Relaxation and meditation are as well successful measures in the depression remedy. The most excellent technique of relaxation is to practice shavasana or the dead pose. Meditation involves training the brain to stay fixed on an exacting external or internal position. Mediation helps to make balance in the nervous system. One of the successful home remedies for Depression.
-Diet has a profound result on the cure of depression. So, the diet for depression that individual should be well balanced as the single nutritional deficiency can aggravate the circumstances.
Biological Factors That Contribute to Depression
Many people are pre-disposed to depression because of their own biological makeup making their risk of suffering from this condition much greater then those who do not share these risk factors. There are four main biological factors that can increase a persons risk for depression and these include (1) genetic factors, (2) biochemical factors, (3) alterations in hormonal regulation and, (4) sleep abnormalities.
Genetic Factors
Studies done with twins have shown that genetic factors play a role in the development of depressive disorders. There have been a number of studies done that show that the average rate of shared mood disorders among identical twins is 45% to 60%. This means if one twin suffers from depression, or any other mood disorder, there is a 45% to 60% chance that the other twin will also be affected. Contrast this with fraternal twins where the percentage falls of drastically to only 12%.
Moods disorders are inheritable for some people. This also means that those who are genetically susceptible to mood disorders can have an earlier age of onset, a greater rate of suffering other disorders in addition to depression and an increased risk of recurrent illnesses. However, any genetic factors that are present must interact with environmental factors for depression to develop.
Biochemical Factors
The brain contains billions of neurons and is a highly complex organ. There is a lot of evidence that points to the idea that depression is a biological or chemical disorder where central nervous system neurotransmitter abnormalities are a probable cause of clinical depression. These neurotransmitter abnormalities may be the result of inherited or environmental factors, or even of other medical conditions, such as cerebral infarction, hypothyroidism, AIDS, or substance abuse.
Specific neurotransmitters in the brain are believed to be related to mood altered states. It was initially believed that the two main neurotransmitters involved were serotonin and norepinephrine. With new research though it is now thought that depression results from the dysregulation of a number of neurotransmitter systems in addition to serotonin and norepinephrine. The dopamine, acetylcholine, and GABA systems are also believed to be involved in the pathophysiology of major depression.
Alterations in Hormonal Regulation
Although there is still inconclusive evidence that hormones can play a role in depression. The most studied neuroendocrine characteristic that relates to depression has been hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortical axis. Evidence of increased cortisol secretion is apparent in 20% to 40% of depressed outpatients and 40% to 60% of depressed inpatients. Results of a dexamethasone suppression test are abnormal in about 50% of patients with depression, which indicates hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortical axis. However, the findings of this test may also be abnormal in people with obsessive-compulsive disorders and other medical conditions. Significantly, patients with psychotic major depression are among those with the highest rates of nonsuppression of cortisol on the dexamethasone suppression test.
Sleep Abnormalities
Sleep electroencephalogram abnormalities may be evident in 40% to 60% of outpatients and up to 90% of inpatients during a major depressive episode. People prone to depression tend to have a pre-mature loss of sleep, slow delta wave sleep and altered rapid eye movement (REM) latency. The phase of REM sleep associated with dreaming occurs earlier in two thirds of people with bipolar and major depressive illnesses. This sign is referred to as reduced REM latency and is consistent with the expected manifestation of an inherited trait. Reduced REM latency and deficits in slow-wave sleep typical persist following recovery from a depressed episode. Data also suggests that depressed patients without this sign are not likely to respond to treatment with tricyclic antidepressants, which suppress early REM sleep.
There are many factors that contribute to depression, many of which are biochemical in nature. Those that are biologically induced can be treated with different prescription drugs but as with anything relating to human emotion and chemical makeup answering one question as to why brings up more questions that remain unanswered.