Anxiety Panic Attacks

Safer And Effective Anxiety Herbal Cures

admin — Tue, 10 May 2011 06:28:28 +0000

For anxiety sufferers, relief is not only found in medication but also on known anxiety herbal cures from age old tradition with new discoveries in alternative therapeutic medicine. However, before you can take any of the herbal cures, it is best to understand your condition to find the most effective cure. In truth, anxiety takes on many forms and various kinds of symptoms. A person could have either one or a combination of these forms of anxiety, which are phobias, OCD, panic, general anxiety disorder and many other variations including stress and depression.

It is a fact that we all have experienced anxiety one way or another with some suffering only mildly while others severely with catastrophic effects. Whenever there are new challenges to overcome like public speaking or an important examination in school, we all tend to panic and exhibit the usual symptoms like excessive sweating, nausea and vomiting. The causes of anxiety also differ from case to case with chronic anxiety rightfully termed as “anxiety disorder” and takes on severe manifestations that can ruin a person’s life like relationships and careers. This is because some sufferers cannot control the onset of an attack so they are unable to function normally or as optimally as others can. Naturally, if you are unable to handle staff meetings then you cannot do your job properly. Sooner or later, you will lose your job for no company would like to pay for an unproductive employee.

This is why you need to seek immediate help if you are suffering from an anxiety disorder. If the symptoms and the degree of the attack vary, so do the approach to properly address the problem. The different anxiety treatments to healing involve medications, cognitive behavioral therapies, meditation with breathing exercises, physical movement techniques and anxiety herbal cures.

For mild anxiety, herbal cures are often recommended because they are a lot safer and have fewer side effects as compared to artificial drugs. You can control your anxiety by simply sipping teas like green or Chamomile teas. These stress relieving teas have calming and sedative attributes that have been used for ages in Asia and Europe. It has been the tradition in the Orient to use the flowering plant of Chamomile for its medicinal properties. It exhibits anti-inflammatory properties and can be used for various applications but the most popular one is as tranquilizer. The ingredient responsible for this is Apigenin that offers a natural source that can be used as sedative or tranquilizers. This is why when you sip Chamomile, you would feel calmer and more relaxed, thereby relieving you from stress and anxiety.

On the other hand, green tea is another plant source that has been known to have healing effects. The plant is full of anti oxidants and other powerful ingredients. Though there is caffeine in green tea, those who drink it have experienced calm and relief from the effects of anxiety even in its mild form. It may not be the remedy for those with severe anxiety. In truth, there is a wide literature on anxiety herbal cures that have been sourced from many parts of the world. The more common powerful herbs are the Valerian and St. John’s Wort with ingredients that act as sedative, anti anxiety and anti-depressant medicines. In particular, St. John’s Wort is a herb primarily used to treat depression but upon further investigation, it has been found effective in treating general anxiety. Meanwhile, Valerian is a perpetual flowering plant that affects the brain pathways acting as anti-anxiety medication not dissimilar to Xanax or better known as benzodiazepines.

Seeking Help With Various Anxiety Disorder Treatments

admin — Sun, 01 May 2011 17:08:54 +0000

For anxiety sufferers, life can be pretty severe because of an inability to cope with daily stresses. An episode or an anxiety attack may not be that physically painful but it can wreak havoc to one’s minds rendering life less of a gift but a burden. This is why anxiety and depression are the bets buddies for anxiety can make life miserable for sufferers who readily give in to defeat and depression unless effective anxiety disorder treatments are applied.

For some of the fortunate ones who were able to find immediate relief for their anxiety problems, the road to healing and freedom from the debilitating attacks of anxiety is not often easy. Treating anxiety can be difficult not only because the symptoms often mimic a medical condition but because society still places a stigma on mental illness. This alone can discourage sufferers to seek help for fear of being branded or worst ostracized. It is perhaps for this reason that online anxiety disorder treatments abound as more and more people seek anonymity while finding a good remedy to their problem.

Thanks to research and technological advancements, help is on the way for anxiety ridden individuals. There are now various treatments for anxiety at our disposal. A good treatment could be effective in reversing your condition and helping you take control of your life. You can fight depression and achieve some semblance of emotional tranquility given the right techniques to conquer your fears and anxieties.

Naturally, most of these treatments require commitment on the part of the patients for it can be difficult. For mental illnesses, there can be no shortcuts or else one could easily revert back to being incapacitated by anxiety. Some of these anxiety disorder treatments may cost you a substantial amount while others only a minimal fee for it all depends on one’s conditions and ability to help one’s self. Many times, seeking professional help from a psychiatrist or therapist may mean high expense especially when powerful medications are prescribed. A good alternative may be found in natural remedies in the form of herbal dietary supplements or beverages that have been found able to produce happy hormones.

The trending treatments nowadays are the self-help techniques that are deemed safer for these do not require an intake of drugs. Sufferers need not endure the side effects of powerful medications just to get healed. In addition, there have been numerous cases of sufferers developing addiction to their drugs, taking them far longer than recommended. Self-help methods clearly have contributed to allowing sufferers access to a variety of methods strengthening the mind to control anxiety. Yoga classes or tai chi exercises teach mind control mechanisms that could potentially prevent the onset of an anxiety attack. High intensity sports as well as the use of mood-inducing music are also good alternatives for these can help you meditate and consequently relax. Many sufferers have been helped by these alternative treatments so the literature on anxiety remedies continuously widens. Another advantage to such treatments is that they are less costly as compared to seeing a medical professional.

However, there are many advantages inn using therapy or counseling treatments. Your options are very extensive following a good number of helpful strategies. You can opt to have a one-on-one counseling for a more personal approach. Many have been helped by intellectual behavior counseling as well as group therapies to find the root cause of stress and anxiety. Only by getting down to the real cause can effective treatment be found. Sufferers can better control their attacks once they can recognize the symptoms and prevent the onset an attack. For people who can afford such expensive treatments, they may very well be n the right road to recovery if the treatment is able to give them a deep understanding of their problem. There might be a need for prescription medicines for outpatients with the more common anxiety medications like Xanax, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and Valium.

Answering The Common Query: Can Anxiety Cause Fatigue?

admin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:45:56 +0000

One of the more common questions regarding anxiety is often this: can anxiety cause fatigue? Yes, fatigue is actually a common symptom manifested by many anxiety sufferers along with excessive sweating, uncontrollable shaking, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, muscles tensing and more physical manifestations that vary from case to case. It is a fact that anxiety has afflicted a large number of people, making it perhaps the number one mental illness in the country.

Fatigue is brought about by too much agitation or a feeling of restlessness that is typical of anxiety ridden individuals. This symptom is accompanied by physical pain or discomfort that further aggravates the feeling of exhaustion and severe fatigue. Another complications brought by anxiety is insomnia or the inability to sleep at night, thereby contributing to a person’s extreme fatigue. This is why fatigue and anxiety form a vicious cycle that is very hard to break.

For a person to lead a quality life that requires activity related to work or socialization, it is imperative that a remedy must be found in answer to the common complain of can anxiety cause fatigue. First on the list of suggestions offered by the experts and sufferers themselves is to use relaxation techniques. Inserting breathing techniques or any other form of relaxation program into your daily routine will add immensely to your well being. You will soon discover that just by willing the mind and the body to relax can also lead to progressive muscle relaxation as well as a mental state that can be programmed for productive purposes. Just by simple imagery, you can quiet down your thoughts and relax your body.

Not to be ignored is the importance of dietary changes. Anxiety can be aggravated by some food like coffee, refined sugars and artificial preservatives. Any caffeinated products must be removed from one’s diet in order to help the body relax. Stimulants found in the substances earlier mentioned may also contribute to a faster heart rate or increased blood pressure, all of which could lead to an anxiety attack.

Anxiety sufferers must also avoid alcohol and illegal drugs. It may be tempting to resort to these substances because of the temporary relief they may seem to offer but doing so will only increase your anxiety and result to long term substance abuse with grave consequences to your health.

Perhaps the simplest and the most effective remedy for anxiety is exercise. You need not enroll in an expensive gym or get a trainer. Brisk walking in the park for 20 minutes as part of your daily routine would suffice. Exercising is able to release endorphins that enhances cognitive functioning as well as stimulates positive mood states. Activities outdoors would also relieve anxiety for nature has been proven to give a soothing balm to people especially those suffering from anxiety disorder.

A traditional Chinese medicine like acupuncture is known to be good treatments to psychological illnesses like anxiety. This is accomplished by inserting needles into points of the skin where there is said to be blockage in the flow of energy. This treatment has been used in relieving stress as well as nervousness. There is also an extensive list of natural herbs that make up a natural remedy for anxiety if you are concerned about the side effects of synthetic medicines.

Social Anxiety Medication Offering Relief To Sufferers

admin — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:03:26 +0000

For people suffering from anxiety, the only way to thwart an attack is by resorting to a potent social anxiety medication. It is true that many medical practitioners and counselors would prefer natural remedies for anxiety, but in some cases, medications may be the only way for an anxiety sufferer to lead a semblance of a quality life. An anxiety attack can become uncontrollable and may have catastrophic effects. People with anxiety have paid a heavy price with their disorder. Many have lost their jobs or ruined their relationships with people. This is why the most immediate and effective help is often preferred to help anxiety sufferers deal with their condition.

There are various antidepressant drugs in the market today that is able to treat depression, social anxiety and even social phobia. Depression and anxiety often go together, which is why an anti-anxiety medication can also be used in treating depression along with other drugs. Medications can prevent an anxiety attack or improve moods especially with people who are prone to depression. However, not one drug works the same way with many patients. The dosage depends on the condition as well as the response of the patients to the drug.

A popular social anxiety medication is the serotonin inhibitors. SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor is an antidepressant that is effective in treating social anxiety symptoms including depression. This drug is able to regulate serotonin levels that will enable brain cells to better communicate with one another. In addition, SSRI has lesser reported side effects than some of the older drugs. Nonetheless, the drug still results to loss of sleep, increased weight and sexual impotence. On the other hand, SNRI or selective and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor operates on the level of serotonin and norepinephrine, making it a popular prescribed drug for social anxiety. Patients who use this drug may experience some side effects like stomach upsets, insomnia, migraine and sexual impotence. If these side effects become severe, they can reduced the effects by decreasing the dosage of the drug.

Tricyclics are also antidepressants for both social phobia and depression. These are older than the serotonin inhibitors but can work as effectively. They are usually administered in smaller doses and gradually increasing until the desired effect has been obtained. Like many social anxiety medications, intake may be accompanied by potential increase in weight, sleepiness and nausea, but these may disappear when dosage is adjusted.

MAOI or monoamine oxidase inhibitors have been prescribed far longer than the two above-mentioned drugs for social phobia as well as panic disorder. The monoamine compounds include serotonin and adrenaline in its ingredients. Those who take this drug may encounter blood pressure increase especially upon consumption of some foods, beverages and medicines like drugs for pain, colds, allergies, or even for birth control. Incidentally, MAOI must not be given alongside SSRI for doing so may result to confusion, seizures and surge in blood pressure.

There are other social anxiety medications that can be combined with antidepressants in treating depression and social anxiety. Benzodiazepines have been reported to offer quick relief on a good number of patients. However, doctors only use the drug in a short term basis because prolonged use may result to drug addiction. In fact, patients who have used this drug for longer periods often exhibit withdrawal symptoms, prompting a program to gradually decrease the dosage so as to manage the dependence.

Anxiety Treatment Clinics May Invade The Internet

admin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:44:41 +0000

There is much research done on anxiety treatments primarily because anxiety is a far too common malady that afflicts any age bracket. In fact, the University of Queensland is pioneering a research project that is aimed to help teens overcome anxiety and severe shyness. Nowadays, the number of teenagers suffering from social anxiety is increasing prompting pressure on the medical experts to find an effective cure.

The project will assess a new anxiety treatment program for teenagers aged 14 to 17 years old. This treatment is often conducted in anxiety treatment clinics for socially anxious adolescents. The patients will be taught social skills as well as strategies to cope with various social situations that may trigger an attack. By knowing some relevant skills, the program aims to allow teenagers to be more confident in their social dealings.

The study aims to evaluate a new treatment program for socially anxious adolescents aged 14-17 years. The treatment develops social skills and strategies to help adolescents cope better with their anxiety in social situations so that they feel more confident. There will be two major approaches that will serve as the anxiety treatment clinics. Half of the teen respondents will participate in the programs given at the Behavior and Research Therapy Centre in the University of Queensland’s School of Psychology. The other half will receive their treatment on the internet in groups with the help of technological innovations like web cameras.

This new project is a way to further study social phobia, which is believed to be the most common psychological problems among adolescents. This was confirmed by Dr. Lisa Liberman, the Postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Psychology. The unfortunate thing is a good number of young sufferers do not receive any kind of treatments for their social anxiety. This is why the experts are looking on the internet and how it could be a medium of an effective anxiety treatment. This might pave the way for the emergence of valuable online anxiety treatment clinics. The great thing about the internet is that it can reach a wider group of adolescents, offering them much needed help.

Social anxiety or phobia is a serious affliction because it has been found to add to poor performance at school as well as to social alienation and depression. In truth, internet therapy has potential in treating social phobia among adolescents. Many teenagers are regularly using the internet making anxiety treatment online readily accessible. This will increase the chances of youngsters getting immediate help. In this way, even those teenagers living in remote areas can also access such important treatments where participating in anxiety treatment clinics might pose to be difficult. Moreover, youngsters may be more open to joining online therapies whereas they would normally protest against attending regular clinics because they would often feel ashamed or ostracized.

This pioneering treatment project is very special because this is the first time that adolescents will be able to participate in online group treatments. They would have the opportunity to interact with fellow sufferers as well as talk to counselors through heir web cams.

Prevention of Anxiety Disorder

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:40:25 +0000

If it is even at all possible to prevent anxiety disorder then it would be through means of prevention. Whether or not you will be plagued with this dreadful disorder depends on many factors, some are genetic and some are not. Research has proven that those with a family history of anxiety disorders are at much greater risk than those who do not. How a person is able to cope and deal with stress is another key component as well.

It is a very real struggle for those that do not get diagnosed and treated right away with anxiety disorder. You also need to do your very best to identify your triggers, the factors that trigger your stress levels. Did you go through something traumatic before you experienced your first episode; was there a physical illness, built up stress over a period of time, a divorce, or a death? There is usually a connection between anxiety attacks and stress.

Familiarize yourself with what is happening to your body during an anxiety attack, this will at least take away some of the fear that you experience. Another thing that you can do is to learn to equip yourself with the right tools to handle an anxiety attack when one comes along. Breathing is likely the most essential tool in ridding an attack. When one is having an anxiety attack their breathing becomes rapid and labored but once they are able to regulate their breathing only then will the attack subside.

In a sense, this disorder is inside of one’s mind and it is the mind that takes control. When a person understands that an anxiety or panic attack will not kill them (although it may not seem that way) and that they can talk themselves into an attack as easily as they can talk themselves out of one then they can begin to use equal leverage to combat them. There actually has to come a point where the sufferer convinces himself that they are going to go and do something that they may consider outside of their comfort level and if an attack comes on then they will just deal with it and continue on, basically, not letting the possibility of an attack get the best of them.

While it is known that emotions are primarily responsible for anxiety disorder, diet also plays a role too. Sometimes if you keep a journal of what you eat and drink you can identify certain food or drinks that contribute to an anxiety attack and avoid them. Another thing that you need to do is become aware of when an attack is likely to come on and be prepared for it.

This is very helpful in stopping an anxiety attack before it becomes full blown. When you start to feel anxious you have to learn how to calm yourself down and that can often be easier said than done but with practice you can do it.

Happiness: The Cost of your Anxiety

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:38:49 +0000

Left untreated, the final cost of your anxiety disorder will be your happiness and although this may sound harsh, it is a harsh reality. It is very common and easy for anxiety disorder to grow into a full blown panic disorder, which is in the same family and labeled as part of anxiety disorder. This disorder will change your life and alter the way that you do just about everything. That is where the problem comes in and while you might be content with a modified or controlled lifestyle, those who are close to you likely will not.

It is not that difficult to claim that you are not comfortable at very big events such as concerts, sporting events, and places where there are great crowds of people. It is also fairly acceptable to eliminate yourself from small places either by claiming that you are claustrophobic. But notice that the excuses are just beginning to compile. Malls are often another enemy of those that suffer with anxiety disorder and they will do what they have to avoid them at all costs. People who suffer from anxiety disorder are famous for being deceptive and making up all kinds of excuses in an attempt to avoid the real issue. “What if” someone discovers your problem, what will they think?

If you are not careful you will find that it really will not take long before your world will close in and that is where your happiness gets jeopardized. This is when you can no longer make it through a play that your child is in without rushing out in a panic; soon you may just stop going at all. It won’t be too long before your spouse just wants to take you to a simple dinner but you are so consumed with fearful thoughts that even if you do go along, you aren’t much company.

Things may change with your job too. It is often difficult to perform as expected when you are obsessing with dreadful thoughts. Sometimes this leads to poor work production and a higher absenteeism rate. As the domino effect continues, this can easily lead to financial troubles which also threaten your happiness. As you can see if your anxiety disorder is not handled it can soon spiral out of control and put not only you but your family at risk.

Often the anxiety disorder becomes so overwhelming that it can even interfere with your sleep patterns. Many will develop insomnia just from worrying constantly while others will wake in the night suffering from an attack. This can lead the sufferer to feeling groggy and irritable the next day. When a person is not feeling well or is tired they can be short with others and put the whole house on edge.

Obviously, the best thing to do when you discover that something is wrong is to address it and get a handle on it, not only for your sake but also for the sake of your family and your happiness.

The Truth about Anxiety Disorder

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:36:43 +0000

The human brain is very difficult to understand but the brain releases adrenaline in certain situations such as when you are scared, excited, or in danger. This is a normal part of how the brain is intended to function, however for people with anxiety disorder the brain will often secrete large doses of adrenaline to the brain when the factors such as fear, excitement, or danger are not present. This is called an anxiety or a panic attack. The brain misunderstands the message and then prepares the body for combat but there isn’t anything there to fight off.

Stress is one of the biggest contributors to this and is very often responsible for the sudden doses of adrenaline that rush the brain unnecessarily. A proper and balanced diet will help, avoiding caffeine and alcohol is recommended, and avoiding stressors can help greatly. Self help programs that can be done in the comfort of your home can be of great benefit too because they help to eliminate stress from your body daily and allow you to relax.

Millions of Americans suffer from anxiety disorders and many physical symptoms usually will manifest as a result such as back pain, headache, tiredness, and weakness, just to name a few. It also causes many to sink into a major depression. Very often what can happen is when a person sees their doctor, he might prescribe them with an anti depressant such as Zoloft, Prozac, or Lexapro, the result is a person who is still left with an anxiety disorder but is no longer depressed. Many have claimed that Benzodiazepines have helped them out tremendously but they are highly addictive if taken for long periods of time. Withdrawals from these types of drugs can be extremely dangerous and should only happen under the care of a physician.

If the problem is correctly diagnosed, and very often is not, this condition is treatable through a combination of vehicles that include medication, self help, counseling, and cognitive behavior therapy which uses exposure therapy as well. Meditation, accompanied with herbal remedies has helped many as well.

To a degree some anxiety is normal; it is part of human life. It is not until it becomes unmanageable that a real problem exists. There are some ways that you can attempt to manage some of the anxiety on your own. Concentrate on your breathing and notice that when you are feeling anxious your breathing becomes irregular and speeds up but it is not like this when you are calm. Learning how to do breathing exercises will play a key role in your recovery.

Some people believe that keeping a daily journal helps a lot because you are able to compare specific stressors in your life as well as see what you may have eaten that could have provoked an episode. Eating right, relaxing, getting proper rest, and eliminating stressful situations are likely the biggest favors that you can do for yourself in your journey to better health.

Anxiety & Panic Attacks – Out of Control

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:35:38 +0000

One thing is certain, if you start having anxiety and/or panic attacks and you do not address them immediately your life is going to spiral out of control. Some people have been dealing with this disorder for literally years because it has only been within the last decade or so since the subject has been brought to the public. This was good news for many who knew that something was wrong but didn’t know what it was.

Although someone who have not suffered from this disorder might simply question why, if a person believed that something was wrong with them that they did not just go see a doctor. That seems like a completely logical question if you do not have this disorder but people who do have it are usually divided up into one of two groups, those who rush to the doctor if they even sneeze and those who fear the doctor so much that they may go years without ever seeing one, hoping that these feelings will just dissipate, sadly enough though, they never do without some type of help.

Many people who suffer from anxiety and/or panic disorder find relief from alcohol or illicit drugs. Some can make it to work and then home, barely, but begin drinking as soon as they get home so they can mask their problem and get some sleep. Sadly enough, many become addicts and alcoholics this way. Others may have found that their world has closed in so much that they isolate themselves from going just about anywhere and soon discover that they have not left their homes for quite some time.

It doesn’t take long for friends and family who have heard every excuse possible to just stop asking the person to attend different functions. Believe it or not, this comes as a relief to many who suffer with this disorder but to others who feel like their life has been stripped from them, they may force themselves to go eventually and just accept the attack for what it is, deal with it, and continue on. This sounds simple enough but to others who even consider straying from their “safe zone” it can bring a feeling of complete terror.

Most who have not gotten to the point of actually becoming agoraphobic will go out but many have to be in control of their environment. In other words they may need to always sit right by the bathroom or near an exit to feel safe.

The reason for this is that sufferers have constant repetitive “what if” thinking and are plagued with different fears. One may panic while eating for fear that they will choke and then “what if” they happen to vomit while another may be in constant thought of “what if” I have a panic attack and have to rush out so they must be near an exit so they can escape without embarrassment or incident. This is when you realize that this disorder is ruling your life and is beyond what you alone can control.

Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:33:31 +0000

Each person is different which explains why every person with an anxiety disorder would have different symptoms. On average, the symptoms include both physical as well as psychological difficulties. Frequent urination, difficulty swallowing, abdominal discomfort, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat or palpitations, tightness or pain in chest, shaking, dizziness, shortness of breath, and diarrhea are just some of the physical symptoms.

These symptoms are caused from the reaction of the body and when people become anxious or overly anxious the body releases the stress hormone adrenaline. This is a result of the body’s “fight or flight” response. When these things are happening to a person who is experiencing an anxiety attack, very often they believe that they are going to either die or go crazy. More and more, people who have this disorder are showing up in local emergency hospital rooms thinking that they are having a heart attack.

Psychological symptoms include a detachment from your surroundings, feeling unreal and not in control of your actions, a fear that you are going crazy, insomnia, feeling worried or uneasy all the time, feeling tired, an inability to concentrate, and being irritable or quick to anger. Often, this can lead to panic attacks if left untreated. Sometimes people do suffer from both as they have very similar symptoms except that panic attacks create that “fight or flight” in your body and normally “flight” wins.

Someone who suffers from anxiety or panic attacks could be walking through a grocery store and get the first signs of an attack. This then brings it to the attention of the sufferer and just their thinking about it will cause it to flourish out of control. In this event they would likely flee from the store immediately. It is very likely that in that person’s head they relate that place to the attack and will likely never return. The problem with this is that it had nothing to do with the environment in which the attack occurred because another attack will occur in another place and this will continue until there are not any places left for the sufferer to go.

The panic results in more anxiety and the vicious cycle gets bigger and bigger. In one out of three, the disorder leads to agoraphobia (fear of going out) but this is classified in the following manner or could include all, leaving home alone or at all, being at home alone, driving, shopping, grocery store lines, large stores, malls or public transportation.

When a person is experiencing an anxiety or panic attack although it may not actually last more than ten minutes, it can be so distressing for the person having it that it seems like an eternity. Some people even experience these attacks while they are sleeping and while this is not as common as non sleep attacks, they do occur. They will wake a person out of a dead sleep and they will experience the full blown attack and then it will likely take quite a while to recoup and fall back asleep.