Getting Relief from Anxiety Naturally

by admin on April 6, 2011

When dealing with anxiety, depending on the trigger and intensity, some people feel as if life were ending. In addition to the mind being affected, the body also reacts in various ways. For instance, if the individual were having panic attacks brought on by anxiety or the anxiety disorder known as Panic Disorder, common symptoms would include heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, excessive sweating, mental confusion, fatigue, and the list goes on.

Treating anxiety is done in a number of ways, the most common with the assistance of a reputable doctor. For this, treatment might involve medication, behavioral and cognitive therapy, and so on. However, more and more people are now turning to natural solutions, such as yoga, deep breathing methods, visualization, etc. Another natural option for anxiety relief is with the use of natural herbs. The following are some choices that have helped improve lives of many people living with anxiety.

• St. John’s Wort – Of all natural herbs used for stress and anxiety, this is the number one choice. The active ingredients of Hyperforin and Hypercin work by improving and enhancing mood. As a result, depression, which is often associated with anxiety is eliminated or at minimum, significantly reduced. These ingredients balance the primary neurotransmitter in the brain, such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine to balance out mood.

• 5-HTP – Another natural remedy for treating stress and anxiety is known as 5-HTP. The first comprehensive study on this ingredient was completed more than 35 years ago and patients (those with and without bi-polar) were given 50 to 300 milligrams daily, ultimately showing dramatic improvement. Typically, it takes two months for the full effects to be seen but most people gain anxiety relief in two to three weeks.

• Valerian Root – Because anxiety affects various parts of the body, to include the central nervous system, any natural remedy should provide a calming, almost sedative type effect. Valerian Root is such an option that also promotes sleep and eases headaches often associated with different anxiety disorders.

• Rhodiola Rosea – For years, this natural treatment for stress and anxiety was used in Western and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and Russia but now, the benefits are enjoyed by people all over the world. In addition to easing many of the physical and mental symptoms that go along with anxiety, this herb has been shown to help prevent symptoms. People feel less nervous, mood becomes more positive, and cognitive function improves.

• Ginseng – Many recent studies show that taking ginseng consistently for two months, people living with anxiety enjoy a better life. This herb is excellent for improving cognitive function, which means memory, response, concentration, and accuracy all improve.

• Bacopa – Known for its calming properties, this herb is a popular choice when dealing with both stress and anxiety. Emotional issues and the sense of being nervous ceases, along with physical and mental fatigue, headaches, insomnia, and headaches.

• Vitamins – Many vitamins have been identified as being highly effective for treating anxiety. For instance, vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, B9, and B12 support overall good health, as well as better cognitive function. One clinical study after another has proven that these B vitamins improve signals from the brain’s neurotransmitters while balancing out chemicals to include GABA, serotonin, and dopamine.

{ 0 comments }

Understanding Effective Anxiety Treatment

by admin on December 6, 2010

The type of anxiety treatment would depend on three things – the individual, the type of disorder, and the severity of the disorder. In addition to using natural herbs to help prevent issues of anxiety and bring symptoms under control, sometimes proper anxiety treatment involves the person being under the care of a doctor. After all, in serious cases, deep depression can cause a person to become suicidal so this is nothing to play with.

The goal in seeking anxiety treatment is first to find a reputable doctor that specializes in various disorders and get a proper diagnosis. From there, patient and doctor can consult and look at various treatment options available, choosing the one that would be the safest and most effective option but with no or few side effects. Obviously, the person struggling with anxiety would not want medication that would only create a new problem.

Keep in mind that often, doctors will try different types of therapies before prescribing medication but many use therapies in connection with medication for the best results. Some of the options that are commonly used for treating anxiety include the following.

Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies

While these therapies can be used for treating anxiety individually, often doctors recommend the two therapies be combined for more effective and longer lasting results. The goal of this treatment is to help patients regain control over the reactions associated with stress and anxiety. With this, the sense of being helpless and overwhelming fear is eliminated.

These therapies are based on the concept that if a person can identify triggers or thoughts that create anxiety, then appropriate techniques could be used to bring the stress and anxiety under control. In addition to helping someone out of an attack, cognitive and behavioral therapies can also prevent future attacks.

For these therapies to work, the exact type of anxiety disorder would be treated rather than treating individual symptoms. Usually, the patient would be prescribed an antidepressant such as Prozac or Zoloft while going through therapy.

Medications

To treat the different types of anxiety disorders, doctors commonly prescribe medication. The exact type of medication and dosage would depend on the anxiety disorder being treated. In addition to medications listed below, cognitive and behavioral therapies are often recommended.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – In addition to therapies such as cognitive, behavior, stress management, and interpersonal, medication used for this disorder includes tricyclic antidepressants, buspirone, and benzodiazepines. In severe cases, doctors may also prescribe an antipsychotic medication.

• Phobias – Treatment for the different types of phobias would also include therapies, such as cognitive, behavioral, preventative, and even hypnosis. For medication, the more popular choices are beta blockers, benzodiazepines, MAOIs, and SSRIs.

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – This disorder causes a person to behave in an obsessive and compulsive way, which is seen in ritualistic actions. Cognitive and behavioral therapies usually work well but often, clomipramine, SSRIs, MAO inhibitors, and in some cases, antipsychotics are used.

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – People living with this anxiety disorder often see extremes, which means treatment should be quick and highly effective. Because this anxiety disorder relates to the person seeing or experiencing a major trauma, deep depression is common so getting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder under control is priority. Along with cognitive and behavior therapies, SSRIs such as paroxetine and sertraline are preferred, along with a sleep aide.

{ 0 comments }

Understanding Triggers Associated with Stress

by admin on October 26, 2010

Stress develops because of some type of trauma, which could be physical, emotional, mental, or environmental. When the body feels threatened or fearful, it goes into what is known as a “fight or flight” response. With this, the body chooses to be strong and fight the situation or it becomes overwhelmed with stress and tries to flee.

The interesting thing about stress is that every person is affected differently. For some people, the trigger might be something minor whereas for others, it is a full-blown catastrophe. Regardless, when situations become too hard to manage, the outcome is a feeling of stress. The intensity of the stress is what dictates the way in which it manifests.

Minor Stresses

• Heavy Traffic – For the person with a long commute to and from work through heavy traffic, dealing with honking horns, tailgaters, rude people, and running late all add up over time. The stress coming from this type of situation could be handled in a positive or negative way. Appropriate methods would involve listening to music or an audio book while wrong methods might be driving erratically or even getting involved in a situation of road rage.

• Crying Babies – We all know that babies are going to cry and in most cases parents simply do what has to be done to calm the baby. However, some parents become stressed, especially in cases where the baby has colic and cries continually. For relief, the parent needs assistance from family members or friends, getting some time away to regroup. Unfortunately, child abuse is all too common, a reaction when a parent becomes overly stressed and sees no way out.

Major Stresses

• Death or Divorce – Both incidents can create a significant amount of stress for family and friends. For death, if a person lost his or her life at the hands of another person or died at a young age in a horrific car accident, extremely if that person were close to family and friends, the level of stress could be very high. For divorce, if the couple had only recently been married, in situations of an affair, or for couples married a long time, this too is a huge stressor.

• Illness or Trauma – With this, the individual involved, as well as family and friends would all be at risk for stress. For instance, a loved one developing a major illness such as cancer or a situation of murder or serious car accident would be hard to deal with.

People need to recognize triggers that cause them stress so preventative measures could be taken and appropriate solutions identified. Sometimes, stress is the result of something minor such as a pay check being a day late while other times, it is the more serious situation that triggers stress. People can help themselves by being realistic about life expectations, identifying triggers specific to them, and if needed, talking to a professional that can provide guidance in handling the situation in a safe and effective manner.

{ 0 comments }

Top Six Methods for Relieving Stress

by admin on May 11, 2010

Typically, when people think of stress, they immediately think of negative things and while true, stress can be positive as well. Stress produced from negativity can virtually stop people from succeeding, building relationships, and in many cases, from functioning in daily life. In the case of positive stress, this can be used to help a person become motivated, learn, mold to life changes, or create innovative solutions.

While good stress is actually beneficial, negative stress is often too much for a person to handle. As a result, that person may experience physical or physiological symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, fatigue, depression, low self-esteem, anger, isolation, and so on. Whether negative stress is minor or major, to the individual, it can be debilitating.

The following six methods have been proven to provide relief, helping people deal with the actual stress, as well as triggers that cause it.

1. Visualization or Guided Imagery – It takes a little time to hone skills using this method but for relieving stress, it works well by helping the individual relax. While sitting in a quiet place and with the eyes closed, the person would envision a pleasurable place or experience. By switching focus to something positive and peaceful, stress begins to fade.

2. Breathing Methods – Another excellent way to prevent and control stress is by using deep breathing methods. In addition to allowing the mind to become quiet, this also increases oxygen in the blood, which helps revitalize the brain and relax the muscles.

3. Massage – A professional masseuse would use the appropriate depth of touch to reduce stress. Massages are performed in darker rooms that often include soft music, candles, and aromatherapy. By working the muscles, the individual begins to relax not just the mind, but also the body as circulation improves, tensions melts away, and a feeling of euphoria is produced.

4. Meditation– Meditation has been used for thousands of years for therapeutic and religious purposes. Using meditation helps by calming the mind and enhancing mood, but it also reduces blood pressure and heart rate, as well as levels of adrenaline and stress hormones.

5.  Yoga – This ancient form of therapy and relaxation to balance the mind and body remains popular in yogatoday’s world. While yoga was often used for religious purposes, it is now more of a tool for reducing stress. Each position associated with yoga balances different parts of the body to include the digestive system, central nervous system, and glandular system. The slow movements and strategic poses create a sense of peace.

6. Music Therapy – For all levels of stress, music therapy is highly beneficial. Numerous studies have been conducted on this method with results showing that a person’s mood improves, muscles of the body relax, and stress is alleviated.

To learn more on dealing with Stess or Anxiety Click Here!

{ 0 comments }

Identifying and Controlling Overwhelming Anxiety Fear

by admin on March 5, 2010

For anyone living with stress or anxiety, fear is common.  Obviously, no person wants or deserves to live with fear on any level or for any reason so understanding anxiety and getting proper treatment is imperative.  With anxiety fear, this could be the result of the three things such as:

     1. Disorder – When a person is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, it is normal for him or her to feel fear, which is usually fear of the unknown.

     2. Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder – For the person suffering from anxiety, symptoms vary as to type and severity of the disorder but some of the more common include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, excessive sweating, and confusion.  For this individual, symptoms evoke an overwhelming sense of fear, often associated with death.

     3. Fear or Phobia – The third scenario is the actual fear or phobia.  As an example, anxiety fear could be a fear of flying, a fear of social settings, a fear of clowns, and so on.

 No matter the type of  anxiety fear  and in mild cases, the individual typically finds it difficult to lead a normal existence.  In the back of the mind is the constant and nagging concern that something unexpected is going to trigger an anxiety attack.  This alone is fear, which can be very debilitating.  Some people have become so fearful they refuse to leave the home, visit with friends, go to family gatherings, or work, meaning their entire life has been disrupted.

 Sadly, for people that have never experienced or known someone with anxiety fear, they often view this as a mental issue, not a viable disorder suffered by millions of people around the world.  Because of this, anxiety sufferers find it difficult to maintain friendships and relationships due to a lack of trust or go to work knowing they might need to leave, putting their job in jeopardy.  Situations and environments contribute to existing anxiety, which only worsens the problem.

 What happens is that some people who deal with one or more anxiety disorders begin putting all their focus and energy on fear, which makes getting to a doctor a huge challenge.  When people are consumed by fear, coupled with anxiety, behaviors and cognitive thinking begins to change.  A once vibrant and confident person turns into someone that is withdrawn, has no self-confidence, or becomes angry.  Trying to deal with a disorder, insurmountable anxiety fear, and a miserable life is simply too much.

 Studies have been conducted over the years specific to stress and anxiety fear.  These studies have shown that people living with an anxiety disorder often focus on trying to predict when the next attack or series of symptoms will occur.  In a short amount of time, this type of thought process begins wrecking havoc, which slowly sends the person into a downward spiral leading to disaster.

 Remember, anxiety fear is a powerful force that can cause physical illness and irrational behavior.  The body is designed with a “fight or flight” response to trauma or injury, meaning some people in certain situations will respond by fighting to survive and beat the disorder but others go into a flight mode, wanting to run.  For people in flight, they are frantically looking for a means of escape, which can lead to odd or even dangerous behaviors and choices.

 The key to overcoming anxiety fear is for the disorder to be controlled.  Therefore, anyone that notices symptoms of stress or anxiety should take them seriously and seek assistance from a doctor immediately.  An opportunity for recovery is missed when the problem is ignored and without proper treatment, anxiety fear will worsen.  For this reason, the individual needs to act on symptoms and work with a skilled and compassionate doctor for treatment options and then follow medical instructions exact as ordered.

To learn more on dealing with anxiety Click Here!!

{ 0 comments }

Tips on How to Stop a Panic Attack

by admin on February 10, 2010

Dealing with a panic disorder and the symptoms that develop during an attack is very difficult and frightening for people.  Because even occasional or mild attacks are so disturbing to both body and mind, it is important that the disorder be confirmed and proper medical treatment be provided.  From a medical perspective, doctors recommend different forms of therapy, such as cognitive and behavioral, as well as antidepressant, anti convulsive, and sleep medication.

However, people that live with a panic disorder  need to know they also have options for controlling and even preventing attacks of this type.  In this article, we provide tips on how to stop a panic attack before it gets so bad that the individual has lost complete control.

 Recognize the Onset of Symptoms – The first tip on how to stop a panic attack is about taking preventative measures.  After a person has a firm diagnosis of a panic disorder and knows all the associated symptoms, he or she can then recognize an attacking coming.  Immediately, this person should take inventory of the situation or environment triggering the attack and make appropriate changes.  For instance, if someone has panic attacks because they fear crowds, if symptoms begin, that person should look around to see if a large group of people were around and if so, moving to a quieter location would help stop the attack.

Coping Techniques– Our second tip for how to stop a panic attack deals with coping techniques available to use.  A great example would be the person that has sudden attacks.  In this case, the doctor could prescribe something such as Clonazepam, which is a fast-acting anxiety medication.  Tablets are simply placed beneath the tongue and within minutes, symptoms fade.  Cope techniques could also be using music with earphones to block out sound or other triggers.

 Stimulation – Another tip for how to stop a panic attack has to do with avoiding anything stimulating.  Because a person’s level of stress and nervousness is already peaked, anything that would enhance those senses should be avoided, which would include foods and drinks containing caffeine, chocolate activity, noise, etc.

Visualization and Breathing Methods – Another tip on how to stop a panic attack is to use tools such as visualization or deep breathing.  No matter the location of the person or the trigger producing the attack, he/she could find a place to sit off to the side and go through visualization and deep breathing methods that have proven to be highly successful. 

Support System – Often, being surrounded by family members and friends is enough to calm a situation.  Therefore, if possible, the individual should get loved ones close so the attack and fear of attack could be talked through and stopped before taking hold.

 Journaling– The final tip on how to stop a panic attack is with journaling.  Often, therapies address the value that journaling offers to people with panic disorders.  For many people suffering from stress and anxiety, being able to put emotions and feelings down on paper allows them to go back and read their words so the situation can be rationalized.

{ 0 comments }

Important Information on Panic Attack Symptoms

January 7, 2010

Because many panic attack symptoms are unknown, misunderstood, or overlooked, people living with a panic disorder do not recognize them.  For many panic disorders, symptoms will begin slowly and with low intensity so it would be easy for someone to mistake them for some other type of problem or look at them as just a [...]

Read the full article →

What are the Effects of Panic Attacks

December 11, 2009

Anyone that has had a panic attack, they would say that no other experience in life compares.  Panic attacks, even if mild, can completely take over a person’s mind and body and in some instances, these attacks leave lasting effects.  Today, it is estimated that more than two million people between ages 18 and 54 [...]

Read the full article →

What is Anxiety – Myths and Truths

December 2, 2009

Stress and Anxiety are nothing new but the definition for the question of what is anxiety is misunderstood.  In this article, we provide a good definition for anxiety but also myths and truths surrounding this illness.  While some people experience only slight problems associated with anxiety, others have severe responses, which can be devastating if [...]

Read the full article →

Pain and Stress Reduction

October 6, 2009

As well as psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression, stress can also cause physical ailments, including aches and pains. Migraines, in addition, can be caused by stress. Since pain can have an impact on the overall quality of your life, it’s important to find ways to find stress reduction in an attempt to manage [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries