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.

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.

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.

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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.

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 reaction to normal situations.  However, it is not until the symptoms broaden, become more intense, and last longer that people realize something more serious is going on.

 In general, panic attack symptoms include a broad list, as shown below:

• Heart palpitations
• Excessive sweating or feeling weak or dizzy
• Nausea
• Shortness of Breath
• Tightening of the chest or actual chest pain
• Numbness or tingling of the hands
• Feeling chilled or flushed
• Hot flashes or chills
• Disorientation or confusion
• Sense of doom, loss of control, or even impending death

 To separate normal worry and fear that comes along with various life situations and experiences from actual panic attacks, it is important to understand the symptoms, as well as what they do to a person’s mind and body.  Remember, everyone feels overwhelmed, which is part of life but when anxiety, fear, and a sense of panic stretches beyond “normal”, people should be question whether the things they are feeling and thinking are actually okay or real panic attack symptoms.

For the individual that has frequent and unexpected panic attack symptons, with no connection to an environment, situation, or experience, or worries excessively after having an attack or has made significant changes to behavior and/or activity after having an attack, it is likely that a panic disorder is the culprit.  Once a disorder is suspected, a doctor could provide confirmation.

 In addition to the physical panic attack symptoms listed above, emotional and mental symptoms are also common for this type of disorder to include:

• Anticipatory Anxiety – With this, the individual is constantly stressed and uptight waiting for the next panic attack to strike.  Often, fear associated with experiencing panic attack symptoms are so overwhelming that it literally becomes disabling.  The person would have tight muscles, headaches, stomachaches, confusion, fatigue, and more.
• Phobic Avoidance – At this point, panic attack symptoms have become so frequent and intense that being in social settings, around friends or family, working certain jobs, going to school, driving, traveling, and other environmental and situational problems create fear.  Usually, the individual believes that these are the triggers for an attack and that by avoiding them, they regain control, and the attacks disappear.

The bottom line is this – panic disorders and associated panic attack symptoms are serious at any level.  Working with a reputable doctor that is an expert in the field of stress and anxiety can help identify the real triggers.  Then through cognitive, behavioral, social, interaction, and other forms of therapy, the sufferer can learn how to make adjustments, thereby reclaiming life.  This coupled with proper medication to control and prevent panic attack symptoms and the disorder help release the person from the prison in which he/she lived.

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 just in the United States experience at minimum of one, attack annually.  In severe cases, a person would need to be hospitalized!

 
Overwhelming fear is always a part of every attack, although in different ways for people that have experienced attacks prior and those going through their first attack, as indicated:

 For the person that has gone through panic attacks before, fear is broken down in two ways.  First, this person lives with constant fear by not knowing when the next attack will hit and second, he or she has fear that life will never return to normalcy.

 For the individual that has never had panic attacks and goes through the first, fear is often associated with death.  Because symptoms of these attacks mimic a heart attack, people actually believe they are dying.

 There are positive considerations associated with panic attacks.  For instance, after a person is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, he or she could learn ways of identifying triggers that would produce an attack, avoiding certain situations, emotions, or environments.  In addition, with proper treatment, up to 90% of people that have ongoing panic attacks bring them under control within one to two months.

 Panic attacks are a type of panic disorder, and for a firm diagnosis the individual would need to have gone through four attacks within a one-month period.  Doctors use very specific criteria during the diagnosisphase, requiring at least four before the disorder is confirmed.

When quick action is taken, through confirmed diagnosis and proper treatment, people have a great chance of regaining control over life.  Unfortunately, too many people ignore symptoms, refuse to be seen by a doctor, or do not follow treatment as instructed.  When this happens, the effects of panic attacks can become devastating.

 Once authentic panic attacks start, they do not go away on their own.  While some people might see a reduction of symptoms over time, usually, numerous symptoms continue for months, if not years or life.  Typically, panic attacks start in the late teens to early twenties, although they can appear later.  Regardless, these attacks change a person’s life forever, and not in a good way.

 If panic attacks go untreated, an individual could face serious and possibly irreversible consequences.  As the attacks continue and symptoms worsen, people begin to distance themselves from life, which results in a loss of friends and intimate relationships, estrangement from family, job loss, leaving school, and sometimes the depression that goes with panic disorders becomes so intense that suicidal thoughts or worse begin.

It is vital for anyone dealing with panic attacks, no matter how intense, to not mistake a quiet period as healing.  Sometimes, symptoms of a panic disorder ease up but this relief is short-lived.  Along with the body being taken over, the mind is also consumed, making it difficult or impossible to make rational decisions.  For this reason, if someone suspects that he or she is having panic attacks, rather than chance it, a doctor should be seen so proper treatment could be started.

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 not diagnosed and treated.

 By definition, the answer to the question, “What is anxiety” is that this is a reaction created by the body’s “fight or flight” response for survival.  When a healthy person is in a position of feeling threatened or challenged, they respond appropriate but for the person with an anxiety disorder, responses would not only be different, but also inappropriate and in excess.

 Truths about Anxiety

 What is Anxiety – Classifications

 Anxiety disorders are classified so the answer to what is anxiety depends on the type of disorder, as well as intensity and duration of attacks and/or symptoms.  The following are the most common types of anxiety disorders treated today.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – This is a long-lasting disorder although symptoms are generally mild
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – With this disorder, symptoms may start out mild but they can become debilitating
• Panic Disorder – Symptoms for this disorder come on fast and are usually intense
• Phobias – This disorder is comprised of fears (phobias) such as fear of flying, fear of clowns, fear of death, etc, with symptoms being situation-based
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) – With this, symptoms could show up slowly or quickly, and vary in intensity from moderate to life-threatening
• Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) – While seen in adults on rare occasion, this anxiety disorder primarily affects children

 What is Anxiety – Statistics

 Statistics are another important part of the answer to what is anxiety, which shows people struggling with a disorder that they are not alone.  Experts estimate that currently close to 20 million people in the United States between the ages of 18 and 54 has an anxiety disorder, with some having more than one.

 We also know that anxiety disorders affect women more than men by about 50% for all types except for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Social Phobia, which affect both men and women equally.  Then, of the four million people living with a panic disorder, just over half have at least one actual panic attack every year.

 Myths about Anxiety

 What is Anxiety Relating to Depression

 Unfortunately, information has circulated for years that people dealing with depression as a part of an anxiety disorder can simply move on in life without complications.  The truth is that depression on any level can be devastating.  People with anxiety often have depression, which creates a sense loneliness, sadness, defeat, boredom, and hopelessness.  Although a small number of people will push through very mild bouts of depression, this is rare.

 Anxiety with or without Depression is a Figment of the Imagination

 When looking at myths pertaining to what is anxiety, nothing could be further from the truth than this.  Both anxiety and depression are very real illnesses that if left untreated can progress and even lead a person committing suicide or murder.  In both instances, not only is the mind affected but the body also responds negatively with symptoms such as insomnia, weight loss, low or no appetite, stomachaches, headaches, diarrhea and/or constipation, etc.

 Drugs do Not Cure Anxiety – Drugs only hide Symptoms

 Today, many people are completely opposed to prescription medication, choosing alternative medicine instead.  Using herbs and supplements, as well as homeopathic treatments for anxiety is fine but in many instances, the disease can only be cured, controlled, and prevented with proper medication.  Typically, doctors prescribe medication based on the severity and duration of attacks/symptoms for each type of disorder along with cognitive and behavioral therapy.  This combination has proven successful in many cases.

Anxiety, in its simplest form, is a psychological state that can cause a person to have irrational fears and worries. It is similar to stress in that it can have negative effects on a person’s well-being and quality of life and even lead to physical ailments.anxiety form

Anxiety can oftentimes be caused by an event or “trigger.” A person might feel scared or anxious to talk in front of a large crowd, for example, leading to them feeling anxiety. On the other hand, a person might feel anxiety getting behind the wheel of a car after they’ve been in an accident. Anxiety can also be produced when a person is scared for no rational reason, such as being afraid to of their loved one dying when there is no danger present.

Most anxiety is based around fear. The fear can be anything from fear of dying to fear of being stung by a bee. Sometimes, anxiety can lead to different specific phobias. A person with social anxiety might become agoraphobic and be afraid to leave the house.

Anxiety is generally triggered by stress that occurs in our life. Negative self-talk, and a lowering of self-confidence, can also lead to anxiety. Telling yourself repeatedly that something bad is going to happen, even when you have no sound proof that it is true, is one way that negative self-talk can cause anxiety.

Anxiety can have many symptoms associated with it. A person having an anxiety attack might feel stressed, a shortness of breath, have heart palpitations, feel nauseated, and even faint. The person might also have an irrational fear of dying or something horrible happening to them.

Anxiety can have a severe impact on the quality of life that you experience. While a little bit of stress is okay, after all it keeps up motivated in some cases, anxiety can severely impact your judgment. It can make you afraid to do things that you normally would enjoy doing. It can also limit the amount of fun that you have, which isn’t good at all. In severe cases, anxiety can lead to physical ailments like backaches, migraines, and even irritable bowel syndrome.

While there are ways to manage anxiety, such as focusing on pleasant events, using positive thinking, meditation, and even writing in a journal, if your anxiety becomes too severe you should seek medical attention. Anxiety can be managed with the care of a doctor and is treatable.

Separation Anxiety is typically an anxiety disorder that occurs in children, although it can also occur in adults as well. The symptoms for both children and adults are similar, usually with the adults throwing tantrums, although the underlying causes are different.

Children first start understanding that objects continue to exist even when you can’t see them when they are about 6 months old. That is usually around the time that Separation Anxiety can start forming. Before that, babies are fairly happy as long as they are being fed, changed, and rocked to sleep. Once they begin understanding, however, that you are a concrete person and a center point in their life, they might start reacting to your absence.

Children can show Separation Anxiety in different ways. They might throw tantrums, cry uncontrollably, and sometimes even hold their breath until they turn blue. Some things can trigger Separation Anxiety, such as changes in the child’s routine. This can occur when you go on vacation or if you move or change childcare providers.

Separation Anxiety in children is quite common, but a recent study has shown that mothers who experienced a lot of stress during pregnancy went on to have children who have Separation Anxiety.

One of the worst things that you can do when your child is facing Separation Anxiety is probably the very thing that you feel you should do-run back to them. However, if you keep reappearing when they cry for you, it will just reinforce the fact that they can cry and you will return. Obviously, if you have to work or leave you will need to go at some point.

If older children suddenly develop Separation Anxiety, it could be a different problem all together. They might be bullied or harassed at school so it worth talking to them to get to the root of the problem.

Adults can also face Separation Anxiety.  As a matter of fact, almost 7% of the adult population in the United States has some form of Separation Anxiety. Adult symptoms might include avoidance of being alone, fear, depression, and fear that something terrible will happen to the one that they feel the attachment to.

There is no known cause for Separation Anxiety in adults. However, biological factors and genetics might be causes. In addition, adults who have suffered trauma or great loss in the past might also be prone to fear of losing a loved one which could result in Separation Anxiety.

Having shortness of breath is without a doubt the most common symptom of panic and anxiety attacks. It can be an extremely scary feeling since you basically feel as though you can’t breathe, but it’s not actually harmful despite the way it feels.

Some people describe the shortness of breath as being accompanied with tightness in the chest as well. Others say that the shortness is breath makes them feel as though they are suffocating, or chest-deep in water.

One of the worse things that you can do when you feel short of breath is to panic, which is kind of redundant since the feeling is usually brought on during a panic attack. However, as scary as it might feel, you should really try to breathe through it. If you don’t then you will risk hyperventilating, which can make the situation even worse.

There are several things that you can do when you feel a shortness of breath during an anxiety or panic attacks. You should utilize which method works best for you. Some people claim that taking short, shallow breaths will eventually get their breathing back on track. Others claim that trying to hold their breath while they count to 10 is another good way to even it out. A third method is to simply take long, deep breaths and focus on each breath that you take.

Some people think that they are having asthma attacks when they feel shortness of breath during a panic attack. They might even go to their physician and request an inhaler. While asthma sufferers might suffer from shortness of breaths during the attacks as well as the rest of the world, the inhaler is not a solution for those people who do not have asthma. The shortness of breath that is suffered during a panic attack is not the same thing as the inability to breathe during an asthma attack. Therefore, asthma medication will probably not help you in this situation and might even cause harm.

If you find yourself having panic attacks or anxiety attacks frequently and the shortness of breath that accompanies them worries you, then you should definitely pay a visit to your doctor. There is treatment available for panic and anxiety attacks and therefore there is no reason for you to continue to suffer. Although the shortness of breath is not actually harmful, just scary, it can be troublesome and you don’t have to suffer from it.