Mental health resource

Anxiety Attack Symptoms – What Really Happens When You’re Having a Panic Attack Author: Alex

Every one of us is affected by anxiety at one stage or another in our lifetime. Even though it is quite prevalent we need to know the difference between the usual anxiety and the chronic anxiety that usually leads the sufferer to anxiety panic attacks. Some common anxiety attack symptoms are discussed in this article.

Many symptoms are physical and they’re caused when we are on the verge of fighting or trying to get away from a danger or a threat. Even though we have evolved from the caveman, this instinct still tends to occur and overcome us – a lot unseemly at times.

When we are trying to run away from danger or preparing to fight our heartbeat rises and circulates more blood to lungs, kidneys, liver and other important organs that require blood the most. The lungs are also working harder to assist the heart and to provide us more oxygen to run and the muscles brace themselves for action. This leads to palpitations, tightening of the chest, sharp pains and shortness of breath that are commonly associated with anxiety attacks. Adrenaline is released in larger quantities in your body which is the reason for muscle twitchiness, cold and hot feelings and stomach related abnormalities like butterflies, weak legs, constipation and vomiting. The mind and other senses also become sharper and alert.

As a matter of fact, such bodily behavior is just to deal with the fight-or-flight needed at that moment. However, such anxiety attack symptoms even occur at times when there is nothing to fight or flee. All our instincts of not only outside our body but within it as well grow out of normal proportions. It is understandable when such perceptions occur when we are in the middle of a fight etc, but if this happens under normal circumstances – then what?

In this case, the mind is responsible for wrongly perceiving a threat and preparing the body accordingly. A threat is not there, though. The oxygen supply and adrenaline flow keeps on growing but there is no outlet to decrease it. Subsequently, to neutralize the increased adrenaline, it causes the victim to suffer hopelessness and some times it causes them to feel that something bad is going to happen to them or their family members. Most of the times, the patient sufferers from increased fear and terror just because they’re afraid of having another panic attack, that is why panic attacks should be treated first and the most effective way is to look at the root cause.

Anxiety attack symptoms usually last from 10 minutes to an hour. The easiest way to tell if a person may be suffering from a panic disorder is to see if the panic attacks occur for more than a week in a row.

Many online programs are available to aid sufferers cure anxiety and panic attacks following simple methods that work and they can even be practiced at home.

If you’re deadly serious about learning how to stop a panic attack, go and read our complete list of anxiety self-help guides that thousands of people have used with tremendous success.

Visit this page – http://www.ReliefAnxiety.info

Aging – Keepng A Good Attitude As We Age Author: Sylvia Behnish

How we think depends on how old we feel. Do we think we are old at fifty years? If so, we will probably feel old too. During my life I have waged a war against aging; not by denying that I am aging but by the age I think ‘old’ is. ‘Old’ has always been determined in my thoughts as being at least 15 to 20 years older than I ever am at the time. And I have never said I’m too old for anything. Once you say you are too old, you will be.

In general I believe it is important to continue to try new things as we age even though I may not bungee jump or ride the Hollywood Tower of Terror at Disneyland. But I didn’t do those things when I was twenty either. I also believe it is important as we age to spend time with people who are younger than ourselves; their younger attitudes will make us feel upbeat and younger than if we surround ourselves only with those who are older.

Studies show that psychosocial factors as well as genes and general health will help to determine how we age. By being positive, happy, optimistic and making plans for the future will determine the image we have of ourselves and our feelings of ‘being old’. (I recently heard about a seventy-five year old man who was building himself a new house.)

Many times throughout my life I have thought, ‘I’m just starting my life’ which is similar to the well-known saying, ‘it’s the first day of the rest of my life’. With this attitude, the next thought must surely be, ‘how much can I accomplish in the rest of my life?’ The answer is, ‘a lot’. I believe that as we age it is important to grow in our thoughts, to continue to add to our own lives as well as to others; and to continually strive towards remaining independent by being involved in life in whatever capacity our bodies allow us to be. “I can” should, no matter our age, be important words in our vocabularies.

It is important also, I believe, to be confident in our abilities and our roles in life. What is our role in life? Are we involved grandparents, volunteers for a worthy organization, or social butterflies? As long as we are happy in our roles and feel that our lives are full and we are accomplishing something, we will feel younger than if we were sitting uninvolved and with few social contacts.

I also believe that coping strategies have a large bearing on our health, as well as our aging process. There will be many changes in our lives that we will have to adapt to as we age. If we have good coping skills, it will be easier to get through these challenging times. (My mother is an example of not coping with changes; shemoved into an assisted living home and didn’t adjust well; she was in and out of hospitals for several months even going so far as refusing to eat.)

So, think young, live young and you’ll feel young. Live life to its fullest – life is too short to feel old before you have to. You have to start when you’re young but remember that ‘young’ can be at any age.

Panic Anxiety Disorders Do The Alternative Therapies Help? Author: Bertil Hjert

In recent years people suffering from anxiety have increasingly sought a variety of alternative therapies, approaches other than the two mainstream treatments offered by most professionals: cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication.

The desire to explore alternative approaches reflects a general trend both in the mental health field as well as in medicine. Recent surveys have found that about 40 percent of the adult population in the United States seeks out the assistance of alternative health practitioners, often paying out of pocket, to address a variety of medical and health issues.

Reasons for the move to alternative therapies are varied. For people suffering from anxiety disorders, dissatisfaction with conventional treatments, particularly the side effects of prescription medications, often leads to an exploration of approaches such as herbs, acupuncture, yoga, or massage.

There seems to be a desire to try natural approaches first before becoming dependent on medication. In addition, many people wish to take responsibility for their own recovery rather than relying on professionals who are often high priced, inadequately covered by managed care health plans, and sometimes not particularly empathic or understanding of their clients’ needs.

A large segment of the population seems to have decided that the time has come to take personal responsibility for their health and well-being, entrusting their doctors only with care in emergencies or severe illness.

How well do alternative therapies work? Are they effective in helping people to overcome anxiety disorders? Some alternative approaches, certain herbs and acupuncture, for example, appear to have direct, demonstrable effects on reducing anxiety symptoms or the depression that accompanies anxiety disorders in about 50 percent of cases.

Such approaches are most helpful to persons whose anxiety and/or depression is in the mild to moderate range. “Mild to moderate” means your symptoms are a nuisance, probably an inconvenience, and may cause you a certain level of discomfort. However, they are not disabling.

They don’t prevent you from working, managing the routines of daily living, or maintaining relatively satisfying relationships with loved ones. And they do not cause you severe distress, a feeling of being frightened or overwhelmed, more than half of your waking hours.

When anxiety phobia interferes with your ability to function and causes you significant levels of distress, it may be said to fall in the moderate to severe range. Such anxiety may be helped by alternative approaches, but is best treated by a combination of well-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication.

The primary value of alternative therapies is their ability to improve your overall level of health and well-being. Such approaches work to make you feel better as a whole, rather than relieving a specific problem such as panic attacks, obsessions or a fear of driving far from home.

Their effect on anxiety symptoms is thus beneficial but indirect. Certainly if you feel better overall, you’re less likely to be vulnerable to anxiety or depression symptoms. But you’re also less likely to be bothered by any other stress-related symptoms, whether migraines, ulcers, low back pain, insomnia, or irritability.

Wellness involves multiple levels of your total being. If you feel more healthy and well in general, you’re not as likely to harbor the negative, fearful thoughts that instigate anxiety. You’re also less likely to hold the bodily tension and breathing restriction that can aggravate anxiety. It’s possible that even your brain neurotransmitters come into a better balance, improving your mood.

In general, you feel more confident and content with yourself and your life. Alternative therapies work to help you feel better as a whole person. That’s why they are often referred to as “holistic.” As such, they can definitely have a beneficial effect on anxiety and depression, along with everything else.

There is no precise formula for determining which of the many alternative therapies might be helpful for you. In reading through this article, listen to your intuition in deciding which particular approaches you feel drawn to try. Some trial and error is probably inevitable in the process of exploring those methods that ultimately turn out to be most effective for your particular situation.

Herbs and Supplements:

Herbs plant-based medicines have been an integral part of health care for thousands of years. In fact, about 25 percent of present-day prescription medications are still based on herbs. Pharmaceutical companies, however, are not very interested in herbs, because the plants from which they are derived cannot be patented and sold exclusively by any one company for profit.

Herbal treatments have been very popular in Europe and recently have gained increasing public interest in the United States. Most drug stores now offer an assortment of herbs that can treat conditions ranging from colds to poor memory.

Herbs tend to work more slowly and gently than prescription drugs. If you’re used to the rapid and intense effects of a drug like Xanax, you need to be patient with the milder effect of a relaxing herb such as valerian or kava.

The principal advantage of herbs is that they work naturally, in harmony with your body, rather than imposing a specific biochemical change, as in the case of drugs. Unlike medications, herbs generally have few or no side effects. Nor are they physically addictive, although you could become psychologically dependent on one that brings you consistent benefit.

Alcohol and Panic AttacksAttacks Author: Alex

An increasing number of patients are suffering from anxiety related disorders and apparently one of the causes is alcohol. If you wish to know whether alcohol does trigger anxiety attacks, the straight forward answer is – Yes, it does. It aggravates anxiety from all angles and even if you feel a relief, you should know that alcohol worsens you condition. Anxiety and panic attacks become more severe if the patient consumes excessive or any amounts of alcohol on daily basis.

Many studies and researches have shown that alcohol causes your heart beats to raise and also induces a state of hyperactivity in your nervous systems and this often results in a panic attack. People drink more and more when they are in stress or depression in the belief that it will reduce stress and have a calming effect, when in fact it only aggravates anxiety and further enhances your risk of facing further panic attacks in the future. Medically, it has not been proven yet, if a glass of wine will really influence your body in any way. However, while 50 ml of red wine does enhance your blood circulation it can also trigger a panic attack. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid consuming alcohol at any cost.

You should also stay away from energy drinks like Red Bull, dark coffee if you experience panic attacks. The food that you eat is related to anxiety, not only alcohol aggravates you condition but several foods in your diet. Try and stay away from foods that contain high levels of fats and sugar.

To conclude, we can safely say that if you worry about what can cause you panic attacks, then you should be aware that alcohol grows the risk of experiencing panic attacks to a significant extent.

Many online programs are available to aid sufferers cure anxiety and panic attacks following simple methods that work and they can even be practiced at home.

If you’re deadly serious about learning how to stop a panic attack, go and read our complete list of anxiety self-help guides that thousands of people have used with tremendous success.

Visit this page ==> http://www.ReliefAnxiety.info

How To Stop Panic Attacks In A Car Author: Jason Albany

While driving a car, the occurrence of a panic attack could lead to deadly consequences. A serious accident could occur if you are not alert while driving, as a result of having a panic attack. If you suspect you are about to suffer a panic attack and you are in control of a vehicle, the best course of action is to park the car as soon as you can and do not set off again until you have fully calmed down from the attack.

The root cause of the panic attacks will need to be investigated in relation to why they are occurring in the car. The experience of driving may have become associated with a sense of fear due to an event, such as a crash. Panic attacks in a car deserve a very similar approach to panic attacks in general for stopping them. The difference is that you are not able to face your fears in the same way because it is too dangerous. It does not make a lot of sense to go driving a car about for the purpose of practicing calming techniques. This adds a little more difficulty to this situation.

The Origins of the Panic

If you are to learn to control panic attacks in a car, the root cause must be addressed. Most people with this problem find that there was a time when they were able to drive a car without any problems. A significant occurrence like an accident in the car, which caused injury, had a permanent after-effect. Some people are unable to even go in a car without getting a bit nervous. It is impossible for them to concentrate or think clearly while driving.

Exercises to Relax

Sit in a comfortable location away from the car then close your eyes. Breathe deep breaths and concentrate on your breathing. Continue to think only about your breathing until your mind is clear and you are relaxed. Relax so that all your muscles are loose. Imagine yourself getting into the drivers seat of the car and driving away, even though this may make you nervous in reality, in this image, you are relaxed. You are confident and completely in control through the whole experience, this is important. This may take some practice to relax through it all but when you achieve this relaxation, the next step can be taken.

To begin with, you are not going to go anywhere in the car. Simply sit in the driver’s seat and start to imagine how it will be to drive the car. Picture yourself driving the car in a clam and controlled manner, you are at ease doing this. It is also important that you get to know your car inside out, the function of every lever and button. The car does not control you in any way, you are in control of it. After you feel at ease in the car, take it for a drive. It is best to drive the car round the block or on a quiet road. You can work up to harder, busier roads. Before long, you will have much less fear of driving and less risk of experiencing a panic attack in the car.

Cure Anxiety Attacks Naturally and Permanently Author: Alex

Anxiety attacks are fairly common in the younger generation and there are fewer cases of anxiety attacks as we grow more mature and confident. At least 10 % of the world’s population has suffered from anxiety attacks at least once during their life.

Panic attacks can be hereditary and not only that, they have multiple causes. Some other causes of anxiety are alcohol, drugs or any other inherent illness. However anxiety can also occur due to lack of vitamins and certain chemical imbalances in our body. Magnesium is a vital chemical present in our body and if our body is short on magnesium, intense anxiety and panic attacks can occur and often result in long lasting disorders.

The intensity and length of panic attacks is different, some times it is more painful and lasts for an excessive period and at times it can also end in a few minutes. The symptoms of such attacks are usually palpitations, chest tightening, negative and frightening thoughts, headaches, sleep disorder, stomach disorders and shortage of breath etc. Many times anxiety attacks can lead to uncontrollable thoughts about death. The patient often think that he or she might die. Fortunately no one has ever died from anxiety and there is nothing to be frightened of.

Even without using drugs it is possible to eliminate panic attacks permanently. It is very important to find out the cause of such attacks prior to beginning treatment. The best way is to relax, close your eyes and go back in your mind to the time when the attack took place and then try to evaluate why it happened. Sit somewhere you feel comfortable, and then start your meditation.

A lot of products can be found over the Internet that can help you overcome your anxiety attacks taking easy steps which can be done at home without any difficulty.

Many online programs are available to aid sufferers cure anxiety and panic attacks following simple methods that work and they can even be practiced at home.

If you’re deadly serious about learning how to stop a panic attack, go and read our complete list of anxiety self-help guides that thousands of people have used with tremendous success.

Visit this page – http://www.ReliefAnxiety.info

7 Major Types of Anxiety Disorders and The Available Treatments! Author: Bertil Hjert

The last two decades of the twentieth century saw an explosion of knowledge about different types of problems with anxiety and how to treat them. Seven major types of anxiety disorders were described:

A. Panic Disorder: Sudden episodes of acute, intense anxiety that appear to come out of the blue.

B. Agoraphobia: A fear of panic attacks in situations that are perceived to be far from safety or a safe place such as home, or from which escape might be difficult, such as driving on a freeway or waiting in line at the grocery store. This fear can lead to avoidance of a wide range of situations.

C. Social Phobia: A fear of embarrassment or humiliation in situations where you are exposed to the scrutiny of others or must perform.

D. Specific Phobia: A strong fear and avoidance of one particular object or situation, such as spiders, water, thunderstorms, elevators, or flying.

E. Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A chronic anxiety and worry for at least six months about two or more issues or activities, such as work or health.

F. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Recurring obsessions, repetitive thoughts, and/or compulsions, rituals performed to dispel anxiety, that are severe enough to be time-consuming or cause marked distress.

G. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Development of anxiety and other symptoms following an acute and intense trauma such as a natural disaster, assault, rape, or accident or after witnessing an event that involves death or injury to another person.

Researchers and clinicians in both the United States and Britain have developed effective methods for treating these difficulties. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), the marriage of Aaron Beck’s cognitive therapy and Joseph Wolpe’s systematic desensitization, became and remains to this day the dominant and most helpful psychological treatment for all of the anxiety disorders.

Research and clinical experience has consistently demonstrated the efficacy of CBT. In its present form, cognitive-behavioral therapy consists of a combination of approximately six strategies, including:

1. Abdominal Breathing Training: Learning to breathe more slowly from your abdomen.

2. Muscle Relaxation Training: Learning to deeply relax all the muscles of your body.

3. Cognitive Therapy: Replacing catastrophic, fearful thoughts with more realistic, constructive thoughts.

4. Interoceptive Exposure: Desensitizing to internal sensations of anxiety.

5. In Vivo Exposure: Gradually facing phobic situations that have been avoided, often with a support person.

6. Exposure and Response Prevention: Refraining from compulsive behaviors when exposed to situations that would ordinarily provoke them.

With the advent of short-acting, high-potency tranquilizers in the 80s and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications in the 90s, psychiatry has also developed effective psychopharmacological treatments for all of the anxiety disorders.

Current clinical practice often combines cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication, especially in the case of panic disorder, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Medications appear particularly helpful when anxiety symptoms are in the moderate to severe range of intensity.

How to Treat Anxiety and Panic Attack Symptoms Author: Alex

Anxiety can be a very dangerous thing if it is not discovered and cured in a timely fashion. It is imperative that victims should treat anxiety as early as they can because a time can come where they might find themselves incapable of controlling regular things that they might face in their daily lives.

It might be hard to figure out the symptoms of anxiety even more so if the patient does not realize that he is affected by the condition. Those who seem to feel sick for no apparent reason are advised to seek medical assistance immediately because they might be at risk of having a heart attack in the future, that in case it is not anxiety. It is important to identify an anxiety disorder in an early stage because if not provided proper attention, several other complications may occur.

Generally, if some one is found to be suffering from this disorder treatment is usually begun with prescription drugs. This is because for starters it does provide some relief from the anxiety attacks which is quite comforting for the patient. However, the relief is only temporary to the victims of this disorder who might chose to withdraw them socially and opt to live in isolation. If they keep going on this course and chose to live in their own closeted world, then their social life is going to be severely affected and become very limited.

Many anxiety treatments are available but all the professionals have labeled a proper and healthy dietary and sleeping pattern and organizing exercise as the most effective one. Those people who are affected by anxiety disorders should work on relaxation techniques frequently and must maintain a schedule for their meditation as well. During this time, they should work on breathing techniques and also try to free their mind of all negative thoughts and instill positive thoughts that will soon lead to complete recovery.

Many online programs are available to aid sufferers cure anxiety and panic attacks following simple methods that work and they can even be practiced at home.

If you’re deadly serious about learning how to stop a panic attack, go and read our complete list of anxiety self-help guides that thousands of people have used with tremendous success.

Visit this page ==> http://www.ReliefAnxiety.info

Cure Anxiety – What You Haven’t Been Told About Anxiety and Panic Attacks Author: Alex

It is quite tough to handle stress and anxiety attacks for any individual even if they’re following a treatment. In some cases conventional medication will not cure anxiety, instead it’s only a short time relief from the dreadful symptoms. You might be overwhelmed by several symptoms such as dizziness, increased heart beats, shortage of breathe and rushing thoughts that something very bad is going to happen to you.

Even though there are various treatments available to cure anxiety but only a few of them are effective. Let’s discuss the ones that are generally used but don’t work.

Drugs/Medication: They do not eliminate panic attacks, they are only a short time relief and you may already know it. All they do is reduce the frequency and intensity of the symptoms you’re going through to some extent. They make you end up feeling lethargic and do not treat the root cause of your anxiety. In addition, they also cause rather unpleasant side-effects like nausea, lack of sleep, lack of memory, dizziness, constipation and many others which make you feel even worse.

Deep breathing: A few deep breaths are not going to solve the problem all by itself. Also, people who suggest deep breathing techniques don’t realize that it is hard to breath regularly during an attack because of tightening of the chest and throat. The deep breathing techniques have to failed to prove any kind of effectiveness when you’re dealing with an anxiety attack and obviously they will not cure anxiety.

Relaxation: This method does have its own merits but it is not possible to apply it while you are going through an anxiety attack. It is very hard to relax once you are having dreadful thoughts and your heart is beating very fast. Some relaxation techniques are recommended though, in order to treat the root cause and they have proved to work if you follow them correctly for long periods of time.

Changing your diet. Even if it’s hard to believe, diet is directly linked to anxiety. Surely, this can help you to reduce the risk of anxiety attacks but it is not going to cure your disorder permanently. Avoid eating oily and fried foods, and completely avoid sugars. Having high sugar levels in your body, you have greater chances to have panic attacks more often.

The easiest to follow and safe methods that can aid you in eliminating panic attacks and anxiety for good, are the natural cures that do not involve any kind of chemicals. You are going to get much better results in curing anxiety with natural cures. After all, the natural cures for anxiety are absolutely safe and free of any side-effects.

Many online programs are available to aid sufferers cure anxiety and panic attacks following simple methods that work and they can even be practiced at home.

If you’re deadly serious about learning how to stop a panic attack, go and read our complete list of anxiety self-help guides that thousands of people have used with tremendous success.

Visit this page NOW ==> http://www.ReliefAnxiety.info

What Does an Anxiety Attack Feel Like? Author: Steve S Scott

This is a question that crops up rather a lot and personally I find it a hard one to answer. For instance, if someone tries a new food for the first time, they often say it tasted like chicken. For me, trying to explain what an anxiety attack feels like is similar to trying to explain what strawberries taste like to someone who has never eaten a strawberry. Its a totally unique flavour. A strawberry tastes like a strawberry so how can I explain it.

In addition to this there are many different and varied symptoms that can occur when someone is gripped by an anxiety or panic attack. For example, some people can have heart palpitations whilst others might experience difficulty in breathing. In my own experience the feeling wasnt so much physical but psychological. Everything became surreal.

Ive been clear of anxiety attacks for about 6 years now but I vividly remember how they affected me. When I suffered an anxiety attack I felt totally alone and cut off from everything. My surroundings were exactly the same but I felt completely detached from them. I felt as if I didnt have a link or bond with anyone or anything.

This is the best way that I can sum up what an anxiety attack feels like and I hope it made some sense. If this sounds familiar to you and you have experienced similar feelings then unfortunately you are likely to be suffering from an anxiety disorder. If you havent consulted with your doctor already then it might be time to do so. Dont let this condition fester and ruin your life.