Archive for October, 2009

How Are Hormones And Anxiety Related?

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

Hormones are powerful chemicals that help keep our bodies to work normally. Hormones have receptors throughout the brain that have a large effect on chemicals that pass through one brain cell to another. Hormones help stimulate, regulate and control the function of various tissues and organs. Hormonal imbalances have a big contribution to anxiety because very low hormone progesterone may cause anxiety disorders. Thus, the destructive effect of stress on hormone balance starts with anxiety.
The connection between hormonal fluctuations and anxiety is not fully understood. However, it is well known that women are more prone than men to develop anxiety disorders and depression. This is because women have to give birth, breast fed and experience a very complex situation such as monthly menstrual cycle and menopause.

Depression, mood swings, low libido and lack of energy can occur in response to hormonal imbalance. Anxiety symptoms are also caused by hormonal therapy like birth control pills. These symptoms are also indicative of hormonal imbalances due to menopause, thyroid disorders or early ovarian failure. In addition, a major contributing factor to hormonal imbalance is the increased exposure to pesticides, herbicides and plastics. Many symptoms of anxiety do not seem to either improve or worsen with treatment for hormonal fluctuations.

There are gentle alternative approaches to women with chronic or mild anxiety disorder that can provide relief—– whether through medications or natural treatments. Treatments for hormonal imbalance range from basic lifestyle changes to replacement hormone therapy. Anxiety from a hormonal perspective can be solved through several methods. Most of the time anxiety and hormonal imbalance can be very disappointing and talking to an ObGyne can be of great help. Just the same, just talking to a friend or a loved one is also very helpful to relieve anxiety and stress especially for women who have hormonal imbalance.

Working Anti Anxiety Medicines

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Physical and mental stress often results to anxiety. These stress factors may be because of pressures from work or home, issues from personal relationships or financial burden. Some ailments may also cause anxiety, as well as the use and abuse of certain chemicals. Even withdrawal from these chemicals like amphetamines, cocaine, and nicotine has been found out to cause anxiety.

In turn, anxiety may result to insomnia, listlessness, and irritability. To combat these discomforts, persons with anxiety immediately turn to prescription drugs, particularly anti anxiety medicines. These medications may provide relief but they are only temporary and may have adverse effects. In some cases, anti anxiety medicines seem to help especially at times when the person is so distressed that anxiety attacks become debilitating and renders him incapacitated or unproductive. These anti anxiety medicines only target to cure the effects of anxiety, but then the real cause remains.

If anti anxiety medicines are as inevitable it is highly recommended that these medication be under strict control as it may provoke addiction. It has to be combined with psychotherapy to address the real cause. These therapy sessions will teach the person to acknowledge his anxiety, educate himself about his ailment, and then help him to cope and manage the ailment. But when anxiety turns to an avoidance behavior, he is taught how to handle his stress in such a way that it is not disruptive to his life and to his family, friend and coworkers. These psychotherapy sessions can also provide him with information on the different alternative and complementary treatments and remedies so he can take charge of his life without succumbing to hopelessness.

But no amount of treatment and no matter how scientifically effective the anti anxiety medicines are, the person has to have a full commitment towards recovery. This one hundred percent commitment is the key ingredient to any treatment that will allow the person to lead a stress-free life.

Self Help Tips For Panic Attacks

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Panic attacks are common manifestation of persons who are experiencing worry, fear, or depression. These are brief, sudden periods of uneasiness, discomfort or anxiety. Symptoms may include shaking and trembling, dizziness or raging heartbeat, or even disorientation. With all the suggested treatments to conquer panic attacks, the support of family and friends has always been a crucial factor towards recovery. Thus, several panic attack self help groups were formed to assist the person as he goes through his ordeal.

This panic attack self help group provides the much-needed assurance to the person that he is not alone in his battle towards recovery. Together will others who also suffer the same ailment, he can share his thoughts and experiences with the members of the group. Psychotherapists have proven that verbalizing his experiences with panic attacks is an effective method of coping up. He is also able to learn other ways to manage panic attacks from other members of these panic attacks self help groups. By encouraging him to speak his mind, he slowly regains his confidence, and his social skills are greatly improved.

Panic attacks self help groups may be accessible by attending regular sessions. For those who prefer anonymity, some groups can be reached through their websites. It is also a forum for self-expression and learning but less of social interaction. These online sessions are for those who are apprehensive about their ailments and may fear being stigmatized. Still, it could be their first step towards social re-exposure.

From the word itself, these panic attacks self help groups encourages that the person help himself recover from his ailment. Treatments, no matter how much scientifically proven to be effective, will only be successful if the person commit to himself that he will win over anxiety. Without a firm decision, he will just continue to experience anxiety and will forever live a stressful life.

Panic Attacks While Having Thyroid Problems

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Panic attacks are brief, discrete period of intense discomfort, fear and nervousness when confronted with a particular condition or situation. They may also be caused by certain medical illnesses such as heart ailments, asthma, and even thyroid imbalance.

When there is an imbalance in one’s thyroid panic attacks become unavoidable. Thyroid glands are responsible for the production of hormones. Under or over production of hormones may trigger some physical symptoms of panic attacks like accelerated heart rate, nausea, stomach pains, chills or hot flushes or shortness of breath. Also due to an imbalance in thyroid panic attacks are also common among menopausal women. That is why they become irritable and sometime unreasonable in their fears and sense of reality. These episodes of panic attacks are normal feelings but when they become debilitating and renders the person unproductive, this already constitutes a panic disorder and therefore merits a more serious medical attention.

The effects of panic attacks differ in every person depending on their ability to cope. Some may recover without treatment. But to others, psychological therapies are needed to treat the physical symptoms of panic attacks while others find relief with prescription medications. In some extreme cases, psychological therapies are combined with drug therapy. Most popular and effective are the exposure therapy and the cognitive behavior therapy, which teach the person to recognize, control and manage panic attacks so that they do not affect their lives. Anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs are common medications to combat physical symptoms of panic attacks.

For women who experience some imbalance in the production of thyroid panic attacks can also be managed through alternative and complementary treatments. They have slowly gained acceptance as possible cures for the symptoms of panic attacks and other psychological conditions. Exercise, relaxation techniques and even hypnosis and acupuncture are among the alternative methods. Herbal treatments are also among the highly popular treatments for panic attacks.

How To Get Rid Of Panic Attacks Fast?

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear and anxiety that are pretty horrifying. It can take control and even wreck one’s life. It can make normal, routine work seem impossible. Durations for the symptoms of panic attacks vary and can be as short as 15 seconds but sometimes last for about 30 minutes. Sometimes, anxiety makes us more alert to face the situation. But when it becomes a reason to impart negative thoughts and tends to create physical and mental problems to an individual, they should be seriously tracked to find the remedy.

Yet for most cases, anxiety and panic are not abnormal traits of human psyche. What one needs to do is to examine the causes of panic and learn to get rid of them. This way, a person will be initially prepared and take precautionary steps to not to go into situation that will likely cause an attack. Always keep in mind that there is a trigger to every panic and all it takes to get rid of panic attacks is to find that trigger.

There are certain tips in getting rid of panic attacks. First is to ensure one’s self of positive things. Stay away from caffeine, drugs and alcohol. Eat small amounts of wholesome food at regular intervals to maintain even blood sugar. Avoid simple carbohydrates like sugar, honey and pasta as these metabolize quickly and can contribute to other physical illnesses. There is also psychotherapy, medications and as they say, change in lifestyle. Stay active, take a breath and get a massage.

Seeking advice of an experienced doctor or communicating with a trusted friend or counselor is also the best solution to the problem. Panic attacks can be very scary and emotionally tiring to continuously battle with. Leaving it unaddressed can bring into more serious problems that can make us unable to enjoy all the good things in life. It is always important to learn how to stop them or at least prevent them from occurring.

Am I Having a Heart Attack Or Anxiety?

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

How do we tell the difference between heart attack or anxiety? Many symptoms of anxiety will make us believe we are having a heart attack. Knowing the difference between heart attack and anxiety is crucial. Many people have mistaken anxiety as a heart attack. Often, anxiety presents itself in physical ways that are the same as having a heart attack such as chest pains and shallow breathing. Some heart attacks are sudden and intense and most of them start slowly with mild pain or discomfort.

Since heart problems are associated with stress and anxiety, it is a very natural occurrence to feel all emotional at some point or another. In most people, stress and anxiety play a major role that is unavoidable and becomes our constant companion. However, anxiety starts to become a problem when it begins to rule our life. It can be horrible, terrifying and highly distressing in many ways. But that’s not it. Anxiety and heart attack are different from one another.

Anxiety symptoms that are commonly mistaken for a heart attack includes rapid or increased heart rate, dizziness, lightheadedness, tightening of the chest, discomfort or chest pains and rapid breathing. When a person is faced in too much of this common feeling or emotion, it can elicit undesirable and debilitating symptoms that lead to conclusions of a heart attack, stroke or cardiac arrest.
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The thing about heart attack is that one cannot have one without an existing heart condition or disease. An anxiety attack will not cause a heart disease or heart attack. However, there is no explanation why one would suffer an attack when there is actually no danger. The surest way to determine the difference of a heart attack or anxiety disorder is to go for a medical examination or call for an emergency assistance.

Fast General Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

General Anxiety Disorder is characterized by a person’s irrational, constant worry about everyday life. There is no specific cause or factor that defines this ailment. A person with this disorder has worries and fears of just about anything and everything in his life.

The persons who have general anxiety disorder become so paranoid about having some kind of a natural disaster, a life-threatening disease, or loss of money among others. They become so disturbed at the mere thought of these events that they eventually fail to function normally. They also have unfounded fear of a certain sickness or disease that they go to the emergency facility or visit their physicians every so often that it disrupts their normal activities and become unproductive.

Some physicians recommend prescription medications as a form of generalized anxiety disorder treatment. It alleviates the discomforts of anxiety but usually have adverse effects that may worsen an already complicated condition.

To address this, the person is advised to have general anxiety disorder treatment like psychotherapy. Two of the most effective and popular psychotherapies are Exposure Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Exposure therapy has a more confrontational approach. It allows the person to be exposed to situations or conditions he fears the most and realize for himself that there is nothing to be feared about. Cognitive Behavior therapy deals with the managing and controlling their reactions so that his anxiety will not make him dysfunctional.

The key to getting rid of anxiety disorder is to know the cause so you can find ways to control them and finally get rid of them. This general anxiety disorder treatment is a more permanent approach and may be a lifelong solution to the problems of anxiety. They can give the person a better understanding of what is happening to him so he can deal with them in such a way that is beneficial to both himself and his surroundings.

Anxiety Symptoms With Hypothyroidism?

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Women often worry and feel anxious about some symptoms that they feel. They seem to be so tired even after having enough amount of sleep. Most women gain weight even after undergoing a strict slimming diet. Not only she did not become thinner she even doubled her weight.She looks at herself and blames everything and anything around her when hypothyroidism is the culprit for her anxiety all along.

Some women rely on prescription medications to relieve the symptoms of their anxiety. And because she gained weight, she also takes some slimming drugs as well. But however, anti-anxiety drugs only gives temporary relief. Once the effects of these drugs wear off, anxiety usually returns. In order to control anxiety hypothyroidism should be understood.

When one is experiencing anxiety hypothyroidism could be probable cause. It is not a mental condition. It is a medical condition that occurs as one’s body ages. Thyroid is a gland located at the lower part of your neck whose main responsibility is to secrete hormones. An underproduction of thyroid, or hypothyroidism, can cause weight gain after childbirth, hair loss, drying of the skin, constant fatigue, and a host of many other symptoms. Some women are led to believe that what they have is “all in the mind” and will be given a host of other anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs. If these drugs do not work, then they fall more and more into depression and get hooked deeper and deeper into the drugs.

In order to control anxiety hypothyroidism should be addressed. There are ways by which this ailment can be treated. The first step, of course is to have a correct diagnosis from a reliable physician, or an endocrinologist. Then he may suggest that you undergo a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that could balance your production of hormones. This kind of treatment requires you to have a constant communication with your doctor since he has to closely monitor your reactions to hormone replacement therapy.

Then of course when treating anxiety hypothyroidism, alternative cures should also be considered. Check out your supply of iodine. Iodine is responsible for nourishing your thyroid glands. A healthy balanced dose of iodine may also help. Of course, nothing beats living a healthy, holistic life to make sure your thyroid glands function normally. Check out how you manage your stress factors and see where you can possibly get a balance in your life to make sure you stay away from anxiety-provoking conditions and situations.

Is There Good Medication For Social Anxiety?

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Social anxiety is actually the fear of being judged or humiliated by the public. In dealing with social anxiety we should eliminate the thought that the anxiety is not about being in public or exposed to society, but rather the fear of what people may think or say.

Symptoms of anxiety are physical, physiological or emotional. Emotional distress is usually significant when the person is asked to speak in public, being interviewed or introduced to other people, or being in front of persons of authority. They do not want to be criticized or laughed at so they develop some kind of avoidance behavior. People with social anxiety would rather stay in the confines of their homes and left by themselves. Physiological factors include shaking or trembling, raging heartbeat, blushing, and an inability to speak clearly or keep a train of thought.

Taking prescription medication for social anxiety will help alleviate its symptoms but it will not totally eliminate the cause of the anxiety. Anxiety beta blockers, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines are some of the suggested drugs.But aside from being temporary relief, they may have adverse effects. Some may overcome anxiety by self-help techniques while others would require drug therapy or psychological therapy depending on the symptoms. Although it is common for people to have anxiety, when the condition becomes disruptive and distressing then there is a need for serious medical attention.

Among the therapies, cognitive-behavioral therapy has a higher success rate. It teaches the person to identify what clearly is the cause of social anxiety and to control and manage the causes of his social anxiety. Alternative and complementary treatments are also advisable which are cost-effective and natural.These methods may not give the “quick fix” relief of the medication for social anxiety, they can give a long term solution by addressing the real cause of the anxiety.

But no matter what treatment or therapy that the person receives, the most critical decision in dealing with social anxiety is to consult with the physician as he can give the best diagnosis for the reason for the anxiety and prescribe which specific method is applicable. Help yourself and get involved in self-help groups but never self-medicate as this may do more harm than cure. Seek more information for alternate medication for social anxiety by joining these groups who can be with you as you go through your ordeal.

What is The Best Treatment For Anxiety?

Monday, October 19th, 2009

Anxiety can be pretty frustrating as it affects the social and normal life and can deeply damage one’s self-esteem and confidence.  People are becoming desperate in finding ways and surefire methods that can help them overcome and eliminate problems of anxiety and restore their normal life.

There are actually many ways to treat anxiety.  Unfortunately, many of them may not be suitable for an individual and won’t be of help to them without a proper treatment plan. In fact, many people end up disappointed with the results of many treatment methods.  Anxiety disorder treatment can only be effectively done by a doctor as he is the only person who can diagnose the main causes of the problem and knows better the cure for it.   A person can choose the treatment that best suits him as per doctor’s prescription.

Anxiety is but a normal feeling.  In fact, most of the people experience it in today’s hectic world.  Unfortunately, it is not a disease which we can leave untreated.  However, it is difficult to make somebody understand the distress as well the embarassment caused by anxiety.  For others, anxiety can be the most dreaded experience they could ever imagined.

Luckily, there are various treatments that we can consider in driving away anxiety.  Some common treatments are medication such as using anti-anxiety or anti-depressants that can be used under guidance from a doctor or qualified psychiatrist.  Another alternative treatment is herbal medications which we can use without worries of side effects.  Some are relaxation and regular exercise, psychological treatment for anxiety, diaphragmatic exercise and complementary therapy such as acupuncture, massage and aromatherapy.

It depends on how effective a treatment can do to a person.  It is important to focus on proven and effective medication that suits every individual’s condition and circumstances considering the risk of unknown side effects.  Nevertheless, it is best to make a difference by putting in serious effort to put one’s life on the right tracks.  When things are beyond control, take the help of professional health experts and alleviate the problem of anxiety.