Most people are unaware of the magnitude of the disruption panic attacks bring to a patient suffering from them frequently. They do not understand what causes these attacks and why they are so terrible for the patient. Patients who suffer from panic attacks are unable to leave home or work. They are unable to handle specific situations or to tolerate the presence of specific objects around them. This can have a terrible influence on their daily life and is very hard on them.

Panic Attacks typically start with fear, worry or anxiety.

Normally everyone feels anxious some time or the other, but the patient with panic attacks experiences intense anxiety. Their emotions of anxiety, worry and fear get totally out of control. This fact causes them even more anxiety and gets converted into physical symptoms. They feel as if they are suffering from heart attack or some other critical medical problem like seizure. Physical symptoms represent a big indication in understanding panic attacks. Patients who suffer from a high state of fear, anxiety or worry feel their increased heartbeats, palpitations and a feeling of tightness in the chest. This worries them all the more because they feel they are facing much more than a fearful situation. Some neurological symptoms like uncontrollable shaking, jittering or twitching may also be exhibited. The patient literally shakes from terror and fear over the confronting situation. Other symptoms such as headaches, diarrhea, stomach upset, chills or hot flushes, nausea and other physical reactions may also manifest.

What causes these panic attacks?

The causes of panic attacks are varied and they are different for each individual. Chronic panic attacks may manifest as psychological disorders such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Phobia and such other anxiety disorders. Persons suffering from these disorders display an astoundingly higher level of anxiety than persons who are lucky not to suffer from these disorders.

Panic attacks may also be a result of underlying medical disorders like Thyroid Disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Migraines, some types of heart conditions and certain disorders which are anxiety provoking. Some of these will directly result in anxiety due to physiological reasons whereas others will cause anxiety as an outcome of the medical disorder. The patients with medical problems could be fearful of their deteriorating health or the medical problems may not allow them to undertake certain activities or reduce their capacity as compared to earlier times.

Panic attacks may also result from medications.

Many medications have side effects which result in restlessness, insomnia, nervousness and deep anxiety. The people who are prone to anxiety normally find that medication worsens their situation and makes it more difficult to achieve control over their feelings. If the medication prevents them from sleeping, it aggravates symptoms.

If you understand what panic attacks are, it will help you to assist a close friend or a member of the family who may be undergoing panic attacks regularly. It is important to understand that these people are neither going mad nor are they inventing the symptoms that are displayed. Panic attacks are terrible disorders which totally disrupt someone’s life. If you can encourage such a person to seek medical help to reduce these panic attacks frequency and severity, you would have done a lot to support him towards leading a normal life.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/panic-attacks-stop-scaring-yourself-709370.html

Technorati Tags: panic attacks, Panic Attacks Symptoms, Panic Attacks Treatment

My anxiety is bothering me all the time and i don’t know if its (gad) or what so here are my symptom. -my chest is aching all the time or tense all the time -i can constantly feel my heart beat in my chest and body even know i feel my chest and it doesn’t seem to beat hard -i have this sense of fear for no reason all the time -i get light headed and have headaches -my hands tingle out of nowhere sometimes -my body aches all the time and i feel like im suffocating -i feel like life is a dream and i cant remember things sometimes I could list more but im not going to waste your time with all that but these are the main problems i have and i just feel that im going crazy or that i have something wrong with me so please help me and tell me if you have had the same problems…

Confusion is a clear sign of stress and anxiety – as are all the other symptoms you describe. Please try The Linden method – it will help you understand what is happening to you and you will be able to change the way you respond to anxiety.  The actual label is less important than working on constructive ways of dealing with your anxiety so you reduce your symptoms, feel better physically and clear your head so you don’t get confused. 

Technorati Tags: anxiety, Anxiety Cure, Anxiety Help, generalised anxiety disorder

Copyright (c) 2008 Hope Pope

What is Anxiety? Ever met someone who worries from the time they get up in the morning until the time they go to bed? Ever live with someone who wakes up with a red mark on her toe and is certain she has a disease? Then she gets an advertisement in the mail that day that focuses on how important it is to get regular checkups and she breaks out in hives because she is now certain she is going to die. Then she sees a report on the news that night about a local funeral home and she is now literally shaking because she feels it was meant to be that she saw that and she starts thinking about how her children will live without her. Then the next morning she wakes up … the red mark is gone but now she has a bruise on her left knee… and she starts thinking she has a blood disease?

Ok, we all know someone like that. Maybe it is you. It can be quite funny … especially when it isn’t you… but anxiety is actually is a very serious matter.

It can consume us… it stops us from living in the present… it cheats our spouses and children from getting the emotional support they need and deserve from us. It is what keeps Psychologists and pharmaceutical companies in business.

It is estimated that 13% of people suffer from anxiety. So if you are sitting in a room of 100 people and you are suffering from anxiety, there are about 12 others who are sitting in the room that are feeling just like you.

It is estimated that over 19 million people in the United States have some type of anxiety disorder.

Here are some of the symptoms that can be associated with anxiety: racing heart, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, stomachache, feeling dizzy, feeling of faint, numbness and chills.

If you or a loved one is suffering from anxiety, get help. Don’t wait because you are too scared. It is a serious matter. You are not only hurting yourself but you are hurting loved ones, too. So what are your options? If you have good health insurance, you can go to a local Psychologist. Some are helpful and some aren’t.

There are also many anxiety medications available. Unfortunately, with each medication, there are also a bunch of side effects that go along with it. Some of the side effects include: becoming addicted to the medication; risk of suicide; weight gain; blurred vision; headaches; heart palpitations; nightmares and agitation.

Also keep in mind that a lot of times, the medications aren’t even effective.

Another option is to try some type of anxiety program. Check your local newspaper. Often, there are support groups for those suffering from anxiety. There are also some anxiety programs online. Some are good and some aren’t. Make sure you try a program that has worked successfully for others. Talk to those who have been through the program to make sure it is a good one and that it will really help you.

Hope Pope
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/anxiety-symptoms-help-672537.html

If you are 1 out of the millions of people experiencing social anxiety and you are feeling really helpless feeling there is nobody to help you, then you are wrong. There are many more people suffering from this disorder. You have a chance of being hit by social anxiety if you have a problem with extreme shyness.
A few things that make the social anxiety patient fearful and stressed are:

• Being teased or criticized
• Getting to meet new people
• Having all the attention
• Seeing people who work in authorities position (some important people like supervisor)
• Being watched while working on something
• Most of the social gatherings
• Having interpersonal relations, friendly or romantic

You might be having social anxiety if these symptoms apply to you and the way you feel being social. Don’t lose hope and think that you are the only person having this problem and no one will come forward to help you. There are quite a few types of successful social anxiety medicine available today.

Cognitive-behavior therapy is one of the leading successful types of social anxiety treatments available today. Basically, cognitive behavior works with the brain and how and what we think. Since how we feel seems to be the major part on social anxiety, this therapy is a really good way of treatment for social anxiety. It teaches us on new ways of thinking and how to behave in social places. Cognitive behavior is widely used and is being recommended by lots of psychologists and therapists.

Cognitive behavior therapy has a chance to produce some long term changes in our lives but only when used consistently and hence this cognitive behavior therapy has been very successful as a treatment for social anxiety. But this result can be obtained provided the patient has no such health issues as dementia, brain damage, Alzheimer’s disease which might contribute to social anxiety. This cognitive behavior therapy will tell upon many types of cognitive times in our lives, which helps with our beliefs and new thoughts that comes up in our brain.

Medication is another treatment for social anxiety which is most of the times recommended with cognitive behavior therapy. Anti-anxiety, anti-depressant drugs, beta-blockers are few types of medications for physical symptoms which are helpful for social anxiety. Though there might be a feeling on the 1st day of taking the anti-depressant, it takes a few weeks for the drugs to act on the brain and the body and produce an actual effect on you. Medication actually just helps to lessen the anxiety while undergoing the therapy and does not completely cure the social anxiety. Medication must not be taken in your treatment for social anxiety alongside with the therapy. The therapy can be availed as an individual or group therapy. Only a trained therapist can recommend what you need best based on the needs.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/social-anxiety-treatment-easy-ways-to-get-help-709366.html

Anxiety and anxiety related illnesses are on the rise.

With the stresses of home, work, school, children, war and the economy anyone would feel pressure. When enough anxiety builds, it can cause a lack of mental alertness, mental illness, physical illness and a whole host of other issues. The core issue however starts out as anxiety. It is therefore necessary to find ways to relieve anxiety before it can build. On way is through the practice of Yoga. Yoga poses, breathing techniques and the benefits of yoga can help relieve anxiety and promote a positive and calm outlook.

Yoga therapy and anxiety

In recent years, yoga therapy and anxiety has been a topic of conversations for many people both professionals and those who are looking for ways to relieve anxiety. Some professionals have even created specific yoga for anxiety programs. These yoga for anxiety programs use specific yoga poses for anxiety, that is to say they contain a grouping of poses, which have the yoga benefits of anxiety relief. These various programs use yoga equipment for many of them some do not.

Some of the positions and poses that research shows to work with yoga and anxiety are the standing prayer breath, Seated Yoga Mudra, and Breathing Meditation. These three poses are the basics that will promote the relief of anxiety. The best time to learn these poses is when you are already relaxed. Breathing needs to be steady, slow and deep, this will help promote the feeling of relaxation and help your body to relax.

The standing prayer breath pose

In order to perform this pose stand with feet hip width apart and bring your hands together in a prayer position. As you raise your hands, inhale relaxing your shoulders into your back. Then exhale as you do, move your hands from the prayer position and sweep them down to your sides then back up to the original prayer hand position. Repeat somewhere between three and ten times depending on how much you want to do and how much time you have. Then reverse the breathing order and make each breath longer while your movements become slower.

The seated yoga Mudra pose

Kneel on the floor, keeping your spine straight, then sit back onto your heels. This can be slightly uncomfortable, if you find it so, place a pillow on your calves. You arms need to behind your back, you can either clasp them or hold something if clasping is not something easy for you, squeeze your shoulders together and lower towards your back. The next step is to exhale and bend forward as you exhale from your hips, keeping your back straight until your forehead touches the floor, hold for three to ten steady breaths.

The breathing meditation

This works great for relieving anxiety and creating a peaceful moment. Sit in a chair or on the floor, place your hands on your knees, close your eyes and breathe through your nose.

Kevin Pederson
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/overcome-your-anxiety-with-yoga-140590.html

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Generalized anxiety disorder is diagnosed if symptoms are present in most days  for more than six moths.

Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the common anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are the term covering several different forms of abnormal, pathological anxiety, fear, phobia and nervous condition, which may come on all of a sudden or gradually, over a period of several years and may impair or prevent the pursuing of normal daily routines.

The essential characteristic of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is excessive uncontrollable worry about everyday things. This constant worry affects daily functioning and can cause physical symptoms. GAD is usually difficult to diagnose for it lacks some of the dramatic symptoms, like unprovoked panic attacks, that are seen with other anxiety disorders. To be able to diagnose Generalized Anxiety Disorder, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms must be present more days than not for at least 6 months.

The diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptoms are:

- Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehension), occurring more days than not for a period of at least 6 months, about numerous events or activities.

-The person with GAD finds it hard to control the worry.

-The anxiety and worry are associated with three or more of the following six symptoms, with at least some symptoms are present for more than 6 months in most days than not (at least one is required for children):

-Restlessness or feeling tense or on the edge

-Easily fatigued

-Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank

-irritability

-muscle tension and muscle aches

-difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep

-difficulty swallowing -trembling, sweating

-nausea, light-headedness

-feeling out of breath

The focus of anxiety and worry is not limited to, or the anxiety or worry is not about having a panic attack, being embarrassed in the public, being contaminated, gaining weight, having multiple physical complaints, or having a serious illness, and the anxiety, and worry do not occur exclusively during post traumatic disorder.

The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of everyday activities.

The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effect of substance, such as alcohol and drug abuse, or medical condition, and does not occur exclusively during a mood disorder, a psychotic disorder, or a pervasive developmental disorder.

When the anxiety level of people with GAD is mild, they can still function socially and keep a job. Even if they don’t avoid certain situations as a result of their disorder, they may have difficulty doing the simplest daily activities if there anxiety is severe. The disorder comes on gradually and can begin at any age, but the risk is highest between childhood and middle age.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is commonly treated with medication or cognitive-behavioral therapy. Several drugs are used to treat anxiety disorders and these include: benzodiazepines and antidepressants, and Quetiapine.

Technorati Tags: anxiety, Anxiety Help, GAD, generalized anxiety disorder

Depression self help is an option that you have. First off, it is incredibly important for you to seek out the necessary support for your condition. Both depression and anxiety are serious conditions that should not be left untreated. But, there are various degrees of severity offered by them. In some cases, depression self help is not an option. This is very evident when it comes to the treatment of a severe case in which you are thinking about or have attempted suicide. Then, depression medicine is the best way to go at least from this point.

Understanding Your Options

What many that experience depression do not know is that they do have the ability to explore depression self help options. You do not have to be heavily medicated if you do not want to, unless you are in a very severe case or are suffering from manic depression symptoms. So, what can you do? Here are some things that have been found to help.

· Alternative treatments for depression include supplements of herbal products. There are many products that offer help from anxiety as well as from depression. Products made from high quality ingredients can be helpful. Purchase these only from reputable providers of quality foods.

· It is necessary for you to realize that depression self help must focus on your own feelings about yourself. One way in which you tackle your condition is to realize that things may not be as bad as they seem. The negative thinking that is overtaking your mind is not something that is your fault, but part of your depression, a true illness.

· Do not expect yourself to just wake up and the depression is gone. The fact is that even with the best anxiety and depression treatment, they can linger for a very long period of time.

· Avoid making life decisions that will affect you or your loved ones when you are feeling depressed. You should seek out the help of those that know and love you for additional help here or postpone decision making until after your depression is lessened.

· Practice depression self help treatments such as yoga and meditation. These can help the body to regain a tranquil feeling and will ultimately provide you with a bit of healing. Acupuncture is another traditional treatment of depression that you may find help from.

· Do not set goals for yourself that are too challenging or that provide you with a high level of responsibility. Putting too much pressure on yourself can lead to worsened symptoms of depression. Do not set yourself up for failure.

· Physical activity is good for the body and the soul. If you get outdoors and do the physical things that you used to enjoy, you will work on restoring your health. Depression self help can include putting yourself into situations that you are familiar with and once loved.

Depression self help can and does help. Remember that if you are in severe depression that you should seek out help from your doctor. Even if you do not want to take depression medicine, he or she will help you to find alternative treatments for depression that really will help you.

Jim Johnson
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/steps-you-can-take-to-help-manage-depression-and-anxiety-30264.html

So, I always put myself down. I do try to stop…I try so hard. I like just start screaming at my brain to shutup..which sounds like I’m crazy…I don’t think I’m crazy. ha I do seem to look at the positive in situations, but only for a short while, then I over think the situation and turn it around to be a negative situation with no positive. I sometimes get so stressed I make myself sick. My family says that I always stress about the small stuff. I always have to tell myself everything I did wrong and put myself down. I feel so dumb sometimes, but I know that I’m not. I know I’m not happy…how can I be when I can’t seem to stop over thinking things and crying. I’m sixteen and it doesn’t seem like any of my friends go through this…Do i need to get help or is just a phase?

Or you might just be a teenager!
If your really concerned talk to a Doc. There’s no harm or shame in seeing one!
Good luck!

I’m almost 16 years old, and my life has changed very dramatically in the past year. For me it’s a very long story. It started off with me just worried about school, and then basically everything. Too the extent that I was completely terrified and couldn’t sleep at all. I was just in this constant state of fear, that never stopped. This was about 2 years ago when I started having these acute symptoms and they just kept building on. But I knew that ongoing worry was a problem I’ve had for years, just not this bad. Basically after a while, I decided just to see a psychiatrist, and was prescribed meds (prozac), which was maybe 13-14 months ago. I was diagnosed with ocd/ anxiety at the time. Later on I was diagnosed with severe clinical depression along with the anxiety, approximately 1 year ago, and my doctor raised my dosage of prozac to 40mg, which helped with depression, but not very much with anxiety. Anyway, I started school in sept 09, as a completely different person, with all I had to deal with, and i didn’t want to see/talk to anyone anymore. I then started failing in school, when before, I was an top student. I was placed in the psychiatric hospital 3 times last year, once in sept, once in oct, then from nov 2009, to jan 2010. It was for anxiety, depression, suicide, and I guess other problems. I felt like I didn’t want to live in this world and i was thinking about substance abuse to cope with, but i decided not to do any of it. One time, or twice, I cut myself, because the anxiety was so bad, along with the depression back in december. At the hospital, I was diagnosed their with asperger’s syndrome ( a very mild form of autism), clinical anxiety, and depression. I was given meds zyprexa, risperdal, seroquel, prozac, inderal, and klonopin, but nothing helped me in terms of anxiety/ some depression. Anyways, I continued living life after being released from psychiatric hospital in jan, and used an excuse i made up in school, saying that I had some pain problems or cancer,and had test done, because I didn’t want everyone else to know what was going on with me. The only people that knew were the staff, and one of my really close friends. I started CBT in early feb for generalized anxiety/ depression, and so far it’s been helpful in reducing anxiety, when facing new situations, which cause more distress and stuff. I also started CBT for OCD specifically just a few days ago. During my time at the psychiatric hospital, I failed a course, which I’m now taking in summer school. Recently, I also switched meds. I was on seroquel, prozac, and ativan (when needed). Now, I’m almost completely off prozac, and switching to zoloft, which I started taking 2 weeks ago, and am still taking seroquel, and ativan. Ativan helps me when I’m having severe anxiety/ panic attack, but i try to avoid taking it. I’m wondering, how long does it take for zoloft to kick in. I’m still on prozac, but i’m weaning off. I feel strange, like the world doesn’t really exist, and it feels bad. I feel like I’ve been through so much, and still suffering a lot, and I won’t get better, but i try really hard to stay positive. I also have lots of mood swings throughout the day, like i could be really happy, then angry etc, and it happens a lot. Also, my social worker called me yesterday, and said that the last time I went their (tuesday), she thought that i should see the psychologist to fill out a questionnaire, and stuff like that. What do you think it’s regarding? Do you think I’ll get better? Any of you people here have similar problems?

I have suffered with severe depression in the past and have developed anxiety problems. When I was suffering with the depression I too had suicidal thoughts and everything felt strange and surreal, I felt and believed I was not meant to be alive.

What I will say is that was a few years ago now and other than the anxiety (which is improving all the time) I am feeling a lot better and you will too so please stay strong.

Likewise too the above comments I would see the psychologist to check for signs of certain illness. You say you have mood swings and can feel happy and then angry all in the same day. To me it sounds very similar to Bi-Polar (also known as manic depression) but this is only a guess and only a true professional will be able to diagnose this. Check the link for manic depression symptoms>>>> http://www.allaboutlifechallenges.org/ma…

Well done for not slipping in to substance abuse and please stay strong, things will get better for you!

I’ve told my parents that I have bad anxiety and I get panic attacks on a regular basis at school and that it feel like I’m going to die (what some people would describe as a heart attack). It affected my grades a little last year, I got a 3.9 / 4.0 GPA when I could have easily got that 4.0 I just took a F on some group activities in class because it was just too much for me. The first 1 1/2 semesters of school I sat entirely alone and did everything on my own… for the rest of the 1/2 semester I sat at a table but they left after they ate because I was boring and didn’t talk enough for their liking… so I sat alone at that table a lot.
What would happen if I saw my counselor about this? Because someone told me that it’s technically "child neglect" due to the fact that they wouldn’t take me to a doctor after I told them several times about painful panic attacks and heart palpitations.
I know she’s going to tell me to ask my parents to see a doctor and I’m not sure what would happen if I told her that I asked to see a doctor and they made a huge joke out of it (My parents even went as far as joking about the first couple of weeks of high school that year when I would wake up and puke nonstop everywhere because I was so nervous and could not compose myself. My parents even yelled at me for puking and made me go to school everyday anyways.)
How should I go about talking to my counselor? I have a couple months until I’ll be able to see her and I have no intentions of having a repeat of last year, because it left me feeling horrible… like I’ve wasted a long part of my life. The anxiety has just been getting out of hand.

you could try going to the doctors by yourself. I’m 16 and I go by myself all the time.