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Living With Anxiety

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Panic Disorders: Are They Real?

 

I can't tell you how many times I've heard of people having a panic attack and someone saying that they just wanted attention. Nothing could be farther from the truth. While a panic attack is not the same as some traditional medical conditions, it is both a mental and physical disorder that must be taken very seriously. If you suffer from panic attacks, see a doctor immediately to get you condition under control.

As classified by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), panic disorders are technically under the umbrella of anxiety disorders. Other anxiety disorders include social phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and agoraphobia, among other conditions. Over 20 million people in the United States alone suffer some kind of anxiety disorder or another.

Panic disorder is characterized by reoccurring panic attacks that often happen spontaneously and unexpectedly. A panic attack is an intense feeling of irrational fear that lasts over a period of time. Some symptoms of a panic attack may or may not include a pounding heart, chest pains, sweating, difficulty breathing, the fear of going crazy, shaking, cold or hot flashed, the choking sensation, and nausea. One panic attack doe not mean you should be diagnosed with panic disorder, but if this condition occurs a number of times and interrupts your life, you should see a doctor immediately.

Most people experience the unpleasantness of a panic attack at some point or other in their lives. While this may be a scary experience, you should generally not be concerned unless the month following the panic attack leads to constant worry about have another panic attack, constant worry about a condition that could be related to the attack, or major changes in your lifestyle.

When you have a panic attack, even for the first time, see a doctor. Try to clearly think about the symptoms you've experienced and note the time and length of the attack. This information will help your doctor find the best treatment options available for you. Often, panic attacks occur simultaneously with other anxiety disorders, so being clear about your experiences will help your doctor to understand your experiences.

Remember, panic attacks are real. While there may be a few cases where people pretend to have attacks to get attention or for other reasons, this is not the norm. If someone around you is experiencing a panic attack, offer your help and call a doctor immediately to get help for the person.

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Saying Goodbye to Stress 

Anxiety disorders are often a product of stress. From GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) to panic disorder, you can cut back on the anxiety in your life simply by reducing stress. Stress is normal in daily life no matter who you are, but if you let your stress take control of your life, serious problems will arise. Fortunately, ongoing stress is easy to overcome, but it is important to know the steps to doing so.

Stress is an internal reaction triggers by external factors, like pressure. One of the best ways to overcome these reactions is with plenty of exercise. Daily exercise can help you learn to physically deal with stress by improving your tolerance to stress during exercise. During a panic attack, most people feel short of breath and a pounding heart. A hard workout gives you these same experiences, but in a healthy way. AS you exercise more and more, you push your body to accept these conditions without panicking.

Getting a good night's sleep is also very important to reducing stress. Stress can physically wear out a person's body, and without sleep, you will feel the effects of stress much more readily. This can lead to anxiety disorders very easily. To get enough sleep, make sure that you schedule at least 8 hours for sleeping. Don't eat or drink lots of sugar or caffeine products before bedtime and try to do relaxing activities in the few hours before bedtime. If necessary, see your doctor for help with sleeping problems.

Another key to reducing stress is to schedule time for non-work related activities. Take vacations or at least days off in order to have fun. Work is a major cause of stress, and with that stress comes worry about money, health, and many other things. By setting aside specific time to enjoy yourself with loved ones or on your own, you can physically and mentally set aside the stress for at least a few hours. Try to have at least an hour to yourself every day and an entire long weekend every few months to purely enjoy fun activities.

Lastly, work to reduce stress by learning to think a bit differently about life. Some of the most stressed-out people are perfectionists. While this can be a good trait, it can also go too far. Know when to let something go. Also, think positively about your life. When you worry that you aren't good enough or are upset about little things, they really add up to hurt you. Managing your thought process is just part of the battle, but if you work at reducing stress, you can avoid developing anxiety problems.

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Reliving the Past: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 

Common among war veterans, rape victims, and others who can experienced terrifying events, post-traumatic stress disorder is a conditions that is characterized by the gripping fear persistent due to flashback thoughts of an ordeal. Post-traumatic stress disorder, also called PTSD can hurt a person's work, social, and family lives.

There are a number of horrible events that could cause one to experience PTSD symptoms. Besides those listed above, these include: child abuse, violent attacks, threats, natural disasters, and accidents. In any cause, there is usually a sense of helplessness and tragic danger. However simply witnessing a horrible event can cause PTSD.

PTSD has a number of distinct symptoms that can help you diagnoses your own condition. There include nightmares about the event, avoidance of thoughts or feelings, difficulty remembering the experience, irritability, difficulty concentrating, emotional drain, guilt, feelings of distance from friends and family. Having one or two of these symptoms does not mean you're suffering from PTSD, and not everyone experiencing an event will develop this anxiety disorder. Generally, you should see a doctor is these symptoms last after one month.

Treatment for PTSD is very important because the disorder can cause you to miss work or school and have trouble socializing. Having PTSD is nothing to be ashamed of-over 5 million America adults alone say they have this disorder. PTSD affects anyone, regardless of age, race, economic status, religion, or gender, although more women than men tend to have PTSD. When something tragic happens in your life and you can't move on, PTSD is a likely disorder to develop, no matter who you are or what you look like.

Thankfully, there are a few ways to treat PTSD. Therapy is a very good way to talk about your problems, and it can also help you from experiencing PTSD from the beginning. Remember to tell you therapist the truth about everything and ask for advice whenever you feel like you need it to avoid never-wracking situations, like panic disorders or flashbacks.

Medication is also possible to help people deal with PTSD. If PTSD is left untreated, the results could be other anxiety disorders, depression, sleeping problems, substance abuse, and a lowered immune system. You can win the fight against PTSD! Treatment in all forms is available to help you move on with your life or find closure. Talk to you doctor today if you've concerned about yourself developing PTSD.

Educational Materials on Stress and Anxiety from Amazon 

Are Phobias Controlling your Life? 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), over 6 million Americans suffer from specific phobias. A specific phobia is an anxiety disorder that is based on a certain fear. These fears vary greatly from person to person and usually stem from experiences in childhood. Specific phobias go beyond being simply adverse to a certain object or situation and can actually cause panic attacks.

Specific phobias can be difficult to diagnose in comparison to rational fears. There are six main criteria points that doctors use to diagnose specific phobias. First, the fear must be persistent and unfading. In some people, this fear may also be felt even if the object is not around or the situation is not happening, simple because it might be around or happen in the future. The second criteria that must be met for diagnosis is acute anxiety, sometimes even leading to a panic attack, when the object is around or the person is in the situations. Thirdly, the fear itself is irrational and excessive, because there is no immediate danger. Next, a person will start to avoid the object or situation, even if this disrupts daily life. Another criteria is that it disrupts life to the point where it interferes with normal daily functioning and a considerable amount of time is spent worrying about the phobia. Lastly, these symptoms are not attributed to another anxiety condition or disorder.

Fears vary widely, but fall into five categories: animals, natural environments, blood and injury, situational, and other. In some cases, treatment is not necessary. For example, if you have a fear of airplanes, you can simply choose not to fly during your life. However, once the phobia begins to disrupt your functioning on a daily basis, you should see your doctor for treatment. Behavior therapy is usually the best treatment you can get for a specific phobia. With this process, the person is exposed to the object or situation, slowly at first, and with pictures or visualization. Virtual reality is also great for helping others to overcome specific phobias.

It is simply important to seek help if a specific phobia is ruining your life. You can ask your doctor for tips to help you overcome a panic attack or ways in which to avoid objects or situations in healthy ways. While you may never be "cured" from your specific phobia, it is totally possible to let it go enough to be able to live your life normally on a day-to-day basis.

Recommended Resources in Audiobook Format! 

#1 -- A Guide To Eliminating Stress and Anxiety

It may be a symptom of the strains of modern life: the prevalence of stress and anxiety . It seems that stress is ever-present, attacking us at work, at school, on the road, and at home. To a large extent, it is impossible to escape stress.

Do you ever feel as though you're on the verge of a complete nervous breakdown? As though, if one more thing goes wrong with your day that you don't know what you'll do?

I felt exactly the same way just a few short months ago. I was really burning my candle at both ends between work and college and family and I didn't think I could hold on much longer. I was snappy and short with everyone and then I noticed that my anxiety was taking a toll on my health.

Not only does it include timely tips and advice understanding the factors that cause you stress, but also clues to help you zero in on and control key stress factors within your life. This comprehensive special report covers the following topics:

· Is Your Personality Causing You Stress?
· Is your Relationship Causing You Stress?
· Is Your Organization Causing You Stress?
· Are You Stressed Out by Your Marriage?
· The Stress of Death
· The Stress of Mental Illness
· Stress on the Job
· The Stress of Pregnancy
· Stress and the First Year of Parenthood
· News Junkie Stress
· The Dollars and Cents of Financial Stress
· Driving Away Stress
· The Right Rx for Stress
· Exercise: The Ultimate Stress-Reliever

Learn to control your stress and anxiety today!

BONUS: Your Audio Book Comes With a 74-Page Ebook.

#2 -- Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks

Attention: You Do Not Have To Live With Anxiety And Panic... Would You Like To Cure Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks Immediately -- And Live Free From Fear Forever?

Are You Ready To Stop Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks Right Now, Today -- Even If You've Tried Everything Else And Failed? Everyone's situation is different -- so I can't make you any promises. But I can tell you I've suffered from those life-stopping panic attacks myself. And I've gotten instant relief. Could that happen for you, too? I think it could.

And I can tell you this...

- If you want to know why you have panic and anxiety to start with...
- And want to know how to tell the difference between anxiety and more serious conditions...
- If you want real answers about how to make the fear go away...

Then you need this book. In this book, you'll get answers to these questions...

- How to cope with a panic attack -- and escape the fear that something terrible is about to happen.
- Breathing techniques that can bring an oasis of calm to your troubled world once and for all.
- The little-known relaxation techniques that can take you from "10" on the panic scale back down to "2" in mere seconds.
- The specific panic and anxiety triggers that are responsible for almost all attacks - how to avoid them, how to identify them, and how to neutralize their effects on you.
- Why you may have in fact been "born with it" -- the role that heredity and genetics play in your panic and anxiety.
- The "quick hit list" that will let you instantly identify what kind of panic and anxiety disorder you suffer from. You can't break free from this condition until you know exactly what the condition is!
- Steps you must take now if your child has a Panic or Anxiety Disorder.
- The critical ties between Panic/Anxiety Disorders and Depression; the warning signs and danger signals that can save your life -- or the life of someone you love.
- When should you use drugs - and when should you try the natural remedies for Anxiety and Panic?
- What you can do if you don't have money for medicine; yes, there are options. Once you read this, you'll know exactly what to do next.
- Lifestyle changes you can make that will relieve your anxiety, panic, and depression.
- Herbal tea recipes that can dissipate anxiety and fear like wind blowing away the fog.
- What you must never eat if you want to escape the soul-crushing grip of Anxiety and Panic.
- The Indian health secrets that are thousands of years old, but just now being acknowledged by Western medicine -- and how they can make your fear and panic vanish almost overnight.
- The built-in brain-change mechanism that is more powerful than any other. We all have it -- now you will know how to use it to change your state in mere seconds.
- A five-minute lesson in meditation and yoga that lets you tap into your bodies own calming and centering powers; years of study at a temple or ashram are not required.
- How to choose relaxation and hypnotic tapes and CDs that actually work, and avoid the ones that are a useless waste of money and time.
- How to seek out medical help without fear of getting hooked on mind-altering drugs.

By getting this book you've already taken one step in admitting your problem and finding a cure for yourself. Even in the toughest of times when you're suffering badly and you think you're alone in this world remember that you took this giant step by getting this book, and that you did it all by yourself. It doesn't matter if someone else bought or recommended the book, what matters here is that you have the courage to read on.

BONUS: You'll Receive The Audio Book Plus The 100-Page eBook!

#3 -- Forget Your Fear or Phobia: Social & People Anxiety

"Just imagine how much power you have given to your emotions over the years & still tend to give! Think about today. Can you locate any moment or group of moments forming a remembered experience when your emotional children were in charge & not your mature, balanced self? Sit back & view this happening on your mind screen? How would you rate this production? Is this the way you choose to experience your life?..... Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht

This audio is designed for the individual who has a tendency towards social anxiety and/or shyness as emotions of choice.. Emotions are clusters of chemicals that can either diminish or enhance ideal mindbody states. Most of us harbor negative thought patterns both consciously and subconsciously, but for some, these tendencies can interfere tremendously with the quality of life.

This audio presents tools & techniques for managing emotions are all levels through Awareness Meditation & Interactive Self-Hypnosis. The subconscious mind works backwards. Once seeing the desired outcome, the subconscious mind will work to change the old behaviors. Audio includes instructions for deep relaxation, stress management, mental biofeedback, & healthy goal setting. This audio is "interactive" allowing the listener to program parts of the audio to meet personalized needs.

Note: All programs produced by International Medical & Health Writers, Ltd. are written & recorded by Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, C.Ht. Each program has 2 or 3 separate original Interactive Self-Hypnosis Sessions, each with it's own induction. All programs include directions for listening & other important information.

#4 -- A Guide to Get Rid of Panic and Anxiety

It may be a symptom of the strains of modern life: the prevalence of anxiety and panic. It seems that anxiety is ever-present, attacking us at work, at school, on the road, and at home. To a large extent, it is impossible to escape anxiety.

Do you ever feel as though you're on the verge of a complete nervous breakdown? As though, if one more thing goes wrong with your day that you don't know what you'll do?

I felt exactly the same way just a few short months ago. I was really burning my candle at both ends between work and college and family and I didn't think I could hold on much longer. I was snappy and short with everyone and then I noticed that my anxiety was taking a toll on my health.

I knew I had to do something. That's when I started to read everything I could on the subject of anxiety and panic.

What I discovered completely changed my life!

How did I do it?

I would love to share my secrets with you and my new special report on anxiety and panic does just that! Everything you need to know to control anxiety and panic is included in this special report:

· Breathing Techniques to Help Control Anxiety and Panic
· Understanding the Causes of Anxiety and Panic
· Tips and Techniques to Help Yourself
· Self-Help Test
· Common Myths
· Relaxation Techniques

I leave absolutely nothing out! Everything that I learned in order to control my anxiety and panic I share with you!

For example; did you know that anxiety is not something that should be feared-rather, it is an aspect of life that needs to be managed. You will find that there are a myriad of causes for panic and anxiety. Both can appear on the scene anytime, anywhere. However, a growing body of research suggests that there are numerous ways to reduce the negative effects of anxiety. If you follow these prescriptions for anxiety relief, you should find yourself leading a fuller, more productive life.

You will no longer be challenged by the demands of anxiety, and you should feel more relaxed as a result.

I show you how to control your anxiety and panic; no matter what it is that is stressing you out!

This is the most comprehensive report on anxiety and panic control that you will ever read!

What is Social Anxiety Disorder? 

Do you have intense feelings of discomfort and fear when in social situations? You may have social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety disorder affects millions of people around the world and varies greatly from person to person. However, it is important to know that if you find social settings unbearable, you can get help. A doctor will be able to help you treat your social anxiety disorder so that you can live a normal life instead of being paralyzed by fear.

It's hard to pin down the exact symptoms of social anxiety disorder, which is why seeing your doctor is so important. However, some common signs that you may have this disorder include a number of fears. Do you commonly fear social situations? You should see your doctor if your fears reflect the following: fear that all attention is on you, fear of making mistakes, fear of judgment, fear that everyone is better than you, fear of humiliating yourself, or fear that everyone sees your flaws. These fears may or may not cause panic attacks, but always cause intense anxiety. Anxiety may lead to shaking, a pounding heart, blushing, sweating, stammering, nausea, and dizziness.

Shyness is not the same as social anxiety disorder. While you may feel shy in certain situations, social anxiety disorder is physically debilitating to a person experiencing it. In fact, social anxiety disorder may take over a person's life if left untreated. This disorder usually starts from childhood or early adulthood and can affect everyone, regardless of race, religion, or gender, although women are more likely to develop this disorder than men.

Social anxiety disorder is often found in conjunction with other anxiety disorders. It is also common for a person with social anxiety disorder to try to treat it using drugs or alcohol, which will in turn lead to substance abuse. The best and only way to treat social anxiety disorder is to see your doctor. Therapy and medication can help you work through this disorder so that you can live a healthy and socially active life. Cognitive-behavioral therapy will help you grip your disorder so that you can learn how to make yourself calm down and have less fear in social situations. Medications can be short or long term are can work to block certain inhibitors. Together, you can your doctor can find the perfect treatment for you so that you can take back control of your life. You may have to live with social anxiety disorder for the rest of your life, but it does not have to stop you from being happy.

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Posted July 17, 2008

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