Anxiety, Stress And Depression - Read, See, Listen And Never Feel Alone Again

We all must deal with a certain level of anxiety during our daily lives. However, it is possible feelings of stress, nervousness, and anxiousness can impair with our daily life activities. In general, however, mild cases of anxiety can be managed effectively. Then, there are instances where anxiety levels increase to the point they manifest into serious conditions. Such is the case with anxiety attacks and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In order to properly deal with these conditions, it is important to clearly understand what these conditions entail.

Anxiety Attacks

The common feelings of anxiety are annoying but manageable. Irritability and nervousness can be problematic but they are not impossible to deal with. However, an overwhelming and incapacitating sense of fear that appears out of the blue is not easy to handle. This manifestation of fear is known as an anxiety attack (panic attack) and it is debilitating and dangerous. Such overwhelming anxiety attacks can lead to difficulty in breathing, nausea, a racing heartbeat, and severe pains in the chest. Often, these feelings are so severe the person who suffers from an anxiety attack will assume he is experiencing a heart attack.

The root origins of an anxiety attack can vary. Sometimes, an anxiety attack can be brought on by something buried deep in the subconscious. For example, a person who is seriously worrying about paying a bill could have an anxiety attack after walking past a bank. However, the individual may not be consciously aware that the image of the bank brought about the anxiety attack.

The various causes of panic attacks can be stress, alcohol/drug issues, hereditary problems, fears and phobias, or environmental related causes such as a difficult home or work life. The amount of time an anxiety occur lasts will vary from individual to individual as will the frequency of panic attack episodes.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

While anxiety attacks are severe, the condition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is even more problematic. Once considered solely the result of war experiences, psychologists have discovered there are many different causes for the development of this serious psychological condition.

PTSD is a form of anxiety disorder that results from exposure to an event that yielded either severe physical harm or the potential for physical harm and/or death. Common sufferers of PTSD include veterans, police/fire personnel, victims of crime or abuse, or those involved in serious, life threatening accidents.

What makes the anxiety of PTSD so powerful is that sufferers of this condition relieve the trauma experience over and over in their head. This comes in the form of flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts. These symptoms are usually brought about as a result of triggers in the conscious world that affect the subconscious. For example, a victim of a mugging could suffer flashbacks when coming across a police drama on television. Because these intrusive thoughts are so overwhelming, the individual will seek to reduce exposures to triggers. This can be achieved by withdrawing from life, isolating oneself, becoming a workaholic, or taking part in other means of avoidance. Clearly, this would have a very negative effect on one's life.

Dealing with the Conditions

Thankfully, there are a number of ways anxiety attacks and PTSD can be treated. Therapy and outpatient prescription medication care are means that have long since proven to be successful. Those that are dealing with these conditions should consult with a qualified mental healthcare professional to discuss treatment options.

Stress is a part of our everyday lives and in small amounts can even be good for us. It challenges us to meet and exceed current limits so that we become stronger, faster, better. However, there are people for whom stress is an everyday, ongoing problem that impacts their lives and even their health negatively. In very severe cases, stress can become so overwhelming that it literally makes them shut down. For these people, stress management is imperative if they're going to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

What are stress symptoms?

Stress symptoms can occur in both the physical body and psychologically. Physical stress symptoms include overwhelming fatigue, muscle tension, headaches, gastrointestinal distress like stomach aches, constipation or diarrhea and excessive weight loss or weight gain.

Psychological stress symptoms can occur, too, and they can actually exacerbate physical stress symptoms. Nervousness, anxiety, under- or overeating, difficulty sleeping (or sleeping too much), no longer enjoying activities once enjoyed, negative mood changes, and being short tempered are all psychological stress symptoms.

How stress management is best addressed?

If you are among those who have significant stress symptoms (psychological, emotional or both) such that they negatively impact your life and ability to enjoy it, there are things you can do to ease it.

First of all, figure out what is giving you stress. There's a good chance you can change external circumstances so that your stress levels automatically go down without any other type of intervention.

The fact is, all of us need balance and time for winding down. In today's 24-hour a day, seven-days-a-week world, multitasking is considered admirable, and being "on the go" all the time is something one is expected to be proud of. Yet, that's not how we're built, and we need time to relax, recreate, sleep, and simply "be" as much as we need to be busy, to be productive, and to work.

Identifying your stress: Is it permanent, or temporary?

It can be difficult with this "go, go, go" mentality to even identify when exactly you are experiencing stress. We're so "on" all the time that we can't even slow down long enough to figure this out. So keep a journal for a few days and just write down moments you identify as feeling particularly stressful.

After a few days, take a look back at what you've written and figure out what's making you feel particularly stressful. Are you in college, for example, with exams coming up? That's "normal" stress. In general, this is temporary stress that's going to go away as soon as the exams are over.

But if you have some pretty permanent ongoing stress (such as that you're going to school full-time AND working a full-time and part-time job besides), it's no wonder that you're feeling continually stressed. Your body isn't meant to function in an "on" position all the time.

In that case, it's time to make some changes. You simply have to make some time in your schedule to have "down" time and of course, enough time to sleep and eat properly. Most people need between seven and eight hours of sleep a night. In addition, it's healthy (not lazy) to give yourself at least an hour to do anything you want to, at least a couple of times a week, if not every day -- even if that just means sitting down and reading a book you've wanted to for a long time. People who are balanced and not stressed out make time for leisure, relaxation and sleep just as they do for jobs, family, and responsibilities.

Diet matters, too

If your diet contains a lot of caffeine or sugar, or unhealthy foods, your anxiety levels and stress levels can be higher just as a matter of course. The fact is, your body needs good nutritious food to run properly. Minerals like calcium and magnesium and vitamins like the B vitamins are natural emotional regulators. In other words, they're not just good for your body, but they're good for your mind, too. If you don't get enough of these in your diet, you could be experiencing anxiety or stress just from this lack. Try getting a good balanced diet and taking a good multivitamin and mineral supplement in addition to the other lifestyle changes talked about previously.

If external changes aren't enough

If your stress is longer-lasting or does not drop to normal levels with schedule changes so that you have time to relax and distress, sleep enough and eat properly, it can be helpful to talk to a counsellor or psychiatrist. In some cases, medications may help when nothing else has worked.

The bottom line

Stress management is something everyone has to do. Whether you can manage your stress simply by incorporating lifestyle and dietary changes, or whether you need more help in the form of counselling, health care intervention, or an anxiety management manual, you can manage your stress so that your life becomes healthy, balanced and enjoyable once again.

Symptoms of Anxiety

There are both emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety. Emotional symptoms include restlessness, feeling tense and jumpy, difficulty concentrating, feelings of apprehension or dread, irritability (sometimes for no reason), anticipating the worst and watching for signs of danger. Physical symptoms include racing heart rate, sweating, nausea, dizziness, frequent urination, or diarrhea, fatigue, insomnia, shortness of breath, headaches, muscle tension, and tremors or twitching.

One of the common manifestations of anxiety is a panic attack. There are a number of signs that a panic attack is about to occur or is starting--hyperventilation, hot flashes or chills, trembling or shaking, stomach cramps, a choking sensation, a surge of overwhelming panic, loss of control, heart palpitations or chest pains, and the feeling that you're about to pass out. Because these symptoms can be very severe, many people think that they are having a heart attack or dying when it occurs unexpectedly. It is important that if you suffer from anxiety that you know what to expect when a panic attack occurs.

Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) makes the sufferer feel as though he is in a constant state of anxiety. There does not have to a specific trigger that causes it and it is often accompanied by depression. GAD sufferers often experience chronic fatigue, insomnia, restlessness, body aches, and upset stomach.

One of the most frustrating aspects of GAD is the racing thoughts. You just can't turn off your brain no matter how hard you try. Everything you hear becomes cause for concern and ends up as a vicious cycle of anxious thoughts going through your head. Normal worries are a part of life for everyone, but GAD sufferers take it to the extreme. For example, a simple comment about the economy might cause some worry in almost anyone, but a person with GAD will be up all night worrying about losing her job the next day. A person with GAD will always imagine the worst-case scenario for even the most minor problems. Fortunately, there is hope.

At www.manage-anxiety.com, you will find an Anxiety Management Manual that will help people who suffer from being over-anxious, stressed, and depressed. This will help people with anxiety disorder or any other anxiety, stress or depression related problem.

Bruno Miguel
Previous Suffer GAD (General Anxiety Disorder)
http://www.manage-anxiety.com

Suffering from depression and social anxiety can be a debilitating factor in anyone's life. Those that suffer from these conditions find themselves living their lives in a sheltered manner to protect them from having to experience these feelings. What a lot of these individuals don't understand is that there is plenty of help available to overcome these feelings, especially if you catch these conditions early on before they get a chance to anchor themselves in your psyche.

Depression is a condition that affects just about every part of you and your body. Once the ball gets rolling with depression, it can be quite difficult to reverse the trend and you will find that not only does your mental health deteriorate, but your physical well being is at stake as well. It can start with them being down about an event in their lives and then it quickly becomes a way of life. They start to believe that they cannot be successful at anything and then they climb into a dark shell.

There are several different types of depression, most notably: Bipolar Disorder, Dysthymia and Major Depression. Any of these conditions will affect a person's judgment and behaviour in a dramatic way. They will feel hopeless, guilty, sad, won't be able to sleep, can experience unexplained weight loss or gain and will often have the desire to commit suicide. There are more signs than this, but you can see how serious this condition is.

Social Anxiety is often just the beginning of an anxiety disorder and will often end up in a state of depression. The natural progression of someone with a social anxiety disorder is to pull out of any situation that gives them that anxiety and then they end up closing themselves out of life all together.

There are many different types of social anxiety disorders and they are often triggered from a specific event or fear. While people with these disorders can function normally at other things, their particular fear will trigger a series of responses that will literally freeze them in their tracks. Common signs of anxiety are: increased heart beat, cold sweats or chills, feelings of hopelessness, nausea and uncontrollable shaking.

Social anxiety is something, like depression, that can be cured if it is caught in time. The key is to not behind by the illness, but recognize it and seek out help. One of the reasons a lot of people let this go too far is the sheer fact of embarrassment or perceiving it as a sign of weakness when it is anything but. In reality, it is something that everyone goes through to one degree or another it just takes a grip on some people in a more severe manner.

There are also things that you can do on your own to try and help yourself get over these conditions. By allowing yourself to experience successes in things that you normally feel doomed, you can eventually get over the dark feelings that you are having. Now you obviously cannot do these kinds of things without getting some kind of guidance, but know that there is plenty out there for you. There are many sites on the internet, such as www.manage-anxiety.com, that can help you to not only understand your condition, but to conquer it as well. If you want to get your life back, confront your condition and take it over versus having it run your life!

Are you sick of stress-relief advice? Tired of being told to relax in a warm bath and dab yourself with aromatherapy oils? Stress affects different personalities in different ways, so one person's sure-fire solution may leave you feeling more wound-up than ever.
If your doctor has prescribed an exercise stress test to monitor how your heart performs during activity, there are a few things you should do before the test:
%u2022 For at least 3 hours prior to the stress test, don't eat or smoke. And don't drink anything that contains alcohol or caffeine.
%u2022 Do not use Viagra within 24 hours of the test. Nitro-glycerine (sometimes given during a stress test) may interact with Viagra, resulting in a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
%u2022 Unless your doctor has instructed otherwise, take all of your other medications as you normally would.
%u2022 You'll be exercising during the test, so wear appropriate clothing, including comfortable shoes or sneakers and loose workout clothes
%u2022 For the test itself, electrodes that monitor your heart's activity will be applied to your chest, and you will pedal, walk or run on a machine while your heart rate is monitored

The best way for me to check if you are suffering from stress (you will find more detailed information on http://www.manage-anxiety.com) is simply by acknowledging if you notice some of the following signs and symptoms:
%uF0FC Feeling sweaty or shivery
%uF0FC Pounding heart or palpitations
%uF0FC Needing to go to the toilet a lot more than normal
%uF0FC Feeling sick in the stomach (Having butterflies)
%uF0FC Dry mouth
%uF0FC Exhaustion
%uF0FC Old aches and pains
%uF0FC Smoking or drinking more
%uF0FC Working to exhaustion
%uF0FC Headaches
%uF0FC No time for hobbies any more
%uF0FC Being irritable at everything
%uF0FC Thinking "I can't cope with this anymore"
%uF0FC Loss of appetite for food, fun or sex
%uF0FC Eating too much or too little
%uF0FC Loss of sense of humour
%uF0FC Loss of interest in personal appearance
%uF0FC Loss of interest in other people
%uF0FC A feeling that everything is pointless
%uF0FC Tearfulness
%uF0FC Forgetfulness
%uF0FC Feeling tired and having no energy
%uF0FC Difficulty in sleeping, disturbed sleep and waking up unusually early

In prehistoric times, this bodily reaction to stress was exactly what was needed. This is attributed to physiological changes that occurred to the body when danger appeared. Chemicals, especially adrenalin, were released into body and prepared it for fight or flight. The heart beat faster; blood supply was transferred from the non-essential to the essential; from the skin and digestive organs to the muscles and the head.
The resulted both in clearer, swifter thinking and faster, stronger muscular responses.
The lungs took in more oxygen, breathing became more rapid, and the body anticipated keeping cool by increasing perspiration. Once the danger had passed or fighting or fleeing had occurred (successfully!), the bodily functions reverted to normal.
In prehistoric times, these bodily responses were vital for survival. Then the energy generated by stress was utilized in physical action.
Today, however, the problems and stresses that we experience have changed radically and can rarely be resolved with physical action. We are not designed to operate effectively in this hi-tech world. Hunting for food is now replaced by jostling with our trolleys in supermarkets!
Psychological stresses lead to the same bodily state of arousal as does fight and flight, but mostly without any accompanying physical activity to use up the adrenalin and energy made available. When this stress is prolonged, physical and mental damage will occur, sometimes resulting in serious disease.
The reason why you need to be educated as much as possible about it and have the right "tools" to use to defend yourself from it or eliminate it.
By using the Anxiety Management manual from http://www.manage-anxiety.com, you will indeed be prepared and take action accordingly to the situations that will arise on a daily basis.
Remember, this is all in your head and only YOU can deal with it. No pills, no oils, will ever eliminate it.

Being over-anxious in certain cases is something that happens to most of all humans. The problem arises when some people can't lower down their anxiety levels to a normal human body level, which is 3 or 4 in a scale of 1 to 10.
We, humans, all need a certain amount of anxiety in order to focus the mind on the immediate problem, for example, when learning how to drive, being aware of road safety.
Anxiety also helps to motivate and protect, therefore giving a sense of achievement, building self-confidence and self-esteem.
Below we will see a few different types of Anxiety disorders:
Agoraphobia
Anticipatory Anxiety
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Claustrophobia
Compulsive Nail Biting
Compulsive Skin Picking
Emetophobia
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Health Anxiety
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Panic Attacks
PTSD
Simple/Specific Phobias
Social Anxiety Disorder
Toilet Phobia
Trichotillomania

Short term helpful anxiety arises as a temporary and immediate response to perceived danger that often turns off when the perceived danger passes.
Taking medication for anxiety, stress or depression is not a solution, first because is a "legal" drug you putting in your body.
Second, due to the main problem being in your mind and pills will just give a moment of satisfaction but then after 10/15 minutes, you back on in full anxiety mode.
Avoid any medication to cure anxiety, stress or depression and look for a viable Anxiety Management Manual that can guide you through all the bad times, with correct tools and "secrets" that will change your life forever.
This is all about you!! Only you have the power to control your anxiety levels to human body level. With a help of an anxiety management manual, it will guide you through the daily difficulties that will arise no matter what.

Bruno Miguel
Previous suffer of GAD (General Anxiety Disorder)
http://www.manage-anxiety.com