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What are the signs & symptoms of a panic attack?

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:58:00 -0400

A person begins to sweat initially. This is a response to increased blood flow and a rising body temperature.

This is caused by a rapidheart rate and increased breathing. A person may begin to feel short of breathand start taking rapid, shallow breaths.

These are only the first signs.

Symptoms of panic attacks can continue and get much worse if there is not animmediate reaction and attempt to slow the onset of the panic attack.

If stepsare taken to stop the panic attack at this point, a person may not need toworry about further problems - but if the panic attack continues, things cang et much worse.

The body enters the fight or flight mode in response to an immediate danger.

It is a primeval method for getting away from predators or severe threats, but the bodyc annot maintain this level for very long.

The increases in performance from the body's systems puts tremendous strain on the individual.

This can lead toexhaustion and dizziness as the body wears itself down.

Sweating can lead todehydration and adrenaline levels can lead to numbness or tingling in thelimbs.

A person experiencing these sensations needs to immediately lie down and take steps to relax.

You can learn more about the symptoms here;

http://www.squidoo.com/panic-attact-symptoms

Therapy Methods For Anxiety

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:54:00 -0400

It is tough to treat depression with treatment. Talking about problems can get a person to unleash their problems that are disturbing them, but if you think that a few counseling sessions are going to cause someone to make a life altering revelation and reveal all of the problems of the past, you have watched ‘The Prince Of Tides’ one too many times.

For the most part, there are behavior therapies that aretaught in therapy sessions that can teach you how to cope with depression and treat anxiety. Your therapist may give you the following ideas on how to cope with anxiety:

Write down the fear that you are having on a piece ofpaper. This makes the fear real, and notjust a figment of your imagination. Readit and toss the fear in to the trash can. This is symbolic and an attempt to toss away your fears.

A more effective method is to allow you to face yourfears. Take the example of Linda.

Linda was a 38 year old mother of two who was worriedabout breast cancer. A friend of hershad breast cancer she became convinced that she, too, probably had thedisease. Instead of having her fearsalleviated by going to the doctor, she decided to dwell on it. The worry took its toll on Linda, her job andher family.

After about three months of nearly constant worrying,Linda’s body could not take it anymore and she collapsed at work. Actually, Linda had a panic attack whichcaused her to feel dizzy and actually faint. The fact that she was not eating properly didn’t help. She was rushed to the hospital where sheuttered her anxious fears. Although herphysical tests came back fine, she was urged to admit herself to the psych wardso that they could help her.

In the psych ward, Linda had to undergo group counselingas well as meet with a psychiatrist. Thepsychiatrist ordered a mammogram for Linda and told her that she had to facethis fear. She was trembling so bad whenshe had the mammogram that a nurse had to hold her hand. Finally, it was all over. The mammogram came back normal. Linda felt like a new person.

She stayed in the psych ward for three days and foundout that perhaps the fact a good friend was facing a devastating illness forcedLinda to confront her own mortality and the fact that she didn’t have enough money put asidefor her kids, if something happened to her. She used the breast cancer as a cover for the real worry, which was herconcern for her children if something happened to her.

In addition to learning to break down her anxiety andtry to get to the root of the real problem, which was fear of the unknown,Linda also faced one of her greatest fears. Now she was no longer afraid of the mammogram. She goes every year for this potentially lifesaving test.

Therapy really helped Linda with her anxiety. Drugs might have masked the anxiety disorderby getting her to relax, but she really needed to get to the root of theproblem.

The root of the problem of most people with anxiety isfear of the unknown. Fear of death, fearof losing their job, fear of what it going to happen in the future. Although we should be wise enough to realizethat there is no guarantee for the future and that anything can happen on anygiven day, the idea that our lives are not totally under our control scares theliving daylights out most people. Sowhat do they do to gain control? Theydesperately look for some way that they can control their environment.

When we think of someone trying to control theirenvironment, we might imagine someone who is either what is termed a ‘control freak’ or someone with obsessivecompulsive disorder who has to have everything in a certain order in theirhome.

We often refer to people as analretentive if they have to have things a specific way to keep them from freakingout. Just about everyone suffers, to adegree, of anxiety. Everyone fears theunknown. How we deal with the issue iswhat puts some people on anti anxiety medication and others in the church orthe bar.

A good percentage of people with anxiety drink. This is an easy way to self medicate andrelieve the anxiety. It does not curethe anxiety, it is just a mask. Liketranquilizers, booze can just make a person feel calm for a moment but is not acure. In fact, it can be downrightdestructive.

Taking a drink at a social occasion is one thing. Having to have a drink because you areanxious and using booze as medication is another. When combined with sleeping pills or anxietymedication, it can be deadly.

Alcoholism has long since been recognized as adisease. Alcoholics Anonymous is a veryeffective support group that has helped millions of people get and stay soberover the years. Just about everyone isfamiliar with the prayer recited at the end of the meetings. ‘Give me the strength tochange what I can change and accept what I cannot change.’

This gets right to the root of the problem that mostalcoholics have. They are no differentthan anyone else suffering from anxiety and depression except that they are choosinga different method of medication. Andlong before there were tranquilizers, there was booze. People have been self medicating themselvesfor ions. Alcohol is the drug of choicewhen it comes to treating anxiety.

Alcoholics anonymous uses support and therapy to keeppeople sober. Drugs are not used as areplacement for the booze. The secret isto go to the meetings and continue getting the support of their fellow alcoholics. This is simple therapy.

It is not performed by a therapist orcounselor or anyone licensed in this field. It is performed by other people who have also been through the sameproblem and give their support to others so that they, too, can become soberand overcome their addiction to alcohol.

What Is Anxiety?

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:49:00 -0400

Whereas depression tends to make someone lethargic and not feeling like they want to do anything, anxiety makes them jumpy, nervous and in a state of fear.

Anxiety is fear of the unknown. It is easy to put a name on this disorder.

Anxiety disorder manifests itself in a variety of different ways. The root of anxiety, most psychiatrists believe, is depression. People who are depressed often also experience anxiety. These two disease gotogether like peanut butter and jelly.

Some of the ways that anxiety manifests itself includeobsessive compulsive disorder, anorexia nervosa, social anxiety disorder,phobias, general anxiety disorder and others. These are all different syndromes that also manifest themselves indifferent ways. And they all have one thing in common - it is all about control.

People who are depressed often suffer from anxiety andvice versa. Excessive worrying is oneway that obsessive compulsive disorder manifests itself. Usually a person with obsessive compulsive disorder worries about germs or the house burning down or the doors beingunlocked.

He or she performs rituals togive them a bit of control over this worry. The worry is usually not about the doors being unlocked or the houseburning down but a fear of the unknown. People who experience this illness tend to have more problems withobsessions and compulsions during chaotic times in their life when everythingis out of control.

Anxiety often triggers panic attacks, or anxietyattacks. This can make someone feel asthough they are having a heart attack. They feel all of the symptoms of a heart attack and usually end up inthe emergency room of the hospital. When they find that they have had an anxiety attack, they are relieved. Until the same thing happens again.

Anxiety attacks can be really dangerous. Some people actually faint during suchattacks from hyperventilating. This can happen anywhere, even whendriving. Others may ignore true heartattack symptoms thinking that they are having an anxiety attack. Anxiety also raises the blood pressure ofmost individuals. It makes a person feelas though they are crawling out of their skin.

Anorexia nervosa is actually a condition that stems fromlow self esteem and depression and can be considered an anxiety disorder. A person with this condition has the delusion that they are fat, even though they are rail thin. They continue to starve themselves. Singer Karen Carpenter suffered from this disease that eventually ended up killing her. After the starvation, the body can no longer take the strain and theheart gives out.

Anorexia is all about control, as are other eatingdisorders. A person suffering from thisdisorder usually feels things spinning out of control and looks for somethingshe can control. Most of the people whosuffer from anorexia are young women, college or high school aged. They usually start out a little overweightand someone makes a remark about it. This does not do much for their self esteem which is usually alreadyfragile because they also suffer from depression. They diet a little because of the hurtful remark and lose some weight. Viola! They are in control of something! So they continue to diet.

Most psychiatrists will say that anorexia is a separate disorder, but it has roots in anxiety and depression as well. Anxiety and depression can usually be foundin anyone with a mental disorder. Theyare pretty much the parents of all mental health issues, but different issuesare more serious than others and the anxiety and depression manifest themselvesdifferently.

According to Dr. John Bolton of Palos Park, Illinois, depression and anxiety usually are the result of low self esteem. A person who suffers from these disorders sees themselves as worthless. The feeling of low selfesteem makes them feel powerless and causes depression.

The constant need for some sort of controlover their environment and feeling of being powerless to help themselves causesthe anxiety. They are afraid most of thetime and cling to a certain fear in order to feel ‘safe.’ The fear, or phobia, is usually somethingthat is imagined in their head and in many cases, does not even exist.

Sigmund Freud, who is considered the father of modern Psychiatry, felt that depression was the result of stifled creativity. Freud noted that many depressed individuals were also highly creative. There arethose who agree with Freud’s theory and those who take issue.

Today, the feeling is that people who suffer from depression have a chemical imbalance in their brains that can be ‘cured’ with artificial serotoninthat is given in pill dosage. People who have anxiety are usually treated with tranquilizers by the medical community aswell as therapy.

Most doctors today subscribe to the theory that people with depression and anxiety have a physical illness that is due to a chemical imbalance in their brain. They also believe there may be a genetic link. Others disagree with this theory and believe it is the result of low self esteem or problems in childhood. Still others blame society and poverty for people feeling depressed.

In short, medical science has a lot of theories aboutwhy so many people suffer from anxiety and depression, but no clear cut answers. But there is one thing that youwill rarely hear a doctor say, and that is ‘I don’t know.’

Treatment for Panic Attacks

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:42:00 -0400

There are ways to secure treatment for Panic Attacks.

Doctors can prescribe the following:

Antidepressant medications These medicines are designed to lessen or minimize a severe panic attack from recurring. Its purpose is to achieve a reduced number of attacks while under medication.

CBT or Cognitive Behavior Therapy Requires people who suffer from mild to severe anxiety or panic attacks to go through relaxation techniques to lessen recurrence of attacks.

Amidst medical techniques to recondition the brain from such panic attacks, there is still no fool-proof formula to get over it. It varies from person to person so it would not be recommended to just try one technique and end up blaming the person who advisedit to you.

Reading about someone else’s journey on how they went through the same path you’re treading and came back alive is indeed helpful. All the insights, tips and evenhow long should you hold your breath when you feel a panic attack is about to start is shared in websites and forums that specialize in this health subject

Isn’t it that you get some soothing calmness when you read a book? Not only is it enriching, it also diverts your mind away from that nagging countdown that any time now you will experience another panic attack in the making.

You can learn more about the techniques here;

http://www.squidoo.com/start-overcoming-panic-attacks

Panic Attacks in Children

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:38:00 -0400

Children are a joy and most parents go to great lengths to ensure that they have a healthy & happy existence.

There are instances, though, when external factors or circumstances, or elders’ disciplining styles, tend to stifle kids.

In the latter case, parents unwittingly cause their childrento develop a case of anxiety. Sensitive kids, in particular, often end upexperiencing sudden anger or depression when things do not go as expected.

A common example is getting low grades in school, which some parents react towith a disapproving look or reaction

Panic attacks in children are usually overlooked (the telltalesigns oftentimes tend to be dismissed or regarded as overreactions or attention-getting tactics) and as such, are not properly diagnosed by a medical professional.

When not given prompt attention, episodes ofpanic attack carry over into adolescence and adulthood.

Anothercommon trigger, besides pressure fromparents and expectations from others, of panicattacks in children is being separated from loved ones, including a nannyor caregiver-relative (common with young children starting preschool or primaryschool).

Kidswho are worry warts and are unable to discuss their sentiments with anyone are likewise more prone to suffering panic anxiety than other kids.

These anxious kids usually withdraw or experience symptoms adults also do – quickening heartrate, shortness of breath or a bad case of the “shakes” and nausea, among others.

Don’t let your childbe crippled by fear. Arm yourself with empowering tips to guide the anxiouschild. Consult a medical specialist but try to veer away from medication thatmay pose side effects.

How to Stop Panic Attacks

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:35:00 -0400

It’s something that can strike from out of the blue.

It can give the affected person the shakes, cause sweating, choking, chest pains, and extreme distress, and difficulty breathing, among other symptoms.

Some people think they are actually having a heart attack andare about to die. Panic attacks can be such an ordeal for most adults, and a traumatic experience for kids who experience it.

It can be deleterious to health, especially because the body makes physiological reactions to stress. When oxygen is cut off from the body, our blood is circulated at a quicker pace to supply the body’s needs. However, without adequate oxygen the body’s efficient functioning is hampered.

There’s a need to counter your body´s intense,panicky response with some relaxation techniques. This is where exercises combined with deep breathing exercises, meditation, or even mind-calming music to ease tensions come in.

Anxiety-prone kids and adults alike will also benefit fromhealthy foods and natural remedies. If you have a sweet tooth, or if your are a caffeine addict or alcohol drinker, learn to wean yourself gradually off these items and opt for alternatives.

Check out the wealth of information on how to stop panic attacks available on the internet.

Vitamins and herbs may also promote healing sans the negative physiological side effects.

Check with your doctor also which herbal supplementation therapies will most likely work for you and suit your body conditions.

Some nerve-calming herbs are catnip, lavender, and St. John's Wort.

Overcoming panic attacks

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:31:00 -0400

Plagued with anxiety/panic attacks but wary about taking doctor-prescribed medications which may have side effects?

Overcoming panic attacks may not happen overnight, whether it’s through traditional remedies or alternativetherapies, but it can be done.

To calm your mind, alleviate and eventually banishthe symptoms and discomforts that come with your bouts with anxiety, you can do something more than the triteadvice many people give – to think happy thoughts.

Firstand foremost, make it part of your battle plan to understand that you are in noreal danger. This is considering, ofcourse, that you have undergone a thorough medical check-up to rule out otherailments that may be bringing on the symptoms of the panic attack.

Learn deep breathing techniques and mind-stimulating exercises. This will help calm your brain down and stop it from over-floodingit with negative thoughts.

Engaging in activities that may not only soothe you but rev up youroverall being, like dance aerobics or yoga, may work to youradvantage. Yoga is touted to be capableof reducing the severity and frequency of panic attacks.

Complement these activities with proper nutrition.There are foods which may contribute to a heightened sense of agitation and anxiety and increase the likelihood of your lapsing into panic attacks, namely those that are high in caffeine, sugar and alcohol.

To conquer your fears and overcome panicattacks, check out helpful informational resources, like http://www.squidoo.com/use-these-tips-to-prevent-panic-attacks

In so doing, you cancope better by learning about the best ways to get through a panicattack, the alternative treatments, the effects of the mostsuitable therapies, and the foods that may be holding you in your anxiety loop.

What is a Panic Attack?

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:29:00 -0400

A sudden surge of an overwhelming fear that doesn’t have anywarning for no reason at all is the answer to your question on what is a panic attack .

Be forewarned that these attacks are not to be associated with ailments that concern the heart. It is not a medical hazard to begin with. Although, having panic attacks can be a terrifying scene especially for the person undergoing it.

If you ask people who have encountered such an attack, they will tell you that they thought they were going crazy or going out of control.

If the attack happened only once, well,they are lucky since having frequent attacks can lead to a more dangerous condition called a Panic Disorder.

Medical practitioners cannot really nail down the real culprit that causes these attacks.

However, there are numerous caseswherein stress and one’s genetic make-up contribute to such a condition.

Since you do not want anotherepisode to happen ever again, why not start reading books that talk about ways to prevent and avoid panic and anxiety attacks?

These books would not cost youa leg and an arm -- if you compare it with one session with your shrink.

It would do you good when youfind out that there are effective ways wherein you can gain control over these attacks.

Would you believe that there are even some kinds of food that triggers panic attacks?

There is so much of life to enjoy when you are panic attack free.