Getting To Know Anxiety

Have you ever been in a situation, where you felt uneasy because of something you think you may have forgotten to do, such as switching off an appliance at home, or perhaps a feeling that you annoyed someone whom you wanted to get along with really well. If you have experienced such feelings and worse on a regular basis, then you most probably are a victim of anxiety attacks.

All of us, to some extent, have experienced anxiety and at different levels. There are some things you may know about anxiety, and some things that you may not be familiar with. So in order to be prepared for your next encounter with a feeling of anxiety, you need to get to know what anxiety is before it escalates into a panic attack.

Anxiety is simply the feeling of discomfort, uneasiness and or fear of what may eventually happen resulting from a perceived, imagined, or a real threatening condition. On the extreme end panic attacks can occur due to heightened feelings of anxiety.

There are two main categories of symptoms during an anxiety/panic attack and these are physical and emotional symptoms. Physical symptoms include difficulty in breathing, shaking , sensations of heat, rapid heartbeat and fatigue. Whereas emotional symptoms deal with excessive worrying, depression, fear, irritability and lack of focus.

Now you may be thinking, that anxiety is only caused in situations where you are faced with an impeding threat and have no other option but to face it. In reality, this is not true as anxiety can occur in unthreatening conditions too . For example, imagine that you have been chosen to speak in front of a large audience and the reason you were picked amongst your other hundred colleagues is because you are regarded as the best. In such an encounter, you will feel proud that you were picked from a hundred other people but at the same time the thought of having to speak in front of a large crowd can trigger anxiety. In such cases you get a mixed feeling of both positive and negative anxiety.

In spite of the negative impression we have for anxiety, it is not dangerous in any way what so ever. If you thought that anxiety is dangerous and will threaten your health then you need to think again, because all this is merely a false perception of anxiety. Feeling a little shaky and or having a feeling of ‘butterflies in the stomach’ is pretty normal.

Panic attacks however, are far more dangerous and should be a concern to your health. Panic can sometimes result in dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty in breathing due to a tight chest and in extreme scenarios a victim can feel faintish where they may or may not, end up unconscious. The major problem with panic attacks is that most victims think they are going through a stroke and this further aggravates the current condition. So the best way to differentiate anxiety from any serious illness is to consult a medical expert on a regular basis.

So all in all you must understand that the feeling of anxiety is not bad in any way, in fact it’s more of a defensive inherent feeling which protects us from possible danger by engaging a response within us in fight or flight situations. So it’s not the “bad guy,” you just have to learn how to control it.

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Mindfulness and Panic: Ask Your Anxiety

Panic.

Heart racing. Palms sweating. Breathing rapid and shallow. Mouth dry. Knees knocking.

Whether it's a pop quiz, a job interview, a spider, an impromptu speech, a crowded elevator, a dirty restroom, the view from a cliff, a shot at the clinic, a flight across the ocean, a first kiss, or a trip to a crowded shopping center, we all have something that fills us with panic. In severe cases, we can develop anxiety disorders in which panic attacks occur at seemingly random moments.

Whether you have a case of the pre-speech jitters or a full-blown panic attack, the physical symptoms are easily recognized. However, what we need to see clearly are the thoughts going through our mind whenever we feel anxious.

No matter what triggers your personal panic parade-- complete with lively emotions, colorful thoughts, and sizzling sensations--there is one key element that gets the party started.

No, it's not just stress. It isn't your personality type. It's not solely your past memories or the way your mother raised you or your particular physical challenges.

It is simply this: you are lacking in self-esteem.

Okay, now did you automatically start with the "But I am perfectly confident! I am totally competent! I feel just fine about myself!" rebuttal? Ah, good. Watch that.

We just hate it when someone suggests we might not have rock-solid self-esteem, and yet we are pros when it comes to bashing ourselves. Aren't we funny?

We'd rather believe that our anxiety is due to biological factors so we can take a pill to deal with it. But masking panic is not the same as managing panic. If you want to transcend your anxiety, you've got to get to the bottom of it.

The truth is that we only panic about things we don't feel confident handling.

If we don't handle a particular situation well, we dread the next time we must face it. We doubt that we will ever handle it skillfully even if we have done so in the past. We worry about it--and then worry about worrying! Fearful avoidance becomes our new way of responding.

Before we know it, we're stuck in panic purgatory.

Insert mindfulness here. Don't ask for anxiety--ask your anxiety. Focus on the first thought you have when that panic starts bubbling up and gently ask, "Why? Watch...then ask again. Play through several “why” cycles—and learn.

Panic is simply misguided attention. We must learn to watch the ROOT (some element requiring greater self- esteem) instead of the RESULT (all-night panic party) of our anxiety.

Ask your anxiety and listen carefully. Use mindfulness to help you redirect your attention, and you will learn to disconnect that panic button for good.
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How To Recognise Depression

Mental health, not the sort of thing most people choose to talk about seriously. We've all heard the comments about 'Sad Sack', 'Mr Grumpy' or phrases like 'Smile, I'll pay for the stitches' or 'Stop moping around'. It saddens me every time I hear a remark like that, something insensitive or said out of plain ignorance, usually by people who have little or no contact with people who suffer from depression, and most certainly do not have a loved one or family member that suffers from depression or any other mental disorder, that can so easy get a tight grip on a sufferers life. It's almost tabboo if you think about it.

Suffering from depression or mental health problems, is something that most people feel ashamed to admit. Who wouldn't, with comments like those above aimed right at you. If you have suffered from major depression or have had an episode of depression that has contributed significantly to a change in your daily life, facing up to comments like those above is something that you will have to accecpt sooner or later.

What about those people who don't suffer a major depression or severe episode, whether life-threatening or not? Those of us who definately don't have depression and definately don't need to see a shrink to confirm what we already know: that we are not depressed! This brings me to the core of this article: How do you recognise depression?

It is so very important to be vigilant. To be aware of the warning signs, and the earlier they are spotted, the better. Why? Because being depressed leads to behaviour that is not helpful. Behaviour that over time, is reinforced day after day, month after month. Slowly but surely getting a firm grip on your life. It is much harder to spot a change in behaviour if it occurs and develops gradually over time. But what are these signs and behaviour that we should look out for?

The most common symptom of depression and one which most people think is the only one is having a persistant empty or 'sad' mood. This is not what can sometimes be reffered to as feeling 'down in the dumps'. The mood will last from several weeks at least. At which point you should see a psychiatrist or doctor. A feeling of pessimism, hopelessness or helplessness and being critical of oneself for never being good enough at anything no matter what we do. Depression can lead to a lack of interest in persuits someone usually enjoys. Feeling lethargic or having no enegry or drive, even for sex, is another symptom of depression that can slowly be re-enforced over time. Trouble with sleeping and eating is a symptom that most people would not usually associate with depression. Sleeping disorders are often dismissed as having developed a mild case of insomnia that will surely go away over time. Some people wake early in the morning and are unable to fall back asleep. Eating disturbances to, especially in women, can hide the depression, because the first thing that will come to mind is anorexia or bulimia. This is true, but we also need to place these symptoms in context, which is why it is so important to know the facts and symptoms of depression so that we can see the bigger picture.

Depression often goes hand in hand with anxiety. Anxiety can also cause sleeping disturbances, as well as a feeling of dread, increased heart rate and more severely, panic attacks. Depression and anxiety can easily knock our confidence levels as both can lead to difficulty concerntrating and remembering or making decisions. These symptoms can climax with devistating effect. Within the workplace they can lead to a complete nervous breakdown where the person no longer knows, or can't remember how to do their job or how they even got there. Nothing makes sense and it can be very frightening when you are faced with a situation like this where you no longer know what is happening around you, or much less, why you are feeling this way. Depression can also manifest itself through persistent physical symptoms or pains that do not seem to respond to treatment. Irritable and losing ones temper are also symptoms of deppression, seen more often in males than females. Thoughts of suicide, attempts and plans are never to be taken lightly. Often, suicide attempts are a cry for help. Sometimes they are not.

A person can be diagnosed with depression if four or more of the symptoms above have been present in a two week period or more. Not everyone will have the same symptoms so it is important to be aware and look for signs of all symptoms of depression. Remember, only a doctor or psychiatrist can diagnose depression.

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Tinnitus Patients Can Benefit from Reflexology Massage Therapy in Warrington PA

Tinnitus, often referred to as ringing in the ears, may seem like a negligible condition that is not seriously life threatening. People who suffer from tinnitus, however, know how much it interferes with routine day to day life. In fact, tinnitus can also lead to serious complications. Fortunately, reflexology massage therapy can help treat tinnitus. Tinnitus patients in Bucks County, Doylestown, Warminster, Horsham, Willow Grove, Abbington, Ambler, Chalfont, New Hope, Newtown, Richboro, South Hampton and Lansdale can ask for reflexology massage therapy from a professional therapeutic massage spa that also offers deep tissue massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, sports massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy in Warrington PA.

Tinnitus can be experienced as ringing, whistling, buzzing, hissing or roaring sounds in one ear, in both ears or in the head. The sound level also varies among individuals. It can be constant or it may come and go. Sometimes it is even accompanied by deafness. This condition can interfere with sleep and normal life, can lead to depression and can even develop into more serious mental and emotional problems.

There are several possible causes of tinnitus, among them, complications arising from secretory otitis media; ear infections and inflammations; otosclerosis; Menière's disease; disorders of blood vessels in the head; high doses of certain drugs such as quinine, aspirin and selected antibiotics; and even severely impacted ear wax. Extended exposure to noise from earphones, pneumatic drills and other prolonged noises can also cause tinnitus. Stress is another major factor.

Mary Martin, founder of the Association of Reflexologists and the Mary Martin School of Reflexology, has treated many tinnitus patients successfully through reflexology.

According to Martin, there is no definitive cure for tinnitus and medical specialists often prescribe a masking device which produces its own sound meant to distract the patient.

Martin had a female patient who has had tinnitus for seven years, along with extreme anxiety and panic attacks. Several doctors have failed to help her and her condition was worsening. The tinnitus stopped after her second reflexology treatment from Martin, returned briefly after the third and fourth treatments and stopped completely after the sixth treatment. The patient's anxiety and panic attacks were also resolved and the patient became more relaxed and cheerful.

A 22 year old male patient of Martin had been hearing high pitched sounds in both ears for three months. The sound worsened at night, preventing him from getting a good night's sleep. The patient was going into depression. He had also just emerged from a problematic relationship. In just two reflexology treatments from Martin, the sound was significantly decreased to the point of allowing the patient to sleep well. The tinnitus was completely cured after the fifth reflexology treatment.

Martin believes that reflexology massage therapy is effective in treating tinnitus because it removes stress and replaces it with positive emotions and a feeling of wellbeing that allows patients to immerse themselves in healing. Apparently, many cases of tinnitus are rooted in stress. She also credits the reflexology therapist's ability to establish trust with the patient, thereby providing not only health care but also encouragement and self-empowerment. The act of sincerely listening to a patient's problems and empathizing with the patient is already therapeutic.

If much of the effectiveness of reflexology massage therapy in treating tinnitus stems from its ability to relieve stress then it also means that patients with tinnitus can benefit from deep tissue massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy and sports massage therapy, as well. If a pregnant woman happens to have tinnitus, she may get pregnancy massage therapy. All these massage therapy modalities may be availed of from professional therapeutic massage spas in Warrington PA.

Massage Envy Warrington
1603 Main St
Warrington, PA 18976
Phone: (215) 343-3688
Fax: (215) 491-2445
Email: clinic0685@massageenvy.com
Website: http://www.massageenvy.com/clinics/PA/Warrington.aspx

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Medications for Panic Attacks - 5 Common Types

You cannot find any shortage of medications for panic attacks. The medicines that remedy the disorder handle the two major periods of the panic attack. First is the anxiousness, and second is the anxiety attack itself.

The first stage-the stress, or the fear which you can experience an attack. It's categorized as "anticipatory anxiety" and this is a considerable part in the swelling to a full-out attack. The prescription drugs in the first stage take care of the physical signs and the bad thinking that generally cause an anxiety attack.

The second stage-the attack and the signs linked with the panic or anxiety attack. Many drugs for this work with each of the two phases separately and others will outcome both simultaneously.

These different types of drugs are well-known medications for panic attacks.

1. Beta Blockers - These include Propranolol and Atenolol. Beta blockers are employed for managing the physical indications you can feel in your body including a racing pulse, and shaking in your hands, legs, or other portions of the body.

2. Tricyclic Antidepressants - Included in this are Desipramine, Doxepin, and Clomipramine. They are commonly used as antidepressants for worry helpful to handle the fear that typically accompanies depressive disorders. They may on the other hand, be employed as medications for panic attacks.

3. Benzodiazepines - These may include Lorazepam, Diazepam, and Oxazepam. Benzodiazepines are widely-used as long-term medication for intensive occurrences and may be utilized for a couple of years. They have already been looked on as really effective in over seventy percent of affected individuals with anxiety disorders. they do not have as many unintended side effects as various other medicationsfor panic attacks, nevertheless they appear to actually bring about tension for a limited percentage of individuals that receive them, this means you ought to use them with intense supervision.

4. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI) - These include Phenelzine and Tranylcypromine. This group of anti-depressants can aid people who are afflicted by anxiety attacks. You are usually prescribed MAOI's in lieu of other medications for panic attacks should you have other sorts of mental or health-related difficulties that may conflict. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors could also get rid of major depression and anxiety attacks at the same time in one simple medicine.

5. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) - These include Fluoxetine and Paroxetine. SSRI's were originally employed for depressive disorders. You'll be aware of them by the name Prozac. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors will help your body keep an appropriate amount of seratonin in the brain, meaning that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors can also help users handle panic disorders.

It is rather typical for anxiety disorders to be addressed with benzodiazepines in combination with SSRI's in order to stop many signs and symptoms of panic and clinical depression that are related to panic disorders.

What you must acknowledge is the fact that medications for panic attacks will not be a fix to the condition. Prescription drugs only minimize the problems of panic disorders so you are able to start to establish more positive thought patterns and expand a better emotional condition. You cannot stop the condition with medicine, you will only be hiding it, so to speak. The way to combat anxiety attacks is to use medications in conjunction with a good therapy plan.
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