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November 6, 2008

Diagnosing And Treating Anxiety Disorder

Filed under: Health — Tags: , , — admin @ 12:57 pm
anxiety
In this day and age of juggling work and family, people are under more stress than ever. What may be a temporary bump in the road for some, can be downright debilitating for others. When people refer to anxiety they are often referencing a “feeling” that they get under exorbitant amounts of stress. And we have all experienced what is considered to be anxiety at one time or another. Anxiety disorder, however, is something very different; a general term that medical professionals use to describe a variety of psychological conditions related to fear, anxiety, and phobias.

Most noticeable, anxiety disorder can interfere with everyday activities, getting in the way of work responsibilities, social activities, and personal relationships. Even the most commonplace activities - shopping, driving; even leaving the house - can seem insurmountable to those suffering from an anxiety disorder. The conditions associated with anxiety disorder are numerous and not everyone feels them acutely as others. But these conditions are considered to be a disorder if they are ongoing, irrational, and interfere with daily life.

People who suffer from anxiety in any capacity will report varied emotions when faced with situations that activate their fight or flight response. This feeling of heightened anxiety can also be described as fear - an emotion that the body reacts to by releasing adrenalin throughout the body. When we are not able to calm this reaction - when the fear or anxiety takes over - the adrenalin takes over as well and a host of physiological reactions ensue. Those with anxiety report increased heart rate, sweating, the inability to catch their breath, and paralyzing fear.

Thankfully, there are a number of excellent medications on the market today that have been designed to help people who suffer from anxiety. But in order to treat sufferers appropriately, it is necessary to determine the anxiety disorder subcategory from which the patient suffers.

Generalized anxiety disorder refers to ongoing and persistent fear and anxiety that comes and goes with no particular catalyst. A sufferer of generalized anxiety may feel a heightened state of awareness, fear, and worry most of the time - manifesting itself in a host of physical symptoms including body tension, sleep disorders, headaches, stomach ailments, and heart palpitations.

Panic disorder refers to episodes of anxiety generally provoked by one or several catalysts. The sufferer reacts to a particular stress by experiencing heightened anxiety and panic translated to often severe physical symptoms that sometimes include hyperventilation, dizziness, shaking, and incapacitating fear. Many new sufferers of panic disorder have confused the symptoms of the condition with those experienced during a heart attack.

Social anxiety is anxiety experienced in any social situation, rendering the sufferer incapable of being within groups of people without feeling embarrassed or scrutinized. Often the anxiety is so great that those suffering from this disorder avoid most social interaction.

Phobias also fall under the umbrella of anxiety and include agoraphobia - where sufferers limit their visitation to places because of their fear of anxiety surfacing; many agoraphobics have difficulty leaving their homes for this reason. Other phobias are included in this subcategory as well; in essence, a phobia is an irrational and ongoing fear of a particular place, situation, or object. Often, the fear is so great that people will avoid the catalyst altogether.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is anxiety that is manifested through compulsive behavior - activities that the sufferer can not help but complete. Such disorders vary in severity and circumstance; those who suffer most strongly experience very real feelings of dread if they do not complete certain repetitive, often ritualistic behaviors - checking locks, counting steps, etc. Often the OCD sufferer is completely aware of how irrational their behavior is but they are unable to stop doing it nonetheless.

There are many comprehensive medications on the market today that have made significant strides in managing and even eliminating many disorders of this kind. Those who live with an anxiety disorder no longer have to suffer at the hand of their irrational thoughts; with proper medical diagnosis, supervision, and pharmaceutical intervention if necessary, anxiety need no longer run the show.



By: Candice Sabrina

About the Author:
For more information on anxiety try visiting http://www.BestAnxietyRelief.com a website that specializes in providing anxiety related tips, advice and resources to include information on anxiety disorder.



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Recognizing Hidden Anxiety Symptoms

Filed under: Health — Tags: , , — admin @ 3:52 am
anxiety
With the way of the world - overworked citizens attempting to make money, advance careers, and still juggle family and personal relationships - stress is unavoidable. And for some, feelings of anxiety become part of their everyday existence. Anxiety - often referred to as fear or panic - happens to all of us at one time or another. It is the body’s way of identifying danger and protecting us in its wake.

We are programmed in these situations to have what is known as a fight or flight response during which the body releases adrenalin to help us do whatever it is we need to do to protect ourselves. But sufferers of anxiety experience this heightened sensitivity severely and often. It is when anxiety becomes persistent and interferes with daily activities that most people turn to treatment. But in order to identify overall anxiety - rather than just an isolated reaction to an isolated incident - it is necessary to understand anxiety symptoms.

Anxiety can crop up in several ways. While some people report experiencing anxiety in response to particular situations, others report an overall sense of anxiety throughout the day in response to nothing in particular. In either case, however, anxiety symptoms are the same.

The flow of adrenalin experienced in the body’s fight or flight response, manifests itself in a number of physical ways. Heart rate accelerates resulting in palpitations, sweating, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. In fact, many people feel as if they are suffocating and can not catch their breath. This can be enormously frightening and can only serve to exacerbate symptoms.

Other physical symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, dry mouth, inability to swallow, headache, shaking, trembling, and frequent *********.

But there are psychological anxiety symptoms that sufferers experience as well. Anxiety sufferers may feel ongoing heightened sensitivity or feelings of worry and unease, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and insomnia. Many people feel as if they are “going crazy” and have difficulty separating reality from the imaginary.

Once a pattern of anxiety symptoms is identified it is best to meet with doctors who can also help you determine what specific situations may provoke your anxiety. At this time, a treatment plan may be implemented to help the patient manage the feelings of anxiety and lesson anxiety symptoms. Such treatments may include cognitive-behavioral therapy, holistic remedies, lifestyle modifications, and even medication.

The type of treatment that may be used to combat anxiety symptoms will largely depend on the type of anxiety being experienced. General anxiety disorder refers to an overall feeling of heightened anxiety and can often not be traced to any specific provocation. Panic disorder refers to sudden and often severe anxiety attacks that take place in response to a particular situation or stressor.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder - or OCD - is anxiety that manifests itself in compulsive behaviors; sufferers often have to complete certain rituals in order to maintain internal order. Phobias also fall under the umbrella of anxiety disorders and refer to severe and irrational fear associated with particular places, situations, or objects; often the fear is so great that sufferers will avoid the source of anxiety altogether. Anxiety symptoms vary greatly according to the type of anxiety being experienced.



By: M. Xavier

About the Author:
For more information on anxiety try visiting http://www.BestAnxietyRelief.com a website that specializes in providing anxiety related tips, advice and resources to include information on anxiety symptoms.



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November 1, 2008

Anxiety Disorder Information

anxiety
Anxiety is part of our natural “fight-or-flight” response. It’s our body’s way of warning us of possible danger ahead. Anxiety disorder is a blanket term covering several different forms of abnormal, pathological anxiety, fears, phobias. Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental health problems. Anxiety disorders are a group of disorders which affect behaviour, thoughts, emotions and physical health. It is estimated that they affect approximately 1 in 10 people. 18.1% of Americans are affected by anxiety disorders. They are more prevalent among women than among men, and they affect children as well as adults. Anxiety disorders are illnesses. It can be present from an early age or begin suddenly after a triggering event. They are prone to flare up at times of high stress.

Anxiety can be accompanied by headache, sweating, palpitations, and hypertension. Many types of anxiety disorder some types including general anxiety disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder is a common chronic disorder and its affects twice as many women as men .People with this disorder feel afraid of something but are unable to articulate the specific fear. They fret constantly and have a hard time controlling their worries. Other types of panic disorder. In panic disorder, a person suffers brief attacks of intense terror and apprehension that cause trembling and shaking, confusion, dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing, and feelings of impending doom or a situation that would be embarrassing. Another types of anxiety disorder is phobias.

Phobias are divided into two categories: social phobia, which involves fear of social situations, and specific phobias, such as fear of flying, blood and heights. Social Phobia is also form of anxiety disorder. People with social phobia feel a paralysing, irrational self-consciousness about social situations. They have an intense fear of being observed or of doing something horribly wrong in front of other people. Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder which results from a traumatic experience. Post-traumatic stress can result from an extreme situation, such as being involved in warfare, rape, hostage situations, or involvement in a serious accident. It can also result from long term (chronic) exposure to a severe stressor. Separation Anxiety Disorder is the feeling of excessive.

Treatment can offer stupendous relief, often in a relatively short amount of time. Most anxiety disorders are treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medication, or a combination of the two. Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is very effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. CBT will help you identify and challenge the negative and irrational beliefs that are holding you back from working through your fears. Cognitive-behavior therapy for anxiety usually takes between 12 and 20 weeks. CBT is conducted both in individual therapy and in groups of people with similar anxiety problems. Relaxation techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, controlled breathing, and guided imagery may reduce anxiety. Acupuncture may help reduce anxiety.

Anxiety Disorder Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Antidepressants drugs is also recommend.

2. Biofeedback to control muscle tension.

3. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also helpful in anxiety disorder.

4. Relaxation techniques is very effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

5. Benzodiazepines (such as Xanax) is also useful against anxiety disorder.



By: Juliet Cohen

About the Author:

Juliet Cohen writes articles for Women Health. She also writes articles for Early Pregnancy and Pregnancy Calendar.



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October 31, 2008

Anxiety - What is an Anxiety Symptom?

Filed under: Health — Tags: , , — admin @ 5:38 am
anxiety
Am I having a heart attack? Am I dying? Or is it anxiety? Many symptoms of anxiety mirror symptoms of other illnesses. This is because the “fight or flight” response is triggered in anxiety attacks and the body will respond as if it is threatened. The heart will race; the breathing will become shallow, sweats will breakout over the body to keep it cool in preparation for flight, these are all signs of anxiety, or an anxiety attack. Attacking anxiety back and regaining control over your reflex responses will help reduce the number, frequency and severity of your anxiety symptoms.

When an Anxiety Symptoms is Harmful and When it Isn’t

There is a wide range of anxiety symptoms that may be no more than a mild feeling of uneasiness and as intense as extreme fear. In some cases, a little amount of anxiety is good and normal and it may even help to improve a person’s performance. There are features like having heart palpitations or a racing heart as well as a lot of sweating that point in the direction of being an anxiety symptom. Symptoms such as irritability and lack of concentration as well as having strange thoughts and having extreme mood changes are psychological symptoms.

Treating Anxiety Stress Symptoms

One may wonder as to what the causes of anxiety symptoms are and who the people at greatest risk are. The answer lies in the fact that anxiety symptoms are a result of anxiety disorders which may occur due to a change in the way amygdale, which is a small organ in the subconscious brain, reacts. This is also known as anxiety switch. For treatment to be effective, there is a need for concentrating directly on these symptoms and the treatment should be aimed at the root causes of any anxiety disorders, which in other words, is an inappropriate reaction of the amygdale.

It may be noted that everybody may have experienced anxiety symptoms at some point of time in their lives and most are able to effectively deal with such situations. When there is a lot of unusual rise in the adrenaline levels in the blood it sets off a chain reaction of normal but wrong reactions which results in powerful anxiety symptoms that greatly affect the person afflicted.

There are also instances of some people experiencing symptoms when there is no obvious cause and these are known as free-floating symptoms that can be discontinuous in nature or may continue over a longer period of time. Some even have situational anxiety wherein the anxiety symptoms can be correlated with particular situations.

One may also wonder whether anxiety symptoms are harmful and the answer is certainly not. They do not cause harm to the person even though they elicit a sense of horror and scare the person but in effect anxiety symptoms are not harmful, being exaggerations of normal body sensations and reactions. It bears repeating that to treat anxiety symptoms, one has to address the root cause, which lies in the amygdale, where anxiety is created and stored as well as sustained.



By: Alien

About the Author:

Alien writes for anxiety treatment . He also writes for stress symptoms and mental health issues



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