Monthly Archives: May 2011

Anxiety Therapy

I recently was taken to my pediatrician for pulling out my hair i have severe anxiety and they told me I should see a counselor what will happen when I go to the counselor? What should I expect during therapy? What will they do about my anxiety? I'm only 14, I know some anxiety medications are for people 18 and older so what will happen. From what I can tell… Anxiety + Therapy= X. . No definite outcome. You set the outcome. Rebel all you want, but hurry and get it over with so you may be part of the moving herd. If not, then you better be really interesting in expressing your against-the-grain-ness.

Panic Attacks While Driving

A panic attack can occur while you are cooking. Or you can be watching TV or sleeping when you get it. You can even have panic attacks while driving which is considered one of the most dangerous things to happen. As you can see, you can have attacks anytime of the day or wherever you are or whatever you are doing.

Basically, panic attacks are caused by an intense feeling of anxiety or fear over something. Most of the time, the thing that causes or triggers the anxiety is unknown, which is why attacks occur more frequently after their so-called “first appearance”.

The signs while driving are not that different from other types of attacks. The most typical manifestation seems to be having cold and sweaty hands as well as feeling dizzy throughout their driving time.

The danger of having an episode while driving is posed by its consequences. Here are just three of the most common, but serious, outcomes from attacks that occur while you drive.

Road Accidents

This is clearly the number one consequence from an episode occurring while you drive. The reason for this is that they generally leave you disoriented and confused. Aside from these two, you have the great tendency to focus on the attack and not so much on the driving. Who can blame you when, after all, the panic attack seems more immediate, unbearable, and surprising compared to the driving which you happen to do everyday?

Freeway Avoidance

Another consequence is that it can lead to developing freeway avoidance. The reason for this is clear. In the freeway, you know that there are more vehicles that you will meet as well as follow. Everybody on that road is driving fast, just like you are. With these two, the possibility of road accidents becomes high. With you having an attack right in the middle of driving in the freeway, this possibility becomes even higher.

Studies have shown that those who experienced a episode or two while driving end up having the tendency to avoid the freeways as much as possible. You are no longer as comfortable or as confident in driving in the main roads as before. This is because you never know when an attack will hit you. You end up fearing that it might occur again when you drive. Understandably, you would want to stay clear off the main roads and stick to the lesser used ones in order to be safe and prevent vehicular accidents from happening.

Fear of Driving

This might seem harmless but developing a fear of driving can make you feel debilitated. Why? Since you fear that if you drive a panic attack may occur, you soon develop a fear to drive. Not only will this cause more attacks, but it will even cause you find ways not to drive. Some even un-learn their driving skills making them feel useless. As a result, depression would also follow.

Panic attacks while driving are a typical occurrence. Know more about them and learn how you can get rid of them as soon as possible.

Panic Portal

The first thing you view at the Panic Portal website, is this:

“What’s Holding Your Recovery From Anxiety Back?”

“Countless People Have Transformed Their Anxiety And Panic Attacks Using My Simple Course That Makes Complicated Psychology Easy For Everyone To Understand”

What I feel is my duty here today, is to tell you what I really consider the Panic Portal and Panic Away. You’ve probably heard of Joe Barry and his Panic Away program. If not, have you heard of his Panic Portal website?

Well, they are all the same. . . panicportal. com, panicaway. com. . . the same thing. Let me hold you back for a second though before you head over there.

Why?

Well, I just wanted to tell you a bit about them first.

Joe Barry, the author of Panic Away, or Panic Portal, or whatever used to suffer deeply from both anxiety and panic attacks.

In the book on page 25 starts a new chapter entitled “The One Move Technique”.

This technique is the technique that will allow anyone with panic attacks to almost instantly banish the panic from their system, just by using this technique. . . beautiful cool isn’t it? I would say.

I bought the Panic Away book a while back, mostly out of sheer desperation. Though I did receive a few pushes from friends whoever had tried the system in the past.

That’s what I’m now. I’m a friend, and I’m here to aid you in your journey and help you in your decision making.

Panic Away sure transformed my life, and if you’re suffering from panic attacks or anxiety yourself, I’m a 100% certain that it’ll change your life as well. Plus, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg either. Actually, if you don’t care about it (you will though, I’m sure) you’re entitled to a refund within 8 weeks, no questions asked.

How does that sound for a Panic Portal?

Anticipatory Anxiety

I’m 17 yrs old and for the past year ive always been anticipating anxiety. I get that back of the mind sort of feeling that this anxious feeling wil come. Its like im having anticipatory anxiety over anxiety. I get what if thoughts like what if I can’t get rid of this feeling. What can I do to cure this. Any helpful advice is appreciated. I was happy to learn… That's actually part of anxiety. The fear of having another anxiety attack.

Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Although anxiety is accepted as being a normal and healthy emotion, some people suffer from intense anxiety, which ends up affecting their lives and causing them to keep away from certain situations that they used to be able to deal without difficulty. If you are suffering from anxiety then you should begin on finding an appropriate and effective method of treatment.

The first thing you need to do is determining the type of anxiety disorder you suffer from. There are five main types of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Effective treatments for each anxiety disorder are accessible, and new and enhanced treatments are always becoming available.

Non-medication treatments

Once you have found out the type of anxiety that you are suffering from you will be able to find the suitable anxiety disorder treatment. Mild anxiety disorders can often be treated relatively simple with relaxation and breathing techniques. Yoga, for instance, is a great type of exercise that can really help with anxiety and related health conditions. This is definitely something that should be tried prior to more serious forms of anxiety disorder treatment.

If your anxiety is more severe or constant, then therapy or counseling may become the best option. Cognitive behavioral therapy for one has been confirmed to be very effective in the treatment of all types of anxiety disorder. In this therapy you work one on one with an experienced and qualified mental health professional, who will assist you to deal with your fears in a safe and controlled environment. Over time you will be able to find out the root of your anxiety and from there work towards developing a treatment plan that will lead you to your normal life.

You can also select an anxiety disorder treatment plan that involves natural and herbal treatments. Herbal remedies such as valerian root and kava kava have over and over again proven to be effective at treating anxiety disorders and depression. You do need to keep in mind that just because these herbal remedies are natural it does not indicate that you do not still have to be careful. If taken inappropriately, these remedies can actually worsen your anxiety.

Hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and acupuncture are other options for anxiety disorder treatment. In order to determine which one is going to work best for you, you need to talk to your doctor. You may need to try a few different methods before you find the one that works best for you and your particular anxiety condition.

Medications for anxiety disorder

Generally, most treatments for anxiety disorders include at least one prescription medication. If you start taking medication as a treatment for anxiety disorder, it is important to understand that this should not be a long-term solution and you should keep working with a certified mental health professional in order to determine the root cause of your anxiety.

There are several common medications for anxiety disorder and one of them is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Serotonin is known as the brain’s all-natural happy drug. Scientists believe that a lack of serotonin is the source of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks and therefore the purpose of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is to increase the levels of serotonin in the brain. Some familiar brands that use selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are Prozac and Zoloft.

Benzodiazepines are another choice of medication, which act like minor tranquilizers. They decelerate the body’s nervous system, giving it an all-over calm. These types of medications can be addictive, so they should only be taken as prescribed. Some well-known brand names are Xanax and Valium.

Another medication that is used to treat anxiety disorder is antidepressants, which affect the neurotransmitters in the brain. Effexor is a good example of this type of anxiety disorder medication. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are very strong antidepressant drugs that should only be taken as a last resort after all other treatments have been tried. These drugs can be lethal when combined with certain other drugs and foods. One thing that need to be noted, anyone who takes antidepressants may become more susceptible to suicide, especially when they first begin to take them or when the dosage is changed.

Last important remark

Taking time to find the right treatment for your anxiety disorder is going to be vital to your success and you are going to want to work with a professional, especially if you have little knowledge on anxiety disorders in general. Remember that treatment for anxiety disorder is as different as the individuals who use them, and what works well for one person may not be effective for you. You may find relief from various sources of treatment including medication, therapy, self-help, alternative medicine or another form of treatment, and it may take some time and some trial and error in order to discover what works best for you.

One thing to remember is that support from family and friends are also very important. Many communities have organized support groups for people with different difficulties and you should be able to find a support group dedicated to anxiety disorder. These groups are typically made up of people with similar problems. Most patients find it reassuring to realize that they are not alone. Others in the group will be able to share advices, failures, and successes.

Treatment Of Panic Attack

You may not realize it, but you may suffer from something that can take over your whole world if you let it. You’ll recognize the symptoms, but you’ll have no idea what is behind them.

Panic attacks are debilitating. One moment, you are living your day to day lifestyle and the next, you find yourself paralyzed with the feeling that you’ve lost all control. You worry about the possibility of something happening to you. It all comes on so quickly and unexpected, that you are blown away and the only thing you want to do is go right back home.

During times when they can be caused by a number of things – heredity, biological forces, even exaggerated thinking – the main culprit is usually stress. As stress plays such a huge factor in our day to day lives, we don’t realize just how profoundly we’re affected until something highly stressful approaches and we’re struck with a panic attack, afraid of absolutely everything that may come our way. Finding a proper stress relief is crucial in order to help limit the number of panic attacks a person has at any given point in their life. If stress is controlled before panic and anxiety set in, there is a better likelihood of being able to stop panic attacks before they start.

The symptoms of a panic attack are obvious enough: the rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, the feeling of dizziness and dread, trembling, sudden chills,and the pins and needles feeling in your fingers and toes are only a few of many symptoms. In any given year, there millions of people whoever experience a panic attack – some of which experience repeated panic attacks.

The best course of action for panic attacks would be to talk to your doctor, whoever can prescribe medications and forms of therapy to assist with the treatment of those feelings of panic. Only your physician would know the treatment that is best for you. During times when a panic attack may leave you feeling the need to hide and can feel as though it controls every aspect of your life, it doesn’t have to. Also with proper treatment and reduced stress, you can reduce the number of panic attacks you have, and can even eliminate them! A happy, healthy life is once again within your reach.

Get Rid Of Panic Attacks

One of the best tips for panic attacks you can follow is to learn how to be prepared. At first this may seem difficult to do since most panic attacks strike completely without warning. Unfortunately, this aspect of panic attacks can make the experience of having one even more difficult and frightening. Learning how to be prepared for a panic attack, even when you are not expecting one; however, can help you to come one step closer to dealing with the reality of panic attacks effectively and quickly.

One of the first tips for panic attacks and steps in developing your own individualized plan for panic attacks includes taking the time to learn breathing exercises. While it is true that breathing exercises can help stop a panic attack or reduce the symptoms of a panic attack, it is important to note that waiting until you are in the midst of a panic attack is not the time to learn a breathing exercise. In fact, it can make matters worse. Being proactive is the key here. Try learning a simple breathing exercise when you are not feeling anxious and then take the time to practice it every day. It doesn’t take very long, only about 5 minutes and can prove to be very helpful when you are faced with a panic attack. As you practice your breathing exercises you will quite likely find that it will become natural for you to shift your breathing during a panic attack. This can help to reduce anxiety and stress which can eventually reduce the number of panic attacks you experience.

Other important tips for panic attacks include learning relaxation exercises. While it may seem as though it would be impossible to relax in the middle of a panic attack it is just as possible to practice relaxation techniques as it is to change your breathing patterns. Like breathing exercises, you will eventually learn to naturally relax your muscles during an attack; thereby reducing the symptoms. Much like breathing techniques; however, it is important not to wait until you are in the middle of an attack to try this treatment method. Begin practicing when you are feeling calm and then work on it a few minutes every day.

Tips for panic attacks should also focus on developing a strong social support network. Create a list of people whom you trust and know you can call when you are experiencing a panic attack. Consider family, friends, support group members and your therapist. Write their names and telephone numbers down and them place lists with this information in places where you can find them easily, such as on the refrigerator, in your purse or wallet, in your car and at work. Focus on expanding your support network so that it does not include just one or two people.

Learning to be prepared for panic attacks is one of the best tips for panic attacks you can follow as it can actually help you cope with the symptoms of and even reduce the number of attacks you have.

How To Stop Panic Attack

Well they mostly happen in class or somewhere where I can't just run out the door, which is what I really want to do. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to stop a panic attack. Essentially — I am also a panic attack surferer. Share with you my fighting experience after one year counselled. 1. Practice breathing technique, don't do it when the panic attack come, you might forgot the simple technique. Do it often. Take a deep breath, slowing breath out or hold the breath for 3 second, do it few times or more until you are better. You can do it in class, nobody will notice it. 2. Try to talk to other, so that you won't focus on the Panic Attack. The more you think the more Panic attack will come. 3. Write down some positive sentences in a note book, read it when you feel that uneasy: a. Think of the 10 restaurant you ever visit. B. Think of the countries you want to go. C. Think of the name of all your friends. D. Think of you are not the only one have panic attack, there are many many other. E. Remind yourself you will be okay for after a while. F. Tell youself Panic attack will come and go. Most important is get a counsellor, or read some article about panic attack from the website. Go to google, type "treatment for panic attack" or "how to fight Panic attack". There are many articles. Hope it help.

When Panic Attacks

What to do When Panic Attack – The Emergency Plan In this article you will hopefully learn what you need to do to successfully stop a panic attack from happening. You will learn what steps you must take to eliminate the attack.

Identify the panic attack:

First you need to identify your panic attack. Is it really a panic attack that is happening to me? If you are experience any of the following symptoms there is likely that a panic attack is near:

* Raging heartbeat

* Difficulty breathing, feeling as though you ‘can’t get enough air

* Terror that is almost paralyzing

* Nervous, shaking, stress

* Heart palpitation, feeling of dread

* Dizziness, lightheadedness or nausea

* Trembling, sweating, shaking

* Choking, chest pains, distress

* Fear, fright, afraid, anxious

* Hot flashes, or sudden chills

* Tingling in fingers or toes (‘pins and needles’)

* Fearful that you’re going to go crazy or are about to die

After you have identified that you are suffering from a panic attack it is time for the emergency stop, to stop the panic attack.

Stop the attack A panic attack are the result of to much anxiety hormone in your body. The body uses this hormone for you to be able to work under pressure. In normal this levels return to normal when you are not under pressure, but this can get stuck in overdrive and keep sending out large quantities of stress hormone even when you are not under stress. This just keeps building up until the bubble cracks and a panic attack is a fact.

The organ that controls the anxiety hormone is called the amygdala and has it seat in your brain. To successfully stop a panic attack you need to specifically target the amygdala. With different techniques you can reprogram this organ to its default mode where the anxiety levels are low and you feel great. But the panic can return. So find out what to do so you stay in control of your thoughts.

Make Sure You So, are in ControlWhen a fearful thought appears your normal reaction would be to try to shut the thought out and try not to think about it. A struggle appears in your mind. You think: I dont want to think about this, this thought is not good for me, make it go away. This kind of reaction to thoughts builds anxiety, stress and panic attacks.

Instead Let the thought in. Dont try to shut the thought out. Dont try to stop it. Just watch the thought like a cloud that is passing by. Observe the fearful thought but dont judge it, just observe. It may seem strange but now you are in control. You decided to let the thought in and observe it, looked it for just what it was. A thought, one of thousands thoughts you think every day.

This technique needs practice but is very empowering. You will soon experience that the fearful thoughts that you used to have in the past dont seem so fearful. It is you who are the boss and you decide how to react to your thoughts. Remember, you hold the solution to your problem within you.

You have learned what to do when panic attack. What you dont know is how you actually put this information to use, and start curing yourself.

Herbs For Panic Attacks

I smoked for 7 years w out any problem, I was also sick and taking cough medicine at the time, I want to smoke again but don't want to feel like I am dying, I've tried it a week after it happened and felt a little shitty but not as bad as the night I went to the er, I didn't take any meds and got over the panic attacks in a month, I got a few small ones after I stopped smoking but none in the last 3 months, I realy want 2 try 2 smoke but don't want to go to the er. After looking around, I learned — well heres the thing, it happens to me kind of. . But you have no reason to go to the ER for a panic attack. Nothing bad can happen to you physically, you cannot faint, have a heart attack or die. If you can accept those things you can smoke freely. But smoking has been shown to increase anxiety also, so just see what happens. But as far as the physical panic you feel during an attack dont worry NOTHING bad can happen to your body so no need for the hospital.