Suffering from an Anxiety Disorder

When a Loved One Suffers from an Anxiety Disorder

It is not easy for people who have anxiety disorders to deal with their condition, but it is also quite a challenge for their loved ones to cope with the situation.  If a friend or a family member has an anxiety disorder, he or she certainly needs your support to recover.  However, it may be difficult to understand someone who has anxiety disorder if you have not been through the same ordeal.  This article discusses three important things that you need to be able to do in order to be able to cope with your loved one's disorder and to be of help.

First, you must learn everything you can about anxiety disorders especially your loved one’s specific condition.  There are many different anxiety disorders, but they are classified under one umbrella because they have common denominators.  Learn about the possible causes, the symptoms and the treatment options.  You will be able to help your loved one better if you understand what causes the anxiety disorder, what happens during an anxiety attack and how the disorder is treated. 

The Internet is a rich source of information regarding anxiety disorders.  You could also talk to your love one’s doctor or other medical and mental health professionals.  You can also read professional journals and magazines to know the latest breakthroughs or findings, and borrow books about anxiety from the library or buy them from bookstores.  This way, you do not have to be afflicted with the disorder in order to understand it.

While your loved one certainly needs your help and support, you also need other people to lean on because coping with your loved one's disorder is can be difficult.  You can look for support groups for people who have loved ones suffering from anxiety disorders. If you cannot find such a support group, you can start one.  You may look for people who take care of their friends and family who may be suffering from anxiety disorders. 

Contact your local community center or hospital to check if there are support groups in your area.  When you are in a support group, you will find opportunities to learn more about anxiety disorders and discover some tips and tricks which your fellow members may share.  You will also have the chance to help others which may ease some of the burden that you may feel.

Helping a loved one with an anxiety disorder can be emotionally and physically draining at times, so you must remember to take care of yourself.  Eat well, make time for exercise and get enough sleep.  Do not hesitate to seek medical attention or professional help when you need it.  You should be in tip-top shape physically, emotionally, and mentally or you will not be able to help your loved one at all. 

When a loved one has an anxiety disorder, you must be able to understand him or her and be strong for your loved one.  Thus, you need to know everything about your loved one's condition, find people you can rely on for support and take care of your own health.  People with anxiety disorders need support, so make sure that you can be the person that your loved one can rely on.

Panic Disorder

Have you ever felt a sense foreboding or doom for no reason at all?  If you have been inexplicably suffering from episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, chest pain and dizziness, you may be suffering from a panic disorder.  Panic disorder affects approximately six million American adults 18 years old and above.  This article aims to help you understand what panic disorder is and shows you some steps to take if you suspect that you are suffering from this condition. 

Panic disorder is characterized by sudden feelings of terror for no reason.  It may be accompanied by physical symptoms which may be any of the following: sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, and stomach ache.  During a panic attack, the fear response to a situation is exaggerated.  This disorder usually begins in early adulthood and women are more likely to suffer from panic disorder than men. 

Researchers have not pinpointed a single cause for panic disorder.  However, some factors may predispose one to panic disorder.  One is heredity.  Panic disorder has been found to run in families.  Stressful situations can trigger a panic attack.  Some medical conditions such as mitral valve prolapse, hyperthyroidism and hypoglycemia have been found to either cause or aggravate panic disorder.  Smoking has been found to increase the risk of panic disorder.  Research also shows that a significant number of people with panic disorder use alcohol and psychoactive drugs.

If you suspect that you are having a panic disorder, see a doctor immediately.  Your doctor will get your complete medical history.  You will have to go through some tests to check if you have a physical illness that may be causing the symptoms of a panic disorder.  If no physical illness is found, you may be referred to a psychologist or a psychiatrist.

Some medications may be prescribed for your condition.  If you are experiencing adverse effects from the medications, do not stop taking it abruptly.  Doing so may lead to serious consequences.  Instead, consult your doctor.  Some medications must be tapered off, meaning that you must be gradually weaned from the medication.  If you are experiencing side effects, the dosage of the medication may need to be adjusted. 

There are some stress management techniques that you can learn and apply.  Meditation has been found to be beneficial to people with panic disorder and could even enhance therapy.  Sharing your problems and achievements in a support group may also help you.  Your family is a very important part of your recovery.  However, your family members need to be educated in order to help you have a successful therapy.

Panic disorder is a debilitating condition that could prevent you from enjoying life to the fullest.  Fortunately, with medications, therapy and support, panic disorder may be treated.  If you are suffering from panic disorder, keep in mind that this condition does not have to be debilitating.  You do not have to suffer any longer, so seek help immediately.

Anti-Anxiety Medications The Truth

When you undergo treatment for anxiety disorder, almost always, the doctor will prescribe anti-anxiety medications.  But what do these medications really do?  Can you really rely on them to help you deal with anxiety?  This article discusses some facts that you need to know before you pop an anti-anxiety pill into your mouth. 

Anxiolytics or anti-anxiety medications have been found effective in relieving the symptoms of anxiety.  Some anti-anxiety drugs slow down your central nervous system so you feel calm and relaxed.  However, it does not produce lasting effects because it does not solve the underlying problem. It only takes care of the symptoms.

Among the drawbacks of taking anti-anxiety medications is the risk of addiction. If you rely heavily on drugs to deal with your anxiety, then this could easily lead to physical dependence. Long-term use of anxiolytics can also lead to drug tolerance. From time to time, you will need to increase the dosage to get the same effect of the drug as before.

There are also some safety concerns about anti-anxiety drugs.  These drugs could produce unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effects.  Among the side effects associated with anti-anxiety drugs include drowsiness, lack of energy, dizziness, stomach upset, nausea, slow reflexes, confusion and disorientation, impaired memory and judgment and blurred or double vision.  Pregnant women and nursing mothers are advised against taking anti-anxiety drugs because they are known to cross the placenta and are excreted in breast milk. Also, keep in mind that anti-anxiety medications may be dangerous when they are taken with other drugs so if you are taking other medications, make sure that you tell your doctor.

Anti-anxiety medications can relieve anxiety symptoms.  However, they do not produce lasting changes. For lasting results, you will need to undergo psychotherapy. You should be aware of these drugs' side effects and the safety issues associated with them so you can discuss these with your doctor who can determine and help you decide whether anti-anxiety drugs are for you.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Overcoming Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior at Home

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, also known as OCD, can be debilitating.  If you suffer from OCD, you often find yourself doing specific rituals and these obsessions can make it hard for you to interact with people in public.  However, you are actually hurting yourself even more if you choose to stay home most of the time.  If you really must stay home, then this article may prove helpful to you.  Below are the tips that you can follow so that your home does not become a place where your disorder worsens.

The first thing that you need to do is to identify your obsessions.  It may be anything from an obsession with germs to an obsession with death.  When you are obsessed with something, you think about it all the time, even if you do not want to think about it.  You also need to identify your compulsions.  You have a compulsion if you feel that you must do something because of your obsessions.  For instance, you may feel like washing your hands time and again because you are obsessed with germs.  Knowing your specific obsessions and compulsions is the first step to overcoming your condition while you are at home.

You might find it easier to control yourself when you are in public than when you are at home.  This is because you may find it embarrassing to give in to your obsessions and your compulsions when other people are watching.  That alone should prove to you that you can control your behavior.  Inviting friends into your home more often could prove to be helpful.  When you often have visitors at home who may be watching you, you will be less likely to give in to your obsessions and compulsions.  Eventually, this will reprogram your brain to perceive your home as a place where giving in to your compulsion is not acceptable.

You can also use a stopwatch to effectively overcome OCD while you are at home.  Each time you catch yourself obsessing about something, start the watch, and when you regain control, stop timing.  Do this throughout the day.  At the end of the day, check your total time.  You may be surprised to find out how much time you have been wasting.  Keep track of your progress and remember that you waste precious time whenever you begin to obsess.  You can do more enjoyable and productive things with your time. 

If you have OCD and you stay home most of the time, you may be hurting yourself.  You are more likely to give in to your obsession and your compulsion because nobody is watching.  So the next time you choose to stay home, remember to follow the simple tips discussed in this article to prevent your condition from worsening. 

Drug Free Treatments For Anxiety

If you have been suffering from an anxiety disorder, you may need to take anti-anxiety medications.  However, these drugs are often addictive and they have unwanted side-effects.  Incidents of accidental overdose of these prescription medications have resulted in deaths.  Medical practitioners and scientists are exploring some alternatives to anti-anxiety drugs.  Below are some alternative treatments for anxiety that you may want to try:

1) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Cognitive behavioral therapy may significantly improve your condition.  This is a form of treatment that aims to help you learn and use new thinking skills to change your behavior and correct your ingrained negative thought patterns.  Simply put, your mind will be trained to think and respond differently. 

2) Herbs - The following herbs have been found to relieve anxiety: arctic weed (also known as golden root), brahmi, St. John's wort, chamomile, kratom, passionflower, valerian and kava.

Before taking any herbal supplements, you need to be aware of the side effects and risks associated with them. You also need to know if they interact with certain drugs and what necessary precautions you need to take. It is always best to consult a doctor before taking any herbal supplements.

3) Aroma Therapy - Essential oils can do wonders to your frazzled nerves. You may add these oils to your massage oil, to infusers or to baths. Some of the oils that relieve nervous tension and anxiety are: lavender, bergamot, geranium, cypress, rose, ylang-ylang and sandalwood. The most commonly used among these plant oils is lavender. It is almost often found in relaxing oil blends.

4) Mind/Body Techniques - Physical exercise, meditation, breathing exercises, taichi and self-hypnosis are only few of the many ways to reduce stress and relieve anxiety. You may try different techniques until you find what works best for you.

5) Massage - Nothing relieves stress and soothes the mind better than a good massage. It eases muscle tension and improves sleep. You may combine aromatherapy with massage therapy for best results.

Chemical dependence is one of the dangers of taking anti-anxiety medications, but you do not have to be a slave to drugs.  However, your doctor knows what is best for your condition.  Thus, whatever you decide to do, make it a point to discuss it with your doctor.