Anxiety Basics – What Can Be Done

November 10, 2009 by  
Filed under Non Fiction

Anxiety is not something to be taken lightly – especially not for the millions of people around the world suffering from it. When sever enough, anxiety can completely disrupt life. It can make getting though a simple day seem like the most difficult thing in the world. If you have any type of anxiety disorder, you know this to be true. What can be done for anxiety?

Identifying Anxiety:

If you have a serious problem with an anxiety disorder, you may feel symptoms such as a rapid a rapid heart rate brought on by stressful thoughts. This fast heartbeat may cause you to feel dizzy, cold, or clammy. It may seven cause you to faint and lose consciousness. This is one extremely severe symptom of an anxiety disorder, and it is commonly known as a panic attack. If this happens to you, it is in your best interest to see a medical doctor as soon as possible.

Another symptom of an anxiety disorder is the in ability to feel comfortable around other people. This is known as Social Anxiety Disorder. Such a problem can cause a great deal of stress and panic for the person suffering from it. Dealing with friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers can become a seemingly impossible task. A person suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder may not feel comfortable enough around others to hold a normal conversation. He or she may panic when asked a question, or feel incredibly self-conscious when all eyes are on him or her. Eventually, someone with social anxiety disorder will try to hide from social gatherings at any cost. He or she will keep to himself or herself and come across to others as extremely introverted.

Anxiety has other ways of coming out and wreaking havoc on the human brain. Some people have an incredibly difficult time even getting out of the bed in the morning, all due to the fact that as soon as they open their eyes, all they can think about is the negative things the day might bring. This type of anxiety is typically aggravated and set off by an underlying problem in the persons life, such as a death of someone close, the dissolution of a romantic relationship or a marriage, or another devastating event. In these cases, the anxiety can become so overwhelming that the person will eventually lose the ability to properly function mentally.

Managing Anxiety:

Although anxiety can, in some cases, be almost impossible to live normally with, there are many steps that can be taken to control the disorder. A person suffering from anxiety can see a medical doctor known as a psychologist, who deals with treating anxiety. A psychologist can routinely monitor a patient with anxiety and suggest relaxation techniques. Sometimes simply having someone to talk to can better the situation. In certain cases of extreme anxiety, where the anxiety is too disruptive in the patients every day life, a patient can be prescribed anti-anxiety medication. This medication can help control anxiety and enable the patient to feel calm. Some popular anti-anxiety medications include Ativan, Lorazepam, Xanax, and Valium. Anyone dealing with anxiety should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. In this way, everyday life can become happy once again.

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Anxiety in Children is not out of the Question

September 24, 2009 by  
Filed under Diseases And Conditions

Just like grown ups, children are subject to a host of psychological complaints and even full-blown illnesses. Anxiety in children, in fact, is not out of the question.

Contrary to popular belief, children do have things to be worried about and no matter how minute their problems seem to adults, they can be very big deals to little ones and adolescents. While minor anxiety in children is quite prevalent, serious anxiety disorders are not. Understanding the differences between the two, however, can be important for recognizing real problems and making sure they are properly treated.

‘Normal’ Anxiety In Children

Just like their adult counterparts, children are subject to a number of fears and concerns. Some are quite common in childhood, in fact. Normal anxiety in children is generally characterized by anticipated “phases” and behaviors that tend to pass with time and little effort to resolve. Whether anxiety in children is caused by separation anxiety, a fear of “monsters” under the bed or angst about upcoming exams, these fears are very real to the children that suffer from them. In the case of normal anxiety in children, the fears do pass over time.

When There Is Cause For Concern

While a certain degree of anxiety in children is expected and quite normal, when the fears become overwhelming and seem impossible to control, a child might be suffering from a more serious condition. Actual separation anxiety disorder, specific phobias, social anxiety disorder and many other classes of anxiety problems are not unheard of in children.

According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, just about the whole spectrum of anxiety disorders has been diagnosed in certain children. In some cases, teens, for example, might suffer from anxiety and depression at the same time. Unfortunately, if anxiety in children is left untreated, youngsters are at higher risk for a host of other problems, including failure in school, substance abuse and even an inability to develop social skills.

Parents, caregivers and other adults around children are urged to keep an eye out for the warning signs of anxiety. When anxiety in children is present in the true, clinical form the fears that seem like phases will not pass with time. Children might suffer from actual panic attacks, try to isolate themselves and even go out of their way to avoid situations that make them particularly uncomfortable or vulnerable.

If anxiety in children is suspected, it is generally advised that parents seek out professional advice. Anxiety is generally a treatable condition and can even be curable in some cases. Addressing anxiety in children head on can prevent a host of other problems and put children on the right footing for enjoying life.

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Common Types of Anxiety Disorders

May 29, 2009 by  
Filed under Health




Anxiety disorders can affect your daily life activities and may worsen if immediate treatment is not given.

Is there anything that makes you worry lately? It is completely normal to worry about things in life like your hectic schedules, rocky relationships, job interviews, and the many things our complicated life brings us. But, if the worries become too much that you may feel so choked up and that you are not in control of your life anymore, they might be symptoms of anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorders are affecting people age 18 years and above, causing them to be filled with fear and uncertainty. It is defined as excessive anxiety and worry, happening more days than not for at least 6 months and can get worse if they are not treated. The person with anxiety disorder finds it difficult to control his/her anxiety. Anxiety disorders usually occur along with other mental or physical illnesses, including drug or alcohol abuse, to mask the symptoms or worsen them. Each anxiety disorder has different symptoms, but all the symptoms cluster around excessive, unreasonable fear and dread.

Some of the common types of anxiety disorders are separation anxiety, social anxiety or phobia, selective mutism, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PST), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and specific phobia.

Separation Anxiety is an excessive anxiety relating to separation from home or someone you are so attached with. The symptoms mostly relate to the recurrent fear of being separated from someone or something you are so attached with and accompanied by physical symptoms like nausea, stomachaches, headaches, or chest pain.

Social Anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is diagnosed when you become overwhelmingly anxious and extremely fearful of social interactions. People with this illness have intense, persistent, and constant fear of being watched and judged, and other things that can put them in an embarrassing position. They can worry for days before the actual situation takes place and this feeling may worsen.. interfering with work, school, and other activities.

Selective mutism is the consistent failure to speak in a specific social situation where speech is anticipated inspite of be able to speak in other situations. According to research, there is a relation between social phobia and selective mutism.

OCD is an anxiety disorder where a person has recurrent and unwanted ideas or impulses (called obsessions), and an urge or compulsion to do something to relieve their discomfort caused by obsession. A person with OCD has senseless, repetitive, distressing, and sometimes harmful habits that are also difficult to overcome.

PTSD is a debilitating condition that follows a terrifying event. Usually, people with posttraumatic stress disorder have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal and feel emotionally numb even with people they used to be so closed with. The signs and symptoms usually appear within 3 months of the tragic event.

Panic disorder has brief episodes of intense fear and is accompanied by various physical symptoms like heart palpitations, nausea, chest pain, etc., that occur repeatedly and not knowingly in the absence of external threat.

Agoraphobia is an incapacitating fear for open spaces. It is a disorder characterized by avoidance of crowds and open and public spaces. Agoraphobia can lead to extreme anxiety and evasion, resulting a sufferer to become housebound.

General anxiety disorder is characterized by diffused feelings of apprehensions with physiological symptoms. It is one of the most common anxiety disorders and is described as excessive anxiety and worry about two or more life circumstances for a period of six months.

Specific phobia is an intense fear for specific things or situations like, heights, water, closed-in places, spiders, and many others.

These anxiety disorders are curable. The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner you’ll get better. So, if you think you have symptoms of anxiety disorders, don’t hesitate to see a doctor. Don’t let anxiety disorders ruin your life.