Showing posts with label anxiety symptoms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anxiety symptoms. Show all posts

5.1.09

Anxiety is a general re-action to stress and it also helps you cope in tense situations(Anxiety Symptoms)

Everyone knows what it feels like to be anxious- you feel butterflies in your stomach your actions become topsy-turvy, you can feel your heart beat very fast, and you are sweating like you are jogging. Those are what you usually feel if you have stage fright and you are required to give speak in public, or during your first time (who knows when was that!). Those, among other feelings (feelings of anxiety) are normal reactions to stress.

Anxiety make you up in action. It helps you deal with a tense condition like focusing on a speech that you are about to give, studying harder for an exam, or staying interesting on your first date to make it to the second, and all that. In general, it makes you cope with all condition that is usually terrifying, mainly if you are doing it the first time. I, for one, have many times been in this kind of situation and I can tell you it is only passing. But, if it more excessive, irrational fear of each day situations, now it has become an immobilizing disorder.

Anxiety disorder can effect you to feel fearfulness and ambiguity that maybe felt briefly only. However few anxiety disorder last at minimum 6 months and tend to get worse if not treated immediately. Anxiety disorders often occur along with other psychological or physical sickness, like alcohol or drug abuse, that can actually worsen the situation.

And if you think you have anxiety disorder, you must seek information about it and find the solution ASAP before it gets into you. So many effective therapies out there and recent research reveals new solutions that can help most people with this condition lead fruitful and fulfilling lives.

As we know, there are five major types of anxiety disorders; social phobia or social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic disorder (PST), panics disorder, general anxiety disorder, specific phobias. Each of the anxiety disorder has multiple symptoms, but all the symptoms come with excessive and irrational fear or dread.

Normal person is usual to feel anxious in certain areas of his/her life, mainly when he/she feels out of control of a situation. Several reasons that anxiety creeps to your life however if it stimulates you to a positive action, then you are handling it the best way.
Stop bothering too much after you have done the best you can on any life situation or responsibility. Just let things be, if things are meant to happen, they will happen. Enjoy life for there are so many reasons to be happy, so why worry?

26.10.08

The Difference Between Anxiety Attacks And Anxiety Reactions(Anxiety Symptoms)

Ninety-five-percent of Americans experience Anxiety Reactions occasionally while five-percent are battling to survive Anxiety Attacks almost on a daily basis. In which group are you?

There are many symptoms associated with anxiety, anxiety attacks, panic attacks, anxiety disorders, stress disorders, sleep disorders, and depression. And, because we are all unique, based upon physical and mental history, the symptoms and their intensity will vary from person to person.

Symptoms of anxiety attack include shortness of breath, chest discomfort, dizziness, fear of death, or going crazy, nausea or stomach distress, just to mention the most serious symptoms. Not all these symptoms will be present for everyone at any given time because we are all different in our mental and physical makeup.

Each of us experiences different kinds of symptoms during anxiety attacks. Some people mistake anxiety attacks for mental illness because it is a condition that can involve extreme amounts of stress and anxiety. When an attack occurs, the sufferer seems unable maintain any kind of control over thought and action. They are rendered helpless. They think they are going out of their mind.

Are you suffering from an actual anxiety "attack" or just having a normal anxiety "reaction" to a given situation?

Anxiety attacks are the most extreme example of an anxiety reaction. When anxiety reaches a level at which the sufferer experiences symptoms which exceed those experienced during a normal anxiety reaction, an anxiety attack is underway.

For example, when preparing to give a speech, a normal anxiety reaction or an abnormal anxiety attack may occur. The normal person may get "butterflies in the stomach" or experience an intense fear of failure. The normal person pushes through the symptoms and gives the speech.

On the other hand, the person who experiences an anxiety attack is unable to give the speech. They are paralyzed by fear and panic. In fact, just the thought of giving a speech would cause them to refuse to even attempt it. Thus, an anxiety "reaction" is normal for ninety-five-percent of us. An anxiety attack is not for the five-percent among us.

What treatments are available?

Doctors have learned that many medications such as Zoloft or Paxil have a calming effect on the processes that control or trigger anxiety and compulsions. These medications keep hormones and other elements responsible for anxiety attacks balanced, so to speak. They work well in a majority of cases regardless of the type of anxiety, be it panic attacks, social anxiety disorder, or even obsessive compulsive disorder.

Anxiety attacks are also helped with cognitive or behavioral therapy, meaning the learning of new ways of thinking or behaving. If someone can learn that their anxiety attacks are the result of how they think or of how they view some circumstance, then they can lessen these attacks. Learning how to talk themselves through a panic attack or how to calm their obsessive or compulsive behavior can go a long way toward keeping anxiety attacks under control, or at the very least, keeping them in their place so that they have less of an effect on the sufferer.

What are common physical symptoms?

Physical symptoms may cause people who actually have "anxiety sensitivity" to have an anxiety attack. These sufferers tend to panic when they feel their heart beating faster or feel other bodily sensations they consider to be out of the ordinary. Anything that raises the heartbeat can cause them to have an anxiety attack. This includes physical exercise and chemicals such as caffeine and nicotine.

During normal physical exercise, you want to elevate your heart rate, but, if you are prone to anxiety attacks, this should be avoided.

Although anxiety attack symptoms seem threatening - no real threat is actually present - these symptoms occur without an obvious outward cause and, therefore, do not represent reality or something to be truly afraid of. Anxiety attacks are usually not a response to an actual threat but make the sufferer "feel" threatened by an imaginary threat.

Because the sufferer believes there is a real threat, credibility is given to the perceived threat and more anxiety is created. This produces more symptoms and an anxiety cycle is put into motion. In effect, the false reality feeds into a greater false reality and greater fear until a full blown attack is underway.

What can you do?

If you're someone that suffers from anxiety attacks in any form, it's strongly encouraged that you speak with your doctor to determine the actual cause of the attacks or whether you are jusy having a normal reaction and something physical is causing your distress. Many times, symptoms can be an indicator of serious health problems that have nothing to do with anxiety disorder. Only your doctor can make that diagnosis.

If you do have anxiety disorder, medication or therapy are usually indicated. At the very least, you can be put in touch with others who are suffering from the same symptoms in order to get support and encouragement for your condition.

20.9.08

Recognizing Anxiety Symptoms

Everyone experiences moments of unease or panic. You've said the wrong thing or locked your keys in the car. The situation is resolved and those feelings go away. At least, for most of us, they do. For over two million Americans, they are a constant feeling of helplessness and hopelessness.

Anxiety symptoms range can vary, depending on whether or not your anxiety disorder is specific or generalized. They can be both psychological and physical. Every person is different; each can experience different symptoms and still have the same diagnosis of anxiety disorder.

Anxiety symptoms include interference with sleep and nightmares. These can really hinder your everyday life, as you must battle feelings of exhaustion on top of anxiety. These can also intensify other anxiety symptoms, such as irritability or confusion.

Anxiety symptoms such as self-consciousness and insecurity can lead to avoidance of social activities. Feelings of restlessness often create a strong urge to escape from any social situation. This creates a tense situation for the anxiety symptom sufferer.

Some anxiety symptoms manifest physically as well. Heart palpitations, otherwise known as an irregular heartbeat, and shortness of breath can lead anxiety disorder sufferers to fear they are having a heart attack. Nausea, frequent urination, and diarrhea can be mistaken for the flu or other viruses.

Sweating is another anxiety symptom, which can be embarrassing for the sufferer in public situations. Hot flashes or chills are also common. Tremors can lead to muscle aches and tension, which make the anxiety disorder patient even more uncomfortable.

The cause of anxiety symptoms can be found in changes to the amygdala, which is an organ in the brain. The amygdala is involved in emotions of fear and aggression. This is where anxiety disorder is created and where it continues to haunt its host until treated. The amygdala becomes over stimulated by stress or other emotional factors. The body responds accordingly and creates anxiety symptoms. Once the pattern is started, it is stored for repetition in the amygdale.

Your family doctor will need to rule out a physical cause for anxiety symptoms. As pointed out above, these symptoms can mimic other physical ailments such as thyroid disorders, insulin disorders, asthma, and certain heart conditions. Once those have been examined and rejected as cause, your doctor will likely refer you to a psychotherapist.

A psychotherapist will be able to help you identify the triggers for your anxiety symptoms. You will learn new ways to deal with stress and other emotional factors. A therapist might also ask that your family doctor prescribe you with anti-anxiety medications.

There are also holistic treatment options which have been found to be helpful when dealing with anxiety symptoms. Acupuncture, hypnotherapy, and relaxation techniques can be used in conjunction with any other therapeutic means or on their own.

You can also help yourself by doing the following: exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, eliminating caffeine. Also, make sure that you surround yourself with supportive friends and family. Anxiety symptoms can be beat with the right tools.

12.9.08

Anxiety Symptoms And Treatments

Anxiety symptoms and treatment discussion is relevant seeing as how the number of anxiety victims are increasing day by day, and this overview may help to recognize the disease at an early stage and seek appropriate treatment. Anxiety is one amongst the basic emergency reactions of man. Anxiety is a general feeling of apprehension, fear and worry. Basically anxiety is an alarming condition that helps to prepare you better and to face risky situations. However anxiety normally becomes a disorder as it evokes a persistent feeling of insecurity and disturbance to the mental equilibrium.

Anxiety disorder includes different subtypes such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), specific phobias, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The subtypes are categorized depending upon the underlying causative factor. Even though the symptoms of the anxiety disorder subtypes differ slightly, they will certainly have a common characteristic symptom of fear and insecurity. Anxiety disorder manifests both mental as well as physical symptoms.

The psychological symptoms of anxiety disorder mainly include uneasiness, fear of losing control, behavioral problems, sleep problems, nightmares, insecurity, restlessness, confusion, avoidance, nervousness, constant fear, hypervigilance, escapism and self-consciousness. The associated physical symptoms of anxiety disorder include sweating, shortness of breath, flushing, palpitation, dry mouth, nausea, hot flashes, chills, cold and numbness in feet and hands, muscle pain, joint pain, tremors, twitches, chest pain, headache, stomach pains, queasiness, diarrhea, frequent urination, dizziness and fatigue.

Anxiety symptoms are important for the diagnosis of the disorder as it helps to determine the underlying factor of the disorder. The symptoms are carefully analyzed using the psychological examination, physical examination, and review of the symptoms, to find out the exact subtype of anxiety. The treatment of anxiety will depend upon the basic reason of the anxiety disorder. It include biological reasons, family history, brain abnormalities, environmental conditions, chemical imbalance, addiction and any major stressful incidents in life.

Anxiety disorder treatment mainly consists of prescriptions of anti-depressant class drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants. The antidepressant drugs include luoxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, citalopram, venlafaxine, clomipramine, imipramine, phenelzine, trancypromine and isoprocarboxid. The anti-anxiety drugs, known as anixolytics, mainly include Benzodiazepines and Azipirones. The class of drugs includes Valium, Ativan, Xanax, and Klonopin. Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors and beta blockers are other class of medications used in the treatment of anxiety disorder.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, white noise, biofeedback, and hypnotherapy are also suggested for the treatment of anxiety disorder. Alternative treatment such as acupuncture, and yoga, are also used in the treatment of anxiety disorder. Kava Kava, hops, St. John's wort, passion flower, and chamomile are some of the recommended herbal remedies for anxiety treatment.

In conclusion, if you can have a relaxed mind and sound body, you can prevent anxiety disorders. Adopt practices such as exercise, proper diet and mental relaxation techniques to avoid anxiety disorders.

3.9.08

Anxiety Symptoms

Anxiety Symptoms

Although panic attacks are not experienced by every anxiety sufferer, they are a common symptom. Panic attacks usually come without warning, and although the fear is generally irrational, the perceived danger is very real. A person experiencing a panic attack will often feel as if he or she is about to die or pass out.

Emotional symptoms of anxiety include a fear (such as a fear of an illness), or the need to avoid certain stressful situations or social situations due to fear of embarrassment. There may be considerable confusion and irritability when the anxiety is taking place. Physical symptoms include hot flashes, chest pain, sudden tiredness, headaches, shortness of breath, problems digesting and nausea.

More or less all the anxiety symptoms are quite well known because over the years people have experienced anxiety. The usual symptoms are prolific sweating, ‘lump in the throat’, palpitations, twitching, dry mouth, chest pain and shortness of breath or wheezing. However these symptoms can exist as side effects of some other medicines or some other psychological issues. When linked to a phobia, as opposed to being ‘general’ anxiety disorder, the symptoms normally only happen in reaction to explicit stimuli.

Treatment

Groups like Toastmasters International helps you with specific anxieties that have not yet reached a weakening stage. After you notice the anxiety symptoms in yourself you must consult a psychiatrist or a professional health professional.

A qualified mental health professional can assess your anxiety, diagnose your psychological issues, and plan a course of treatment that suits you best. If you detect that your anxiety is reaching a bad stage then at once you must seek advice from your doctor. So that there are full chances of your recovery. If you have full support from your family and from all those people who understands you can help you treating your anxiety. Thus you can cope with anxiety in a better way and your recovery will be quick and complete.

Journaling, therapy, group sessions, or medication are the various methods of treatment. However cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most common type of therapy. In this kind of treatment the mental health professional aids the patient in shagging the ways of thinking that contribute to the cause of anxiety. The professional then introduce the patient to the situations that helps in controlling their anxiety. Common types of medication include anxiolytics such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are the common medicines and also tricyclic anti-depressants, though these days those are prescribed less often. It is seen that over 90% of patients get recovered by availing these treatment options.

31.8.08

Physical Anxiety Symptoms a List

Physical Anxiety Symptoms a List

This includes, but is in no way limited to, the vast array of physical symptoms that can be found in an anxiety-ridden person. Sweating, dry mouth, anxiety attacks, rapid heartbeat, shallow respiration, muscle aches and tension, unexplained fear, phobias, social anxiety, speech anxiety, stress fatigue, insomnia, loss of appitite, weight gain or loss, binge eating. If you experience any of these things for an extended period of time, chances are you are suffering from physical Anxiety Symptoms and should consult with your health care practitioner. There is no need to suffer in silence with the help with stress available nowadays.

Physical Anxiety Symptoms - Mental or Medical?

In today’s world, almost every individual complains of stress affecting their life. For some, the cause is financial, for some medical and for some domestic. Whatever the root, of the problem is, people everywhere are complaining of physical Anxiety Symptoms.

Due to the fact that stress has become so common, physical symptoms of anxiety and stress may often be confused with other organic causes or disease. It should also be remembered, that while anxiety and stress are related closely, stress is also the precursor of several medical illnesses, like migraine headaches, gastric ulcers and even heart attacks.

Mind or Body? Where do the Physical Anxiety Symptoms Come From?

Often, symptoms are attributed to stress and ignored until the condition has progressed to a more severe stage. Excessive work at the office is commonly said to lead to stress and affected people are heard complaining of visual disturbances, headaches and sore eyes. Reducing stress does help the situation, but often, a simple eye test may help, as working for long hours, in front of the computer or in dim light also impairs visual acuity.

In the same way, surgeons, teachers and other professionals who spend hours standing at work, may complain of weakness or a tingling sensation in their legs. Is this a physical anxiety symptom or just tired legs? The question can be answered by a simple visit to the doctor. On a more serious note, breathlessness and chest pain could be due to stress, but sometimes, the cause could actually be heart trouble.

A regular check up with the family physician is extremely essential to diagnose the cause of these so called physical Anxiety Symptoms. A diet lacking in vitamin B12 can often lead to a sensory deficit and therefore the solution is often very straightforward. On the other hand a brain tumor called pheochromocytoma can mimic the palpitations and sweating of physical Anxiety Symptoms and should be taken into consideration as well.

Correct Diagnosis of Physical Anxiety Symptoms

When diagnosing such individuals, a proper history should be taken about the mental status of the individual while experiencing physical Anxiety Symptoms. People with hard core anxiety problems, often feel scared at this time. They worry about what others will think about them and want to hurry away from where ever they are. Often, such individuals take heavy does of medicines or consume a lot of alcohol to get away from these feelings.

It is also important to remember that often, the trigger to the anxiety is the fear of having a fatal illness. Every physician should keep this is mind while eliminating the medical causes of physical Anxiety Symptoms, so that the problem is combated, rather than being aggravated.

29.8.08

What is Anxiety? (Anxiety symptoms)

Anxiety (also called solicitude) is a psychological and physiological state characterized by cognitive, somatic, emotional, and behavioral components. These components combine to create the painful feelings that we typically recognize as fear, apprehension, or worry.

Anxiety is often accompanied by physical sensations such as heart palpitations, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, stomach aches, or headache. The cognitive component entails expectation of a diffuse and certain danger. Somatically the body prepares the organism to deal with threat (known as an emergency reaction): blood pressure and heart rate are increased, sweating is increased, bloodflow to the major muscle groups is increased, and immune and digestive system functions are inhibited (the 'fight or flight' response).

Externally, somatic signs of anxiety may include pale skin, sweating, trembling, and pupillary dilation. Emotionally, anxiety causes a sense of dread or panic and physically causes nausea, diarrhea, and chills. Behaviorally, both voluntary and involuntary behaviors may arise directed at escaping or avoiding the source of anxiety and often maladaptive, being most extreme in anxiety disorders.

Neural circuitry involving the amygdala and hippocampus is thought to underlie anxiety. When confronted with unpleasant and potentially harmful stimuli such as foul odors or tastes, PET-scans show increased bloodflow in the amygdala. In these studies, the participants also reported moderate anxiety. This might indicate that anxiety is a protective mechanism designed to prevent the organism from engaging in potentially harmful behaviors.