Because a lot of people today do not like taking medications for their disorders, they often opt for alternate medication for their anxiety.  This includes aromatherapy, acupuncture, herbal supplements and meditation.  These will work well if the anxiety is not severe and there is no severe underlying depression that is causing the anxiety or panic disorder.

We all get anxious once in a while – we wouldn’t be human if we did not have some anxiety in our lives.  But some people have extreme anxiety while others have mild anxiety.  The difference would be someone who suffered frequent anxiety attacks caused by an underlying condition such as obsessive compulsive disorder or panic disorder.  These conditions cannot be mixed with those who suffer from anxiety over taking a math test. 

In cases where the anxiety is not as severe to the point where it is stopping someone from doing their every day business, they may try alternate means of treatment before they resort to medications.  Some of the alternate means of treatment include:

Herbal supplements

Kava , St. John’s Wort, Valerian and Sam-e are all herbal remedies that have been known to quell minor anxiety and depression.  Kava has a very calming effect and can be taken a few days a week to help with minor anxiety.  St. John’s Wort is better in treating depression, that often accompanies anxiety.  Valerian and Sam-e of the newest herbal supplements that have shown promise in helping with anxiety attacks.  However, you should not take these supplements along with prescription remedies and if you find that they are not helping you, you  should talk to your doctor about another option.  These herbal supplements are made for those with mild to moderate anxiety and depression and not for those with severe disorders. 

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is the anxiety healing art of inhaling infused oils that will get into your bloodstream and cure whatever ails you.  Aromatherapy can also be used when mixed with other oils as a massage oil. Many people swear by this type of treatment in that it does them wonders.  Again, this type of alternative therapy is made for those who have mild to moderate forms of anxiety or depression. 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a way that some people use to rid themselves of all sorts of problems, including anxiety and depression.  Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and can help heal aches, pains and even headaches.  Some people who suffer from depression or anxiety swear by this healing method which has its roots in ancient China. 

Meditation

Meditation is yet another way that you can help yourself overcome your anxiety attacks.  Meditation is something that has been around for thousands of years and is often associated with Hinduism or Buddhism.  But it is also very good for finding peace of mind when you are trying to relax.  You can take a class in meditation or you can watch a DVD to learn how to master this ancient eastern practice.

Joe Golson

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EMDR (Eye Movement Reprocessing)

EMDR is a powerful process, developed by behavorial psychologist Francine Shapiro, which has helped hundreds of thousands of people overcome the effects of anxiety and emotional distress and to acheive peak performance.

Shapiro developed EMDR, which is only taught to clinicians, after a personal discovery. She found she was less disturbed from thinking of emotional upsets when she repeatedly moved both eyes to the right and then left.

EMDR can be used to resolve memories of past difficult emotional experiences which can affect one’s current life such as physical and sexual abuse, rape, repeated business or job losses, relationship losses and prolonged grief. It can also be used to overcome the effects of current problems such as asking a boss for a raise, building the motivation to do a job search, reducing performance anxiety, setting limits with another person, reducinanxiety and distress, and overcoming phobias and panic attacks:

Examples of EMDR successes include:

· Reducing extreme anxiety from witnessing a suicicide so that client’s thoughts were no longer disturbing

· Reducing extreme anxiety and panic caused by a work incident that kept a client from applying for a job

· Overcoming obstacles that kept a sales client from making cold calls

· Overcoming belief of being incompetent

· Overcoming fear caused by previous stalking and physical abuse

EMDR is sometimes helpful when talk pyschotherapy reaches its limits as it may bring up past events to be processed that did not previously arise. It also helps people acheive their goals though positive imaging or imagining themselves meeting their goals while using EMDR. It is well known that Olympic champions do positive imaging or imagining at least 15 minues a day. EMDR has been found to make this positive imaging even more effective. EMDR clients often have positive solutions to to problems and positive feelings arise naturally in them.

HOW DOES EMDR WORK?

Research is constantly being conducted to understand how EMDR works. It is known that it works on the brain and produces a physiological change on a neurological level. We know that when a person becomes very upset by a difficult emotional experience or trauma, there is an overload on the system and information processing is blocked. There is an overexcitation of the braine and a resulting change of neural elements. It is believed that the upsetting event also prevents REM sleep, the nightly sleep that helps people process normal emotional events of the day.

The neurological blockage causes the incident to remain in the body in its anxiety-producing form along with the original thoughts, feelings, flashbacks or nightmare.

Shapiro believes that EMDR unlocks the neural channels in the brain and increases REM sleep, allowing the brain to complete the processing which was blocked by the traumatic event.

EMDR is not hypnosis, and the client feels more in control as s/he is in a different brain wave state than under hypnosis. Research shows that the effects of EMDR are long lasting. One study of 80 subjects with post-traumatic stress improved significantly with EMDR and the beneficial process remained for at least 15 months.

HOW LONG DOES EMDR TAKE?

One or more sessions area needed for the therapist to understa nd the problem to be solved. A typical course of treatment may be three to ten EMDR sessions, each 60 or 90 minutes long. EMDR, often used in conjunctions with talk therapy, may take longer, depending on the nature of the trauma and how many times it or related traumas occurred.

WHAT IS AN EMDR SESSION LIKE?

I typically guide the client to find a safe place in their mind such as a place in the mountains, by the water or at home. This is to relax the client and to provide a safe internal place for the client to go in case of any of the material experienced is disturbing. The client always has the option of stopping the session any time s/he pleases. I then ask the client to describe the disturbing information in detail as well as related emotions, body sensations, and any negative self-assessment that resulted from the incident such as “I’m trapped,” “I’m powerless,” etc.

Depending on the clients preferred method of taking in information, I have him/her process the experience using eye movements, sounds in alternative ears using earphones or with handles that stimulate each hand with a vibration. The idea is to obtain bilateral stimuation with these methods. After the disturbance is reduced, I then ask the client to image the event as she/he would have liked it to happen and continue with the eye movements, sounds or hand sensations. I keep asking the client to tell me what they are experiencing and guide them through the experience.

After an issue is worked through, clients typically feel empowered, less anxious, light, more positive and relieved. Having removed their blocks, they are able to move forward with the life changes they wish to make. EMDR does not work for everyone, but the powerful process has helped thousands of peopple to overcome the effects of anxiety and emotional distress and to acheive peak performance.

Minimum training for EMDR practitioners is two three day training sessions.

In addition to these trainings, certified practitioners have 20 sessions with a higher level trainer who supervises the practitioners EMDR practice during that period. Certified practioners have to meet additional EMDR educational requirements every two years.

Pam Alexandra, MFT
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/what-is-emdr-123039.html

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