Stress And Anxiety – What We Do To Create It And How To Get Rid Of It
Although many people tend to use the words “stress” and “anxiety” interchangeably, they are actually two separate conditions. Stress is a reaction to a stimulus, which can be external or internal. You may experience stress when you feel frustrated with something (like waiting in line behind a slow person) or when you are worried that you will not meet expectations (such as missing a deadline at work).
Anxiety, on the other hand, is a sense of dread, or nervousness and fear. It can be caused by negative thoughts and expectations, or as a response to stress. You may feel anxious virtually all of the time and not know why, or your feelings may be a response to something you are nervous about, like an upcoming exam.
Abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain may cause generalized anxiety. Some studies indicate that anxiety can be hereditary. Anxiety may also be induced environmentally, as when the child of a parent who is often anxious becomes an anxious person by observing the parent. But frequently, the root cause of anxiety is simply the thoughts in a person’s mind!
Anxiety and stress are subjective conditions. Different people may experience stress during different situations, and different people may react to their anxiousness in very different ways. Symptoms of anxiety can range from the mild, such as sweaty hands and tense muscles, to the severe, such as irregular heartbeat, vomiting, and anxiety attacks.
Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety from time to time. All of us have experienced the dry mouth and “butterflies in the stomach” before a test or public speaking engagement. But when does it become harmful to your health? Studies have revealed that chronic anxiety can lead to sleep disorders, relationship problems, depression, and high blood pressure
For sufferers of long-term untreated anxiety, there can be negative health consequences that have yet to be fully explored. Many studies have found a link between chronic anxiety and a variety of serious health conditions including cancer, thyroid disease, arthritis, heart disease, and respiratory illness. Chronically anxious people may even be more likely to suffer a fatal cardiac attack.
If you experience what seems like an inappropriately high amount of anxiety relative to the situation, or if you feel anxious nearly every day, you may actually have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are chronic conditions characterized by one’s inability to function normally because of frequent anxiety. Anxiety disorders are serious conditions that should be treated to lower the risk of long-term negative health effects.
Anxiety treatment has long been the subject of much discussion in the medical community. Some medical professionals feel that medication is the best treatment for chronic anxiety. Unfortunately, anxiety medications often produce serious side effects that are just as bad as or even worse than the initial condition.
There are many natural, non-invasive ways to handle negative emotional responses. Exercise is one that is often overlooked by anxious people, but it is highly effective. Exercise causes your body to release endorphins, which are natural mood-boosting and pain-killing chemicals. With regular exercise, you may start to experience a decrease in negative emotional reactions to situations that would have previously made you extremely anxious.
The best way to cope with tension and worry is to control it from the inside out. Stress relief and stress management techniques are very valuable tools in handling day-to-day stress. These techniques can teach you to relax yourself and relieve your tension. You make a conscious effort to slow your breathing rate, release the tension, and remain in a calm state of mind. Meditation is a form of tension control in which you focus on thoughtful relaxation and deep, calming breathing.
However, if you seek a proactive solution to relieve yourself of anxiety, hypnosis is by far the most effective form of treatment. When a person undergoes hypnosis, their reactions and emotional responses to events are changed at their core. This provides them with the opportunity to cope with anxiety-inducing triggers without the usual fear and nervousness.
Hypnosis can be performed by a licensed hypnotist in a series of regular treatments. More commonly today, hypnosis is available in the form of self hypnosis programs which are available in the form of DVDs, MP3s, or CDs for individual home usage. No special skills are required to perform self hypnosis. All you need is a device to play the hypnosis program and a quiet space where you can relax and listen.
Another successful type of anxiety treatment is Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP. NLP is a type of therapy that helps you condition yourself to naturally react to situations in a more positive way. You can consciously decide to stay calm rather than anxious, and consequently, you are always in control of your own feelings.
It is evident that it is important to be able to manage our negative emotional responses in order to stay healthy. Understanding how to deal with nervousness and fear can even extend your life. To treat chronic anxiety, the best course of action is to participate in hypnotherapy to change your attitudes and reactions from within. Then, use stress management techniques as needed to keep calm in everyday situations.
By: Alan Densky (Get FREE Anxiety Treatment)
About the Author:
Alan B. Densky, CH is an NGH certified hypnotherapist. He offers a complete line of stress reduction hypnotherapy CDs, and advanced stress elimination CDs through his Neuro-VISION hypnosis website. You can visit his video hypnosis blog, and download a free MP3.
http://www.neuro-vision.us/
Natural Treatments For Panic Attacks and Anxiety
Anxiety and panic attacks can be one of the most frightening experiences in a person’s life. Rapid heartbeat, a feeling of losing control, fast breathing, sweaty hands, shaking uncontrollably. All of these are symptoms of anxiety.
Just the thought of these symptoms can trigger some people to have a panic attack. It is certainly not ideal to live life in fear, but neither is having to spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on medication. So what’s the alternative? Natural treatments, such as meditation, exercise, certain herbs, and relaxation techniques.
First take a look at what is causing the anxiety issues. Figure out if there’s a way to eliminate those trigger aspects. If there is a way to get rid of the cause without too much of an impact on daily life, that’s great. If there’s no way around the situations that cause the anxiety, find a treatment that works best for you.
People have been meditating for thousands of years. Meditation is not only used for religious purposes. It can also be used to center oneself and relax the body. By sitting quietly in one spot and focusing on the breath, the body relaxes and can relieve the symptoms of an anxiety attack.
By shifting the mind from focusing on the trigger point to focusing on the rhythm of breathing a calming effect takes over. It may be difficult at first to stop thinking about the issue, but with practice and focus, it will become easier.
It might also help to silently repeat a mantra to yourself. For example on the inhalation say to yourself “calm”, “slow” and on the exhalation say to yourself “breathing helps”. Focusing on words in addition to the breath requires more attention and helps to keep your mind on the task at hand.
Exercise is also a very good way to overcome anxiety and panic attacks. If the feelings of anxiety are becoming more noticeable, that is when it’s time to take action. Before the attack gets too overwhelming, stop whatever activity is going on and go for a short walk around the block. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
A regular exercise routine can help stave off the effects as well. Exercising just three or four times a week can release the pent up anxiety before those feelings take hold and can manifest into a full blown attack.
There are certain herbs that have been said to help relieve anxiety. The herb kava has been known to calm the mind without affecting a person’s clarity, even though it is a tranquilizer. It can be taken in either pill form or be brewed as a tea.
Valerian is sold as a nutritional supplement and works best for anxiety if it is used over a long period of time. To help with mild anxiety California poppy is a good herb. It also helps with relieving pain. Hops, which is commonly used in brewing beer, can help with restlessness and sleep disorders.
The herb passion flower is helpful in relieving worry and insomnia as well as anxiety. Lemon balm can be brewed as tea or may be used as aromatherapy. It has mild sedative properties and has a calming effect. The herb chamomile not only helps with relieving anxiety, it can also help to settle upset stomachs.
An odd sounding alternative is catnip. This herb which is usually used in cat toys can relieve tension headaches and help with falling asleep.
Some relaxation techniques that can help with anxiety and panic attacks are: writing in a journal, reading a book that holds your attention, drinking a cup of hot tea (herbal or not), taking a hot bath with scented candles.
Or just plain laughing is a good way to relax. Laughing increases endorphin level and decreases the amount of stress hormones. Sometimes there’s nothing to do but laugh. Calling up a good friend or relative and letting the conversation relieve the worries and troubles of the mind is also a good relaxation technique.
Rather than being in a drug-induced stupor to relieve anxiety, the better alternative is one of the natural remedies mentioned above. Remember to check with a doctor before starting any type of exercise routine.
By: Nick Nikolis (Download Free Anxiety Treatment)
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