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Anxiety and Dizziness

September 13th, 2011

Anxiety and Dizziness

Can anxiety cause dizziness? Can dizziness cause anxiety? These are complicated questions due to the many possible causes of dizziness. The simple answer is YES! In this informational article titled “Anxiety and Dizziness” we will explore the numerous possible causes of dizziness and then show how in fact anxiety and dizziness can be linked.

Dizziness is that feeling or faintness or loss of ability to sustain balance while sitting or standing. Most causes of dizziness are minor such as a bout of flu or a cold. Other frequent cause include inner ear conditions (Vertigo), low blood pressure, alcohol intoxication, medications (particularly tranquilizers, narcotics, sedatives, and drugs to treat high blood pressure), migraine, hyperventilation, severe pain, injury, fright, or sever coughing spells. Serous causes of dizziness include heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia, and central nervous system disorders.

Anxiety is best described as feeling of nervousness, dread, uncertainty and fear that occurs in response to or in anticipation of a real or imagined threat.

Anxiety can range from a mild normal response to more severe conditions such as panic attacks and generalized anxiety disorders. Certain physical symptoms may also be present such as sweating, dry mouth, hot flashes, DIZZINESS, palpitations, muscle tension, trembling or restlessness.

It is easy to see how anxiety and dizziness could in fact go hand in hand.

Let’s take a quick look at Sara to see whether we can make some sense of all this information.

Sara is a recently divorced thirty something cougar who has recently been placed on blood pressure medication. This has not slowed her down, she is on the prowl. She wonders whether her age might be an issue with the younger men she is encountering. Recently she was at her favorite eatery when a very cute young guy became fascinated with her conversation and beauty. Sara was obviously feeling a great deal of anxiety and then the unthinkable happened; she started to cough. The coughing was severe and she excused herself to go to the bathroom, only to get up too fast, leading to extreme dizziness. She staggered grabbing onto anything and everything in sight to keep from falling. The dizzy spell passed as her coughing subsided but that young fellow was long gone. Frustrated and on the verge of hyperventilating she headed to her car feeling humiliated. Sara was frustrated and depressed as she made her way home wondered whether she would ever meet anyone like that one that got away. END

It is easy to see how anxiety and dizziness can go hand in hand, particularly if the right sets of circumstances arise at the wrong time. It is also important to point out that anxiety can lead to depression if steps are not taken to eliminate or manage it.

Additionally, more and more people are turning away from prescription drugs to treat mild to moderate anxiety and searching for natural alternative with less risk of side effects. One area which is gaining notoriety both for its safety and effectiveness is that of herbal anxiety remedies. These easy to use formulas are gentle to body and a natural option worth considering.

R.D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate of alternative natural health products and supplements with over 10 years experience. To learn more about natural remedies for better health visit Purchase Remedies.com

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Treatment For Panic Attacks Are Easy And Affordable

September 6th, 2011

Treatment For Panic Attacks Are Easy And Affordable

Article by Beth Kaminski

Imagine your first thoughts when your healthy eighteen year old son complains of chest pain, breathing trouble, nausea and hot flashes all of a sudden. Probably it will never occur to you that your son is a victim of a panic attack. The sooner this possibility occurs to you the better, considering the several trips to the doctor you have made. Diagnosing panic attack is a Herculean task. But once it is managed, then treatment for panic attacks is fully possible – a combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy can help your son win over his fear of a fresh attack completely.

The major fear that the patient has is that he will get a panic attack. It is really a sorry state of affairs. Before discussing anything else about panic disorder it is imperative to discuss about the root causes of the ailment. Sadly, there are no clear cut causes. One research suggests that when the body’s defense mechanism goes haywire, it begins to get into intense action even in the absence of any danger or threat and the result is a panic attack. Also, heredity has also been incriminated for the same, as the disease has been observed to run in families.

In the U.S.A alone, 1.7% people have had such attacks at some point of their life, although only a small percentage of those affected seek treatment for panic attacks. It has also been observed that the first panic attack generally take place between the age of 15 and 18. Often the patients later describe the attack saying that he could not understand what was happening to him and felt that he was dying. Such patients also admits that often they have some awful feelings at the pit of the stomach that another panic attack is coming and the mere thought is enough to disable him.

Panic attack symptoms are many. At least 4 of the following symptoms are shown by most patients:1. shortness of breath2. sweating3. heart palpitations4. nausea 5. upset stomach6. chest pain or discomfort7. feeling dizzy, light hearted and faint8. trembling and shaking9. numbness or tingling sensations10. choking feeling11. hot or cold flashes12. feeling unreal or detached from the surrounding13. fear of dying14. fear of losing control and going crazy

A panic attack comes suddenly, lasts for ten minutes or so before subsiding. It is the most distressing condition that anyone can experience. Before such persons develop other psychological complications such as agoraphobia, treatment for panic attacks should begin under a qualified psychiatrist with an acronym of MD or DO.

The best treatment for panic attacks consists of medications along with cognitive behavioral therapy or panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy accompanied by life style changes, exercise and yoga.. Medications for panic attacks include anti depressants like SSRIs and Benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines act quite quickly. If consumed just as the attack is mounting, it is very efficacious. If taken regularly, it can show improvement within a week. But it is habit forming and has withdrawal symptoms. That is why its consumption must be accompanied with great care. Anti depressants may take some days in showing improvement, but their effects are surely worth the wait.

However, medications without psychotherapy cannot have any permanent effect. Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT is a scientifically studied technique that reflects on the importance of both behavioral and thought process in understanding and controlling panic attacks. It focuses equally on irrational thought process that contributes to the continuation of symptoms and the consequent damaging behavior. The panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy, on the other hand goes deep into your psychic to identify the malfunctioning defense mechanism that triggers the attack and bring it into light. Both the mode of psychotherapy is useful in controlling panic attacks.

Usually, when people say anxiety attacks, they mean panic attacks. An ailment of closely related symptoms is general anxiety disorder or GAD. Both GAD and panic attack are covered under the single term anxiety disorder and are treated similarly. GAD is characterized by a long term persistent anxiety about nothing in particular wherein even trivial things assume exaggerated importance. Panic attacks on the other hand come suddenly as an intense feeling of terror, last for some time and then subside. Panic attacks need a trigger, GAD does not. It simply persists.

The therapy used against both is similar. In case of panic attack, the anti depressants used are given in low doses. Higher doses tend to exacerbate the patient’s symptoms. Also, GAD patients tend to get habituated on benzodiazepines and hence require closer scrutiny.

As a leading expert in the field of treating anxiety disorder, Beth Kaminski is always on the lookout for ways to treat panic attacks. Visit her site for more information on heranxiety treatment center and much more.










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How To Find Effective Anxiety Disorder Treatments

September 4th, 2011

How To Find Effective Anxiety Disorder Treatments

Article by Sammy Kay

Anxiety disorders are suffered by more than forty million Americans. Examples of these disorders are panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorders. Many of these disorders are debilitating to the sufferers, interfering with both their personal and professional lives. Thankfully, there are many anxiety treatments out there.

If you think that you suffer from an anxiety disorder, the first person you should see is your family doctor. Tests are necessary to make sure that there isn’t another medical condition responsible for the symptoms. Once it’s determined that the symptoms are the result of an anxiety disorder, the next step is to seek out a mental health professional.

Anxiety treatment can include medications. While medications are not enough to cure anxiety disorders, they can help the sufferer deal with the symptoms. Antidepressants alter the chemistry of the brain. Most begin to work on some indicators of anxiety disorder immediately; however, it can take up to six weeks for the full effects to be felt.

SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are also antidepressants. They help brain cells communicate with each other by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is involved in the regulation of learning, sleep, and moods. They have been shown to be very effective in anxiety treatment. Beta-blockers, usually used to treat heart conditions, can also be prescribed for anxiety treatment. They can help prevent the physical conditions which accompany most anxiety disorders.

Medications are used to help control the signs of anxiety disorders while the patient receives psychotherapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps anxiety disorder sufferers change the way they think and how they react to anxiety-inducing situations. For example, a person with OCD who is anxious about germs and ritualistically washes his or her hands many times a day is taught to wait for longer periods of time in between such activities.

Those with other phobias or disorders learn how to face their fears through this anxiety treatment. The CBT therapist accompanies the anxiety disorder patient through role-playing to actual encounters. CBT therapists also teach relaxation techniques such as deep breathing.

CBT only works when the anxiety disorder sufferer is ready to undertake the challenge of facing his or her fears. It must be specific to their individual anxiety disorder. This anxiety treatment usually lasts about three months. It may incorporate group therapy.

Anxiety treatment is often more effective when it includes support groups. These groups may include resources from the internet or your local member of the clergy. These should not be a replacement for a certified therapist.

Exercise can be a great addition to anxiety treatments. It boosts the brain’s natural creation of serotonin. Meditation has also been found to enhance anxiety treatments, as it helps calm the physical symptoms of anxiety disorder.

Finally, family is a very important factor in anxiety treatment. Families should never trivialize the disorder of the sufferer. They can offer support but need to be careful not to enable the anxiety disorder patient.

For more information on anxiety try visiting http://www.BestAnxietyRelief.com a website that specializes in providing anxiety treatment related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best ways to recognize an anxiety










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Panic Away Review – Does It Really Work?

September 3rd, 2011

Panic Away Review – Does It Really Work?

Article by Luthor O’Donnell

Panic Away is a self-help course, which includes an e-book and audio CD’s, based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) designed to help you minimize and eventually eliminate anxiety and panic attacks. It is also designed to help you reduce general anxiety disorder (GAD).It’s creator, Barry Joe McDonagh, has not only conquered his own anxiety, but has successfully helped over 46,000 anxiety sufferers with his Panic Away program and the renowned “One Move” technique.To fully understand how it operates, you have to dig deep and understand the cause of your attacks. Each and every panic attack is triggered by something that you worry or fear, such as the fear of losing someone or something, worry about your own health condition or the fear of some type of event.Only after you figure out what causes your attacks can you start to solve the real problem. Go here to view my full Panic Away reviewWhat makes Panic Away work?Panic Away employs very effective CBT methods that can instantly “shut off” your sense of overwhelming fear and get you back in control of yourself.The information is presented in a very easy to read format. He does not use a lot of technical psychology lingo, and when he does he explains its meaning thoroughly.The One Move technique is presented very early in the book and is extensively explained and reinforced. This assists the reader, from the beginning, to discover the cause of their panic and anxiety attacks.Does Panic Away Work?Based on everything I had read, I was excited to give Panic Away a shot. Before you try it though, you have to understand 2 things: 1) you must be committed to ending your panic and anxiety attacks and 2) there really is no magical “cure” to the disorder.Yes, some people show drastic improvement with this program, however, eliminating anxiety and panic takes work.My results were pretty good. It would be a lie to tell you I picked up the book and was cured overnight. It doesn’t really work that way. What I can tell you, however, is that after I have gone through the materials 2 times and have practiced extensively, I can go a full day without ANY fear of another attack.Although not totally eliminated, my anxiety and panic attacks, and their severity, have been reduced dramatically. But, again, keep in mind that it takes a constant effort to eliminate my fears.All in all, when you are ready to face your anxiety and panic attacks head on, Panic Away could be a powerful tool to help you eliminate your fears.You can read my story and my full Panic Away review here.

As a long-time sufferer of anxiety and panic attacks, my journey to recovery has been long and arduous, but I have found some relief through Panic Away and other resources.At www.anxietymanagementhelp.com I share my story as well as provide a full Panic Away review.










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Meditation And Exposure Therapy as Treatments For Anxiety Attacks

August 20th, 2011

Meditation And Exposure Therapy as Treatments For Anxiety Attacks

There are many possible treatments for anxiety attacks. There are natural solutions, substances, physical treatments, and mental treatments. Today we’ll be going over two treatments whose central focus is on mental discipline.

The first treatment to address is exposure therapy. It is a group of strategies used under Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It is based on the idea that human beings can adapt to anything when exposed to it enough times. By controlling the exposures constructively, that adaptation can serve to help you get over your fears and end your anxiety attacks.

There are a few different types of exposures for the purposes of this discussion. Each will help to strengthen you against certain stimuli.

The direct approach is often weakened or introduced gradually. Should you feel that a particular situation leads to anxiety attacks, you will be exposed to smaller pieces of that stress until you gain the ability to handle them calmly. You will be exposed to more stressful situations as you gain the ability to deal with them. This will continue until the problem is gone.

There is also the imagined exposure in which you will visualize yourself dealing successfully with a stress. You will become more confident as you do this repeatedly so you can better deal with the stress when you must face it for real. Visualizations also serve to guide your subconscious, as only your conscious mind is able to distinguish between what is real and what is vividly imagined.

Physical exposure is the last one. It works well if the physical reactions to the anxiety attack cause you a great deal of stress. This is merely a simulation of the feared symptom in a controlled environment until the fear dissipates.

The next treatment to address today is meditation. It can be very useful in strengthening your mind to better deal with stresses when they do pop up. You can’t expose yourself to every situation, so this is greatly beneficial. If you’re exposed to a new stress, your mind will still go wild if you don’t gain some form of mental discipline.

There are hundreds of forms of meditation as there are so many subjects you can focus on. The imagined exposure is actually a form of meditation. Another one I recommend for anxiety attack sufferers is where you practice clearing your mind. Rarely does the person having the anxiety attack know how to deal with the thoughts that flood their mind constructively. Adding more uncontrolled energy to the mix like that is just fuel for the fire.

That is why meditation can be so beneficial. To meditate in this style, relax your body and focus on your breathing. This approach works well for a few reasons. Your body will feel calmer when you take deep breaths and function better. Since it is fairly uncommon to think about your breathing, it will be easy to stop thinking about it at some point. Inevitably, thoughts will come up, but don’t engage them.

It will take practice to master this, but keep with it. When you become better in this skill, you may apply it to let go of stresses that enter your life daily. If you stop the stress early enough, it won’t lead to an anxiety attack. This isn’t to say that you can’t benefit from trying to apply the technique during an attack, but ideally it should never get that far.

Written by hendra879

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