Posts Tagged ‘self help’

How To Manage Social Anxiety Symptoms

July 9th, 2010

Did you ever wonder why you have trouble meeting new people or feel uncomfortable during a social event? Thousands of people suffer from the same problem, and most of them are not aware that they have a form of social anxiety disorder which can be treated. There is a fine line that draws the difference between social anxiety disorder and general anxiety disorders. A person has social anxiety disorder when they feel intensely fearful about certain social situations and when they are extremely worried about making a mistake in front of other people.

The sad fact is that the underlying cause of this kind of anxiety disorder is unknown but it has been recorded that that many of those who suffer from this have had an embarrassing or humiliating experience in front of other people. The typical reaction of those who have social anxiety disorder is to avoid situations similar to the one where they had the incident. This sort of withdrawal from social situations is unhealthy and will affect the way a person deals with day to day life.

Another term for social anxiety disorder is social phobia. There are certain things that trigger this phobia in many people. Fears such as being made fun of or being judged, meeting new people, being the center of attention, dealing with authority, public speaking, performing in front of a crowd and even ordinary incidents like having to do small talk or making a phone call, can bring about the feeling of overwhelming anxiety.

For a lot of people, anxiety and stress levels increase when they are required to perform in a social situation, such as when giving a speech or being watched while doing something. While it’s perfectly normal to feel slightly nervous or jittery before an important event, people with social anxiety disorder often experience extreme forms of nervousness, and in some cases, this is enough to disrupt their daily routines and causes a lot of anxiety and distress.

Knowing the physical and psychological symptoms of social anxiety disorder can help you identify if you or anyone you know might have it. Some of the physical symptoms are breathing difficulties, dry mouth, change in speech pattern, rapid heart beat, trembling, hot flashes and clammy hands. There are a couple of other more visible signs such as facial twitching and sweating. Psychological symptoms include excessive self-consciousness, fear of being noticed, ridiculed or judged, avoiding social situations and even intense worrying over an extended period of time before an certain event.

While the effects of social anxiety disorder can severely limit the individual’s ability to relate to others and enjoy a higher quality of life, there are certain things they can do to overcome their disorder. Lifestyle changes such as getting enough sleep, drinking in moderation and quitting smoking are a few ways the individual can enjoy a better quality of life and start socializing with less anxiety. Self-help strategies may include journaling, undertaking a consistent exercise regimen, and meditating regularly to reduce anxiety and stress that may be causing the high levels of discomfort.

The length of time it takes to overcome social anxiety disorder will vary from person to person, but there are several drug-free strategies that can help. From making lifestyle changes to employing self-help anxiety relief techniques, most people experiencing social anxiety can overcome their disorder.

A lot of people suffer from anxiety attacks that can occur when in public or just travelling away from home. Now there is a drug free anxiety treatment that can help you to free yourself from the unsettling thoughts that may lead to a panic attack.

categories: anxiety,panic attacks,psychological concerns,psychological health,self help,self improvement,specific disorders

Important Pros And Cons Advice For Panic Disorder Drugs

July 4th, 2010

Several present day drugs can be used in the treatment of Panic Disorder. Aside from the fact that they only temporarily alleviate the symptoms and don’t repress the disorder, several of them can affect patients negatively, and are not suitable for all people. This article gives some basic information on drugs that are known to be helpful.

Benzodiazepines – Referred to as Valium or Diazepam. Benzodiazepines are known as sedatives, and can hold back the body’s cognitive functions for awhile. Those who are driving shouldn’t use them because it can cause poor judgment while on the road. Do not drink alcohol while on Benzodiazepines. There is a risk of injury as this drug can cause light-headedness and loss of coordination and reflexes. For this reason, Benzodiazepines are used short term. The use of CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy will help to minimize the length of time these are used.

SSRI – the acronym stands for Serotonin-Specific Reuptake Iinhibitor but most people know these drugs as anti-depressants. They include Dapoxetine, Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Fscitalopram, Paroxetine, Fluvoxamine and Sertraline. All SSRIs have side effects, some of them severe and long term. SSRIs are also unsuitable for treating pregnant women or women who may become pregnant, as they can pass through the placenta and affect a developing fetus. Hemophilia sufferers and those already in high risk groups for cardiac problems should also avoid taking SSRIs. SSRIs do not treat the cause of Panic Disorder; they only help in suppressing the symptoms.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) – These are powerful antidepressants which can also be used to treat Panic Disorder, but are generally not prescribed long term. They also have a long list of side effects, although they do not cross the placenta so may be prescribed short term for pregnant women. As with SSRIs, alcohol can increase their toxicity. TCAs are known to cause powerful withdrawal symptoms. As with SSRIs, they do not treat the cause; CBT should be undertaken for that.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) – The most powerful antidepressants, MAOIs are not used to treat Panic Disorder unless all other drugs have failed. These drugs block the ability to digest some foods which can lead to complications. They also have severe withdrawal symptoms and are not compatible with a number of other drugs and with alcohol. Like all suppressants MAOIs lessen the impact of symptoms but do not treat the cause; as such CBT may be essential to address the cause of the Panic Disorder to allow the discontinuation of MAOI treatment at the earliest possible point.

As always with medical or psychological issues, the best person to discuss potential treatment with is the family practitioner. People who believe they are suffering from any form of phobia, particularly panic symptoms with no apparent cause, should seek the advice of their doctors before undergoing any form of treatment. The doctor can refer patients to specialists in the relevant areas.

Find out more how to Stop Panic Attacks by visiting Yuval Harpaz’s site at www.stressfreeport.com, where you can download a FREE self-help guide on how to Start Reducing Stress NOW for your needs.

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Improving Your Public Speaking

June 27th, 2010

Public speaking has become something so terrifying that the mere mention of it can cause a person to grow sick. Even people who spoken several times can freeze up on stage or lose their train of thought due to fear. In order to become a more competent speaker, it is important to follow several steps.

The first thing one can do is to get to know the audience. Is this a speaking engagement at a convention for young professionals, or a presentation for a management class? The audience should determine the tone used by the speaker. A speaker should always speak in a way that will be effective in reaching the audience. All jokes or slang should be sensitive to the type of audience present. What is said to the board of directors should be entirely different from what is said to a group of preschoolers.

Another aspect of knowing the audience is understanding the occasion and what that means when it comes to attire. Dressing in a way that the audience will see as tasteful is important. As a speaker, it’s always better to be slightly overdressed, than underdressed. A speaker should not wear gaudy jewelry that will jingle with every gesture of the hand or draw attention away from what is being said. Women should avoid wearing low-cut blouses. Speakers should wear clothes that are flattering but will not draw attention. The audience should focus on the speaker’s face and concentrate on his words. This means if long hair or bangs are constantly falling into the eyes they should be pulled back. Tucking hair behind the ears every five minutes gives an unprofessional impression as well and will irritate the audience.

Perhaps one of the most important things that can be done while speaking, is giving eye contact. A speaker that looks only at the floor or stares with a lost expression at the back of the room, gives the impression of a terrified and trapped animal. A speaker can put the audience at ease, and make them think she’s confident, by giving good eye contact. This does not mean staring at only two or three individuals. Eye contact should be distributed across the room evenly.

Public speaking can be an exciting adventure. Practicing these tips will prepare one to speak in front of large crowds without a problem. Touring America due to speaking engagements can happen without the usual worry and anxiety. The next thing the new speaker will want to do is install a home security system to keep her house safe when she’s gone.

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categories: Public speaking,speeches,fears,tips,advice,outlines,audiences,attire,dress,adventure,eye contact,how to be confident,self help,security