A Natural Way Deal With Anxiety And Panic Attacks

August 31, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Panic Attacks




It is quite natural for everyone to feel anxious at some time in their life. Whether it is before a big meeting, before the wedding, or even if it is before going out of the front door, anxiety and panic attacks are a part of life. Anxiety from sudden exposure to something you don’t like such as a snake or spider is natural and most people deal with it very quickly and calm down.

However, an estimated 15% of the population suffers from the terrible effects of constant anxiety. In fact, they suffer so bad that they may find they can’t even leave the house! As you can imagine, this level of anxiety is not good.

When an anxiety or panic attack starts typically you will feel some of these common symptoms:

* Faster heart rate

* Shaking

* Uncontrollable sweating

* Dizziness

* Shortness of breath

A panic attack can last anything from a few seconds to a few minutes or even longer. After a panic attack you may experience even more negative emotions such as depression, frustration or even anger at yourself.

There is a multitude of ways to dealing with your anxiety and panic attacks. You could take medication for it, but they tend to have a whole host of unpleasant side effects. Therapy is another option, but for some it is too expensive. Hypnosis though works really well and can resolve you anxiety in just a few sessions, and I can highly recommend it.

In order to overcome your anxiety you can teach yourself deep breathing techniques. Concentrate now on breathing from your stomach rather than your chest. This means that when you breathe in your stomach expands, and when you breathe out your stomach contracts and you pull it in. Deep breathing from the stomach is incredibly relaxing, and you will find it very hard to get anxious whilst breathing in this way.

When you start to get anxious you will notice that your breathing becomes shallower (i.e. from your chest) and quicker. If you try breathing shallowly from your chest now, notice how you feel. How do you feel?

Yeah, you feel anxious and nervous. So if you can start to consciously breathe from your stomach as soon as you feel an anxiety or panic attack coming on, then you will calm yourself down and feel better.

This is a wonderful natural way to deal with anxiety so you can overcome it. I personally have an extreme phobia of spiders, yet through this deep breathing and remaining relaxed I can catch a spider in a glass and take it out of the house. It really works, and it works well.

Take back control of your life and banish your anxiety and panic attacks through learning to control your breathing.



All You Wanted to Know About Anxiety and Anxiety Therapy

August 31, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Mental Health




People all around us feel anxious and stressed out due to the present condition of the world. Everyone has their own reason for being stressed out and you can see people wherever you look, be it a small child or an old man, having a worried look. Let’s take a look at a few examples of what makes people stressed out.

A child who has moved into a higher school would be stressed because his parents back home would expect him to excel because the amount of competition is high. A middle aged man has to toil harder by working even after his office hours to hold onto his job because his company is reducing the number of employees.

We just saw two instances which makes people suffer from anxiety and if you think anxiety is a simple word, then think again. Anxiety may cause distress and may severely affect a person’s life. The range of intensity may vary but yet the results are dangerous. You may wonder how come people do not get affected even though anxiety is quite normal. This is because although due to the present day scenario most people suffer from anxiety, people can lead a proper life without anxiety causing any major worry to their lives if it is dealt with properly.

If you are still doubtful whether anxiety therapy is needed, take a look at the problems caused by anxiety:

Ø As a victim of the most generalized type of anxiety, you may have recurring thoughts about losing everything that you posses. The symptoms are quite dangerous because people who suffer from similar experiences are bound to face problems in concentrating on their daily task.

Ø Many people develop various types of phobias that can be really dangerous and that may lead to various other mental illnesses.

The problems mentioned above are just a couple from a never ending list; the impact may vary from person to person. Anxiety therapy is extremely important because if anxiety is not dealt with properly it may cause recurring panic attack, psychological disorder, depression etc.

Here is a brief insight on ways to fight anxiety.

Behavioral Therapy:

This therapy employs techniques that work in reduction or stopping of undesired behavior. A common technique used makes use of relaxation and deep breathing that stops breathing problems that anxiety may cause.

Cognitive Therapy:

Cognitive bevavioural therapy is an excellent Anxiety therapy because it is a different but realistic approach to those who understand how anxiety causes problems since it enables them to take steps to stop the reasons that create anxiety.

Anxiety therapy should be started as soon as possible so that things are kept under control from the very start. You can find more anxiety therapies on the internet but always consult your doctor before starting any particular anxiety therapy.



Overcoming Performance Anxiety the Easy Way

August 30, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Panic Attacks

Performance anxiety may hit anyone and this can affect the performance of a person in the work place, at home and yes even in bed.

For this reason, overcoming performance anxiety should be one of those things that should be prioritized in the long run. Overcoming performance anxiety is a need so that you can junk that feeling of inadequacy. Overcoming performance anxiety is a must because this will be your arms when you take down every hurdle that can trigger disharmonious relationships and conflicts between you and your partner. And overcoming performance anxiety should be your means to have a happy and a complete life.

Overcoming performance anxiety in the workplace and in the bedroom

Performance anxiety is a known problem in the work place. Employee productivity is often hampered by this health and mental issue and that’s the reason why business owners spend time energy to effectively adopt plans that will help in overcoming performance anxiety. But did you know that this mental issue is not just confined in the workplace? This means that you will see overcoming performance anxiety steps not just in the workplace. So where do you see other people overcoming performance anxiety?

Performance anxiety can be a big problem as well in inside the bedroom, with either the male or the female experiencing this issue. In most cases, it is the men who is faced with the most serious trouble and a serious question that he often ponders on some steamy nights- can I get it going and satisfy my partner? If you have the same issue and constantly thinking on how well can you perform and satisfy your partner, then probably you have performance anxiety now. This is a common problem for men when it comes to sexual activity in the bedroom. What happens next is a common story told and retold; men get fully engrossed in the fear of the inability to perform and then this fear ends up dominating what could have been a spontaneous feeling of love and affection. For this reason, overcoming performance anxiety is important. Overcoming performance anxiety means getting to the bottom of it all and knowing what could be the effect of this mental condition to men.

The issues to confront when overcoming performance anxiety inside the bedroom

Overcoming performance anxiety means men will need to resolve the following;

· Avoidance of sexual encounters

· Development of self-esteem

· Deterioration of relationships

· Sexual dysfunctions

These are the common offshoots of having performance anxiety on men and these four offshoots are the main reasons why overcoming performance anxiety is important now and not tomorrow.

What to do when overcoming performance anxiety

And we all along know that there is some form of good news here. It’s now easy to adopt measures that will help you in overcoming performance anxiety. And it’s always with you- the mind plays the main role in overcoming performance anxiety. Problems that are related to this issue are related to the fears, stress and depression rather than the physical. So in order to address these issues, the mind needs to be reprogrammed so that the mind can relax and enjoy any activity- including sex. And one great step in overcoming performance anxiety is thru the therapeutic adoption of hypnosis. This step is adopted by many sites online like http://www.selfhypnosistherapy.com/sexual-performance-anxiety.html. Hypnosis can help in overcoming performance anxiety and can help you discover what is holding you back and lead to once again to the right track in performing to the best of your abilities- including giving your partner the pleasure that he/she deserves.

If you are feeling frustrated and depressed about your physical inability to perform, don’t just do nothing and feel miserable. Do what thousands of men have done – by overcoming performance anxiety in the bedroom with the power of hypnosis… you will be amaze how easy it is to prolong your pleasure and start enjoying stronger erections that last!

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Amazing Anxiety Disorder Phobia Relief Reveals The Truth – Live Free From Anxiety

August 30, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Panic Attacks




Anxiety disorder is capable of destroying your life if not treated immediately. Luckily it is possible to live free from anxiety for the remainder of your life.

Have you ever felt anxious about something for any reason? Or, feeling anxious or worried in the times of stressful situations? It is ok to feel what you feel as long as you have rational reasons to validate your feelings.

Anxiety is a normal response to any stressful event and it helps you deal with that situation. But, when anxiety becomes too much that it can affect your day to day activities and peace of mind, it becomes an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorder is excessive anxiety and worry about events or activities, which occurs most often than not in most days for at least six months. A person who has anxiety disorder finds it difficult to control the feelings of worry and fear.

The anxiety, worry, or the physical symptoms of anxiety disorder can cause considerable suffering or harm on the important areas of daily life activities. Some of the common types of anxiety disorders include separation anxiety, social anxiety or phobia, selective mutism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PSTD), panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and specific phobia.

Each of these anxiety disorders has different symptoms, but the entire symptoms revolve around excessive, unreasonable fear and dread.

Separation anxiety is defined as developmentally improper and excessive anxiety relating to separation from home or to someone you are so attached with. Social anxiety or phobia is generally understood as extreme fear in the face of social interaction.

Selective mutism is the consistent failure to speak in specific social situations where you are expected to render speech. OCD is an illness wherein you have recurrent and unwanted urge to do something to relieve your discomfort. PST is an incapacitating condition that follows a terrifying event (persistent terrifying thoughts).

Panic disorder is categorized as recurrent brief episodes of intense fear that are accompanied by many physical symptoms, like heart palpitations and dizziness, even without external threat. Agoraphobia is defined as an incapacitating fear of open spaces, resulting to avoidance of crowds, and open public places.

General anxiety disorder is described by diffuse feelings of apprehensions with physiological symptoms. Specific phobia is a feeling of intense, irrational fears towards certain things, like closed-in places, heights, water, etc.

If you think you have an anxiety disorder, the first person you should see is your family doctor. A physician can determine whether the symptoms that bother you are due either to anxiety disorder or other medical condition, or both.

If indeed you are diagnosed to have anxiety disorder, the next step you should do is definitely see a mental health professional whom you are comfortable talking with.

Clearly, in order for you to be treated for this condition, you and your doctor should work together as a team and make a plan to cure you from anxiety disorder. Don’t let this condition ruin your mood, activities, or your life in general.

Get immediate treatment the soonest possible time once you think that you might have an anxiety disorder. The sooner you get the treatment, the sooner you will feel better and be able to enjoy life to the full.



Self-help Anxiety Methods to Stop Worrying

August 29, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Mental Health




Self-help anxiety curing methods can make a difference if you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks. It’s common for anxiety to start with negative thinking and worry. Educating yourself on how to control these thoughts and stopping them from taking over your life is a proven method for lessening or eliminating anxiety.

Worries can cause you to toss and turn in bed all night, which in turn creates more problems the following day. Figuring out how to stop worrying is quite an effective self-help anxiety strategy.

Lots of people worry about money, others about relationships, and some worry about worrying! This chorus of negativity is enough to spark the common symptoms of anxiety, igniting a destructive cycle that may lead to panic attacks. Surprisingly some folks think worrying is necessary. It’s a mechanism that they hold on to like a silly superstition. This kind of thinking never has and never will do anyone any good. What it will cause is more anxiety, so if your having thoughts like this it’s time to seriously consider putting a stop to it.

A self-help anxiety method for beating the cycle of worry is to reach a realization about life. A common starting point of anxiety is a need to control any and all outcomes possible in life. Stressing over the way things may work out is a certain way to bring anxiety into your life, or at least miss out on needed sleep. With a lack of sleep do you really expect your day to flow without problems?

Accepting that you can’t control all the outcomes your faced with on a daily basis and fully accepting that uncertainty is a fact of life is a refreshing solution to anxiety problems. We can’t stop negative things from happening – that’s just impossible. What we do have control over is how we face these hard truths. Seeing the difference in what we can control and what we can’t is a monumental step in stopping the cycle of worry and anxiety.

Stop thinking like you have some kind of control over forces outside of yourself. Instead use common self-help anxiety strategies to properly deal with negative situations. If you truly practice self-help anxiety strategies such as stopping worry, you’ll see there’s no point in stressing out about what might happen tomorrow. If you start living in the moment anxiety can melt away.

So with all this free time you have (now that your not worrying), what are you going to do? My suggestion is to multiply the benefits of eliminating anxiety and worry by trying positive thinking.

The self-help anxiety curing strategy of positive thinking may come easy in the beginning, but its only a matter of time before the familiar habits of worrying will again surface. The practice of positive thinking needs to be renewed often. Negative thoughts will repeatedly make their way into your daily thought process. They won’t relent but you can make yourself more aware of them and send them off in a hurry.

It’s time to make the choice to end anxiety now. Ending the cycle of worry and replacing it with positive thinking is a great way to start implementing self-help anxiety curing methods.

 



Recover From Anxiety and Panic Attacks

August 27, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Health




Panic and Anxiety attacks are terms that are swapped about so much that most people regard them as them same condition. Panic and anxiety attacks are a closely related phenomena, and the symptoms of a panic attack may include problems with breathing.

Panic and Anxiety attacks can be horrifying experiences and are much more common place than the person who suffers from them thinks. Depending on what research you read they either strike more than 10 million people or affect as many as 15% of all adults. Whichever number is looked at. I am sure you will agree with me that this problem that effects women more than men is massive.

Anxiety and Panic disorders becomes classified as a mental illness when the condition causes enough distress to reduce ones ability to function socially, occupationally, or psychologically. During a panic attack, unless you were medically educated, you might think you were having a heart attack, or some other form of medical crisis. Although when they get to this level they are both considered psychiatric conditions, they can be the easiest of all to treat and in most cases are highly treatable. Anxiety and panic attacks are an emotional and physical reaction to a threat, whether that threat is real or perceived. The attacks are often associated with shallow, rapid patterns of breathing and can respond to muscle relaxation techniques and breathing exercises that form a part of many complementary therapies.

It doesn’t matter from what walk of life you come from anxiety and panic attacks are non discriminatory and they appear in situations where your usual skills and talents seem to make no difference, so telling yourself to calm down, doesn’t work that well. The attacks seem to be self-perpetuating and they need prompt and effective intervention. Although anxiety and panic attacks are similar, panic attacks are more high pitched than anxiety.

Anxiety and panic attacks are very frightening and very real to the person suffering the attack and no matter what anybody says they are medical conditions as real to the person as if they were suffering from heart disease. Although they are very scary once you stop letting the fears take over, you’ll feel more in control. This is the first stage in getting better. You may be particularly vulnerable to anxiety and panic attacks if you are suffering from medical conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, severe pain or medical obesity.

Symptoms can include but are not limited to are: Rapid heart beat, palpitations (awareness of your heart beating), raised blood pressure feeling of tightness in the chest, breathlessness and hyperventilation (rapid, shallow breathing) sweating, pallor, chest pains, feelings of light-headedness and dizziness. Shaking and trembling pins and needles (caused by hyperventilation) usually in hands or feet. Feeling of intense fear and/or impending doom headaches and muscular aches and pains. Insomnia, irritability, nightmares fatigue digestive disturbances, e.g.nausea and/or vomiting, abdominal pain anddiarrhoea. Feeling cut off from yourself and other people, fear of dying, desensitization, depersonalization, feeling of unreality, depression, numbness and difficulty falling or staying asleep. symptoms of panic attacks, feelings of unreality, bodily sensations, body muscles, nausea and diarrhoea, natural instinct, flight reaction, derealisation, muscle tension, abdominal distress, tightness in chest, pounding heart,

Anxiety and panic attacks are a relatively short period of very intense fear and can start with an unpleasant feeling in the throat and a sudden shortness of breath. Anxiety and panic attacks usually last for 10 minutes but more severe attacks may last up to two hours. They may be part of an underlying anxiety disorder such as phobias (irrational fear of, for example, crowds or open spaces), obsessive compulsive disorder (recurrent thoughts and repetitive behaviour), post-traumatic stress, depression or other psychological problems. Or anxiety can come about as a result of pressure at work, in school, at home or even when having a major event or change in your life like death of loved one or divorce.

Anxiety and panic attacks are disorders and although you might be able to put a quick fix together during attacks it is important that you find treatment to free yourself from this disorder and eliminate anxiety and panic attacks permanently. Anxiety medication may not work as it may mask the symptoms and when you stop taking the medication the attacks generally flare back up again. Ultimately because anxiety medication is superficial, it doesn’t treat the root cause of your anxiety.



Cure Anxiety and Panic Attacks – Signs for YOU to Look For and What To Do Next

August 27, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Panic Attacks

 Here are some of the common signs you are experiencing a panic attack. Have you ever….?

- Had a tight chest and found it difficult to breathe, even to the point where you feared you may in fact stop breathing altogether?

- Found yourself in hospital because you thought you were having a heart attack only to be told that you were just experiencing intense anxiety?

- Struggled with anxious and unwanted thoughts that just will not stop?

- Been constantly afraid that you will just lose control completely?

- Felt nervous and on edge in normal everyday or ordinary situations that have never bothered you in the past?

 - Felt disconnected from what is going on around you?

 Let me tell you a story. See if this sounds vaguely familiar. It was the first day of my new job working at the checkouts in a big department store. Of course it’s natural to feel a little anxious about starting a new job, but I was just going to be a checkout operator – not too much of a big deal. Instead I turned up thinking I was fine, only to find myself 5 minutes later out the back in the staffroom with an ice pack and a cup off tea and everyone asking me if I was alright.

My chest had tightened, my heart had experienced sudden palpitations, I got dizzy, I felt like I couldn’t escape, and I starting to black out. And I had no idea why it had just happened. There was no rational explanation.

I had just experience my first Panic Attack

After suffering from panic attacks myself, I have found that the only way to truly conquer panic attacks and be free of anxiety is to address the root cause of the problem:

The actual fear of having a panic attack

I realised the panic attack was only brought on by the anxious thoughts leading up to the actual panic that was the source of the problem. If you can fix this then you will be free of panic attacks in the future. The difference between an anxious person and someone who normally worries (but their worries never turn into full blown panic attacks) is that an anxious person is constantly afraid they will experience a panic attack because of their worries and problems. Everyone else never usually worries they will end up experiencing anything like that, so they never actually do.

So the first step is to ACCEPT these anxious thoughts of a panic attack. When you accept them instead of resisting them you begin to conquer you fears of the thoughts of having a panic attack. If you accept your anxious thoughts and DO NOT RESIST them they will not be as terrible as you thought. They will begin to lose their power.

The more afraid you are, the more you resist, the greater your anxiety level and the greater the chance of you having a panic attack. However if you accept your anxious thoughts and say “panic attack do your best” and you mean it, panic attack will not come. You have essentially dissolved the fear and anxiety contained within the thoughts of having a panic attack. You have therefore taken back your self control.

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Unconventional Anxiety Treatments: 5 Alternative Treatments for Anxiety

August 27, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Health




For many people, alternative anxiety treatments can bring relief from their symptoms when medical approaches (like using anti-anxiety medications) have failed. Not everyone responds to well to prescription drug treatment for anxiety. The side effects and potential withdrawal symptoms can sometimes outweigh any perceived benefit from the drug, especially over the long-term.

Alternative anxiety treatments have the benefit of not relying on habit-forming medications, and many have been thoroughly researched in universities around the world to determine both effectiveness and safety. Although the medical community in the United States continues to focus on medication as a cure for anxiety, there is a growing movement among doctors and researchers toward a more natural or holistic approach to this common emotional problem.

Contrary to popular misconception, anxiety is not a disease or “medical disorder.” Anxiety is in fact an emotional state, most commonly associated with an impending feeling of doom, apprehension, insecurity and worry. These feelings can produce very real physical anxiety symptoms. The most common of these are dizziness, breathing difficulties (hyperventilation), rapid heart beat, chest pains, and upset stomach or nausea.

To calm the physical and mental symptoms of anxiety, and its more acute cousin: the panic attack, there is growing evidence that alternative treatments are often as effective as pharmaceuticals, without the potential for harmful side effects. We’ll briefly review five well-documented alternative treatments for anxiety.

1. Diet Changes to Reduce Anxiety. It is well known that caffeine can contribute to anxiety; as can excessive amounts of sugar or alcohol. Many anxiety sufferers find relief from their symptoms by simply modifying their diet. Eliminating stimulants such as caffeine and replacing them with herbal teas (for example) can make a great difference over the course of a few weeks. Chamomile Tea and Skullcap tea are two herbal blends that have long been reported to have soothing affects.

2. Natural Herbs and Supplements. St. John’s Wort has received a great deal of attention in the media for its calming effects, and has been researched extensively to ensure that it is safe to use. This natural herb has also been shown to be an effective treatment for moderate depression. Melatonin is another supplement that has long been used to combat sleep disorders and insomnia. There are now several studies that suggest melatonin may also be an effective anti-anxiety treatment.

3. Guided Visualization Techniques. Evidence suggests that using visualization techniques to change the emotional state can be as effective as many prescription drugs for anxiety. These techniques can be used independently, or while listening to a guided visualization CD or tape, to assist the user in “visualizing” more peaceful harmonious feelings throughout the body. The combination of soft relaxing music and gentle guidance can be quite relaxing, and when used consistently, can help to reduce both physical and emotional anxiety symptoms.

4. Breathing Exercises. Proper breathing techniques can contribute to a more peaceful, relaxed state of well-being. As hyperventilation is a common problem among anxiety sufferers, practicing controlled breathing exercises can help reduce anxiety symptoms, and reduce the chances of hyperventilating in a high anxiety situation.

5. Relaxation Techniques and Exercises. Research suggests that practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga or tai chi can help reduce anxiety. Practicing meditation has also been shown to calm the mind, promoting feelings of well-being. Tai chi in particular can be beneficial, as it encourages mindfulness and controlled breathing.

Each of these alternative anxiety treatments can be beneficial in its own right, and many natural health practitioners suggest using one or more of these treatments simultaneously, in order to affect the greatest change in the user’s emotional state and eliminate the “mental environment” that allows anxiety to flourish. Remember, it is important to talk to your doctor before using natural anxiety treatments, taking herbs or supplements, or beginning an exercise program.



How to Control Anxiety Attacks – Fighting Your Fear

August 26, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Mental Health




Many people describe anxiety attacks as a lightning bolt out of a clear blue sky due to the sudden onset of extremely uncomfortable symptoms. Their breathing become rapid, they start gasping for air while their heart starts pounding madly, they feel numb and dizzy. These symptoms can be so intense that they feeling like dieing – literally.

For most, anxiety attacks often occur without warning and with no apparent reason. A person who have no anxiety problems in his whole life may simply start to have one suddenly.

The main problems comes when anxiety attacks start interfering with normal daily activity. For instances, a person may never have difficulties shopping alone, taking a bus or eating in public when they unexpectedly have an “attack” during one of those situation. After that episode, he could be so traumatized by it that he start associating that situation with extreme anxiety and avoid it.

For others, the thought of being alone is enough to trigger another attack itself. They seek security in the company of others and is convinced that their personal safety depends on having someone nearby at all times.

I am sure you will agree that neither situation can be deemed acceptable.

The good new is that anxiety attacks can be controlled and stopped forever. The biggest hurdle is in understanding the myths and facts about anxiety attacks. A large part of their fear of anxiety attacks stem from the myths that it will kill them, which is totally untrue.

Myth: The attacks are caused by my medical problems.



Facts: Anxiety attacks are rarely caused by medical problems. The way you REACT to your medical problems can induce anxiety attacks.


Myth: Anxiety attacks causes me to have heart attack.



Facts: Unless you have an existing heart condition, such attacks DO NOT pose any threats to the heart. You CANNOT have a heart attack due to anxiety.


Myth: Anxiety attacks make me feel like dieing, which it will.



Facts: No matter how great that feeling is or how bad the symptoms are, it doesn’t change this fact – you are NEVER going to die from anxiety attacks.




Not convinced? Seek out the emergency room physician who have seen thousands of people who sincerely believes that they are going to die from anxiety attacks, NONE of them died when they left the hospital.


Does any of these myths applies to you?

To control anxiety attacks and stop it forever, you need to tackle its roots – fear. This irrational fear is the main culprit. The fear of having another anxiety attack, constantly dreading that it will happen again. Its this feeling that causes anxiety attack to occur again and again.

Know that anxiety attack cannot harm you. You feel like having a heart attack, you feel like fainting and dieing. But will it happen? NO! It NEVER happen. Convince yourself of this fact. Know that anxiety attack can never harm you and you have nothing to fear!



Causes of Anxiety Attacks- What You Must Know To Beat Anxiety

August 24, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Panic Attacks




There are many causes of anxiety attacks, ranging from medical issues to external mental or emotional stimuli. These causes are many and varied and if you are suffering from anxiety attacks, it is imperative that you find out what is causing them.

1 – Hereditary Causes

First off there may be your heredity blame. Anxiety attacks have been found to run in families, which leads many professionals to conclude that the trait can be found in the human genome. On the other hand, studies on genetically identical twins have shown that sometimes one twin will experience anxiety attacks, while the other will not. Another way in which anxiety attacks can be inherited is through an overly cautious worldview handed down by a patient’s parents and the cumulative stress it causes.

2 – Biological Causes

There are also many biological causes to anxiety attacks, such as inner ear disturbances (labyrinthitis), hyperthyroidism, hyperventilation syndrome, hypoglycemia, prolapsed mitral valve (a heart disease), pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumor), and Wilson’s disease (a genetic disorder). Even a vitamin B deficiency caused by parasitic tapeworm infection or from a poor diet can also cause anxiety attacks.

3 – Mental / Emotional Causes

Mental or emotional issues can also trigger anxiety attacks. These include generalized anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),significant personal loss (such as loss of a romantic partner), significant life changes, ‘what-if’ thinking, lack of assertiveness, withheld feelings, mistaken beliefs, and avoidance of or association with anxiety-provoking situations or environs.

4 – Pharmalogical / Medicinal Causes

Pharmacological or medicinal causes include amphetamines, alcohol, marijuana, psilocybin (a hallucinogen found in some mushrooms), side effects from drugs such as Ritalin or other antidepressants (especially at the beginning or end of use), and stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine. Some anxiety attack sufferers also develop an irrational fear of certain medications, which may result in anxiety attacks if they are taken, which is a purely psychosomatic effect similar to what placebos have been shown to produce.

As anyone can see, there are many causes of anxiety attacks, most of which are completely out of your control if you are having them. The good news is that you can do something about it. The first thing you need to understand is that it is not your fault. Your anxiety attacks are nothing that you asked for and not something that you necessarily caused. If it is found that your anxiety attacks are caused by something external that is easily remedied, your problem may be solved quite easily. If it is caused by a lifestyle choice, for example marijuana or alcohol consumption, there are alternatives available. If it is something that is more ephemeral, then your mental health professional can counsel you and/or prescribe medication that will help you deal with your anxiety attacks.

Conclusion

Don’t immediately blame yourself or believe that there is simply something wrong with you if you are having anxiety attacks. If you look hard enough, you will probably be able to discover what the cause is. In many cases, the cause of anxiety attacks can be quickly discerned and dealt with via counseling, medication or self help.



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