How To Manage Anxiety – You Are Not Alone
March 30th, 2009 9:54 amAnxiety disorders are very common around the world, and in the U.S. alone almost 20% of the adult population is affected by a form of this mental illness. There are different types of anxiety disorders, including generalised anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety and specific phobias. In general, women are affected by anxiety disorders more often than men.
Anxiety can develop from a chemical or hormonal imbalance in the brain, genetics and environmental factors, such as built-up stress, a learned pattern of behaviours and unresolved emotional or even practical issues. Physical symptoms and manifestations of anxiety include rapid heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, insomnia, tension and irritation. Often, when someone is having their first severe anxiety attack, they think they are having a heart attack. I had a client who had his first ever anxiety attack while driving, he stopped by the side of the road and called the ambulance. They checked him out and reassured him that it was not his heart that was causing the problem. Luckily, as unpleasant and frightening the symptoms of an anxiety attack are, they are not life threatening.
The good news is that while anxiety is widespread, sometimes very serious and it can affect the quality of one’s life very negatively, it is treatable and manageable.
There are many treatment options for people who are affected by anxiety. Medication is often used, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines, which can be used in short-term as well as long-term cases and can also be used in conjunction with other treatments.
Therapies, done with a therapist or counsellor, include behaviour therapy, which involves controlling undesired behaviour; cognitive therapy, which involves changing negative thought patterns; cognitive-behaviour therapy; and relaxation and calming techniques, such as breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi, massage and aromatherapy.
There are also natural remedies for treating anxiety disorders and anxiety symptoms. Natural remedies include eating right to maintain your blood sugar at a very even level, so there are no spikes and “dips” and exercising, as well as taking dietary supplements, such as a vitamin B complex.
Anxiety disorders can be treated-or at the very least, its symptoms managed-so that you can exert control over the anxiety instead of anxiety having control over you. The first step is to pick up the courage to see a professional you trust and ask for help.
Till next time,
Connie Your Yoga Partner
from
