Archive for April, 2011

Winning Your Battle with Anxiety Disorder- What You Need to Know

April 26th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Anxiety Disorder

Is this scenario familiar to you? You have the feeling that you are about to faint, your heart is pounding, you are sweating, there is numbness in your hands and feet, you are trembling and thinking you are having a heart attack. You also have this feeling that you are losing control or going crazy. These are the common symptoms of anxiety attack. People with anxiety disorder are suffering from paralyzing irrational fear. Living with this kind of disorder, can be really distressing and you have to know the best ways of winning your battle with anxiety disorder and stop it from controlling your life.

To beat anxiety disorder, the first thing that you have to know is that you are not alone and you do not have to go through this dreadful disorder alone. There are millions of people suffering from different types  of anxiet disorder. Winning your battle with anxiety disorder is not impossible because there is help available and you can overcome this disorder.

It is important to talk to people you trust about your disorder. The support of your family and close friends can be very helpful for you to overcome anxiety disorder. It is important to find someone who has the heart to understand what you are going through. Seek professional help or counseling if you cannot deal with your anxiety on your own. Do not feel embarrassed or stupid in doing so. You are suffering from a disorder and you have every right to find the best solution to beat your disorder and reclaim your life.

You also have to know that anxiety is all in your mind. The brain is responsible for bringing the feelings of anxiety and fear. Our body and mind are connected with each other. The body responds on what the mind dictates.

Understanding that you have the power to change the way you think is important in winning your battle with anxiety disorder.

One trick to conquer anxiety attacks is to redirect your thoughts and keep your mind occupied with positive thoughts to melt away your irrational fears. Practice deep slow breathing to improve the circulation of oxygen in your body and try to relax. Of course, if you cannot deal with your anxiety disorder on your own, it is best to seek professional help. CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy is one method to help you change your thinking pattern and the way you respond to feared situations. Your doctor may also recommend the combination of medications and psychotherapy to help you mange your disorder.

nother thing that you should know is that anxiety is one of the many negative effects brought by stress. Anxiety could be a result of stress from daily life.  Stress from work, school and family can make a person anxious. The presence of stress in your life leads to anxious thoughts and worries. In winning your battle with anxiety disorder, you have to know how to reduce and manage your stress. Relaxation techniques, yoga and meditation can be very helpful in reducing your stress.

Winning your battle with anxiety disorder is not easy and it takes a lot of courage to beat your irrational fears but always remember that it is not impossible to win this battle. To treat anxiety disorder using a proven method visit Winning Your Battle with Anxiety Disorder

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Knowing Anxiety Disorder in Teens – What Parents Should Know

April 19th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorder is a common mental illness that affects millions of people including children and teens.  Anxiety is a common human response when faced with real danger but people with anxiety disorder are ruled by fears even without the presence of real fearful situations. An anxiety attack is accompanied by symptoms like sweating, pounding heartbeat and feeling of unreality or going crazy. Anxiety disorder comes in different forms namely, GAD or generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder, OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety disorder and specific phobias.  If your child is suffering from one of the above mentioned mental illnesses, it is important to educate yourself and know the facts about mental illnesses. Knowing anxiety disorder is important if you want to help your child.

GAD, OCD, PTSD and social anxiety are the types of anxiety disorders found in adolescence.  Social anxiety is common in late childhood and early adolescence. With GAD, there are reports that 3% of adolescent population are suffering from GAD. OCD is not very common but there are some teens suffering from this problem. PTSD is suffered by young people with traumatic experiences in their childhood. Knowing anxiety disorder in teens and understanding the facts from the professionals are important.  So if you think that your child is suffering from any type of anxiety disorders, it is important to get the right diagnosis. Consult a mental health doctor.

Of course in knowing anxiety disorder, you have to know how to recognize this kind of disorder. What are the early signs of anxiety problem in teens?

  • Falling grades or declining school performance despite strong efforts
  • Isolating behavior or refusal to go to school and refusal to participate in normal school activities
  • Worries excessively or overly anxious about their homework, performance and grades.
  • Excessive fear or avoidance of new situations
  • Frequent absences
  • Constant nightmares
  • Depression
  • Sadness
  • Hyperactivity or fidgeting
  • Irritability or frequent tantrums
  • Restlessness
  • Tearfulness
  • Substance abuse (drugs or alcohol)

In knowing anxiety disorder, it is important to recognize the early signs of anxiety disorder because this disorder can be destructive in the lives of young people if left untreated.

Anxiety disorder can prevent your child from functioning normally in his or her daily life. Failure to treat mental illness like anxiety disorder in children and adolescence can result to dropping out of school or poor academic performance, behavior problems, violence and severe substance abuse. Anxiety disorder may also lead to depression and there are cases that depression leads to suicide.

Talk to your child’s doctor and ask about the mental illness or behavior issues of your child. Of course it is important to find a mental health professional with expertise and experience in handling anxiety disorder in children and teens.  Learn from your doctor about the anxiety problem of your child and how to deal with it. Your mental health doctor can perform a complete assessment of the frequency and severity of the symptoms. Medications, psychotherapy or combination of both maybe recommended by your doctor and it is important for the parents to be supportive and understanding. Knowing anxiety disorder from the experts can be very helpful.

Raising an adolescent with anxiety disorder can be really challenging but always remember that it is a treatable condition and there are continuous development on the available treatments, so there are good reasons to be optimistic. Understanding and knowing anxiety disorder is essential to help your child overcome his or her disorder. To treat anxiety disorder using a proven method visit Panic Disorder Freedom

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Overcome Financial Anxiety – Dealing with Financial Fears

April 16th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Stress Management

You are not earning the same as before and your savings are all gone. No matter how hardworking you are and no matter how hard you tried to save, you still find yourself in a financial mess. You’ve been receiving notices from your creditors because you haven’t settled your payments until now. Your house mortgage is due by the end of the month and you are not sure how to pay the bill. You have to pay your medical insurance and you have kids going to school. Financial difficulties can bring stress, fear and anxiety to anyone but there are ways to overcome financial anxiety.

All of us suffer from financial stress and anxiety. Financial difficulties are common problems most of us experienced from time to time.  The status of the economy and other personal issues like sickness and death in the family can lead to financial woes.  Managing financial anxiety is not easy. Although it takes a lot of effort and assistance to overcome financial anxiety, there are solutions to your problems.

Financial stress can affect you physically and psychologically. You will find yourself unable to sleep at night worrying about your bills and finances. It is difficult for you to accomplish anything that needs concentration because your mind is scattered and you simply cannot focus. You become irritable or bad-tempered and restless. The fact is, suffering from financial stress and anxiety can affect your behavior as well as your health and it can make you sick.

How to manage financial anxiety? To overcome financial anxiety, it is important that you are on the best of health. If you are experiencing sleepless nights and high levels of anxiety, you need to see your doctor and make sure you are physically and mentally healthy to face all your problems. Unbearable stress is not an easy thing to handle and there are people who suffered from nervous breakdown when faced with financial problems. So if you feel that you cannot handle the stress on your own, do not hesitate to seek help.

After taking care of your physical and psychological health, it is best to consult a financial adviser or planner to help you overcome financial anxiety. Financial experts can help you realize your options. It is important not to hide your real financial situation. Be honest and disclose how bad your situation is. At first your financial planner may want you to come up with a workable budget. You may need to track and record every single expense to see how much money goes to unimportant things, how much you can trim your budget and how much you can save. It can be very difficult in the beginning but if you want to overcome financial anxiety, you need to cooperate with your financial planner. You and your financial planner will work as a team to accomplish your short-term and long-term financial goals.

Managing financial anxiety is not easy but there is no other way to overcome financial anxiety but to face it. All people have their own financial woes, what sets you apart is how you respond to your problems.

Anxiety is a normal human response to stress but you should not let stress and anxiety control your life. You have the power and the choice to beat stress and overcome financial anxiety.Stress leads to anxiety. If you want to know how to beat anxiety attacks visit Freedom from Anxiety Attacks

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How to Manage and Relieve Your Stress

April 16th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Stress Management

We are living in a world where we are always exposed to stressful situations.  Losing a job, struggling at work or school, losing a home, marriage problems, parenting issues, debts, rising gas prices,  etc., all of these are stressful situations that can make a person stressed out. The stress and pressure of everyday life can contribute to the occurrence of anxiety attacks.  Most of the time we are caught off-guard and unprepared facing those stressors leading to anxiety and other negative emotions that affect us physically and psychologically. To improve the quality of your life and to prevent anxiety problems, it is important that you know how to manage and relieve your stress.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem that affects millions of people. Stress and anxiety in some ways are connected with each other.  Stress is also linked to many kinds of illnesses either directly or indirectly. There are reports that stress can affect the normal function of the immune system making a stressed person vulnerable to different kinds of illnesses.  Stress can also push a person to develop unhealthy habits like overeating, unhealthy eating, inactivity, smoking and drinking. If you will not learn how to manage and relieve your stress, it can ruin not only your health but also your entire life.

The truth is, it is impossible to live a stress-free life. Stress is a part of life and it is impossible to totally eliminate it but we can control and change how we react or respond to it. If you want to maintain a good health and peaceful life, you have to learn how to relieve your stress.

So, how to manage and relieve your stress?

Share. There is an old adage that says “no man is an island” and it is true. In order to survive a stressful situation, you have to share it with people you trust. These people may include your family, co-workers, friends and even your family doctor or a trusted counselor.  If you are stressed at work, you can delegate the work to others or find ways on how to make your work lighter. If you want to talk to someone to manage and relieve your stress, your family and close friends are there. If you need professional help, there is nothing wrong to seek the advice of a therapist. Share your burden because there is help available for you.

Pull out from the current stressful situation for a while. Move! Avoid being idle because it is easier to become depressed if you will remain inactive or idle. Moving around will improve the supply of oxygen to your brain. If you are in your workplace and you are allowed to stand up and leave your post, then roam for a while and smile with your co-employees to lighten up your mood. Another stress reliever is taking a walk outside and appreciate the beauty of nature. Play a game, do yoga, exercise or listen to music.  The key is do something else to take your attention away from the stressor for a while to lighten up your mood and clear your mind so that when you return to the problem, it does not look as horrible as before.

Identify your stress triggers. Of course to effectively manage and relieve your stress, you have to make a list of your stress triggers. What makes you anxious and stressed out? Does dealing with multiple tasks at home or work causes more stress? Do you lack certain skills to perform your job well? Knowing what causes your stress can be very helpful if you want to manage and relieve your stress because you can take the necessary action to make the situation less stressful. For instance delegate tasks, attend trainings to learn the skills you need at work to address those stressful situations.

Stress and anxiety go hand in hand and if you have anxiety problems, knowing how to manage and relieve your stress can be very helpful. Do you want to find out how to relieve panic attacks? Visit Panic Disorder Freedom

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Get Help to Break Free From Panic Disorder

April 15th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Panic Disorder

If you are suffering from panic or anxiety disorder, you are not alone because millions of people are suffering from anxiety disorder. You do not have to fight this illness alone because there is help available. Do not hesitate to get help to break free from panic disorder.

The support of your family and friends is important if you are dealing with a mental disorder. They should educate themselves about this mental illness. The family and friends of people with anxiety disorder should help to take away the stigma associated with mental disorders. They should understand that people with anxiety disorder are dealing with a treatable illness and they need to get help to break free from panic disorder.

Joining a self-help support group can be very beneficial. Sharing your experiences and learning from the experiences of others who are going through the same problem can be very helpful. You might also get some tips on how to deal with your own anxiety problems.

If you think you have panic disorder, the first thing that you should do is consult your family doctor. Your family doctor might recommend a mental health professional. It is important that you are comfortable with your chosen mental health professional so that you can work as a team and create plans on how to break free from panic disorder. Your doctor may recommend medications, therapy or combination of both. It is important to follow the instruction of your doctor for the treatments to be effective. Stress management and relaxation techniques are also helpful to keep you calm.

If you do not know what to do and where to go for help, talk to people and organizations that you trust like your family, friends, family doctor, community mental health center, social service agencies, religious counselors, anxiety disorder associations, etc. Anxiety disorder treatments are usually covered by most insurance companies, so check with your insurance company. If you need government assistance, you can check with your state government what options are available for your condition. There are public mental health services and organizations that can help you get the treatment necessary for your condition.

The key is you do not have to deal with your problem alone because there are people or organizations that can help you break free from panic disorder. Remember that panic disorder is a treatable mental disorder. There is help available.

© Thesie Cortez

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Stop Living in Constant Fear – Get Rid of Your Anxiety Disorder

April 13th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Anxiety Disorder

Fear is a basic human emotion that serves as a warning for us to be careful and to be alert in the face of danger.  Fear motivates us to be prepared to survive dangers or fearful situations and it should not paralyze us. If fear is paralyzing you and making your life miserable, it is not normal. If you are suffering from irrational fears and you are unable to function normally in your daily life, you might be suffering from anxiety disorder. You should find the best ways to stop living in constant fear to improve the quality of your life.

We all get scared fear from time to time but it is a different situation if you are ruled by irrational fears.  Irrational fears are also known as phobias and they come in different forms.   Some of the common fears are fear of heights, fear of enclosed places, fear of blood, social phobia, fear of being alone, fear on marketplaces, fear of animals, etc. These specific phobias or irrational fears if not controlled can paralyze and enslave you because their physical and psychological symptoms can cripple you and prevent you from doing the things that you should be doing in your everyday life. Imagine experiencing a sudden unreasonable terror while shopping and your fear is accompanied by trembling, sweating, pounding heartbeat and it feels like you are going crazy and losing control. Living like this can be very depressing.

If your life is ruled by fears, there are things that you can do to free yourself from constant fears. There is help available for you to stop living in constant fear.

Of course it is important to get the proper diagnosis and consult a mental health professional if you are experiencing irrational fears and anxiety disorder. It is easier to stop living in fear if you know what you are dealing with and your doctor can give you the facts and proper diagnosis. Your doctor may recommend the use of anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications. Drug dependence may become a problem that is why medications are usually prescribed for only days or weeks. In severe cases, sufferers may need to take medications for an extended period of time but it is important to always take medications under the supervision of a mental health doctor to minimize the side effects.

There are treatments and medications available to help you deal with your fears but to stop living in constant fear, your determination to overcome your fears is the most important thing. It is important to recognize that you have the power to overcome your fears.  You are in charge of your life and you have a choice. No one can rescue you from your fears but yourself and your determination to overcome your fears.

Taking small steps to face yours fear and eventually gain confidence to beat your fears is important. As your confidence builds up, you are taking the steps to totally free yourself from your fears. There are exercises and therapies to help you face your fears and your mental health doctor can help you on this. Psychotherapy like CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy can help you change the way you think and behave on feared situations.  There are designed exercises to help you replace your irrational thoughts causing your fears with rational and positive thoughts.  With constant practice and exercise under the supervision of your mental health doctor, you will eventually learn how to face your fears and stop living in constant fear.

The first step maybe hard but it is not impossible to conquer your fears and stop living in constant fear. You can reclaim your life.  You just have to take the first step to stop your irrational fear from controlling your life. You are not alone because millions of people are suffering from different types of anxiety disorders. Do you want to learn how other sufferers conquered their fears and anxiety problems? Visit Stop Living in Constant Fear

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Achieve Panic Disorder Freedom- Ways to Free Yourself from Anxiety Attacks

April 12th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Panic Disorder

Living with panic disorder is like imprisoning yourself to your fears and you do not have the freedom to live a normal life. Panic disorder can rob you of the simple joys of life. The constant irrational fear can prevent you from functioning normally on your everyday life. It is important to know how to achieve panic disorder freedom to reclaim your life.

Anxiety disorder is a common mental illness affecting millions of people  Even famous people or celebrities are suffering from this debilitating mental illness.  A person is suffering from panic or anxiety disorder when he or she is experiencing a sudden intense irrational fear for at least 6 months.  Panic attacks are usually accompanied by symptoms like trembling, sweating, palpitation or increased heartbeat, nausea, dizziness, feeling of unreality and feeling of getting crazy or getting out of control. You have to do something to improve the quality of your life and achieve panic disorder freedom.

You have to know that panic disorder is a treatable disorder and there is help available to achieve panic disorder freedom.

A panic attack usually lasts for minutes or at least an hour. If you are having an attack, try to relax, close your eyes, perform deep breathing and redirect your thoughts to positive things. But of course, it is best to seek medical or professional help if you cannot manage your attacks on your own.

How to achieve panic disorder freedom?

Medications. Your doctor, usually a psychiatrist may recommend the use of medicines to alter your brain chemistry and to control your panic attacks. The common medications to achieve panic disorder freedom are antidepressants, beta blockers and anti-anxiety drugs. Although it may take several weeks for the medicines to work, following your doctor’s advice can help you reduce the severity and frequency of your panic attacks. SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the newest antidepressants prescribed for panic disorder which includes Celexa (citalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft (sertraline) and Prozac (fluoxetine). SSRIs have fewer side effects compared to older types of antidepressants.  Tricyclics and MAOIs or Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are the older types of antidepressants. Tricyclics which include Tofranil (imipramine} and Anfranil (clomipramine) can cause weight gain and dizziness. MAOIs include Nardil (phenelzine), Parnate (tranylcypromine) and Marplan (isocarboxazid). Different people respond differently to medications, so some people may still choose the older types of antidepressants. MOAIs react negatively on food and beverages containing high levels of tyramine like red wine, MOAIs may also react with medications like Advil, Tylenol and herbal supplements resulting to increased blood pressure that may be dangerous to your health. It is important to take medications under the supervision of your doctor to know the necessary precaution in taking panic disorder medications. You also need your doctor’s advice in dealing with the temporary side effects of medications like jittery feelings, headache, nausea, sleeping problems and sexual problems.

Psychotherapy. Counseling and therapy are important treatment methods that can help sufferers to achieve panic disorder freedom. This treatment method can be accomplished by trained mental health professionals like a psychiatrist. A common psychotherapy is CBT or cognitive-behavioral therapy. It is a therapy that helps sufferers to change their thinking pattern and the way they respond to situations that trigger their anxiety. The mind and the body are connected. Changing the way you think will also change the way your body reacts to certain situations. Patients will undergo designed exercises to gradually expose them to their feared situations and to prepare them to eventually have a face to face encounter with their feared situations. They will eventually learn the techniques on how to manage their anxiety in the face of feared situations.

Of course it is important to find the best treatment. If you are undergoing treatments and still suffering from chronic panic attacks, do not lose hope. Alternative treatments are also another option. Know how to defeat anxiety and panic disorder using alternative treatments visit Panic Disorder Freedom

© Thesie Cortez

 

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Understanding and Conquering Your Social Anxiety

April 11th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Social Anxiety

It is normal for people to experience social anxiety.  It only becomes a problem when the anxiety is so intense that it interferes with normal daily activities. People with social anxiety are living in fear that they might do something humiliating in a social situation. Exposure to the feared social situations will trigger their extreme anxiety. It is difficult for them to do common tasks like eating or writing in front of other people. Sometimes just the thought of speaking in front of an audience will give them anxiety attacks.

People with social phobia are aware that their fear is unreasonable but they cannot control their fears.  The fact that they know their fears are irrational and there is nothing to be afraid of makes them feel insecure and this makes them more anxious.  In most cases they avoid the feared social situations but they are also human beings who want to live as normal as possible. They also have to work, go to school, travel and shop so there are sufferers who can endure facing those situations even if they feel really miserable and frightened but in severe cases, people with social anxiety disorder end up staying at home for months.  Conquering your social anxiety disorder is important to get your life back.

How to conquer social anxiety disorder?

Self-help is an option because social anxiety is something that is all in the mind but for severe cases it may not be enough. It is always best to seek the help of mental health professionals rather than trying to solve the disorder on your own.  In conquering your social anxiety, you may need a series of treatments and your doctor can help you administer the treatments applicable for your condition. CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one treatment to help people with anxiety problems. The therapy can help sufferers to change their negative thinking pattern which is the main cause of their anxiety.

Avoid alcohol. Some people with social anxiety problems turn to alcohol to help them cope with social situations. If this becomes a habit, you are producing another problem which is alcohol abuse.  Although alcohol has a temporary calming effect, it will eventually increase the level of your anxiety. Talk to your doctor about this. If you are taking anti-anxiety medications, drinking alcohol can be dangerous. So one important step in conquering your social anxiety is quit drinking alcohol. Treat your body well because abusing your body can increase the level of your anxiety. Aside from alcohol, caffeine must be avoided because it can also worsen your symptoms.

Keep a positive attitude. Although social anxiety is not an easy situation, there is always hope to defeat this mental illness because it is a treatable condition and there are many effective treatments available now.  It is important to maintain a positive attitude and avoid entertaining negative thoughts.

Join a support group. Knowing that you are not alone is a big relief. Hearing the stories of other people with the same problem can be very helpful in conquering your social anxiety because you can learn some tips from them on how to cope with anxiety disorder. Sharing is always a good thing. A support group will also improve your interaction with other people. Try not to isolate yourself just because you are afraid to be scrutinized or criticized by other people. In most cases, people are kind and understanding, there are only a few who are mean and they do not deserve your concern.

To succeed in conquering your social anxiety you need to have the will and determination to beat it. Anxiety disorder is a treatable condition and there are people who were able to free themselves from this mental illness. It is important to find the best treatment that will work for you. Do you want to find out how people with the same problem as yours reclaimed their lives and defeated social anxiety disorder? To find out visit Conquering Your Social Anxiety

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Dealing with Irrational Fear – How to Deal with Panic Attacks

April 9th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Panic Disorder

Fear is an important and useful human emotion. We all have it and it motivates us to be prepared and protect ourselves from an impending danger. Everyone knows how it feels to be afraid. Mild and reasonable fear is actually helpful, without fear you will not be careful or take the necessary actions to avoid danger. Without fear, you will not prepare for a job interview or you will not study for your school exams.  Fear motivates us to strive harder and protect ourselves from danger.

When fear becomes a bad thing.

When you are controlled by fear, it is already a disorder.  It is normal to be anxious while giving a speech in front of a huge crowd but it is not normal to worry days or weeks before the actual speech to the point that your fear is disabling you.  Although fear is a basic human emotion, it can be a bad thing if it becomes irrational. Extreme irrational fear or anxiety can prevent a person from functioning normally in his or her everyday life. People with panic disorder suffer from an intense fear without a reasonable basis.  A panic attack is accompanied by symptoms like trembling, sweating, increased heartbeat, chest pain, nausea, feeling of losing control or going crazy and feeling of unreality.

Fear or anxiety is a normal human emotion, so you cannot eliminate it but what you can do is to reduce its level to the point where it is no longer interferes with your life. Fear or anxiety no matter how intense, decreases over time but of course you need to know the best ways of dealing with irrational fear.  It is important for you to know that anxiety or panic disorder is a treatable condition and there is help available.

Dealing with irrational fears

Seek professional help. Of course in dealing with irrational fear, it is best to seek professional help. A mental health doctor is trained to deal with people suffering from anxiety disorder.  Psychotherapy and support groups can be very helpful.  In severe cases where patients cannot deal with anxiety on their own, medications maybe recommended to address the chemical imbalance in the brain.

Change how you think. How you think affects how you feel. Negative thoughts can result to negative feelings like anxiety. The mind and the body are connected. Changing your thinking pattern will also change the way you feel. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is a method that teaches sufferers to change their negative thoughts and their negative behavior which are the major causes of anxiety or panic attacks.

Face your fears. The common response to fear is to escape the feared situation or avoid the feared objects. If you are afraid of driving, you will avoid driving and if you are afraid of being the center of attention, you will probably avoid social situations.  In dealing with irrational fear, it is important to learn how to confront or face your fears. You are aware that there is no logical basis for your fears so to overcome your fears, stop running from them and confront them.

Panic disorder is not a life threatening condition but it can greatly affect the quality of your life if left untreated. It is important to find a treatment that will work for you. If you want to find out how to defeat panic disorder using a revolutionary new technique visit Conquer Panic Attacks

© Thesie Cortez

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How to Recognize Panic Disorder

April 7th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Panic Disorder

Most people experienced fear or panic when faced with stressful events like speaking in public or taking job interviews which is normal. Fear is not always a bad thing because without fear we cannot survive. Fear warns us to be prepared in the face of dangerous situations so that we can take the necessary action to protect ourselves. If you are anxious about taking school exams, you will study harder and prepare for the exam to conquer your fear. However, there are people who experienced extreme fear or panic even though there is little or nothing to be afraid of. If you are scared even if you know there is no rational reason for your fear and it is so disabling to the point that you cannot function normally in your daily life, you might be suffering from panic disorder. It important to know how to recognize panic disorder to know what you are dealing with.

Panic attacks are characterized by sudden irrational extreme fear that something bad is about to happen. Panic attack can occur anytime and may reach its peak in seconds or within a few minutes and it can last longer than 30 minutes. The extreme fear prevents a sufferer to carry out normal activities like shopping, driving, etc. It is usually accompanied by psychological and physical symptoms. To recognize panic disorder you should know the common symptoms of panic attacks. The psychological and physical symptoms are as follows:

  • palpitation or pounding heartbeat
  • excessive sweating
  • trembling
  • chest pain
  • stomach pain
  • nausea
  • dizziness
  • feeling of unreality
  • feeling of going crazy
  • feeling of losing control

Of course if you or someone you know has the above mentioned symptoms, aside from knowing how to recognize panic disorder, it is best to talk to a doctor or seek professional help because there is help available and panic disorder is a treatable condition.

It is not yet known why people develop panic disorder but sometimes this kind of disorder runs in families. This kind of disorder often develops in late teens or early adulthood. Not everyone who experienced panic attacks will develop panic disorder.

Medications and psychotherapy are the common treatments for panic disorder. With proper guidance and the right treatment, sufferers can overcome their panic disorder. It is important to find the best treatment that will work for you. Of course it is best to seek the help of mental health professionals who are trained to handle cases like panic disorder to guide you on the treatment plans.

It is important to recognize panic disorder and know the best treatment that will work for you.  If you are looking for alternative treatments, a revolutionary new technique has been developed to help sufferers overcome the disabling symptoms of panic disorder. To know how visit Conquer Panic Disorder

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Ways to Defeat Anxiety and Panic Disorder

April 6th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Panic Disorder

People normally panic when faced with fearful situations.  It is natural to be anxious before a job interview or before rendering a speech in front of an audience.  But there are people whose lives are ruled by fears.  If you are experiencing extreme fear without a realistic reason to get scared and it is preventing you from living a normal life, you might be suffering from anxiety disorder. It is important to know how to defeat anxiety and panic disorder to stop living in fear and reclaim your life.

Anxiety or panic disorder is a sudden and intense fear over something with no real reason and it is accompanied by physical symptoms like trembling, sweating, chest pain, palpitation or pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness and numbness.  Sufferers may also experience cognitive symptoms like feeling of unreality and fear of going insane or losing control. Sufferers who have this disorder often find it hard to function normally on their daily lives.  The disorder can last for months and even years if left untreated.

Anxiety disorder is a treatable condition and to defeat anxiety and panic disorder the following tips can be very helpful.

Seek professional help. If you think you have anxiety disorder, of course the first thing that you should do is to seek professional help or see your doctor. It is important to know that your symptoms are brought by a panic disorder and not by other medical conditions. A mental health professional trained in cognitive behavioral therapy has the qualification to treat people with anxiety disorder.  Your doctor may combine medications and therapy.  You and your doctor should work together on the treatment plan to defeat anxiety and panic disorder. It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions when it comes to medications because stopping the medications abruptly or taking medications without your doctor’s supervision may have a bad effect on your condition and your overall health.

Relaxation techniques. You need to learn to calm your mind and body to be able to relax.  It is easier to defeat anxiety and panic disorder with a relaxed mind and body.  The mind and the body are connected. The mind can control the reaction of your body.  There are numerous ways to relax your mind and body to relieve the tension or stress which is one of the triggers of anxiety attacks.  Deep breathing or slow deep breathing while listening to a soothing music is a good relaxation technique. Meditation is also another relaxation technique. With constant practice you will eventually master the skills in relaxing your mind and body.

Support groups. Anxiety disorder is a treatable disorder but of course you have to find a treatment that will work for you while you are undergoing various treatments. Joining a support group can be very helpful to make the treatments more effective. Talking about your experiences, difficulties and struggles to people with the same problem can be a relief and can be very helpful to defeat anxiety and panic disorder.

If you are looking for natural treatments and want to defeat anxiety and panic disorder without the side effects of drugs, a proven method is an option. To learn more visit Defeat Anxiety and Panic Disorder

© Thesie Cortez

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Freedom from Social Anxiety – Free Yourself from Anxiety Disorder

April 5th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Social Anxiety

Social anxiety disorder is one form of anxiety disorder that affects millions of people. Social phobia or social anxiety disorder is an extreme fear of being watched or judged by others. This is different from just being shy because people with social phobia are afraid of doing common things when there are people around them. They become nervous or consumed by extreme fear even on doing simple tasks like eating or writing in front of other people.  It is normal to get nervous when giving a speech in front of other people but people with social phobia worry about it days or weeks before it actually happen.  Living with this kind of fear can decrease the quality of their lives and it is important to find ways on how to achieve freedom from social anxiety.

Although most sufferers know that their fears have no rational basis, they cannot control their fear and they usually end up avoiding social situations.  The avoidance can be very disabling and can keep them from doing common daily tasks and from enjoying the company of their family and friends. Knowing how to achieve freedom from social anxiety can greatly improve the quality of their lives.  People with social anxiety disorder have the following symptoms:

  • cannot act normally in front of other people and are very self-conscious
  • avoid places where there are other people
  • worry for days or weeks before a feared social event
  • very anxious and afraid to be with other people
  • blush, sweat terribly, trembling, nausea and unable to talk when they are with other people
  • meeting new people and making friends are difficult for them to accomplish

Humans are social animals and we need to interact with people around us to have a fulfilling and happy life.  Having social phobia is a hindrance in creating a good quality life. Fortunately, it is a treatable disorder and there is help available to achieve freedom from social anxiety.

Of course it is best to seek professional help.  Doctors specialized on mental health who have the necessary trainings and experience can help you overcome social phobia. You doctor may recommend medications like antidepressants, anti-anxiety medicines and beta blockers. It is important to take medicines under the supervision of your health care provider because stopping medications or increasing its dosage without your doctor’s consent can be very harmful to your overall health.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is one treatment that can help sufferers deal with anxiety disorder. CBT is a good treatment method for anxiety because it will teach you how to change your negative thinking pattern which is one of the main causes of anxiety attacks.  Sufferers can benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy in the long term because they will eventually learn and master the techniques needed to manage their thoughts and emotions. This method is cost effective and free from any side effects caused by medications.

With proper treatment many people with social phobia can lead a normal quality life.  It is important to find the best treatment that will work for you.

If you or someone you love is suffering from social phobia and still looking for  the best ways to achieve freedom from social anxiety, alternative treatment is another option. To know more visit Freedom from Social Anxiety

© Thesie Cortez

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Knowing Anxiety Disorder- Understanding Anxiety Problems

April 4th, 2011 by Thesie Cortez | No Comments | Filed in Anxiety Disorder

It is normal to be anxious but there are cases that anxiety can be very disabling and can prevent you from doing activities that you normally do.  When you are experiencing anxiety to the point that you find it hard to function normally on your everyday life, you might be suffering from anxiety disorder.  It is important to know that anxiety disorder is a treatable condition. Understanding and knowing anxiety disorder is important to know what you are dealing with.

There are different types of anxiety disorder:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). People with generalized anxiety disorder are chronic worriers. They have constant and exaggerated worries about common everyday things like health, family, work and money even though there is little or nothing to worry about.  On severe cases, their worries are so intense that they find it hard to relax, concentrate and accomplish even the simplest daily tasks.

Panic disorder. This is a sudden terror or panic even if there is no real danger. The extreme fear suddenly occurs from out of the blue and it is usually accompanied by disabling symptoms like trembling, sweating, chest pain, pounding heartbeat, dizziness and feeling of going crazy or losing control.  Sufferers may think that they are having a heart attack. Panic attacks may occur anytime without warning and sufferers cannot predict when the next attack will happen. Thinking and worrying about the next episodes of attacks make them more anxious and worried.

Social anxiety disorder. This is a condition where a person is overly self-conscious in social situations.  Sufferers have extreme fear of doing common things in front of other people.  They are afraid of being judged and watched.  We normally get shy in front of other people but people with social anxiety disorder worry about facing feared social situations for weeks before they happen.  This condition can be very disabling. Sometimes they end up staying at home to avoid social situations that might embarrass them.  This condition can keep them from enjoying the company of their family and friends.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with OCD are controlled by obsessive thoughts that trigger their anxiety.  To control their anxiety, they usually perform obsessive habits or rituals. For instance, if they have obsessive thoughts about burglars, they will repeatedly check their windows and door locks many times before going to bed.  Because of their obsessive thoughts, they repeatedly check things, count things, clean things, etc. and they keep doing these rituals even though they are interfering with their daily lives.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A person may develop PTSD after a traumatic experience. Sufferers are disturbed and anxious about traumatic incidents that happened months or years ago.  It may be death in the family, divorce, brutal experiences like physical or sexual abuse and natural disasters like earthquakes.  People with PTSD tend to withdraw or lose interest on things they used to enjoy, become cold or less affectionate and irritable.  They are having flashbacks, a condition where they believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again.

Specific phobia. This is an irrational fear on specific things like blood, spiders, elevators, being in an enclosed area, driving, etc.  Facing the feared object or situation causes anxiety attacks on sufferers.  They tend to avoid facing the feared object to the point that the avoidance interferes with their daily lives.

Understanding and knowing anxiety disorder is important if you want to get your life back and free yourself from the disabling symptoms of anxiety disorder.

Knowing what you are dealing with is the first step in seeking treatment.

Aside from understanding and knowing anxiety disorder, you should know that anxiety disorder in whatever form is a treatable condition. It is important to find a treatment that will work for you. Of course it is best to seek professional help to know the best treatment that will work for you.

If you are looking for natural treatment, there are people who were able to eliminate their anxiety attacks without the side effects of drugs using a proven method.  To know how visit Knowing Anxiety Disorder

© Thesie Cortez

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