Understanding anxiety is very important in helping to overcome this debilitating condition.  With this condition we can become withdrawn and life can become unbearable.  You just don't know what has happened to the person you used to be.  Fear seems to be everywhere ... you are afraid to drive, afraid of doctors, fear of enclosed spaces or gathered.  Some people are even afraid to leave their home.  Sometimes we use drugs or alcohol to mask the anxiety problem and this creates additional health and mental problems.

Anxiety is often accompanied by depression.  Usually anxiety begins and is quickly followed by depression or sometimes it is in the reverse order.  This happens because the body sometimes reacts to depression with anxiety.  Or anxiety will lead you to feeling depressed because your life has become so limited due to the anxious thoughts and attacks.  Once anxiety takes control you are very easily triggered to experience a panic attack,  and that can be very scary.  In panic attack you think you are having a heart attack and you usually end up in a hospital emergency room.  Thankfully panic attacks are usually not dangerous to your health.

When you go to a doctor and complain about anxiety and depression, they quickly prescribe one of a number of drugs created to treat anxiety and depression.  Years ago, people were just considered to be nervous or they would have a nervous breakdown.  They were usually treated with Valium which is a highly addictive tranquilizer.

Today you are not diagnosed as nervous, there are in fact different names for different anxiety disorders.  Valium is no longer the drug of choice for treatment.  There are now many drugs on the market that can be prescribed by your physician.  Medication is a good treatment option and sometimes it is the best option.  Beware these drugs like others may have serious side effects such as liver damage from long term use. 

Therapy sessions can be helpful in the treatment for anxiety and panic attacks.  There you can learn effective methods for coping with them.  Once in therapy one can explore the fears and learn to not let them overwhelm you.  

Another effective method is to face your fears.  The problem is most people with anxiety have an extreme fear of the unknown, such as fear of death, fear of the future, fear of economic hardship, etc.  

To beat this try telling yourself that whatever happens you can handle it.  Just repeat to yourself the mantra "I can handle this".  This is a way of leading your thoughts to a better solution than just imagining all the worse case scenarios.  Lead your thoughts to what you desire.  Do not contemplate what you do not want to happen.

Remember just about everyone suffers at one time or another from a degree of anxiety.  Everyone has fears.  How we deal with these fears is what makes some go to church, some take to alcohol  and drug abuse, and others on anti anxiety medication.

The symptoms for anxiety are something that most will experience at some point.  Some of the symptoms of Anxiety include but not limited:  feeling shaky, dizziness, nervousness, trouble sleeping, fuzzy thinking, feeling overwhelmed, and thinking you are going crazy.   Dealing with these symptoms depends on the severity and its cause.  Some stressors when removed usually alleviate the anxiety.  When a person deals with a major stressor in their life this can upset the tranquility in their life.  

There are certain things that can be done to cope with anxiety and panic attacks on your own whether or not you are under medication:

Establish a daily routine for yourself.  This creates a sense of control in your life.

Exercise is excellent in helping to overcome anxiety.  And is also a great way to get in shape both physically and mentally.  Exercise naturally raises your brain's serotonin level which is thought to affect you mood and gives your energy a boost.  Even if it is walking that is a great way to start your exercise habit. 

Yoga and Meditation are an excellent method to a peaceful mind and body.  Both are ancient eastern practices that have migrated to the western world in the last 50 years.   Yoga is a series of learned poses for the body with emphasis on breathing and conscious placement of the entire body. The poses offered by yoga instill a sense of peace and awareness in the practitioner. 

Meditation is the art of stillness and watching your mind this is usually practiced in a seated position but may also be practiced throughout your day as you go about your daily work.  When practiced regularly it provides for a chance for your mind to clear and restores a sense of balance.  This should be practiced daily for at least 15 minutes.

Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet.  Try to eliminate or limit the consumption of soda, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol in your diet. And no smoking. 

Stay active and socialize with friends, join a club, pick up a hobby, or donate your time to a nonprofit organization.

 Start a project at home, like landscaping, painting, sorting through the closet.  If you do not know what to do, clean something.  This will help you deal with your anxiety and also get something done at the same time. Being active is the best way to treat anxiety and depression. You have to force yourself to do things, but once you start, you will notice a difference.  Chances are that you will start concentrating less on your anxiety and depression and more on what you are cleaning. And when you are finished, you will feel good about yourself.

Use affirmations on a daily basis. Try to banish negative thoughts from your mind and get in the habit of looking at everything in a positive light. This will help you treat depression and anxiety. 

 

Alternative Medicine includes herbal remedies, acupuncture, massage, and aromatherapy are some of the choices.   For those with mild cases of anxiety or depression, you can try the following remedies:  St. John's Wort is probably the most popular of all of the herbal remedies used to treat depression and anxiety. Also, Kava Kava in concentrated drops mixed with water is a good option for anxiety it gives fairly quick relief.

Acupuncture is an ancient healing art that pinpoints pressure points in the body and uses needles to cure pain as well as treat a variety of different ailments and mild conditions.  Also closely associated is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this treatment also offers herbal remedies.  This method of treatment has been used for thousands of years as a cure for a variety of different ailments and is still used today.  I have found this to be an effective way for me when I was having anxiety and panic attacks.

Massage therapy helps in making you feel relaxed and is helpful in relieving tension and stress.   While massage therapy certainly works to relieve physical anxiety and tension, it will not work to relieve the thought process that is usually generated by anxiety.

Aromatherapy is based on using essential oils that are derived from herbs, barks, flowers, fruits or other organic matters and used either by massaging them into the skin or inhaling them. Most should never be used directly on the skin as they can cause severe reactions. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that is actually safe to use on the skin and is one that is often used to treat anxiety and depression. You can use lavender as a massage oil or put it into an infuser and inhale the fragrance.  The concept of aromatherapy is that the fragrance will be absorbed into the bloodstream either through the skin or the lungs and begin the healing process.  Aromatherapy has been around for thousands of years and can be very relaxing.   And all are generally, with the exception of herbal remedies,  safe to use when you are taking medication. 

There is help available.  Best wishes.


To your full recovery,

 

Rose Donna
Recovered Anxious Person