Tag: anxiety
Natural Methods For Treating Anxiety And Panic Attacks
A panic attack is a frightening experience. It often begins with an unexpected, unexplainable feeling of fear, and then intensifies, adding other symptoms along the way, such as feelings of suffocation or choking, , dizziness, chest pain, losing control, lightheadedness, or that you’re having a heart attack or going crazy. Prescription medication treatments are commonly used in addressing anxiety disorders (panic attacks and anxiety attacks are the same thing), but a lot of these drugs can generate symptoms and many of them are addictive; worse, the attacks come back when these drugs are withdrawn. Fortunately, several natural treatments for anxiety disorders are available that are used by psychologists and psychiatrists alike and are sometimes used (and sometimes not) as an adjunct to pharmaceutical drugs to help treat to anxiety disorders.
Methods that are frequently used to control the signs of a panic attack include: deep breathing techniques, avoiding caffeine, and eating a healthier diet. As a stimulant, caffeine can make you irritable, edgy, and anxious. Avoidance of it and consuming highly nutritious meals can help you sleep and feel better. To avoid hyperventilation, performing certain breathing exercises can help calm you down during panic attacks. They are effective ways that can help you control panic attacks, although they still only treat the symptoms and not the source of the condition itself.
A therapy known as “Tapping” works in treating anxieties by bearing pressure to acupoints and tapping then these points in a certain way to free the bad chi (negative energy) generated by negative thoughts. This therapeutic technique is used by some therapists since they believe it works really well and faster than other natural therapies.
In the treatment of panic attacks, hypnosis was recognized by the AMA (American Medical Association) as a valid form of treatment more than 50 years ago. This type of natural therapy can substantially relieve panic attacks but unfortunately cannot cure anxiety disorders.
Interestingly, laughter is considered a natural treatment for panic attacks. Humor removes the adverse emotions related to panic attacks by decreasing the levels of stress hormone in your body. Humor visualization methods make the patient imagine and remember a period when the patient was laughing uncontrollably. He again imagines this memory when he feels the coming of a panic attack. If this memory can make him laugh, it can help stop his anxious feelings and panic attack.
Desensitization is a gradual process that can make victims of panic disorder resistant to situations and things they are afraid of that can set off a panic attack. It has proven to be effective in stopping anxiety disorder and its symptoms. Psychologists or psychiatrists place the patient in a location or situation that usually triggers panic attacks or fear for just a few minutes. The patient is often accompanied by a person he trusts. The support person often accompanies the patient just the first time. The amount of time increases each time the patient repeats the experience, until he can eventually deal with it on his own, without experiencing a panic attack. This technique has proven to work very well for phobias and other anxiety-related conditions.
But the most successful and widely used known natural treatment for panic attacks and anxiety disorders by far is CBT or Cognitive Behavior Therapy. This therapy makes use of tools such as in vivo methods techniques and cognitive restructuring to treat and sometimes totally cure panic attacks and anxiety disorders. Cognitive restructuring instructs the patient on how to modify his thinking in response to panic symptoms. “In real life,” (In vivo), exposure to places and things that sets off a fear reaction makes people learn to face their fears. This technique is quite similar to desensitization therapy. In vivo and cognitive restructuring combined can help treat panic attacks and change the way they behave and think in fearful situations. Professionals admit that CBT may not work for all people but for those who do, it has provided some relief from their panic attacks.
Ling’s Acupuncture, Inc.
120 Gatlin Ave
Orlando, FL 32806-6908
(407) 851-2533
http://www.lingsacupuncture.com
Overcoming Anxiety with More Natural and Safer Treatments
Do you live with severe anxiety on a daily basis? Has it become a daily part of your life? Have you always felt overwhelmed by life and have been unable to control it? There can be several signs of anxiety. It may manifest as apprehension, palpitations, obsessive thinking, and palpitations due to fear of future uncertainties.
If you are suffering from severe and/or chronic anxiety, I can help.
In my clinic, I have been treating quite a number of patients who believed they had tried everything (from drugs to counseling therapy) but have found no answer in the curing of their problem. A lot of these individuals only tried acupuncture because it’s the last thing they still haven’t tried. I now staunchly vouch for the extreme effectiveness of a treatment in Vancouver that combines acupuncture, aromatherapy, Chinese herbs, counseling, and yoga and meditation, and nutrition therapy in dealing with the signs of symptoms of anxiety and its underlying root causes based on my experience working with a lot of these anxiety-plagued patients. This type of approach is definitely a lot less invasive to the brain and a lot more comprehensive than the use of SSRI medicines. It not only influences the patient’s biochemical aspects, but also his/her energetic, spiritual, and nutritional dimensions, as well.
We live in a society full of neurotics. There are over 39 million Americans suffering long-term anxiety/ depression and the number just keeps on rising each year. Antidepressant drugs are taken by one out of eight adult Americans. While they (the drugs) do provide some benefits and help for some, a lot of people find that these drugs do not work for them. This may due to certain reasons:
1. A system of belief suggesting their anxiety condition is not the result of a chemical imbalance but rather of a condition that’s spiritual in nature
2. Too much sensitivity to the drug that makes the drug ineffectiveness and/or weakens its benefits.
3. A tolerance to the medicine causing a lessening of its potency.
4. Several unwanted side effects which make the benefits not worthwhile
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture has been used for more than 2,500 years. It is a branch of TCM or traditional Chinese medicine that addresses issues in the energetic level of a person’s body/mind. It may come as a surprise to some people that acupuncture is actually a treatment that generates a profoundly relaxing experience which promotes balance and a deep quality of restoration to the CNS (central nervous system). The patient comes out of the treatment feeling changed, sleepy, dreamy or relaxed and this feeling tends to linger for some time after the therapy; with frequent sessions, it becomes a more continuous experience. Acupuncture balances the body’s internal life work which is the flow of Qi in the body. In Chinese medicine the derivative of anxiety is a weak Qi in the kidneys or heart. Accompanying anxiety are the symptoms of nightmares, low back pain irritability, heart palpitations, and insomnia.
Essential Oil Therapy:
For anxiety disorders, there are several wonderful essential oils that can help. These include:
– Lavender
– Marjoram
– Chamomile
– Jasmine
– Neroli
– Rose
Be aware that these oils are of medical grade with intact active chemical ingredients.
Chinese Herbs:
For anxiety conditions, certain powerful Chinese herbal formulas can be used. Some of the most commonly used herbs for the treatment of anxiety include:
– Calm spirit
– Peaceful spirit formula
– Suan Hsiao ren tang
– Amber and salvia
– Free and easy wanderer
– Heavenly emperor’s formula
Some of the Western herbs used for treating and can be easily found in health food stores are:
– Kava
– Chamomile
– Passion flower
– Lemon balm
– Valerian
Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and meditation are the two most powerful allies of people who want to heal their anxiety problems. When practiced regularly, the various forms of posture and breathing techniques can help people gain better control of their anxiety to the point that it does not anymore affect their lives in a strong and profound way. These passive practices can lead to the restoration and relaxation of your nervous system. They can, on a deeper level, instill in us safety and an unshakable sense of trust in the workings of the universe by helping make a spiritual link with our lives.
Our symptoms are never random from a holistic point of view. When they creep in, there’s always a reason for that. When talking about anxiety, it can help to not attach ourselves from our own feelings about what’s causing the worry and instead see the bigger picture. Is our anxiety telling us something about our life that we probably need to change or understand? Whatever the answer is the abovementioned practices can give you some support in getting to the underlying reason of your problem and help you set a course towards insight and peace.
Nutrition
Stabilizing and maintaining your proper blood sugar levels throughout the day are some of the most important things you need to consider when dealing with anxiety. Hypoglycemia is a condition most of anxiety patients have in common. To start the day, these people often drink coffee and eat refined carbohydrates. Later on, they experience a sugar crash that tends to occur around 2pm to 4pm. Start the day right by eating a high protein breakfast consisting of turkey bacon, eggs, turkey bacon, whey, whole oats, or goat protein. Every two to three hours eat a low glycemic snack. Don’t drink coffee and other caffeine products. Your anxiety can improve by also not eating allergenic foods such as wheat, refined sugar, pasteurized dairy, and gluten.
For the treatment of anxiety below is a list of helpful nutritional supplements:
– 5HTP
– B vitamin complex
– Fish oil
– GABA
Acupuncture, Acupressure and Anxiety
What is Anxiety?
If you have feelings of being worried, overwhelmed, or uneasy, then you are feeling anxiety. Currently, in Western treatments, there are various kinds of terms for anxiety. Interestingly, there are certain parallels between them all.
The Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety signs and symptoms may include the following:
• Too much worrying/ too much -thinking
• Sweats
• Feelings of being overwhelmed
• Tightness in the chest
• The sensation of being unable to properly breathe
• Palpitations
Western Modes of Anxiety Treatment
Conventional Western treatments for anxiety are usually anti-anxiety medicines to prevent the signals of emotions from reaching the brain.
The issue with this kind of treatment is that only the symptoms are treated but the underlying reason for anxiety is not addressed. So, once the block is lifted and then you halt taking these medications, the symptoms will likely return.
Acupuncture Treatment for Anxiety
Most acupuncturists will agree that there is not one treatment that’s most effective and safer for the treatment of anxiety than acupuncture.
Pain-free acupuncture treatment for anxiety focuses on three major internal organs: the spleen, kidneys, and liver.
Spleen Deficiency
A deficient spleen makes it more difficult to break down the foods we consume and when food these foods become hard to break down, the nutrients are poorly absorbed by the body. As a result, the body does not get the adequate production of blood. When our body does not have enough blood, the heart starts to feel a bit tired and weak. We then start to feel weak and worn which make us prone to feelings of anxiety.
Kidney Deficiency
The kidneys, in Chinese Medicine, control everything that relates to the coolness and water in our body. This coolness helps in keeping the heat down and calms the mind. If the Kidneys become weak, heat takes over and coolness becomes deficient. Heat elevated to the top of our body and affects our mind and heart resulting in anxiety.
The kidneys also are associated with fear. So, any time a person has a real fear of something his kidneys weaken resulting in anxiety.
Liver Imbalance
It is the liver that controls the information, flow of energy and nutrients to all the cells of our body. the liver is also the first organ to be affected by stress and the emotions as drug overuse and alcohol. When the liver is attacked by stress the liver tightens up and when the liver tenses up, information, flow of energy and nutrients that was smoothly flowing along the channels now start to stagnate, as well.
This stagnation is a sign that our cells and organs are not receiving the right amount of nutrients and information to effectively function causing our body to fall out of balance. When the body becomes imbalanced and suffers from stagnation, we start to feel anxiety..
Persons suffering from liver imbalances are likely to become emotionally hypersensitive. They become easily frustrated and irritated which they internalize. This results in stagnation and heat in the body leading to anxiety.
Basically, acupuncture for the treatment of anxiety eliminates the heat and stagnation in the patient and he/she then starts to feel better rather quickly due to the rapid rush of hormones, energy, and nutrients in their cells and organs.
Acupressure Points for Anxiety
You can apply acupressure on a few acupoints to help lessen the symptoms of anxiety. One should be aware that that acupressure is certainly not a good option to expert diagnosis and acupuncture treatments required by an individual.
Acupressure is an ideal complementary treatment to acupuncture therapies since it is a healing technique that you can do on yourself in between acupuncture treatments to boost the overall effects of your treatment.
To do acupressure, apply pressure using your fingers to the following acupoints for around two to three minutes whenever you start to become anxious.
1. Sp 6 (Sanyinjiao) – This point is situated in a cavity three fingers above the inside ankle along the bone. It is used to help calm the mind, increase blood and coolness, and strengthen the stomach and spleen.
2. Pc 6 (Neiguan) – Located two fingers above the wrist in between the two major tendons which can be seen by flexing your wrist. It is used to calm the mind, clear heat and stagnation, and alleviate pain.
Phoenix Acupuncture
468 Irvington Ave
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 821-5340
http://www.phoenixtcm.com/
Acupuncture for Anxiety
The modern world may have given us the newest technologies and medications to help us deal with illnesses and disorders; they are by no means, the best ways in resolving them. Acupuncture has a long time ago, proven to be one of the best modalities in the world for treating physical and emotional conditions such as panic attacks, depression and anxiety. This treatment for anxiety can remove all the negativity in a person’s body.
Acupuncture to Unwind
As with all Eastern forms of therapy, acupuncture suggests that an indivisible connection exists between the body and mind. Health conditions are basically caused by an imbalance between, internal and external factors affecting a person’s health. These internal factors may include worry, fear, sadness and anger while external factors may include cold, heat and wind.
Acupuncture has for centuries now, instructed people in the west how to relax. It can generate relaxation and calmness in the body and mind as well as help the body heal and be able to rest substantially.
Acupuncture for Anxiety Attacks in Vancouver
There are many forms and degrees of anxiety. Most of them are normal responses to new situations and tension like feeling scared and tense before delivering a public speech. However, there are also anxieties that are quite disproportionate and random beyond the normal response to anxious moments. Fortunately, anxiety acupuncture can help restore balance to the mental and physical aspects of a person.
Certain people can be so worried about a fearful situation a lot of times when they are in the midst of an anxiety attack. A person suffering from an anxiety attack may manifest physical symptoms like headaches, vomiting, chest pains, shallow breaths and increased heart rate. In order to diagnose anxiety, the acupuncturist will observe the patient’s tongue and pulse. This will help the acupuncturist determine what type of traditional Chinese medicine treatment is best to treat the pattern of anxiety of the patient.
A lot of anxiety cases are related to the kidney and heart. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regards the kidney as an organ associated with water (yin) that neutralizes (balances off) the fire (yang) of the heart in the event an abundance of emotions in the mind. The heart is a yang organ that provides for the energy of the whole body.
The acupuncturist identifies the underlying roots of the disharmony in the human body, and then helps restore balance to it. Acupuncture is especially effective in addressing a number of illnesses like anxiety symptoms and its root causes.
A typical acupuncture therapy for anxiety may require a single or a couple of sessions. There are times however, that treatment may be needed for a number of months. The length of the treatment course depends on the degree of the patterns of imbalance. Vitamins and herbs are great supplements to acupuncture in nourishing and balancing the body.
Treating episodes of anxiety with acupuncture is ideal for individuals who opt for a safe and natural form of therapy. Talk with a licensed acupuncturist so you may know what plan of treatment is suited for your needs.
Anxiety – Preparing for Your Appointment
If you feel that your anxiety is starting to affect your physical health, it may be time to go and see your doctor for treatment. Your doctor will look for symptoms and signs of the primary cause of your anxiety and find treatment for it.
If you suffer from extreme anxiety, you may need the service of a specialist instead of your family doctor. The specialist may be a psychiatrist who is a medical doctor in his own right. The job of a psychiatrist is diagnosing and treating mental health issues. The job of a psychologist, on the other hand, and similar types of health specialists is to diagnose anxiety and other mental problems; however, instead of giving treatment they offer counseling instead.
Listed below are some things you need to do to make you better prepared for your psychiatrist or psychologist appointment, and the things the specialist may do and/or ask you.
Things you can do:
Make a list of your symptoms and signs of anxiety. Describe what happens to you when you feel anxious. Are you filled with worries? Do you feel nauseous, get palpitations in your heart or get dizzy?
In your writing, include the time you feel anxious. Make a record the times of the day when anxiety strikes you as well as the events, places and situations when you are more anxious than normal.
In your note, list down the biggest stressors in your life – Are you in the midst of a life change like a new job, relocation, divorce, new baby, marriage or the loss of a loved one? Are some past traumatic experiences keep on recurring in your mind?
Write down the length of time you’ve had your anxiety. Is it a recent problem or something you have dealt for many years now?
You can list the medical conditions besides your anxiety that you now have including the one that you consider petty or minor.
You need to also jot down the medications you are presently taking. Include the vitamins, herbal meds or teas, supplements, minerals, prescribed and OTC medications you are taking on a regular basis.
This information can be very helpful to your specialist and make it easy to properly diagnose your anxiety and give you a better understanding of the reasons for your anxiety.
You can also write down a list of questions you want answered by your specialist or doctor. In addition to information about you, you may also want to write down any questions you have in order to be able to actually ask them instead of forgetting all or some of them during the time of your appointment itself.
Questions You Can Ask your Specialist
- Will the signs and symptoms of my anxiety return in the future?
- Is there a big chance for recovery if I follow your treatment course?
- How soon can I feel the effects of the treatment once I’ve started the treatment plan?
- Do I need to change some or all of my lifestyle to be able to remove my anxiety symptoms?
- Can therapy help my case? What kind of therapy should I undergo? Can you recommend a good therapist to help treat my anxiety problems?
- What medications to I need to take for my anxiety? Will they be taken only when needed or on a daily basis? How long do I need to take them?
- What are the side effects of these drugs? Will these side effects disappear immediately or not? What side effects are deemed serious enough for you (the doctor) to warrant its discontinuance?
- Can you recommend some things that can help neutralize the side effects of my medications?
- What are the medical options I have for my anxiety problems?
- What is your diagnosis for my condition?
Questions the Specialist May Ask You
- Do you take recreational drugs?
- Do you drink alcohol?
- Are there things that make you less anxious or feel good?
- Do you avoid people or situations that may make you anxious?
- Do you have triggers to your anxiety?
- How long have you been feeling your anxiety?
- Are you worrying or feel anxious occasionally or regularly?
- Do you experience panic attacks?
- Are your anxiety symptoms affecting your daily activities?
- What are your symptoms? How serious are they?
- Do you have insurance? Will it cover your treatment?
- Do you suffer from associated conditions you may be aware of?
- Do you or any members of your family have a history of anxiety or any kind of mental health conditions?
What to Expect During your Appointment?
For diagnosing your anxiety, the doctor/specialist will perform on you a thorough physical examination and require you to undergo some lab tests. This is done to determine whether or not your anxiety is derived from physical causes. He will most likely ask you a number of questions which some have been listed in this writing a while ago. Some of the doctor’s questions may be from information which you have provided.
The doctor will pay close attention to your answers and can furnish you with advices and recommendations to help you better handle your anxiety symptoms. By doctor, we do not mean your family doctor but a specialist like a psychologist or psychiatrist that specializes in the diagnosing and treatment of mental health issues.
Alida van Heerden is a licensed New York acupuncturist and a NADA certified acupuncture detoxification specialist.
Anxiety – Coping and Support
Some proactive tips are effective for better coping with your anxiety disorder. These tips include:
Get to know more about anxiety – Read materials about anxiety disorder especially about the one you are suffering from. Knowing about your problem empowers you to take positive steps to help you overcome your anxiety problem perhaps even treating it permanently.
Do not abandon your plan of treatment – If you are prescribed medications by your doctor then it is wise to faithfully take them. This helps stabilize your symptoms and help prevent your problem from becoming worse.
Get over it – Oftentimes, the more sudden or the more serious the kind of crisis you faced, the longer it is to get over it. Give yourself time to heal – the saying “time heals all wounds” is very true though some wounds may end up as scars since the healing process was not really a good process to begin with. But the saying, “what does not kill you makes you stronger” is also true so it is up to you to end up a better and stronger person or end up otherwise.
Challenge negative thoughts – Try to think of things that would better your life and avoid the thoughts that prevent you from doing so. Thinking about counterproductive thoughts will only make your anxiety disorder worse or trap you into a never-ending cycle of worrying. Your friends can help.
Relax – Relaxing is basically the opposite of anxiety. Learn how to do breathing exercises like diaphragmatic breathing to calm your mind and body. Doing meditation and yoga is good for the person who suffers from anxiety disorder. Exercising is also a good way to calm the mind and body.
Avoid situations that may add to your problems – Try not to enter in a relationship with a person who may be too demanding or has problems which you eventually will be forced to face.
Be cooperative with your therapy – Help your mental health provider find good ways to address your anxiety disorder. If your anxiety problem stems from financial trouble, then try to adjust your lifestyle that will help you save money.
Group, friend and family support – Ask your friend or family to help you overcome your anxiety. A loving family and a real friend make a great difference in helping you overcome your problem. I recently read a story of a Florida woman who was going through a difficult grieving process and a friend recommended she see a Miami acupuncturist who helped her become herself again. A support group gives you a venue to express your concerns as well as find sympathy and solidarity with your problems. You can get valuable information for your problem when you join a support group and even find friends whom you can help and help you likewise to overcome each other’s anxiety disorder.
Interact socially – Be with members of your family or friends. Go out and interact with loving and understanding people who can allay your worries and fears.
Act positively – When anxiety strikes, try to divert your attention on a hobby or by going out and walking.