Too Much To Do
Posted on July 1, 2009
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I have a generalized anxiety disorder, and much to my surprise, discovered one of the symptoms is my constant efforts to fit too much into my life. I think I can do it all and do it better than anyone else if it’s my project. I have trouble delegating and letting go when others are perfectly capable. The interesting thing about all of this is my body tries to tell me when I’ve taken on too much. I get an upset stomach and can’t eat. I get such a feeling of anxiousness I can’t think straight. I get headaches too.
Anxiety will make itself known even if you don’t have panic attacks. When I constantly fill my days with nonstop activity and unreasonable deadlines, I raise the stress in my life to an unworkable point. But since I think I can do everything myself, I ignore the physical symptoms and just get more determined to try harder. That creates more stress and so the cycle goes. If you never take time for yourself and are always pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion, don’t be surprised when you feel anxiety. I know, because I’m dealing with it right now.
I “Think” Myself Into An Anxiety Attack
Posted on June 17, 2009
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It seems odd, but you can actually think yourself into an anxiety attack. But if this is true, then you should be able to think yourself out of one. Your thoughts are what control your reactions to situations. You can choose to deal with a situation in a calm and rational manner, or you can let anxiety take hold. Everyone has qualities that make them very special, but anxiety can mask those capabilities. When you’re overcome with fear about something, it leads to inaction.
By learning to change your anxiety plagued thoughts to relaxing thoughts, the panic attacks and physical reactions can actually be controlled. The feeling will be one of release. Anxiety can make you feel as if you’re suffocating and losing control. By having positive thoughts you can control your reactions and begin to live the life you’re entitled to live. You can even learn to do this on your own by mastering the power of positive self-talk.
Don’t Forget To Exercise
Posted on June 10, 2009
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When looking for a great way to relieve stress and reduce anxiety consider starting a regular exercise program. Exercise benefits the muscles and bones, but it’s also just as beneficial for the mind and spirit. It makes a great distraction too when you’re feeling ongoing anxiety. Panic attacks are actually a fight-or-flight response that causes uncomfortable and frightening physical responses to mental anguish. It only makes sense to respond to physical issues with physical activities.
Anxiety is a creator of tension in the body and mind. When you exercise, endorphins are released which are natural mood enhancers. You also improve your blood blow to the brain, relieve muscular and skeletal tensions and improve your digestive system. But doing regular exercise will also help you sleep, make you feel better about yourself and improve your memory. In other words, it’s a great outlet for you anxiety. I exercise regularly to keep my anxiety levels low and have even developed some exercises I can do quickly and quietly at work when the stress becomes too great.
Should I or Shouldn’t I Use Anxiety Medications
Posted on May 27, 2009
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Sometimes we have to take medication in order to get whole again. Though prescribing antidepressant medicine is a last resort treatment, it can be absolutely necessary in certain situations. For example, I had a friend who has had panic attacks for over 2 years. She has tried every treatment possible to decrease the attacks, but so far they continue. The problem was they were making it hard for her to live her life. She got to the point where she couldn’t drive, hold a job or even socialize with her friends. In her case, medication was a godsend.
With severe anxiety, the fear is always it will lead to depression. The longer anxiety is allowed to persist, the more your system gets used to functioning in that anxious state. So medication can play an important part in the treatment of anxiety. Even if you don’t particularly like to take medication, odds are you won’t take it for too long. In other words, don’t add taking antidepressant medication to your list of worries!
The Real Issue
Posted on May 13, 2009
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Anxiety is one of those emotions that is really covering up another problem in your life. People who have anxiety often have a lot of scary thoughts that make no sense to them. For example, they may have enormous fears they don’t reveal to anyone else. I knew a man who feared swimming pools. He couldn’t hide his fear because our neighborhood had frequent pool parties. He was so afraid of the pool he’d stay inside the house. Finally, he went to a therapist and it turned out his real anxiety was due to suppressed suffocating feelings related to his family life. It seems odd at first glance, but anxiety often operates like a self-defense mechanism.
If you have an unreasonable fear of something you might want to consider that fear is covering up another problem. The fear works to distract your mind. It’s like displaced anxiety. Most of us can figure out what the real problems are in our lives if we open up our minds to the truth. But you have to make a commitment to deal with the honest truth.
The Earlier the Better
Posted on May 6, 2009
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One of the interesting things about phobias and anxiety is they don’t go away on their own. Anxiety is not a sickness that heals itself. For a long time I thought if I just ignored my fear of expressway driving, it would eventually get better. But what happened is I started planning my driving so I didn’t have to get on the expressway. Then one day there was no way to avoid it, and I had a dangerous panic attack while driving.
My advice is that if you suspect you have anxiety, you should either try one of the self help tapes and books or even see a doctor. There are all kinds of way to deal with situational anxiety which is what my driving phobia really is labeled. I started working with a program that taught me how to gradually deal with my anxiety. I’m now at the point where I still feel anxiety, but at least I can drive on the expressway. What I have learned so far is how to prevent the attack from becoming full blown.
St. John’s who…..?
Posted on April 29, 2009
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I have a very mild anxiety condition that doesn’t cause me major problems. But it does make me uncomfortable at times, and I get tired of worrying about everything. I just can’t seem to stop. I started relaxation therapy and am working on my breathing techniques. The theory is I can use relaxation as a way to find some peace of mind. I’m also a firm believer in natural healing treatments, so I began taking St. John’s wort. This is a natural supplement that was used as far back as ancient Greece for several medicinal purposes.
St. John’s wort is sold in health food and grocery stores. Some research has shown it to be an effective antidepressant in cases like mine. It works like a prescription medication does – by increasing the brain chemicals that affect mood. I have found it to be very helpful. If you’re looking for a natural supplement you can try to relieve anxiety, I would suggest you begin with St. John’s wort.
Treasure Hunting for Self-Esteem
Posted on April 22, 2009
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You don’t have to look far to find your source of self-esteem. You simply look within yourself. That’s where self-esteem lies. There are lots of people in the world who have problems with self-esteem and the result is high anxiety. Self-esteem is one of life’s intangibles that has an enormous impact on how well you’re able to function in your interpersonal relationships. If you don’t have a high opinion of yourself then how can you expect others to think differently. You may think you hide your lack of self-esteem, but it reveals itself in a number of ways.
I know all about lack of self-esteem, because I had to go on a treasure hunt to find it. That’s how I think about my personal pursuit of esteem building. Before I began to practice positive self-talk and changing my thinking, I really didn’t trust myself to succeed. Instead, I was always throwing barriers in my way which created ongoing anxiety in my life. So I had to teach myself I’m valuable, creative, deserve respect and can succeed. Now I have a lot less stress in my life and panic attacks are things of the past.
Always the Victim
Posted on April 15, 2009
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Think about how many people in your life you’ve met that are always victims. They blame everything that happens to them on someone else. It’s really annoying to be absolutely honest. It’s a mindset that should be considered an anxiety disorder in its own right in my opinion. Victims blame their parents, schooling, circumstances, bad luck and anyone they come into contact with as being the reason they are always anxious or upset. Victims tell themselves they never get a break, or they are so flawed no one wants to be around them. Victims make themselves victims.
Overcoming the victim attitude is critical to overcoming anxiety. If you always see the world as out to get you, then you’ll always be worrying about what’s going to happen next. Instead of focusing on how you can improve your life, you’ll always be in defensive mode. When someone starts complaining they are in a hopeless situation, I try to point out the good things in their life. But the truth is that the person must want to get out of the state of being the victim and into the state of self-help.
Helping My Friend
Posted on April 1, 2009
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Recognizing anxiety in yourself can be easier than recognizing it in someone else. That’s because many people can actually hide their anxiety. You don’t know the feelings of panic they’re experiencing. But there are clues when your family member or friend is developing anxiety. In my friend, the first clue was a loss of interest in playing tennis. She’s always been a huge tennis fan, and we have played regularly for years. She started complaining she was tired all the time and began to talk badly about herself. This woman is gorgeous, and it was very disconcerting to listen to her disparage herself.
If finally sat her down and told her what I was noticing. Much to my relief she admitted she was having regular anxiety attacks and they were making her feel sad and fearful. I suggested she get herself to a doctor right away, which she did. When she felt better a few weeks later, she thanked me. You should not be afraid to say something to people you love who seem have anxiety or depression symptoms. The sooner you treat these disorders, the sooner they can be reversed.
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