Do you have obsessive thoughts that stop you from doing things? Obsessive thoughts usually start out very small then builds at a rate where you feel you are mentally crippled for the day. They usually make you miserable and everyone around you (especially your loved ones) miserable after they spend some time with you. Obsessive thoughts are so threatening to the anxiety sufferer that it can stop you from being productive until they go away. In other words you are rendered useless because you can't focus on any of your projects at work or in your personal life. If you know this situation too well, I'm here to tell you there are ways to deal with them.
The best thing to do is focus on something else to clear your mind. To help you clear your mind when treating obsessive thoughts, try the following to get you moving forward again.
Usually and being obsessed with a thought has to do with a problem (or something becomes a problem for you). Talking through your thoughts and problems is a great way to calm the chatter in your head. If you have a loved one or a close friend that you trust try talking to them about what's bothering you, that's a good support system to have. Talking to some one you trust is more productive for you because you can have a very open conversation. Also, you don't have to be worried about talking though a problem.
The next thing to consider is to start taking up reading. As we all know reading has many benefits. One of those benefits is reading can help you with treating your obsessive thoughts caused by your anxiety disorder. Reading a book will take your mind off the things that worry you. In other words, getting into a book is the ultimate distraction from obsessive thoughts. Plus it's easy to do. All you have to do is pick up a book and start reading. Always keep a book within your reach and you have a way to change focus whenever you need too.
The next suggestion I would like to discuss is also very simple to do. All you need to do is stop what you are currently doing and start breathing. Breathing is a great way to clear your mind of all the chatter. Where ever you are at, get comfortable and focus on your breathing. The first thing you need to do is stop taking in new information. Shut off the radio or TV, turn off the computer monitor and start clearing your mind. Do what ever you can to break your pattern. Start taking in more air with each breath and think about releasing your thoughts each time you exhale.
So if obsessing over thoughts is becoming a too much of a problem for you, using the suggestions described above will help you out a lot. Talking out problems and taking the focus off your thought by reading a book or breaking your daily routine for a little while will help you move forward from all the chatter.
If you need more information on Anxiety, visit http://www.betteranxietyremedies.com, a popular web site filled with information on medical and natural anxiety cures.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
What Causes Anxiety Disorders?
What Causes Anxiety Disorders?
The exact cause of anxiety disorders is unknown; but anxiety disorders -- like other forms of mental illness -- are not the result of personal weakness, a character flaw or poor upbringing. As scientists continue their research on mental illness, it is becoming clear that many of these disorders are caused by a combination of factors, including changes in the brain and environmental stresses.
Like certain illnesses, such as diabetes, anxiety disorders may be caused by chemical imbalances in the body. Studies have shown that severe or long-lasting stress can change the balance of chemicals in the brain that control mood. Other studies have shown that people with certain anxiety disorders have changes in certain brain structures that control memory or mood. In addition, studies have shown that anxiety disorders run in families, which means that they can be inherited from one or both parents, like hair or eye color. Moreover, certain environmental factors -- such as a trauma or significant event -- may trigger an anxiety disorder in people who have an inherited susceptibility to developing the disorder.
How Common Are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders affect about 19 million adult Americans. Most anxiety disorders begin in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. They occur slightly more often in women than in men, and occur with equal frequency in Caucasians, blacks and Hispanics.
How Are Anxiety Disorders Diagnosed?
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by asking you questions about your medical history and performing a physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose anxiety disorders, the doctor may use various tests to look for physical illness as the cause of the symptoms.
If no physical illness is found, you may be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a person for an anxiety disorder.
The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on the patient's report of the intensity and duration of symptoms -- including any problems with daily functioning caused by the symptoms -- and the doctor's observation of the patient's attitude and behavior. The doctor then determines if the patient's symptoms and degree of dysfunction indicate a specific anxiety disorder.
How Are Anxiety Disorders Treated?
Fortunately, much progress has been made in the last two decades in the treatment of people with mental illnesses, including anxiety disorders. Although the exact treatment approach depends on the type of disorder, one or a combination of the following therapies may be used for most anxiety disorders:
* Medication : Medicines used to reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorders include anti-depressants and anxiety-reducing medications.
* Psychotherapy : Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their disorder.
* Cognitive-behavioral therapy: People suffering from anxiety disorders often participate in this type of psychotherapy in which the person learns to recognize and change thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings.
* Dietary and lifestyle changes
* Relaxation therapy
The exact cause of anxiety disorders is unknown; but anxiety disorders -- like other forms of mental illness -- are not the result of personal weakness, a character flaw or poor upbringing. As scientists continue their research on mental illness, it is becoming clear that many of these disorders are caused by a combination of factors, including changes in the brain and environmental stresses.
Like certain illnesses, such as diabetes, anxiety disorders may be caused by chemical imbalances in the body. Studies have shown that severe or long-lasting stress can change the balance of chemicals in the brain that control mood. Other studies have shown that people with certain anxiety disorders have changes in certain brain structures that control memory or mood. In addition, studies have shown that anxiety disorders run in families, which means that they can be inherited from one or both parents, like hair or eye color. Moreover, certain environmental factors -- such as a trauma or significant event -- may trigger an anxiety disorder in people who have an inherited susceptibility to developing the disorder.
How Common Are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders affect about 19 million adult Americans. Most anxiety disorders begin in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. They occur slightly more often in women than in men, and occur with equal frequency in Caucasians, blacks and Hispanics.
How Are Anxiety Disorders Diagnosed?
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by asking you questions about your medical history and performing a physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose anxiety disorders, the doctor may use various tests to look for physical illness as the cause of the symptoms.
If no physical illness is found, you may be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a person for an anxiety disorder.
The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on the patient's report of the intensity and duration of symptoms -- including any problems with daily functioning caused by the symptoms -- and the doctor's observation of the patient's attitude and behavior. The doctor then determines if the patient's symptoms and degree of dysfunction indicate a specific anxiety disorder.
How Are Anxiety Disorders Treated?
Fortunately, much progress has been made in the last two decades in the treatment of people with mental illnesses, including anxiety disorders. Although the exact treatment approach depends on the type of disorder, one or a combination of the following therapies may be used for most anxiety disorders:
* Medication : Medicines used to reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorders include anti-depressants and anxiety-reducing medications.
* Psychotherapy : Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their disorder.
* Cognitive-behavioral therapy: People suffering from anxiety disorders often participate in this type of psychotherapy in which the person learns to recognize and change thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings.
* Dietary and lifestyle changes
* Relaxation therapy
Mental Health: Anxiety Disorders
Mental Health: Anxiety Disorders
There many types of anxiety disorders that include panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress syndrome, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences at times. Many people feel anxious, or nervous, when faced with a problem at work, or before taking a test or making an important decision. Anxiety disorders, however, are different. They can cause such distress that it interferes with a person's ability to lead a normal life.
DOCTOR recommended reading
Are You Having a Panic Attack?
WebMD Medical Reference
Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. A person experiencing a panic attack may believe that he or she is having a heart attack or that death is imminent. The fear and terror that a person experiences during a panic attack are not in proportion to the true situation and may be unrelated to what is happening around them. Most people with panic attacks experience several of the following symptoms:
* “Racing” heart
* Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy
* Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers
* Sense of terror, of impending doom or death
* Feeling sweaty or having chills
* Chest pains
* Breathing difficulties
* Feeling a loss of control
Read more about panic attacks
Related to anxiety
anxiety causes, anxiety treatment, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, depression tests, antidepressants, seasonal affective disorder, psychotherapy, hypnosis
An anxiety disorder is a serious mental illness. For people with anxiety disorders, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming, and can be crippling.
What Are the Types of Anxiety Disorders?
There are several recognized anxiety disorders, including:
* Panic disorder : People with this condition have feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. Other symptoms of a panic attack include sweating, chest pain, palpitations (irregular heartbeats) and a feeling of choking, which may make the person feel like he or she is having a heart attack or "going crazy."
* Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) : People with OCD are plagued by constant thoughts or fears that cause them to perform certain rituals or routines. The disturbing thoughts are called obsessions, and the rituals are called compulsions. An example is a person with an unreasonable fear of germs who constantly washes his or her hands.
* Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) : PTSD is a condition that can develop following a traumatic and/or terrifying event, such as a sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. People with PTSD often have lasting and frightening thoughts and memories of the event, and tend to be emotionally numb.
* Social anxiety disorder : Also called social phobia, social anxiety disorder involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. The worry often centers on a fear of being judged by others, or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or lead to ridicule.
* Specific phobias : A specific phobia is an intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as snakes, heights or flying. The level of fear usually is inappropriate to the situation and may cause the person to avoid common, everyday situations.
* Generalized anxiety disorder : This disorder involves excessive, unrealistic worry and tension, even if there is little or nothing to provoke the anxiety.
What Are the Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder, but general symptoms include:
* Feelings of panic, fear and uneasiness
* Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts
* Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences
* Nightmares
* Ritualistic behaviors, such as repeated hand washing
* Problems sleeping
* Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet
* Shortness of breath
* Palpitations
* An inability to be still and calm
* Dry mouth
* Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
* Nausea
* Muscle tension
* Dizziness
There many types of anxiety disorders that include panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress syndrome, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences at times. Many people feel anxious, or nervous, when faced with a problem at work, or before taking a test or making an important decision. Anxiety disorders, however, are different. They can cause such distress that it interferes with a person's ability to lead a normal life.
DOCTOR recommended reading
Are You Having a Panic Attack?
WebMD Medical Reference
Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. A person experiencing a panic attack may believe that he or she is having a heart attack or that death is imminent. The fear and terror that a person experiences during a panic attack are not in proportion to the true situation and may be unrelated to what is happening around them. Most people with panic attacks experience several of the following symptoms:
* “Racing” heart
* Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy
* Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers
* Sense of terror, of impending doom or death
* Feeling sweaty or having chills
* Chest pains
* Breathing difficulties
* Feeling a loss of control
Read more about panic attacks
Related to anxiety
anxiety causes, anxiety treatment, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, depression tests, antidepressants, seasonal affective disorder, psychotherapy, hypnosis
An anxiety disorder is a serious mental illness. For people with anxiety disorders, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming, and can be crippling.
What Are the Types of Anxiety Disorders?
There are several recognized anxiety disorders, including:
* Panic disorder : People with this condition have feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. Other symptoms of a panic attack include sweating, chest pain, palpitations (irregular heartbeats) and a feeling of choking, which may make the person feel like he or she is having a heart attack or "going crazy."
* Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) : People with OCD are plagued by constant thoughts or fears that cause them to perform certain rituals or routines. The disturbing thoughts are called obsessions, and the rituals are called compulsions. An example is a person with an unreasonable fear of germs who constantly washes his or her hands.
* Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) : PTSD is a condition that can develop following a traumatic and/or terrifying event, such as a sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. People with PTSD often have lasting and frightening thoughts and memories of the event, and tend to be emotionally numb.
* Social anxiety disorder : Also called social phobia, social anxiety disorder involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. The worry often centers on a fear of being judged by others, or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or lead to ridicule.
* Specific phobias : A specific phobia is an intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as snakes, heights or flying. The level of fear usually is inappropriate to the situation and may cause the person to avoid common, everyday situations.
* Generalized anxiety disorder : This disorder involves excessive, unrealistic worry and tension, even if there is little or nothing to provoke the anxiety.
What Are the Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder, but general symptoms include:
* Feelings of panic, fear and uneasiness
* Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts
* Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences
* Nightmares
* Ritualistic behaviors, such as repeated hand washing
* Problems sleeping
* Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet
* Shortness of breath
* Palpitations
* An inability to be still and calm
* Dry mouth
* Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
* Nausea
* Muscle tension
* Dizziness
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