Possible Solutions To Dealing With Anxiety

By Larry Levine

If you never have days when you're not a little nervous or stressed-out about something, you're probably not fully alive or human. Everyone gets upset, jittery, anxious, fearful or filled with dread on occasion; this is a natural part of the human condition. But what happens if you're always feeling anxious or afraid - so anxious and afraid that your fears and anxieties stop you from living a normal life?

Anxiety is the human body's natural reaction to combat stress. It creates discomfort, yet is a way of protection against danger. It actually brings about a feeling of alertness in an individual. However, if it rises to an abnormal level, it affects a person adversely.

Restlessness, irritability, foreboding, worry and fear are some of the common symptoms being developed by an anxious individual. Apart from these symptoms, there may be signs of physical manifestations like increased heart rate, excessive sweating, fatigue, insomnia, nausea and shortness of breath, etc., In view of the biological vulnerability, anxiety is often followed by depression.

Anxiety attacks, otherwise called as "panic attacks" lasting for about ten minutes may occur with no warning. The manifestations of panic attacks makes a person so frightening that he thinks that he is going to die. Anxiety attacks are followed by hot flashes, hyperventilation, chest pains and heart palpitations, temporary mania, detachment and an immense feel of panic.

Treatments for anxiety include some medications and some behavioral therapy sessions. A psychiatrist can help a victim of anxiety disorder by identifying the causes related to it and trying to help him avoid situations which may trigger such feelings in him. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps to recognize disturbing thought patterns and to overcome them.

Meditation is another option; here, the patient learns techniques of relaxation to reduce stress through which the patient gets less chances of triggering anxiety. For example, breathing exercises and conducting yoga, etc.,

Medications to treat anxiety range from beta blockers to Selective serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors to Benzodiazepines. They seem a relatively easy way out, but however, only alleviate the symptoms and do not remove the root cause. They work in various ways, but one disadvantage is that prolonged use may lead to dependence and drug addiction.

To treat anxiety in the best manner, it is of utmost importance for a person to maintain a balanced diet, enough sleep, regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Such activities bring about a feeling of well being in the body and creates a natural guard against feelings of anxiety. - 32513

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