What to do about ANXIETY
ANXIETY. Ever get
worried and anxious when those medical
commercials come on TV. They never really tell
you to much about the drugs real purpose, but
the commercials make everyone look so happy and
health...even if they just had a heart attack,
stomach disorder, arthritis, headaches,
depression and on and on. Then at the end, in a
soft voice and spoken as fast as possible, the
narrator gives the side affects of taking the
advertised drug....that is when I start to get
anxious. I mean, do I want to suffer headaches,
sore throat, sleepiness, drowsiness and so on
from a drug that is suppose to help me with some
of those disorders :-) Besides, I hate
doctors...I mean they are only practicing. You
know that old saying " Dr. Welby never lost a
patient. He knows where each one is buried"
ANXIETY
Everybody knows what it's like to
feel anxious--the butterflies in your stomach
before a first date, the tension you feel when
your boss is angry, the way your heart pounds if
you're in danger.
Anxiety rouses you to action. It
gears you up to face a threatening situation. It
makes you study harder for that exam, and keeps
you on your toes when you're making a speech.
In general, it helps you cope.
But if you have an anxiety disorder, this
normally helpful emotion can do just the
opposite--it can keep you from coping and can
disrupt your daily life. Anxiety disorders
aren't just a case of "nerves." They are
illnesses, often related to the biological
makeup and life experiences of the individual,
and they frequently run in families. An anxiety
disorder may make you feel anxious most of the
time, without any apparent reason. Or the
anxious feelings may be so uncomfortable that to
avoid them you may stop some everyday
activities. Or you may have occasional bouts of
anxiety so intense they terrify and immobilize
you.
Alternative Treatments
Aromatherapy: Chronic anxiety can
contribute to many health problems, but
aromatherapy has a quick and simple method for
reducing it, according to aroma therapist
Valerie Ann Worwood in her new guide, The
Fragrant Mind. Aromatherapy works with the
essential oils of plants, prepared in any of the
following ways, says Worwood: blend with 1 ounce
of base oil to make a massage oil; add to bath
water; gently heat in a room diffuser; or inhale
from a tissue.
Tense Anxiety—Symptoms include
bodily tension, muscle pains, aches, and a
generalized soreness. Mix clary sage (10 drops),
lavender (15 drops), and Roman chamomile (5
drops). Restless Anxiety—Here one feels dizzy,
sweaty, overactive, with palpitations, the sense
of a lump in the throat, frequent urination,
diarrhea, or upset stomach. Worwood recommends
vetiver (5 drops), juniper (10 drops), and
cedarwood (15 drops).Apprehensive
Anxiety—Symptoms generally include worrying,
brooding, unease, a sense of foreboding, even
paranoia. For relief of this emotional state,
try mixing bergamot (15 drops), lavender (5
drops), and geranium (10 drops). Repressed
Anxiety—This variant of anxiety involves feeling
on edge, concentration difficulties,
irritability, insomnia, or a sense of chronic
exhaustion. Worwood advises a blend of neroli
(10 drops), rose otto (10 drops), and bergamot
(10 drops).
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is primarily concerned with
regulating the individual’s life force, the body
energy or ‘Qi’. It has a number of beneficial
physiological effects -- Acupuncture has a
relaxation response with decreased heart rate,
lowered BP, stress reduction and increased
energy and tissue regeneration. It has been
shown to produce a calming or tranquilizing
action that is of particular interest to people
in states of stress. Acupuncture can relieve
feelings of anxiety and depression, which may be
serious handicaps for people trying to cope with
difficult domestic, social and work problems.
It can give a person a feeling of
well-being and self-confidence. It is an
effective substitute for sleeping pill,
tranquilizers, and antidepressant drugs.
Acupuncture can be used in many cases not only
as an alternative to these drugs but also to
treat side effects and dependence. In fact a
number of patients have come for acupuncture
treatment specifically to come off their
antidepressants.
There is considerable evidence
that acupuncture could substantially reduce the
consumption of drugs such as Prozac. Acupuncture
can provide a safe and effective tool for
stress.. It will not, of course, change the
circumstances of a person’s life but it will
usually produce a feeling of well-being. The
practitioner can help restore balance and thus
protect health by identifying each individual’s
unique energy profile to see where the weak
spots are and where support is needed to restore
balance. Acupuncture can open a window of
opportunity.
As the heavy feelings of stress
are relieved, a person feels more confidence in
his ability to cope with unpleasant aspects of
his life situation and make necessary changes
Reiki Healing: Reiki
(pronounced "Ray-kee") is Japanese for
"universal life-force energy". Reiki is a method
of natural healing using the universal life
force energy to promote healing. When the energy
in our body becomes imbalanced or depleted, due
to stress or illness, our body can no longer
heal itself. It needs help.Reiki is a powerful
hands-on healing technique in which this energy
is drawn through the practitioner's body and
then transferred to the client. Physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual blocks are
released during a healing to bring clients
greater health, well-being and harmony. Reiki
supports the body's natural ability to heal
itself. It vitalizes body, soul and mind.
Benefits of Reiki: Reiki functions on all
levels. Mental, spiritual, physically and
emotionally. It balances the body's energies. It
loosens up blocked energy and promotes a state
of relaxation. It cleans the body of poisons and
enhances deeper detoxification.
Herbalism: Herbs
are used to relieve stress and tension. Herb
relaxants include :Black Cohosh,Black
HawCalifornia PoppyChamomileCramp
BarkHopsHyssopJamaican DogwoodLady's
SlipperLavenderLime
BlossomMisletoeMotherwortPasque FlowerPassion
FlowerRosemarySt.John's WortSkullcapValerian.
In addition to the herbs that
work directly on the nervous system, the
anti-spasmodic herbs - which affect the
peripheral nerves and the muscle tissue - can
have an indirect relaxing effect on the whole
system. Remember the connection - if you can
calm the nervous system, you'll calm the
physical system.
Massage: The
benefits of massage are :Enhancing general
relaxationReducing muscular tension and
associated discomfortReducing anxietyImproving
sleepIncreasing feelings of well-beingEnhancing
tissue elasticity and flexibilityIncreasing
range of motion in jointsRelaxing tight
musclesRelieving muscle aches and
stiffnessSpeeding recovery from
exercisePromoting well nourished - healthy
skinImproving circulation of blood +
lymphImproving immune system
functioningImproving energy flow
Shiatsu:
Shiatsui is a form of physical therapy developed
first in Japan based on traditional Chinese
medical theory and various Japanese massage
techniques. In a shiatsu treatment the
practitioner uses direct pressure with hands and
fingers on the client's body.The practitioner
works along energy channels (meridians) and on
points along those channels (acu-points or tsubo)
to stimulate the flow of energy (ki).The primary
focus in treatment is to establish an harmonious
flow of energy through the meridians. The
particular insight of eastern medical practice
is in its understanding of energy and how energy
is a dynamic force in the body. Shiatsu
addresses all levels of the person (physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual). The treatment
is most often experienced as deeply relaxing and
practitioners can work with conditions of both
acute and chronic natures.
Yoga: Everyone
suffers from mild anxiety from time to time, but
chronic anxiety takes a tremendous toll on the
body, draining energy resources and keeping the
body in a constant state of stress. The effects
of anxiety are magnified when the body is not
exercised: tension in the muscles builds,
breathing remains constricted most of the time
and the mind has no rest from the whirling
thoughts and feelings that feed the anxiety.
Yoga helps you to access an inner
strength that allows you to face the
sometimes-overwhelming fears, frustrations, and
challenges of everyday life. Yoga reduces stress
in the body, breath, and mind by building coping
skills with a small daily routine of exercise,
breathing, and meditation. A few Yoga exercises
practiced daily (especially if they are done
just prior to meditation) help to regulate the
breath and relax the body by gently releasing
tension from the large muscle groups, flushing
all parts of the body and brain with fresh
blood, oxygen, and other nutrients, and
increasing feelings of well-being. "Whole body"
exercises such as the Sun Poses are particularly
helpful because they encourage you to breathe
deeply and rhythmically. Many exercises can be
adapted so you can do them even in an office
chair.
The Complete Breath technique is
a must for anyone who often feels "stressed
out." Once learned, the Complete Breath can be
used anywhere, anytime, to reduce the severity
of panic attack, to calm the mind, or to cope
with a difficult situation. Learning to
concentrate simply on the sound of the breath as
you inhale and exhale evenly and smoothly will
help you gently but effectively switch your
attention from feelings of anxiety to feelings
of relaxation.
Daily practice of complete
relaxation and meditation are also essential -
even a few minutes of meditation during your
work day can make a difference. This daily
training in focusing the mind on stillness will
teach you how to consciously quiet your mind
whenever you feel overwhelmed. Meditation puts
you in touch with your inner resources; this
means less dependence on medications, greater
self-awareness, and a fuller happier life.
Meditation:
People with recurring symptoms of anxiety and
nervous tension are usually barraged by a
constant stream of negative "self-talk."
Throughout the day your conscious mind may be
inundated with thoughts, feelings, and fantasies
that trigger feelings of upset. Many of these
thoughts replay unresolved issues of health,
finances, or personal and work relationships.
This relentless mental replay of unresolved
issues can reinforce the anxiety symptoms and be
exhausting. It is important to know how to shut
off the constant inner dialogue and quiet the
mind.
The first two exercises require
you to sit quietly and engage in a simple
repetitive activity. By emptying your mind, you
give yourself a rest. Meditation allows you to
create a state of deep relaxation, which is very
healing to the entire body. Metabolism slows, as
do physiological functions such as heart rate
and blood pressure. Muscle tension decreases.
Brain wave patterns shift from the fast beta
waves that occur during a normal active day to
the slower alpha waves, which appear just before
falling asleep or in times of deep relaxation.
If you practice these exercises regularly, they
can help relieve anxiety by resting your mind
and turning off upsetting thoughts. Please
remember, I'm not a doctor and all treatments
should be discussed with your doctor or
therapist before using them.
