Treatments for Anxiety Disorders /if repeat please delete/fibro fog, lol

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Treatments for Anxiety Disorders 3 Ways to Reduce Your Anxiety

Learn to cope with stress: Reducing stress can help control symptoms of

anxiety. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that stress-management

techniques may even boost the effectiveness of therapy. There are many ways to

reduce stress, including meditation, massage, and muscle relaxation. Listening

to music and exercising are also effective stress-busters. Different methods

work well for different people. What’s important is that you find the method or

combination of methods that works for you—and that you use it regularly.

When anxiety is related to a traumatic event in the news, one of the most

important things you can do is tune it out. In the weeks following the terrorist

attacks on September 11, 2001, the media was saturated with replays and updates

of the tragedies. While the events naturally caused feelings of anxiety in many

people, dwelling on the news made some people feel helpless and extremely

fearful about the future. If an event dominates your thoughts or causes extreme

upset or panic, it’s time to turn off the TV and put down the newspaper.

Limiting exposure to traumatic news is especially important for children, who

have less experience with putting problems into perspective.

Avoid coffee and cigarettes: Smoking and caffeine can promote anxiety.

Research suggests that heavy cigarette smoking during adolescence increases the

risk for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in early adulthood. The

mechanism may have less to do with nicotine’s effect on the nervous system than

with the damage done to the respiratory system. Smoking causes breathing

problems, which research suggests may play a role in anxiety. The theory is that

the brain misinterprets the smoker’s labored breathing and resulting lack of

oxygen as a threat of suffocation. The automatic physiological response is

heavier breathing and faster pumping by the heart. In people who are susceptible

to anxiety, the brain mistakes these responses as signs of panic.

With caffeine, on the other hand, it’s the stimulant effect that promotes

anxiety. Caffeine can set off a panic attack in someone prone to anxiety by

activating the sympathetic nervous system, which launches the body’s response to

stress or danger. Many psychiatrists recommend that their anxiety patients

eliminate, or at least minimize, their consumption of coffee and other

caffeinated beverages and foods. Also be aware that many over-the-counter

medications, including weight-loss aids and " daytime " cold medications, contain

caffeine.

Seek social support: Support from family members and from others with anxiety

disorders can improve the results of treatment. The National Institute of Mental

Health reports that many people with anxiety benefit from sharing their problems

and triumphs with others. Joining a support group can help by giving you a

regular opportunity to talk with people who understand. Talking with trusted

relatives, friends, and members of the clergy can be helpful, too. Chat groups

on the Internet also provide a forum in which to share concerns and decrease the

feelings of isolation that are common among people with anxiety. Just be

skeptical about the information you find on the Internet, unless it comes from

an established mental health organization. Also, use caution and common sense in

deciding how much personal information to reveal when chatting online. Remember

that chat rooms aren’t a substitute for therapy. If you’re looking for group

therapy, join a group run by a mental health

professional. Loneliness or inactivity can promote anxiety. Getting involved in

activities and developing new friendships can help.

Quote of the Day

" Don't let other people tell you what you want. "

– Pat Riley