Anxiety relief - HOW?

[Marie]

I went surfing the Internet about panic disorders – and read that Panic Disorders is more common in women than in men. Apparently it starts off in late adolescence or during early adulthood. Can be chronic. People suffering from this - at varying levels – and have to be treated. If they ignore the problem, they just go downhill in their life, feeling miserable physically as well as emotionally, cant function normally and develop all sorts of phobias. There’s something called agoraphobia –where people suffering from symptoms of panic disorder avoid planes, trains, elevators, etc. where they feel they have no escape route if they need help. These people also undergo unnecessary medical examinations and tests in the hope they will find the answer to their problems there. I guess all of us suffer from some level of panic or other…it’s when we cannot cope with it or control it the problem arises.

[Susan]

These days more and more people are going in for alternative self help methods with anxiety relief, methods that are safe – one of the most recommended is meditation by most doctors. Calming down and being relaxed is one of the biggest anxiety and stress relievers. It is great for overall health as well, anyway – so it’s a situation where the individual has everything to gain and nothing to lose! During meditation, the hormones and the biochemical compounds in the blood that cause stress get reduced to lower levels. The best thing is, through continuous practice these changes last over time; so, on a daily basis your stress levels come down. Meditation focuses all your mind energies on a particular thing so you calm down with relaxed breathing. Obviously it is better than medication!

[Jeff]

How does one meditate?

[David]

Pick a quiet place – somewhere where you feel at ease and calm. Could be the parking lot in your car, your room or a park – wherever.
Sit with your back straight – in a chair or even cross-legged on the floor. And just let go of control. Breathe evenly, concentrating on your breathing, how you exhale and how you inhale, rhythmically. You can focus on a picture or anything – the idea is to keep your mind blank of everything except what you are concentrating on. Pick a word with a positive connotation for you – and repeat it if your mind wanders. It might be a bit tough to meditate for a long time when you get started, but even if you do it for 10 minutes, you will benefit a great deal, since you are taking a break from your thoughts and letting your mind calm down completely.

[Kim Wilde]

You can also try aromatherapy for relieving stress and anxiety. Aromatherapy implies treatment through smell or fragrance. Volatile plant oils are used in aromatherapy – to make you feel a lot better physically and mentally. Incorporating these natural essential oils in your life is like a therapy and benefits you overall. This therapy is about 6000 years old and it is said to have started in Egypt. Not very hard to imagine Cleopatra, right? These days massage centers include aromatherapy in their services by using these essential oils. When it is used in the right way, it can bring amazing peace of mind and a lot of relief from anxiety and stress. Sounds quite easy too. Its probably why bath oils are so relaxing. These oils come with instructions and you’ve got to use them with care.

[Leo]

What does everyone think of hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety disorders? It seems that only a few sessions are required to get over the panic attacks and anxiety disorders – each session could be half an hour to about 60 minutes and you end up feeling in control of yourself and relaxed, too. Hypnotherapy, as they call it, addresses your subconscious mind so that it can project its willpower and self control to feel calm. It relieves anxiety through direct suggestion. I think behavior training is also involved. You can also practice self-hypnosis to get rid of anxiety gradually. The whole exercise of hypnotherapy aims at self-control and how you react to what is around you - sort of an attitude makeover. It also helps you get rid of what triggers anxiety and not get affected by it. It builds motivation and improves quality of life.

[Jeff]

Something else that is gaining in popularity these days is Tai Chi - Tai chi involves a lot of flowing movements that can help with stress reduction, improve your balance and also bring in a lot of other health benefits. Above all, it is great to feel peace of mind. Tai Chi involves concentration just like mediation with movements. Health benefits that can be expected are a better ability to handle tough situations, better balance and self-awareness; you feel as if you have more strength, stamina, and flexibility in your body. You find that you can breathe better and sleep better at night. Most people suffering from anxiety suffer from lack of sleep and other health problems. Tai Chi is great for elderly people because there are no difficult or vigorous movements. Also, no special equipment or place is needed. You can get started with a class and then continue to do it on your own later. Sounds good to me!