Herbs For Anxiety

Many people are looking for a natural solution for the stresses of modern life. Prescription medicines often cause unwanted side effects and in some cases are addictive as well. Herbs have been used for centuries as a treatment for many ailments and conditions as well as to promote relaxation. People looking to take herbs for anxiety should consider kava kava, valerian root, passion flower or St Johns wort.

Kava kava (piper methysticum) is not addictive and has traditionally been used by women experiencing menopause. It is known for promoting sleep as well as treating anxiety.

Valerian root (valeriana officinalis) is popular worldwide due to it being both a pain reliever and sedative. It is fast acting and has no known side effects when taken short term. Long term usage has not been studied so is not recommended. A standard dose is somewhere between 150 and 200 mg.

Passion flower (passiflora incarnata) does not cause drowsiness and is effective at relieving anxiety as well as irritability and mood swings. For adults 100mg to 250mg is a typical dose.

St John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum) is a well known herb used for treating mild depression and relieving nervous tension and anxiety. It has been clinically proven to promote a positive mood when used continuously for a period of 2 to 6 weeks at a dosage of somewhere between 200mg and 600mg.

It is important to remember that although these herbs are natural, they are still potent and should only be taken with the recommended dosages. It is also wise to check with your doctor before starting any new herb especially if you are on any form of prescription medicine.

Using herbs for anxiety is an option available to anyone seeking an all natural solution for their anxiety or panic attacks. It is becoming an increasingly popular choice as more people take a bigger interest in their health and well being.

Symptoms Of Panic Attack

If you think that you may have had a panic attack it is important that you see your doctor as many of the effects associated with them can be very similar to several physical conditions and it is important to rule them out first. However it can be beneficial to understand the symptoms of panic attack disorder in order to be better prepared to deal with any subsequent ones.

Clinically, a panic attack is defined as a period of intense discomfort or fear that is also associated with at least four of the following symptoms. Common symptoms or sensations include nausea, sweating, chest pain, dizziness, shaking or trembling, chills, hot flushes, numbness or tingling in your arms and legs, as well as a shortness of breath. Of course these are just the physical symptoms and there are emotional symptoms as well. An intense fear, usually not associated with something that most people would find scary is the predominant feeling.

Typically panic attacks will appear suddenly and reach peak intensity within a minute or two. They then tend to diminish slowly over the next half an hour or so. Women are more likely to suffer from panic attacks then men and the disorder usually manifests between the ages of twenty to thirty. There is no one definitive cause of panic attacks and no one clear solution either.

While there are several medications available in the treatment of panic attack, psychological therapy has also proven to be very effective. This includes learning relaxation and slow breathing techniques as well as cognitive and exposure therapy. With the appropriate treatment, most people can overcome their panic attacks and not have them reoccur.

Panic Attack Treatment

It is important to remember that there is no definitive answer as to the cause of panic attacks. As a result, how the condition is treated may be different for each person as well. When deciding upon a panic attack treatment it is important that you understand the options available to you and that you are comfortable with the approach that your doctor is taking.

Firstly, not all people with this condition will end up on medication. In fact many people will experience great benefits from either behavioural or cognitive therapy. This is where you will have between 10 to 12 sessions with your doctor and you will to overcome your fears by identifying and then changing the thoughts and emotions that lead to your panic attacks. You should not feel ashamed or embarrassed at seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. They are medical professionals who are there to help you overcome your problems and regain control of your life.

Depending on the severity of your condition sometimes medication is given to help minimize the symptoms associated with a panic attack. Common drugs prescribed include Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox and Paxil, however these are often given in conjunction with another form of therapy in order to achieve the desired result. It has been observed that patients who simply take medication can often find that their symptoms will return once they stop taking it.

The important thing to keep in mind is that there is help available and whatever panic attack treatment you choose is your personal decision. Taking any form of medication should be a last resort and should only be considered when you have understood the possible side effects, as well as how long you will need to take it for and how long a period of time before you will notice that it is working.

Panic Attack Help

If you have experienced panic attacks or have suffered from extreme anxiety then you understand how isolated these conditions can make you feel. It is important to get some type of counselling or assistance as no one needs to go through this alone. Panic attack help and support can be found in many places and it is recommended that you try several of them until you find one that you are comfortable with.

The first thing that you can do is to talk to a trusted friend or family member about what you are experiencing. Sometimes just being able to talk about your fears can bring some relief and it may also help to put them into a proper perspective.

Educating yourself about the condition can also be beneficial. Panic attack symptoms are scary and can often be mistaken for other illnesses so understanding what a typical panic attack is like for other people and what treatments are available can help. This can be done online or you could also go to your local library for information.

There are various government organizations that you can contact, anonymously too if you wish, to talk about your problems. Most will provide crisis line type phone numbers where you will be able to talk to someone who understands what you are going through and who will be able to provide you with further support if you need it.

Of course your general practitioner is an obvious choice for any health problem that you have. They can check to see whether there is any physical cause to your symptoms and if not may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for further diagnosis.

If you need help in dealing with your panic attacks please let someone know. It is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about and help is readily available. Imagine living your life without crippling fear or anxiety? It is possible.

Panic Attack Disorder

A panic attack disorder is characterised by a sudden overwhelming fear that has no obvious cause. Why people experience panic attacks is not always easy to discover but there is often a link with major or stressful life experiences and possibly even a genetic influence as well.

The symptoms experienced by people during a panic attack are the classic fight or flight responses that everyone feels when placed in a dangerous situation, only sufferers may feel them for no apparent reason. These include a racing heartbeat or chest pains, often mistaken for a heart attack, difficulty breathing, dizziness, trembling or sweating and an intense feeling of fear or terror.

It is difficult to determine whether you have a panic attack disorder and is certainly something that you should see a doctor about. Many of the physical symptoms can mimic other illnesses so these should be ruled out first. If there is nothing physically wrong with you your doctor should then refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for a diagnosis.

There are several options available in the treatment of panic attacks including cognitive and behavioural therapies as well as medication. Behavioral therapy uses various techniques to stop or limit specific actions that can lead to panic attacks. Cognitive therapy however, teaches patients how to change the way they think and how to react differently to the situations and bodily sensations that trigger their panic attacks. Drugs are often prescribed to relieve the symptoms associated with a panic attack but they are not a cure.

A panic attack disorder is not something that you can fix by yourself. The good news is that those people who do seek treatment have a high chance of successfully overcoming this condition and leading normal lives.

Panic Attack Medication

If you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or panic attacks your doctor may discuss with you the option of treating your symptoms with drugs. The decision to use a particular panic attack medication is a personal one that should be made after careful research and consideration. There are five main types of drugs that are commonly used to treat panic attacks and anxiety including beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Beta blockers include atenolol (Tenormin) and propranolol (Inderal) and are helpful in controlling the physical symptoms of panic attacks such as trembling or a rapid heartbeat. They also produce fewer side effects when compared to other medications but can still cause drowsiness, insomnia, diarrhoea and short term memory loss.
Tricyclic antidepressants include imipramine (Tofranil), venlaxfaxine (Effexor), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (norpramin) and nortriptyline (Aventyl). These drugs are used to treat both depression and panic attacks and can cause constipation, weight gain, dry mouth, difficulty urinating and disturbed sleep patterns as side effects.
Benzodiazepines include chlordiazepoxide (Librium), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin) and oxazepam (Serax). They have proven to be effective in reducing the symptoms of panic attacks in over 70 percent of patients and can be taken for an extended period of time. Side effects include irritability, drowsiness, decreased libido and slurred speech.
MAOI’s include phenelzine (Nardil) and tranlcypromine (Parnate). Like tricyclic antidepressants they are also used to treat panic attacks as well as depression. They can produce weight gain, a dry mouth, low blood pressure and a disturbed sleep pattern as side effects.
SSRI’s include sertraline (Zoloft), fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine (prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil). They are the most recent type of panic attack medication and work by assisting the brain to maintain a higher level of serotonin, which is often low in people suffering from depression. Side effects include headaches, decreased libido, nausea and possibly agitation.
The decision to begin using any type of panic attack medication should not be made lightly. Many of these drugs will take a period of time before any benefit can be seen and will likewise need a certain period of time before you can stop using them. It is important to raise any concerns you have with your doctor before beginning any sort of treatment.

Anxiety Attack Symptoms

There are several types of anxiety disorders and their affects can vary from person to person. The one thing that they all have in common however is a severe of persistent fear of a place or situation that would not be threatening to most people. Common anxiety attack symptoms can be both physical and emotional and are often experienced in combination.

Anxiety can produce a wide range of physical symptoms and it is important to understand that you may not experience all of them. It is common for sufferers to mistake their anxiety for a physical illness before they are diagnosed as the symptoms can be similar to many other conditions. When having an anxiety attack it is common to have tremors, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, shortness of breath and a pounding heart. Excessive sweating, as well as frequent urination or diarrhoea is also common.

During an anxiety attack, the primary emotional symptom is an irrational and excessive fear. It is also normal to experience irritability, restlessness or a general feeling of dread or apprehension without knowing why. You may feel jumpy or tense and even experience moments where you mind goes blank and you have trouble concentrating on anything in particular. Unfortunately, such a state will only increase your levels of anxiety and distress.

Your anxiety attack symptoms may be triggered by a particular situation or event, but sometimes there is no obvious trigger and they seem to appear out of nowhere. Most people find that their symptoms will reach a peak after about 10 minutes or so and will rarely last longer than 30 minutes. Anxiety or panic attacks can be quite debilitating and often leave the sufferer with a fear that they may experience another one, especially if they are alone or in a public space.

It is important that you do not ignore your symptoms and seek help as soon as possible. Your general practitioner should be the first person you contact. Anxiety attacks can be treated very effectively and there is no need to suffer with this condition alone.

What Is Anxiety?

Just what is anxiety? It is a natural reaction that everyone experiences from time to time. It is a physiological response to a situation or event that is perceived as potentially dangerous. It is a normal and healthy emotion. However for approximately one in every twelve people, this emotional state can be so severe or persistent that it can markedly interfere with their ability to have a normal life.

Problem anxiety is not the same as simply feeling stressed or worried. Recognising that you have an anxiety disorder is not always easy as many of the symptoms are similar to those of a physical illness and many people will often assume that are experiencing a heart attack or stroke. Symptoms such as heart palpitations, nausea, headaches, trembling and sweating are all common physical symptoms. A good rule of thumb is that if you are feeling anxious or apprehensive, without understanding why, as well as experiencing any of the above ailments, you may have an anxiety problem.

Most people experiencing anxiety will not seek any treatment and this is a shame as there are many effective treatments available that can help people suffering from this condition. Avoiding the places or situations that make you anxious is only a temporary fix and often makes it harder to overcome in the long run. Also, left untreated, many people find that they tend to avoid more and more places and situations as times goes by.

There are many other things people can do to feel better such as looking after your health by eating better, getting regular exercise and keeping a regular sleep pattern. Also, learning a few relaxation techniques are often found to be helpful. Whether it is simply a deep breathing exercise or a form of meditation, the benefits can be amazing.

However depending on the length or severity of your symptoms you may wish further help. Your GP is the first person you should see about any health problems you have. They can investigate to see whether there are any physical causes for your anxiety or whether you may benefit from seeing either a psychologist or psychiatrist. Anxiety can be a debilitating condition. Now that you know just what it is, if you feel you need help, make that first step to reach out as it is readily available.

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• The Linden Method

  
  
  

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