Thursday 24 April 2014

Understanding And Treating Anxiety

Everyone occasionally experiences some anxiety. It is a normal response to a stressful event or perceived threat. Anxiety can range from feeling uneasy and worried to severe panic. The aim of this Tip Sheet is to inform people about what anxiety is and to provide some tips to help manage anxiety when it becomes a problem.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling of fear or impending disaster and reflects the thoughts and bodily reactions a person has when they are presented with an event or situation that they cannot manage or undertake successfully. When a person is experiencing anxiety their thoughts are actively assessing the situation, sometimes even automatically and outside of conscious attention, and developing predictions of how well they will cope based on past experiences.

Although some anxiety is a normal response to a stressful situation, when the anxiety level is too high a person may not come up with an effective way of managing the stressful or threatening situation. They might "freeze", avoid the situation, or even fear they may do something that is out of character.

Anxiety generally causes people to experience the following responses:

An intense physical response due to arousal of the nervous system leading to physical symptoms such as a racing heartbeat.

A cognitive response which refers to thoughts about the situation and the person's ability to cope with it. For someone experiencing high anxiety this often means interpreting situations negatively and having unhelpful thoughts such as "This is really bad" or "I can't cope with this ".

A behavioral response which may include avoidance or uncharacteristic behavior including aggression, restlessness or irrational behavior such as repeated checking.
An emotional response reflecting the high level of distress the person is experiencing.

The best way to treat heightened daily anxiety has been discovered by the researchers at A2X Anxiety. A2X is an all natural compound that promotes the body's natural defense to anxiety. In other words, it works with your body to defeat these symptoms. To learn more about this breakthrough in understanding and treating anxiety, go to their website.

Friday 18 April 2014

Recognize Anxiety Attack Symptoms Before Its Too Late

The symptoms of an anxiety attack are very physical and real - they are not imagined in your mind.

BUT these symptoms are not life-threatening however much you may think they are; and you will not die or even be maimed from them - despite how awful you may feel at the time. They do pass. Keep reminding yourself of these facts as they will aid in your recovery.

I'll take the symptoms one at a time, and you will learn and understand what happens throughout your body that causes you to feel the way you do during anxiety attacks.

The Sympathetic Nervous system kicks in. This is an involuntary system so once your body has decided to put this into action there is nothing you can do except go with it and calm yourself as fast as possible thus telling your body all is now well and it can stop the response thus limiting the length and severity of the response.

It all starts in the Adrenal glands. The adrenal glands not surprisingly secrete adrenaline - which stimulates the heart rate and the breathing rate. It also secretes noradrenaline , which helps maintain constant blood pressure, which may contribute to why we feel a bit dizzy whilst it finds a balance. The adrenals also release Cortisol, this affects the release of glucose from the liver to give us the energy to flee and why you feel so exhausted at the end of an attack and it is so vital to replace nutrients. It is also important to supplement your diet with a proper natural supplement like A2X. A2X may also work to suppress the symptoms of your anxiety attack.

These symptoms might include:

Hyperventilation (anxiety attack symptom)


Hyperventilation means over-breathing which is caused by the sufferer breathing faster then needed. This may be apparent by feeling very short of breath or you may not be aware of it at all.

In this way the body's balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen is disturbed.

Hyperventilation can lead to Panic because you start to breathe quicker and shallowly and this results in you breathing out more carbon dioxide than the body produces, thus keeping the carbon dioxide level in the blood stream too low.

Without enough carbon dioxide to maintain the acid/base balance of the body, the blood becomes too alkaline, a condition known as "blood alkalosis." Alkalosis causes the arteries to constrict, with the result that blood flow is restricted, especially to the brain. Although the blood contains plenty of oxygen, alkalosis also prevents the essential transfer of oxygen from the blood to the brain, muscles, and organs, as has been frequently verified in panic attack victims who have gone to the emergency room.

Light headedness

This anxiety attack symptom has a few variations. Some people may experience a sudden head rush feeling, which goes almost as quickly as it comes. As long as the individual doesn't react with more fear, the symptom will come and go and will vary in frequency from a number of times per day, to a few times a month.

Another variation includes a constant state of unbalance, spinning, wooziness, fogginess and so on. Often it is accompanied by a feeling that you may pass out (some people do, however, that's not common).

This symptom has a few causes. It could be from a blood sugar imbalance, hyperventilation (not getting enough oxygen) or an inner ear or ear pressure condition.

This is a common anxiety attack symptom, and sometimes an individual can experience both forms at different times.

As mentioned earlier, if you experience either of these two leading symptoms of an anxiety attack, it is very important to supplement your diet with a natural anti-anxiety compound such as A2X. A2X is developed by the researchers at A2X Anxiety and can be found on their website.

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Anxiety Medication And Test Nerves

1. Don’t assume that just because you have test anxiety that the problem is only test anxiety. Test performance issues may also have an independent panic component. If panic attacks are ignored or left unaddressed, treatment is likely to fail.

2. The very characteristics that make some individuals successful can serve as liabilities for others. Characteristics like perfectionism and other obsessive-compulsive traits can be associated with pathological doubt, which can induce panic attacks, increase test-taking time, and lead to procrastination and avoidance of essential test preparation. If this is the case, the most effective treatment would address these characteristics, not the test anxiety itself.

3. In the case of certifications or other high stakes situations that allow multiple pass attempts, work on your test anxiety prior to your first examination. Apply Ben Franklin’s famous adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Previous examination failures can undermine (or decimate!) your confidence and make the situation into more of an uphill battle than it needs to be. If you have already failed your examination, make sure that treatment addresses any failure-related thoughts you might be experiencing.

4. The most evidence-based treatment for the above issues (test anxiety, panic, OCD traits) is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can also address any related depressive symptoms. Do not select a provider who practices in a different modality–go with the research evidence. Some providers may supplement CBT with mindfulness (which can be a nice adjunct), but mindfulness should not be the core of treatment for test anxiety.

5. Expanding on the previous idea, not all cognitive behavioral therapists are alike. Find a therapist who actually utilizes both cognitive AND behavioral interventions to treat your test-related anxiety. In addition to the cognitive therapy that needs to happen, treatment should be behaviorally-based. For test anxiety, this means completing simulated examinations in advance of your actual test date. These simulations should be designed to resemble (as closely as possible) all aspects of your upcoming examination.

6. In addition to psychotherapy, some medications can be helpful (e.g., SSRIs, etc) but it can take awhile for these medications to build up to therapeutic levels. If you want medication to be part of your treatment, it’s important to plan ahead (i.e., ~3 months) and work closely with your doctor. Furthermore, you should know that prescribing is not an exact science. Doctors cannot always predict in advance which medication will work best for you. Keep in mind that the first medication you try might have to be adjusted or replaced by another medication to help you achieve maximum benefit.

7. Although shorter-acting medications (e.g., benzodiazepines or “benzos”) can bring quick anxiety relief, they are not without significant cons. As such, it’s important to be very cautious when choosing them. Your doctor can advise you on these issues.

8. It is also important to complement any regimen for combating test anxiety with herbal medication such as A2X. The researchers at A2X Anxiety have formulated a compound that should work well with any combined approach.


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Sunday 23 March 2014

Can I take A2X with other medications?

A2X, as a natural dietary supplement, is compatible with most medications. Please consult a physician to ensure there are not prescription contra-indications.

Before taking A2X, talk your doctor if you are taking seizure medications, pain medications, muscle relaxants, other sleep or anxiety medications, or other medications that may cause drowsiness. A2X may increase the sedative effects of these drugs. Do not take A2X if you are currently taking an MAOI or have taken an MAOI within the past two weeks.

Anti-Anxiety Medication
In general, A2X can be safely taken with prescription sedatives, including benzodiazepines such as Xanax® (alprazolam), Valium® (diazepam), and Ativan® (lorazepam). Keep in mind that A2X may increase the effects of sedative medications, although this interaction is not unsafe at recommended doses. If you are taking any type of sedative medication, use caution when driving or operating heavy machinery until you're familiar with the effects of A2X. Some clients report that A2X potentiates anti-anxiety drugs in a positive way and allows them to obtain relief from a lower dose of medication. If you are currently taking prescription medication, we advise that you talk to your doctor before taking A2X or any new supplement.

Anti-Depressant Medication
In general, A2X can be safely combined with prescription SSRI antidepressants, including Celexa® (citalopram), Lexapro® (escitalopram), Luvox® (fluvoxamine), Paxil® (paroxetine), Prozac® (fluoxetine), and Zoloft® (sertraline), as well as non-SSRI reuptake inhibitors such as Effexor® (venlafaxine) and Wellbutrin® (bupropion). A2X should not be combined with MAO inhibitors. If you are currently taking prescription medication, we advise that you talk to your doctor before taking A2X or any new supplement.

Birth Control
A2X will not reduce the effectiveness of birth control or interact with contraceptive medication in any way. You can safely take A2X if you are currently on birth control.

Alcohol
Do not consume alcohol until you are familiar with the effects of A2X. In general, consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol is safe while taking A2X. A2X may increase the sedative effects of alcohol, so avoid drinking large quantities of alcohol while taking A2X.

Other Supplements
Yes, in general, it is safe to take A2X if you are also taking other vitamins or nutritional supplements. Of course, we always recommend talking with your doctor before taking any new supplements.

A2X Anxiety

Thursday 20 March 2014

Difference Between Shyness & Social Anxiety

Social anxiety is a serious problem. Some people experience shyness – this is social anxiety that isn't severe enough to be considered an anxiety disorder, but still can lower your quality of life. Others experience severe anxiety where the very idea of social situations fills them with dread.

No matter what you're living with, social anxiety can make it much harder to enjoy the activities that lead to happiness and contentment, and that's why it's important that you learn a specific therapy to work in conjunction with your social anxiety disorder treatment.

As far as most psychologists are aware, there is no difference between shyness and social anxiety disorder beyond severity. Shyness may be distressing to those that want to have an easier time in public, but it can otherwise be managed fairly easily. Social anxiety disorder is often stressful enough that the person cannot live a quality life while still suffering, making therapy for social anxiety disorder absolutely essential.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective tool for combatting social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, for many it is simply too expensive, or not something they're ready to commit to right away.
That's why many people want to find techniques to help them cure their social anxiety without a therapist, and without the use of unnecessary medications.

Social anxiety disorder can also be a bit tricky, because one of the main tenants of the disorder is avoidance. Those with SAD have a tendency to do whatever it takes to avoid the social events, or leave the social events once they get there.

These behaviors cause what's known as negative reinforcement – by avoiding social situations (or leaving if they get too stressful), it essentially tells your brain that you're staying away from something frightening, and that staying away keeps you safe. Thus you're more likely to stay away in the future, and you're more likely to continue to find social situations frightening.

That's why, while it's crucial to living a quality life that you respond to your social anxiety disorder, it's equally as important to make sure that you can commit to it. If for any reason you try to avoid making the necessary changes or behaviors, you may end up reinforcing the fear further.

It starts with mindfulness. Mindfulness is not a treatment per se. But mindfulness is an awareness of oneself. You need to make sure that you're training yourself to be more aware of your own anxiety, so that you can effectively prevent it from continuing to affect you.

Anxiety causes negative thinking, and often contributes to its own development. You need to notice what it does to you and learn how to place the blame for how that feels on your anxiety and not yourself. The more you recognize anxiety symptoms as they occur, while also acknowledging that it's the anxiety causing those symptoms and not you, the easier it will be to continue treatment.

It is also important to add any social anxiety disorder treatment with a healthy, all natural supplement. A2X Anxiety is the choice of New England researchers who have attempted to strike a balance between a calmness to directly combat the paralyzing symptoms of anxiety and focus to see your action plan through.



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Wednesday 19 March 2014

Symptoms And Treatments For Social Anxiety Disorder

Symptoms:

Many people feel nervous in certain social settings. Meeting new people, going on a date, giving a performance - nearly everyone has experienced the anxiety that these situations can provoke. Social Anxiety Disorder, or Social Phobia, however, describes an excessive or unreasonable fear of social situations that can be differentiated from the more typical fear that comes with discomforting situations.

Social Anxiety Disorder, or Social Phobia, is the 3rd most common chronic mental health disorder in the U.S. The anxiety associated with the disorder not only leaks into an individual’s social life but interferes with his or her everyday activities and professional life. The person recognizes the fear to be unreasonable; nonetheless, any situation that may become embarrassing or awkward becomes a source of immediate and extreme anxiety. While other mental health disorders cause social anxiety symptoms (e.g. sweating, palpitations, or panic attacks), Social Anxiety Disorder, or Social Phobia, refers only to individuals who specifically avoid or fear social situations.

The first mention of Social Anxiety Disorder dates back to 400 B.C. It is popularly accepted that Hippocrates made mention of the disorder while describing a man who "loves darkness as life and...thinks every man observes him." The socially phobic person’s tendency to overestimate the extent to which others "observe him" is characteristic of the disorder.

Individuals suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder typically experience the following symptoms:


•    Intense, persistent fear of being watched and humiliated by others: This fear takes the form of dread and avoidance and often leads to excessive self-consciousness.
•    Overwhelming anxiety upon entering a feared social environment: These social situations can be general or specific and range from eating and drinking with others to public speaking to simply standing around other people.
•    Understanding the fear to be unreasonable and excessive: Recognizing the fear as unreasonable is not enough, however, to help the individual overcome his or her anxiety.
•    Physical anxiety symptoms: Blushing, nausea, sweating, trembling, difficulty talking, and other symptoms associated with panic attacks are commonly seen in social anxiety patients.

Those diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder are continually hindered by the feeling that “all eyes are upon them.” While many people have memories of being discomforted by a social situation, an individual with social anxiety disorder is debilitated by the feeling. The anxiety interferes with an individual’s professional life, academic life as well as his or her everyday activities, often hindering an individual’s ability to form intimate relationships. Importantly, a person also develops a fear of the phobia itself, reinforcing the initial avoidance reaction.

Social Anxiety Disorder is harder to diagnose in children. Because children do not have the means to describe the quality of their anxiety as effectively as adults, the disorder may go unrecognized despite a child developing habits frequently encountered with Social Anxiety. Some common personality and behavioral traits seen in children with Social Anxiety Disorder are crying, tantrums, clinging to familiar people, extreme shyness, refusing to speak in front of their class, and fear or timidity in new settings and with new people. In order for a child to be diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder, the child must experience anxiety with their peers as well as with adults but also show the capacity to form social relationships with familiar people.

Treatment:
Following a strict regimen of exposure therapy, aided by a natural supplement is the most effective treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder. The researchers at A2X Anxiety have been hard at work looking for natural supplement that would fill just this role. It is extremely important to be able to maintain a balance between relaxation and focus in order to maximize the benefits of exposure therapy.  A2X has managed to safely and effectively aid the process with no side effects or dependency.


A2X Anxiety Treatment

Saturday 15 March 2014

What To Do About Financial Stress

What do you do when you’re stressed-out about losing your home, car, stocks, bonds, retirement savings, college funds, and everything else in the lyrics of a bad country song?
I don’t really know, to be completely honest. But here is an attempt to shed some light on some better ways to manage your financial stress and stop stressing so much about money.

1) Quiet, Amy!
The amygdala, the almond shaped group of neurons in the limbic system of the brain, is considered by man to be our system of fear, and it acts like an ape or a how a human would have acted, say, back when we still had lots of hair all over. The adrenaline that you are feeling when you see stock exchange plummet is the amygdala getting crazy, hosting a party in your head, whatever. I call my amygdala “Amy.” And whenever I panic, I tell her to go take a nap, that I can’t tolerate her noise and ruckus right now.

2) Realize Not Everything Is In Your Control

The most uncomfortable part of financial anxiety is the lack of control most of us feel. It’s contrary to our human psychology. We want to drive the car, or at least be the passenger in the front seat giving directions. But in an economic downturn, we’re not even in the car. We have no say on which rest stations we are stopping at. In fact, much of the time if feels like we are riding in the trailer hitched to the back of the car. With the horses. Admitting that we’re not in control can be somewhat liberating. Because the stock market is life: you win some, you lose some, and you don’t have a whole lot of say in the whole matter.

3) The Importance of Distraction

I feel like every newly divorced couple I have ever met has this one down pat. Ever heard of a "divorce body?" Sure, a lot of gym time is fueled by a seething desire to show their former partner what they're really missing, but at the same time it is also a highly effective defense mechanism of distraction. Staying occupied and setting new, health conscious goals for yourself can be very productive in not sweating the financial small stuff.

4) Know Your Limits

One of the worst things you can do for your amygdala, or fear system in the brain, is to keep the TV and radio tuned into the latest news on Wall Street, to keep checking CNN to find out what the newest number is. This kind of compulsive behavior is toxic for the obsessive, sensitive folks who are prone to anxiety even without a reporter telling them to run for cover. Treat your amygdala well. Turn the news off. Except for this piece, of course.

5) Choose a Natural Supplement

Diet and exercise have an enormous influence on the balance of our brain chemistry. Additionally, the modern day time-crunch diet is sorely lacking in essential vitamins and minerals which can send our blood sugar and anxiety levels soaring. Researchers at A2X Anxiety have been working on a way to include all of those most important vitamins and minerals to stabilize our mood in a single, all-natural capsule.

A2X Anxiety Treatment

Thursday 13 March 2014

The Downward Cycle of Financial Stress

Researchers have long examined how financial stress was associated with absenteeism of credit counseling clients and the dangerously vicious cycle associated with attendant job absenteeism. Data has been collected by a national non-profit credit counseling organization, from consumers who telephoned seeking assistance in debt management. The results from these clients report some startling statistics. The data indicate credit counseling clients’ financial stress affects their absenteeism at work.

Ironically, that situation is exactly what these clients are seeking to avoid.

Clients with high levels of financial stress are more likely to experience higher levels of absenteeism; thus spending work hours handling personal finances, which decreases the time they are at work. The results suggest some insight into providing financial education and assistance for employees with financial strains as productivity loss might influence their pay.

Moreover, it has been suggested that employees with financial strains often take these problems to the workplace, which could negatively influence their absenteeism. Further, a productivity loss might lead to reduced income from employment, which could aggravate financial strains.

One example of the financial stress experienced is excessive debt. Using the 2001 Survey of Consumer Finances data, Draut and Silva (2003) found that about three quarters of American families hold credit card debt and half of them carry credit card debt of $4,126 on average. It has been suggested that families who carry such high levels of debt often use credit cards to fill the gap between household income and basic living expenses. As consumer debt has continued to increase through the years, a growing number of people experience difficulties in repaying their debts.

Researchers also suggest that it is highly important to augment your daily diet with an all natural anti-anxiety supplement. The researchers at A2X Anxiety have been hard at work formulating a compound that would allow stressed employees to abate their anxiety while also allowing for a focused, concentrated quality. The balance is precarious and difficult to achieve.  To ensure A2X is right for you they selectively offer a free trial for those who qualify.

A2X Anxiety