Firstly, you should understand the fact that even though it involves the brain, anxiety is not a mental illness, but a medical condition, and then you should make this clear to the people around you.

Typically, anxiety is caused by hormonal imbalance, as the hormones progesterone and serotonin will affect your mood and energy levels. Thus, you may explain that your hormones are affecting the chemical secretion in your brain, causing an intensified state of anxiety and subtlety to stressful situations.

Then, proceed to explain what your anxiety attack symptoms may be. Different people have different levels of anxiety and their bodies react differently to hormonal change, thus the symptoms may also differ. Some common symptoms include palpitations, hyperventilation, vertigo, muscle fatigue, frequent urination or diarrhoea, shortness of breath, muscle tension, stomach upset, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, muscle tremors and twitches.

In medical contexts, anxiety attacks are episodes of intense panic or fear. Sometimes, these episodes happen when triggered by a certain stressful situation, but most of the time, they happen out of the blue. These episodes or attacks peak within 10 minutes, and rarely last for more than 30 minutes. However, the symptoms cause a good deal of terror, making you feel as if you are dying or losing yourself. The physical symptoms even mimic that of a heart attack. After experiencing an anxiety attack, you will worry and dread about when another one will strike you again, which can be completely nerve-wracking.

Symptoms for anxiety attacks can be divided into two categories, namely emotional symptoms and physical symptoms. You may only experience one category, or even both. These symptoms, though terrifying, are not harmful and generally pass when your body regains calmness. Do remember to explain that you are not in any immediate danger though they should help to ensure that you do not injure yourself in case you get into a panic fit.

An anxiety patient may only experience a few minor symptoms only, while some unfortunate ones may experience majority of the symptoms. The intensities and the frequencies may differ too. Depending on the gravity of the patient’s condition, there may be few possible combinations of symptoms.

To explain your attacks may not be easy to non-medical practitioners but do try your best to describe how you feel when an attack occurs. You may say that you feel like you are losing control, that your heart pounds very fast and that you can’t catch your breath as an overwhelming feeling crash onto you, or maybe even that you feel disconnected from the world and reality. These explanations may give them a clearer picture of what you are going through when you experience an attack.

Explain that it affects you tremendously, and that it is hard to live with. It can get out of control at times, and that you are constantly filled with worry and fear. You have to make it known to the people around you, as they are the people who will give you the support you need for you to make a recovery. Help them to understand your plight so that they may have a chance to help you.

Lastly, to make them understand about your condition more thoroughly, you can get them to visit medical sites for more information regarding symptoms of anxiety attacks and how to give patients the appropriate support that they need.

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  ]]> http://www.anxietyattack.org/how-to-explain-anxiety-attack-symptoms-to-other-people/feed/ 2 http://www.anxietyattack.org/is-obesity-linked-to-anxiety-disorder/ http://www.anxietyattack.org/is-obesity-linked-to-anxiety-disorder/#comments Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:55:13 +0000 admin http://www.anxietyattack.org/?p=482

	Find Out The Link Between Anxiety Disorder and Obesity here

Anxiety disorder can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, shape or size. However, there are researches that are pointing towards a connection between obesity and mental health problems. 

A study by Australian researchers concluded that there is a correlation between obesity and mental health. This study, published by the Australian Health Review, was conducted on more than a thousand volunteers. The obese participants mostly aged 45 and above had reported that emotional problems had a significant effect on their daily working life and social activities. This group of people also showed very low serenity levels, and was less calm compared to those who were smaller in size. This indicates that obese people are more likely to suffer from psychological issues compared to their skinny counterparts.

Generally, people who are obese tend to have a poor self image due to their physical condition. Obesity is definitely linked to many health problems. Obese people may not be able to participate in many physical fitness activities which require speed and agility compared to thinner people. So, it is not surprising how physical problems have an effect on mental health. When a person is labeled as obese, automatically this poor self image will result in lower self esteem, thus causing negatives conditions such as depression.

While some studies say that people who are obese tend to develop panic attacks and other mental health related problems, there are others who say that it really is the other way round. There are studies that indicate people who have mental health problems tend to become obese. The rationale is simple; people who are undergoing depression or mental disorders will not be feeling good about themselves. They tend to be less physically active, and overeat. Therefore, they will be the least motivated to work out, or make a trip to the gym. They tend not to be focused on their physical health, thus making them prone to grow obese.

The debate of whether it was the egg or chicken that came first can go on and on, but there is growing evidence that reveal the link between treatments for anxiety and obesity. Medicine that is used to treat mental health problems have come to be labeled as contributors to a number of obesity cases. The British Journal of Psychiatry published a study in 2009 showing that anxiety causes obesity, not vice versa. This study went further to show that medicine was the cause of obesity, not overeating. According to this study, the culprit was psychotropic medication.

In 2010, findings published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research further confirmed the previous studies. This study revealed that there exists a significant relationship between mood disorders and obesity. According to this study, antidepressant and antipsychotic medications were strongly linked to treatments of anxiety disorder. The study went on to make known that antidepressants and antipsychotics were the significant predictors of obesity.

Research and findings definitely flood us with information about the link between anxiety disorder and obesity. However, depression-obesity experts warn us to be careful while interpreting data. This is because medication is prescribed to patients with mental health conditions for a reason, and sometimes there may not be another alternative medication for the particular condition. It could cause more harm to the patient to switch medication and discontinue use of a certain drug just because of the fear of obesity. It is true that certain medications for mood disorders have a high link to obesity, but it does not mean it should be completely done away with.

The best way to combat the problem of obesity with anxiety disorder, whichever way it is linked, is for the person to join a weight management program. Whatever medication is prescribed to treat a particular condition, physical exercise will only do well for the body overall, in promoting both physical and mental health. So, ultimately, moderation is the key – to take a holistic approach to life without neglecting one part or the other.

Click here to listen how to stop anxiety disorder now. ]]> http://www.anxietyattack.org/is-obesity-linked-to-anxiety-disorder/feed/ 1 http://www.anxietyattack.org/anxiety-symptoms-video/ http://www.anxietyattack.org/anxiety-symptoms-video/#comments Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:22:34 +0000 admin http://www.anxietyattack.org/?p=151

Anxiety Symptoms To Watch Out For!

Transcriptions From Video:

Anxiety disorders are a group of related conditions, and because of this reason, most sufferers will have different symptoms. Almost all anxiety disorder sufferers share the same common major symptoms which are severe fears and worries. These are oftentimes unwarranted.

Other than the primary symptoms of irrational and excessive fear and worry, common emotional symptoms of anxiety disorders include:

Anxiety disorders are very common amongst children and adolescents, and it is believed that 13% of them suffer from them. And even though they are very well documented, quite often they are misdiagnosed and if left untreated can lead to even further complications. Stressful events such as loss of parent or sibling, divorce or separation of the parents, abuse, family conflicts, moving to a new location or a new school can cause worries and in most cases these mild anxieties are quite normal. Once they start interfering with the child’s normal activities though, like the ability to learn and perform well in school, the ability to make new friends, and result in loss of normal sleep, then the child is suffering from anxiety disorder.

If a child is experiencing any of the symptoms below almost every day for at least six months, then it is likely that he or she is suffering from anxiety disorder. The most common physical symptoms are stomach ache, headache, muscle discomfort, hyper-activity, sleeping discomforts, diarrhea, feeling sick, chest tightness, etc.

Oftentimes, children do not outwardly show physical symptoms but if you suspect that your child is in a challenging situation, you should also monitor for non-physical symptoms. Some non-physical signs of anxiety disorders to watch out for are:

Worry – this, of course, is normal for any child and is usually experienced before a test, a school play that the child performs in, a field trip, or any other events that the child might see as important. However, children with anxiety disorders seem to worry excessively without any reason and they would worry excessively about school, friends, past or future events, or meeting new people.

Fear of separation is quite normal for infants and toddlers, but if this fear is experienced at a later stage, then this might be a sign of an anxiety disorder. An older child, who refuses to go anywhere without the parent, sleep alone, or go to school alone, might be suffering from anxiety.

Phobias – fear of particular situation that most people don’t find threatening. These phobias can be the extreme fear of dogs, closed spaces, heights, spiders, etc. Usually children with phobias will try everything in their power to avoid situations which scare them.

Panic attacks – just like adults, children can suffer from panic attacks too. In some cases they are associated with other anxiety disorder symptoms like phobias and stress, or they can be totally unexpected and unprovoked. These are often misdiagnosed and not treated on time, which in turn means that they might be experienced in the adulthood too. Panic attacks occur more often amongst teenagers than amongst younger children, and are usually associated with physical symptoms like nausea, palpitations, sweating, shaking, and numbness.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – children can suffer from OCD just like the adults and in most cases that would translate into constantly washing their hands, repeating a certain “ritual,” or being obsessed with particular thoughts.

Selective mutism – this is a condition where the child stops speaking. It can be caused by other anxiety, as well as some biological factors. This is also quite often misunderstood since parents think that their child is simply refusing to speak while in fact he or she is unable to speak. This makes selective mutism one of the most overlooked anxiety disorders amongst children.

In most cases the anxiety disorders are diagnosed in children between the ages of six and eight, it is also believed that the temperament of the child is of importance as well: children and are shy and introverted are more likely to suffer from anxiety. Parents should always consult a doctor if they suspect that their child is showing symptoms of anxiety disorder since if they are not treated in time, this might lead to difficulties in the adult live of the child too.

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The fear of an anxiety attack by itself can trigger an attack. This is true as reported by many anxiety disorder patients and after resolving the “meta” fear, most reported an immediate cessation of anxiety attacks.

Learn how to get rid of the fear of anxiety attacks, and your child will be able to cope much better.

In many cases it might take years for your anxiety disorder to be diagnosed, this is why it is highly advisable to seek an immediate doctor’s assistance if you experience some of the symptoms listed in this article. Contrary to the popular belief, anxiety disorders and panic attacks are quite common and it is estimated that two out of five people experience mild anxiety attacks in their lives and this is why early diagnosis is vital for successful treatment.

What are the most common physical symptoms of anxiety?


Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
Duspnea can be a symptom indicating various conditions and illnesses like asthma, heart attack, chronic bronchitis, lung disease, etc. However, people with anxiety quite often experience difficulty breathing as well.

Difficulty when swallowing (dysphagia)
This symptom might also be associated with pain, again can be caused by several physical conditions like diffuse spasm, esophageal tumors and neurological disorders, including anxiety.

Chest pains
If you experience chest pains (quite sharp at times) combined with shortness of breath and disorientation, then there is a good chance that it is caused by anxiety. This kind of chest pains are experienced by large number of anxiety sufferers (up to 70-80%) and can be located in the left area of your chest, in the center, or the pain might even “move around.”

Palpitations
Also known as racing, or pounding heart, can be quite normal in many cases such as during exercising or when a person is in a stressful situation, and can be caused by the intake of too much caffeine or some medications, but in rare cases can indicate a serious illness as well. However, if cardiac diseases are ruled out by your doctor, then this might be an anxiety symptom.

Perspiration

This is normal during exercising, or in a hot summer day and sweating is actually necessary for the normal functioning of one’s body. However, it can be caused by various medical conditions, including anxiety.

Dizziness

If you feel dizzy, lightheaded, off-balance, or you might pass out in the next few moments, then this can also indicate anxiety. However, it might be caused by inner ear or other viral infection – make sure to consult a physician if these symptoms persist.

Hot or cold sensations (flashes)
This can also be caused by emotional distress (anxiety) and it is observed that most people with anxiety experience hot flashes rather than cold ones. During a hot flash usually the person feels its upper body getting warmer and this is often accompanied by profuse perspiration. In some cases a hot flash is followed immediately by a cold one.

Constant fear of dying
This condition is also experienced by many anxiety sufferers. Some people report “thinking about dying all the time” and even being scared going to bed due to that fear, for others the sensation is actually associated with the other anxiety symptoms like nausea, palpitations, sweating, even though these are symptoms that do not represent immediate danger.

Trembling or Shaking
This is normally associated with high emotions like anger, rage, and extreme fatigue. If you experience trembling or shaking quite often, then you are better off consulting a doctor. Finding the cause will help you treat and control these symptoms.

Stomach aches (abdominal pain)
Many organs are in the abdomen, which makes adequate diagnosis of the stomach pain quite difficult since it can be caused by many different conditions, one of which is anxiety as well.

Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting can be caused by conditions raging from early pregnancy to seasickness, but in some cases are associated with anxiety and fear as well. In most cases these symptoms are experienced only occasionally and tend to disappear when the person learns how to better manage their stress levels and anxiety.

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The fear of an anxiety attack by itself can trigger an attack. This is true as reported by many anxiety disorder patients and after resolving the “meta” fear, most reported an immediate cessation of anxiety attacks.

Click Here To Learn how to get rid of the fear of anxiety attacks.

Watch Real People Discussing Ways To Deal With Anxiety. Click HereNow!