Heart palpations, sweaty hands, shallow breathing, or not being able to catch your breath.......feeling anxious & unable to think clearly – does this sound like you?

More & more people are suffering from anxiety. Why is this happening?  There are a multitude of reasons – and each specifically individual to each particular person, however our very fast paced lifestyle has much to do with the symptoms that are becoming more apparent to many people in our day to day lives.

Anxiety disorder includes:

·         Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

·          Social Anxiety (SAD)

·          Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

·          Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

·          Specific Phobia.

A primitive reflex call the “flight / flight reflex” (which is a automated reflex that will send a hormone called “Adrenalin” surging though our blood stream)  I like to think of Adrenalin as super charged rocket fuel. Adrenalin would help us in the past to have extra human “super strength” to help us fight or run away from the Sabre Toothed tiger............)

Adrenalin still will kick in when we are “under stress...............” however these days there is no tiger to run away from or to fight. – In the past the action of “fighting the tiger or running away from it” would use up the adrenalin in the blood stream & when the threat was gone, our bodies would return to, homeostasis.

Now days, the “threats” that we are under, can be far more individual & challenging.

For example, someone may be :

·         Afraid to leave their house. (Agoraphobia)

·         Challenged in small confined spaces. (Claustrophobia)

·         Find it difficult to:

o    Drive

o   Have passengers in their car

o   Drive on main roads

o   Stop at traffic lights

·         Travel on a:

o   Plane

o   Bus

o   Train

·         Public speaking is a common situation where you can feel anxiety. – But for some people, even speaking to their work colleagues, or paying money to the petrol attendant may bring on overwhelming feelings of anxiety & potentially set off a panic attack.

The challenges to someone who is having an anxiety attack & an increase in adrenalin in their bodies, is that they are unable to think clearly.

·         In this situation, all of the blood supply leaves the logical part of the brain (where we do our best thinking.)

·         The blood migrates to our arms & legs (so we can be ready to run or fight.)

·         Blood also moves away from the digestive system (you do not need to be digesting food – when you are running from the tiger...............)

o   Therefore it is common for anxiety prone people, to often have digestive issues as well.

·         Neck, shoulder & leg tension issues are also probable, as the muscles in the body tighten & shorten – readying the body to fight the tiger..................

So what can be done for anxiety? – There are a number of ways that anxiety can be treated. It really does depend on your level of anxiety as to which modality will be of most benefit you. Often a combination of these therapies will work well in conjunction with each other.

2. Medication – Use of anti-anxiety and anti-depressant requires prescription from the doctor, and only under guidance and monitor from doctor or qualified psychiatrist, the patient will receive the correct dosage, minimize the danger of side effects.

3. Complimentary therapies- Kinesiology www.kerryheritage.com.au/kinesiology.html I have personally seen fantastic results for people with anxiety issues, people who have been able to overcome their specific anxiety issues, and confidently move forward with their lives.

Reiki www.kerryheritage.com.au/reiki.html may help to calm & relax - oincreasing the feelings of positive wellbeing in your life & reducing the stress.....

Meditation is another way of allowing you to decrease the anxiety & regain some perspective in your personal life.

4. Herbal – This is considered an alternative treatment for anxiety. However, the Chinese and native people had used them for thousands of years to cure the problems, and studies have found that they can be as effective as prescription medicine without the possible side effects. If you don’t want side effects, or prescription medication doesn’t work for you, and option is that you can try herbal based medicine – consult a herbalist.

5. Relaxation Exercise – Taiji and QiGong are very good relaxation exercises, it can help to relax your mind and body, and restore them to a healthier stat, balance up your body chemical and reduce your mind anxiety and stop feeding anxious sense to the body.

6. Regular Exercise – 30 Minutes of regular exercise every day will reduce the panic attack, and shorten the duration during panic attacks, and eventually eliminate anxiety. When doing exercise, your mind will be distracted from thinking something anxious, and your body will be healthier, less symptoms of anxiety will occur. That’s why exercise is vital in every treatment plan for anxiety.

6. Psychological Treatment for Anxiety – One of the most common and effective anxiety treatments is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and this method can be used with drugs or without drug.

This information has been provided for information use only. For specific anxiety issues, please contact your health provider.