Archive for February, 2009

Symptoms of Panic Attacks

Thursday, February 19th, 2009




Symptoms of panic attacks can seem as if you are about to have a heart attack. They can cause you to feel dizzy, nauseated, and short of breath, flushed, and make your heart pound. Because these symptoms can mirror those of other serious health conditions, it’s important to seek medical evaluation, treatment, and to receive an accurate and proper diagnosis.

Symptoms of panic attacks frequently come on suddenly and without warning. Panic attacks usually last about 30 minutes, and peak within the first 5 to 10 minutes of the onset of symptoms. This of course varies between individuals, and some cases last much, much longer. If you experience repeated or frequent panic attacks, you may have a condition called panic disorder.

If you have experienced panic attacks before, you know how frightening they can be. Repeated instances of panic attacks can lead you to avoid situations that may trigger them, or be withdrawn or avoid social situations altogether. Because of the affects of this, you should either take steps to get your panic attacks under control, and if you cannot do this on your own, you should seek medical assistance.

Some of the various symptoms of panic attacks that you may experience include but are not limited to:
Rapid heart rate, feeling as if you might be having a heart attack
An impending sense of doom or imminent death
Sweating, chills, or hot flashes
Trembling
Shortness of breath and/or hyperventilation
Nausea
Abdominal cramping
Chest pain
Headaches, dizziness, or feeling as if you are about to faint or fainting
Tightness in your throat or trouble swallowing

If you experience any of these, or even other symptoms not listed in combination with those listed above you may be experiencing a panic attack.
As well, if you experience any of the above symptoms you should seek medical evaluation and assistance as once.
If you find out you suffer from panic disorder, know that you are not alone, and also that there are steps that you can take to minimize or even stop your panic attacks. An excellent resource is availabe at Stop Panic Attacks.









panic attacks - anxiety attacks - depression - how they can affect you

Saturday, February 14th, 2009

Panic attacks and anxiety attacks can affect you in many different ways. Have you ever hit snooze on your alarm in the morning and almost physically not been able to get out of bed? Have you had an overwhelming dread about going to work, and felt as if you just couldn’t “go through the motions” one more day? Have you felt or had an over powering feeling come over you where it was as if you almost couldn’t control your actions? If so, you are not alone. With increased pressure from jobs, work, and society to do more and more in less time, it’s no wonder that an even greater percentage of the population is about to to snap.




Some things you many experience are crying or feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and despair. Feeling that everything you do is pointless and for nothing, you are at the bottom of an ever deepening hole, and there is no way out. Panic attacks - anxiety attacks - depression and or a combination of all three could be the cause.

If you are experiencing these, you may take more sick days at work than your co-workers, be ridiculed or chastised at work for degraded performance, or not being able to focus and accomplish your job at all. It is not uncommon at all either to have higher instances of other illnesses due to decreased immune systems.

You can be affected by feelings of isolation from your family, friends, and loved ones, diminished interests in hobbies, and loose interests in your dreams.

Panic attacks, anxiety attacks, and depression can cause serious consequences in your life and make it feel as if you life is worthless or even that you no longer want to live.


Just remember, you are not alone, and MANY people feel this way, or experience these feelings also. There are things you can do to get help. Talk to a trusted friend. Just getting it off your chest quite often helps out greatly. There are many methods which you can employ that are self help, such as Stop Panic Attacks. You can also seek medical advice, and use that in conjunction with therapy and self help.

Don’t let yourself stumble and crawl through life, you are worth much more. Take steps to help yourself today.









some ideas to stop panic attacks

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

Stop Panic Attacks




Stop Panic Attacks - If you suffer from panic attacks, you know how intrusive and disruptive they can be to your daily life. Living in fear not only of your next unexpected panic attack, but of the symptoms, public embarrassment, and the inability to carry on a normal life.

When your life begins to be controlled by your symptoms and your fear of living a normal life due to the fact that you may have a panic attack at any time, you want to do anything in your power to stop panic attacks. You may want to consult with a health care professional - a medical doctor or psychologist, but you may also want to consider working on your own to stop panic attacks.

There are many things that you can do as a panic attack sufferer to try to get a hold of your condition. Things such as diet, diet supplements, your sleep patterns, how you approach and deal with stress in your life, to things such as being aware of what your triggers are for panic, and learning to approach them differently, and/or think of them in a different light. Knowing what to do when you begin to experience a panic attack can also help you stop panic attacks. Realize that however scary and fearful it is to you to have a panic attack, and that you may become depressed and think that something is wrong with you, that they are not physically dangerous. You can focus on the fact that it is just a feeling, and will pass. Most panic attacks are thought to last about 30 minutes, however this varies greatly from person to person, and on the situation and circumstances. Try counting, or focusing on something else in your surroundings, counting, or taking deep relaxed breaths.

Just remember, that to stop panic attacks, you have to take action. Just let the feelings be, and accept that they are your feelings, and try to take action on the way you deal with these feelings.












Panic Attacks

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

Panic Attacks




Panic attacks are very sudden and overwhelming periods or episodes of extremely intense anxiety, racing thoughts, stomach problems, fear, and other physical and psychological symptoms. Panic attacks often come on suddenly, and may or may not have obvious triggers or catalysts. Panic attacks are part of the fight or flight syndrome, but are out of proper context most of the time, and quite frequently appear to be random.

Those who suffer from panic attacks know that they can be one of the most uncomfortable, upsetting, disrupting, and frightening experiences that one may have. According to the American Psychological Association, the effects and symptoms of panic attacks last about 30 minutes, but this varies greatly from individual to individual and situation to situation.

Panic attacks make one feel as though one cannot escape the feared situation or trigger, and unable to free themselves from their feelings and trapped.

Panic attacks when suffered for the first time often create a feeling of having a nervous breakdown or heart attack.

Although panic attacks cause these feelings and are extremely frightening to experience, they are physically harmless.




About 5% of the population will experience panic attacks during their lifetimes. Individuals who experience repeated panic attacks might require evaluation by a medical professional.

For tips and information on what you can do visit stop panic attacks.









test anxiety

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Test Anxiety

Test anxiety is an inordinate or extremely elevated amount of anxiety about taking a test. Most of us experience, at one time or another, anxiety about taking a test. This is healthy and normal. If you spend quite a bit of time worrying or can’t get your mind off the test, you might be experiencing test anxiety. Test anxiety is an unneeded and unwelcome addition to the pressure to do well on the exam.

Some of the symptoms of test anxiety include: difficulty concentrating, negative and self defeating thoughts, racing thoughts, mental blank out, and not being able to recall answers during the exam, but easily being able to come up with them after the test. You may also experience: nausea, cramps, sweating, headaches, increased heart and breathing rates, and dry mouth.

To best deal with test anxiety, there are some steps that you can take to not only better prepare for the exam, which can greatly reduce your anxiety level to begin with, but to also approach the exam in a more positive light, and better deal with any anxiety that does occur during your exam.

The development of effective study habits is of utmost importance. Organization and break down of material to be studied, and time management are essential to properly prepare and enable you to confidently approach your test, greatly lowering your test anxiety. Ensure that you are well prepared for the exam.

Do not go to the text tired or hungry. Make sure you get plenty of rest to help ward off test anxiety, and be sure to eat ahead of time. Get to your exam in a timely fashion, and give yourself plenty of time for each question or problem. Avoid second guessing yourself, wishing you had prepared more, or thinking you are going to fail. Try to relax and be confident.

During your test, read the instructions completely and make sure you understand them. Budget your time and make sure you have enough time to answer all of the questions. If you come on a question and you are not sure of the answer, move on and then come back to it. Don’t panic, and don’t let events in the room, such as noises, or others turning in their exams bother you.

If you do experience anxiety during your exam, try to relax. Realize that you are in control. Take slow deep breaths, and don’t concentrate on any panic or anxiety you are experiencing. Test anxitey can be a habit. Realize where you are in the testing process, and take the next steps required to complete it.

For more information on how to stop anxiety, visit Stop Panic Attacks.









stop panic attacks

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Stop Panic Attacks
For those who suffer from panic attacks on a regular basis, it is a high priority to learn how to stop panic attacks. There are many reasons and causes for panic attacks, and getting to the root cause of yours is essential for you to learn how to stop panic attacks.

There are both physical and environmental causes of panic attacks.
Thyroid function has been frequently tied to anxiety and panic attacks. An overactive thyroid can lead to heightened anxiety and panic.

Prescription drugs can cause panic attacks. In situations where one is taking medication for panic attacks, depression, or anxiety, if the medication is abruptly quit, it can cause full blow panic attacks.

Illegal drugs are yet another cause of panic attacks.
The effects of illegal drugs, physically and mentally can greatly contribute to panic and panic attacks. illegal drugs are not only hard on you physically, and can cause permanent damage, reduced judgment, and a skewed sense of reality, they can also cause psychological issues, both short term and long term. Withdraws from illegal drugs especially can cause symptoms associated with panic attacks. In situations such as this, other drugs are usually used to treat the situation and ease the withdraw symptoms.

As far as environmental causes, normal life situations often contribute to and/or cause panic attacks. Situations such as the the loss of a job, being evicted, having a house foreclosed or car repossessed, death of a family member or loved one, financial problems, a new baby, marital problems, or even an illness.

It is essential that people suffering from panic attacks learn how to cope with their panic attacks and anxiety. This is one of the basic ways to stop panic attacks. Of course this takes practice, hard work, and time, it can be one of the least intrusive and most beneficial things that you can do for yourself to learn how to stop panic attacks. This can be accomplished by research, speaking with your physician, behavioral therapy, and counseling. In addition to this, exercise, diet, herbal supplements, and just taking care of yourself can have a great impact on both your mental and physical help, and contribute greatly to stopping panic attacks. For some great information on natural methods and more information on how to stop panic attacks, visit stop panic attacks.

Medication is also an option, but an option that should be carefully considered when trying to stop panic attacks. Most medicine used to stop panic attacks and anxiety attacks has the potential for abuse. Tolerance to the medications increases, meaning you have to take more and more medication over time to achieve the same results, and can be addicting.









beck anxiety inventory

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

Beck Anxiety Inventory

There are many different measures and methods of attempting to accurately measure levels of anxiety in individuals. The top three methods of measuring anxiety in clinical and research settings are the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Fear Survey Schedule, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, in order of popularity.

The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) is an assessment to measure the severity of anxiety in individuals. The Beck Anxiety Inventory was created by Dr. Aaron T. Beck and made available through Pearson Education.

It consists of 21 multiple choice questions with a series of four possible answers that is expected to take 5 to 10 minutes to complete. This exam is either self-administered in written format, or is verbally administered by trained administers. It’s purpose is to evaluate anxiety levels in individuals, and is targeted towards people between the ages of 18 and 80 years old. The written form is available in either English or Spanish.

If you are tired of living in the fear and uncertainty of your next anxiety or panic attack, visit Stop Anxiety Attacks and take advantage of the book offered that gives tips and works you through what you can do to prevent and stop anxiety attacks.

anxiety strategies

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

Anxiety strategies

Anxiety strategies are very helpful to have if you or a loved one experience anxiety attacks or panic attacks. They can lessen the severity, reduce symptoms, and help you to deal with the symptoms and even reduce your occurrences of anxiety attacks. For an in depth guide on strategies on how to deal with and stop anxiety attacks, get How to Stop Anxiety Attacks now. It also provides some insight into preventative measures and how to deal with anxiety attacks and stop them.

Basic anxiety strategies include:

Remind yourself that what you are experiencing is just an exaggeration of your body’s normal reaction to stress.
Be aware that however frightening or scary your anxiety symptoms are, they are not harmful in and of themselves, and not dangerous.
Do not disasterize. Be aware of what the reality is of what is really happening to you, and don’t focus on your thoughts of what might happen.
When your anxiety attack comes, let it. Don’t try to deny or fight it, just ride it through and acknowledge it for what it really is and let it run it’s course.
When you begin to snowball with fearful thoughts, focus on your immediate surroundings. Count objects in the surrounding space, count to 10, or distract yourself.

These are of course easier said than done, but they work. With practice, they can become a normal part of your coping mechanism, and can become an almost natural reaction to your anxiety attack and panic feelings. When you do obtain this level of comfort with implementing these ideas, it will make a big difference in your responce and symptoms of anxiety.

For many more tips and for information on how to stop anxiety, visit Stop Anxiety Attacks Now.