For the majority of the population, anxiety, stress, fear and worry need do not cause illness, since strong feelings subside after the stressful situation has passed. Butterflies tend to abate once a speech has commenced before a large audience; fear immediately recedes when a mother learns that her son is unhurt and safe after a violent earthquake; and agitation passes after completing a two hour exam. Anxiety creates the necessary emotional and physical conditions for an individual to perform at his or her very best, under trying and sometimes very stressful circumstances.
Uncontrolled Anxiety
But in some cases anxiety levels do not recede; rather, they increase and remain constant, even when the stressful situation is absent. Anxiety becomes overwhelming and the affected individual will go to any length to avoid situations, objects and individuals that induce the feeling of panic. The mind and body begin to associate particular activities, objects and situations with overwhelming panic and emotions, individuals become conditioned to behave in ways that avoid confrontation with the disabling and anticipated anxiety, and are constantly living in a heightened state of tension.
In anxiety disorder sufferers the brain cortex takes only a few seconds to perceive a situation and initiate the body’s panic response, it then overuses the response, even with no apparent cause.
Anxiety begins to develop into a mental illness when it becomes excessive, frequent and intense without any real cause and refuses to subside but rather becomes less localized and more general. Fears that are completely irrational plague the sufferer and he or she will have problems concentrating and performing every day activities.
Controlling Anxiety
Taking proactive steps to reduce general anxiety can be extremely helpful in coping with stressful circumstances and preventing intense anxiety from degenerating into a full-blown anxiety disorder. In many cases, following an at-home, self-treatment therapy course such as Panic Away can even cure or greatly diminish anxiety disorders without the need for formal treatment. Some suggestions for self treatment include:
*Learn relaxation techniques. Breathing techniques and relieving everyday stress through relaxing methods and using fluid poses in yoga, tai chi, or meditation dissolves tension and reduces the accumulation of anxiety. Numerous scientific studies, beginning in the 1970’s, have reported that yoga improves mood, beats depression and reduces anxiety, making it an effective treatment for controlling mood and mental disorders, and making the nervous system less reactive. Indulging in regular aromatherapy, music therapy and massage can also have a relaxing effect on the body.
*Get regular sleep, eat balanced meals, and engage in aerobic exercise. Adequate sleep and proper rest is essential to reducing irritability and regular exercise boosts the body’s natural endorphin levels, which are known to release tension. Anxiety is also linked to nutritional deficiencies in many studies, illustrating the importance of supplementing the diet with high quality, premium nutritional supplements.
*Focus upon positive thoughts and create a tension releasing ritual. Positive thinking may become difficult as the mind continually fills itself with negative thoughts. Encouraging the mind with happier thoughts can enable sufferers to be better prepared to deal with anxious thoughts and fears.
*Develop a social network. Creating bonds and cultivating relationships can create outlets for sadness and tension and discourage social isolation. Developing a social network with understanding and caring people can make it much easier to cope with anxiety symptoms.
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