Everyone suffers from anxiety at some point or the other. As a matter of fact, anxiety keeps us motivated and focused upto a certain extent. But, when irrational and extreme anxiety dominates all aspects of life, it becomes a crippling disorder. There are several types of anxiety disorders. Generalized Anxiety Disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder is marked by extreme anxiety and panic even when there is no trigger. People with this condition are always worried about health, money, family issues, work etc. Physical symptoms of the condition include nausea, headaches, muscle aches, trembling, sweating, and frequent trips to the bathroom. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is also often referred to as OCD by the mental health practitioners. The condition is marked by repetitive behaviors  [...]

Following are the relaxation techniques helping people to recover from anxiety disorder: Muscle relaxation: People suffering from anxiety disorder can develop muscle tension. This makes releasing the muscle tension one of the most significant steps for relieving anxiety in these patients. This can be done by tensing and relaxing all the major muscle groups of the patient. The massage must be performed using slow, but steady strokes. This massage technique will help anxiety patients to recognize the difference between the feelings offered by muscle relaxation and muscle tension. Deep breathing: The scientific term used for rapid and deep breathing is hyperventilation. Hyperventilation is a common condition experienced by patients with anxiety disorder. In severe cases, hyperventilation might lead to loss of CO2 from blood resulting in fainting  [...]

Several studies conducted in different corners of this globe have suggested that kava is one of the most effective herbs for treating anxiety. This herb help in keeping the mind alert while our body relaxes. Other than being an excellent remedy for eradication anxiety, Kava is also known for its ability to act as a pain reliever and a mood-elevating agent. This herb is native to Pacific islands; the leaves of Kava plant are heart shaped and green in color. Kava was first discovered by the white men during the mid 18th century. Before that, the natives of the Pacific islands used to pound or chew the kava roots to get rid of ailments. Kava was also used as a beverage; the natives of these islands used to mix the pounded kava roots with water and used them as rinks. Kava plants contain a compound called kavalactones. The anti-anxiety property of kava is primarily due to the presence of kavalactones. Base on the dosage of kava consumed by you the kavalactones present in the herb can  [...]

Interactive Light Therapy or ILT is an effective remedy for anxiety. Mostly this therapeutic procedure is used in combination with conventional medical treatment of anxiety. ILT helps in reducing the levels of anxiety occurring due to stresses or injuries. Before undergoing ILT, you must ask your doctor whether Interactive Light Therapy will be a safe option for you. Usually, ILT is recommended to individuals encountering emotional or physical trauma in the recent past and suffering from one or more psychological disorders triggered by the trauma. ILT is a therapeutic process designed based on a certain principle of entrainment. Entrainment can be defined as the process through which 2 different cycles start cycling cohesively (a situation much like when 2 pendulum clocks will sync up together). ILT works based on this principle and identify the suitable cycle for brainwaves of the patient suffering from anxiety. The patient must be aware of the reason behind the application of ILT;  [...]

Before knowing the answer to this question, let us first know what OCD actually is? OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder is basically an anxiety disorder variant. Individuals with OCD suffer from strong obsessions along with compulsions. According to medical theories, OCD occurs due to chemical imbalance in our brain. OCD cannot be cured completely and is mostly managed with a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and medications. This article will educate you about the effects of obsessive compulsive disorder on relationships. People with OCD suffer from extreme anxiety due to unwanted thoughts. They tend to be busy with compulsions for the maximum time of a day and majority of these patients feel embarrassed about the fact that they are having OCD. They are aware of the fact that the compulsions and obsessions they have  [...]

Severe anxiety characterizes acute stress disorder. It occurs after immediate exposure to a traumatic event, such as death or major accident. Individuals with acute stress disorder develop dissociative symptoms as a natural response to the trauma experienced. People afflicted with acute stress disorder show a decrease in psychological responsiveness. They find it increasingly difficult to obtain pleasure in previous activities that were considered enjoyable. Such individuals demonstrate a sense of guilt when it comes to the usual tasks of life. Individuals having acute stress disorder have trouble in concentrating. There may also be a sense of detachment from their bodies. Certain aspects of the world may seem unreal as in a dream. They may have trouble recalling exact details of the trauma. This is also known as dissociative amnesia. Individuals with acute stress disorder display one symptom from the clusters that classify

Almost all of us may have experienced at least one traumatic incident in our lives. Some people who have dealt with such events might eventually develop a disorder called PTSD, which stands for post-traumatic stress disorder. Hence, it becomes important to have adequate information on this disorder. What Is PTSD? It falls under the category of anxiety disorders, and is known to occur post a time of trauma or after the person has been at close quarters with a traumatic incident or event. PTSD Symptoms: For years now, there has been a lot of research that has been conducted on the symptoms of this condition. The symptoms are said to occur after the experience of a trauma filled event, and they get mention in the 4th edition of the ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’. These symptoms can be put into three different clusters – Re-experiencing the Symptoms: Frequently thinking  [...]

Trying to manage social anxiety disorder (SAD) can be difficult in general. It tends to get even tougher when you have to do it at work. If your health care provider recently diagnosed you with SAD, chances are that you’re going to be quite concerned about the impact it can have on your everyday life. An integral part of your everyday life is your life at your workplace. The good news about receiving this diagnosis and actually agreeing to undergo treatment is that this is the first step towards successful management of your symptoms of social anxiety disorder. There could be a number of other problems, however, that you might have to deal with at the workplace. Some of these problems would include having to deal with business related social events, networking ineffectively, lacking self confidence, or having difficulty when it comes to voicing  [...]

Agoraphobia, as a term, originates from Greek language. The word ‘agora’ means ‘an open space’ and phobia means ‘intense irrational fear’. As per the meaning of this phobia, you’d be able to gauge that agoraphobia is the irrational and intense fear of being in an open or public place. This definition, however, doesn’t encompass the whole spectrum of this disorder. The agoraphobic will associate fear with things that go beyond even being in open spaces. The feature which lies at the center of agoraphobia is that of intense fear (almost like a panic response) to the idea of being in a situation where you will not be able to readily escape; or where there is a threat of potential embarrassment. In such a situation, since help may not be readily available, it causes for fear in the agoraphobic. Such situations might include the types of travelling alone by a bus, train or car; or being in an elevator, or visiting the mall alone. What really happens in the case of this  [...]

Phobia: is a type of an anxiety disorder which is characterized by individual having irrational as well as excessive fearing from some object or particular situation. Almost some 10% of adults in their lives develop phobias because of: Any environmental causes Any personal experiences Evolutionary causes This psychological disorder involves Fearing from “harm”. Common symptoms which are common with all types of phobias: Feeling:  panic, fright, dread, horror Threat of danger Losing self control Rapid heartbeats Trembling with a desire to move away from the object or situation