Anxiety Attack Relief

Approximately 40 million adults in the U.S. are subject to anxiety disorders each year. Anxiety disorders, which are twice as common in women than men, are generally characterized by heightened anxiety, or sudden stress and the inability to function normally under situations that generally should not cause panic. The health cost burden for anxiety disorders costs more than 42 billion annually. Finding ways to cope with these disorders that involve lifestyle changes, behavioral modification and nutritional aids may help in relieving the need for psychotropic drugs or hospitalization.

Anxiety Attack Symptoms

• Anxiety disorders may appear differently in each person, although persistent or irrational fear, worry and distress are often present during most panic attacks. Symptoms such as shortness or breath, tremors, heart palpitations or chest pain, trouble concentrating, feeling tense or jittery and extreme dread or apprehension are often present during an episode. In addition, you may experience stomach upsets, perspiration, irritability, headaches or insomnia due to continual worry over a situation or remembered event.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), is usually characterized by constant worry or distress over normal day-to-day activities or events and interfere with your ability to function comfortably in your lifestyle. Obsessive/compulsive disorder (OCD) finds the sufferer unable to control certain impulses, thoughts and behaviors that are often irrational but nearly impossible to overcome. Excessive handwashing or compulsively repeating an action a number of times is often a characteristic of this disorder.

  Panic disorders are most often found in those attacked with sudden and extreme bouts of unexpected fear and stress over everyday situations. It is sometimes accompanied by the fear of confined spaces (agoraphobia). Phobia disorders are a common type of anxiety disorder, and pertain to an irrational fear of situations or things that normally are not considered dangerous. Other types of anxiety disorders are social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Relaxation and Exercise

• A stressful lifestyle may be contributing to an anxiety disorder, so examining what activities you can cut down on or avoid that add to your worry load is helpful. Deep breathing exercises, meditation, muscle relaxation and positive visualization exercises may help aid those suffering from stress disorders. Physical exercise is also a natural combatant for stress, so incorporating it daily into your routine may help alleviate a build up of stress.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• One of the most common therapies for anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This therapy has been found to be one of the most effective for treating anxiety disorders because it focuses on negative patterns and distortions found in the viewpoint of the patient, their surroundings and others. This two-fold therapy involves a cognitive approach (dealing with negative thoughts and cognitions) and a behavioral approach (examining trigger points and reactions to situations that cause stress, and introducing them in a safe and repeated manner). By focusing on changing the perspective of the sufferer on thoughts and situations, this therapy often has the quickest results for those suffering from anxiety disorders.

Herbal Remedies

• A number of herbal remedies may help aid in relieving stress including gotu kola, an herb used for many years in Indian medicine for stress reduction and immunity, Siberian ginseng, which may help increase stamina and the ability to cope in stressful situations and wild yam, best known for its hormonal properties, but also a natural muscle relaxer. Valarian root, hops and passion flower are also known for their calming properties.