Anxiety Relief: Important Information for You
Stress is something that we all must deal with and some of us deal with it better than others. Unfortunately, there are some who feel the panic that is indicative of anxiety disorder with such ferocity that it causes a serious and detrimental issue in their lives. There are many avenues of anxiety relief and thankfully most panic sufferers respond well enough to treatments that their lives are manageable and they are able to function in a mostly normal manner.
Once the diagnosis has been established a clear game plan can be formulated to combat the anxiety that stress can bring forth. Anxiety relief exists on three levels, long term therapies that work on a continual basis, short term rescue methods that head off impending attacks and lifestyle changes that attempt to keep our bodies in homeostasis as much as possible.
The Long Haul
Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft are the few anxiety relief treatments. They are antidepressants under the group termed as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and their purpose is to disable receptors in the brain that absorb serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that enhances one’s mood. When used as treatment, they can help to provide a steady level of relief. The effects are usually felt in the span of a month.
SSRI’s mix well with other medications and are not addictive but patients should be weaned off gradually to allow the brain to recondition itself. SSRI’s are usually taken for periods of time up to a year and are discontinued once the depressive period wanes, but some will be forced to take them their entire life.
Psychotherapy is an effective technique that helps the panic stricken to cope with feelings and emotions through cognitive thinking and behaviour modifications. These modifications are generally adopted for a lifetime and are routines and exercises to help cope with stressful situations.
Short term, or rescue relief, is confined to medications in the benzodiazepine class that are generally termed “tranquilizers” and are reserved as a stop gap measure when the sufferer feels that the current situation has the possibility of triggering an attack.
They are marketed under the names Xanax, Valium and Ativan, among others and are the most prescribed anxiety relief medication. They work within an hour of being ingested and have an immediate calming effect. They are intended for use in unusually stressful situations and not for the tensions of everyday life.
Relaxation Techniques
A common method used by victims of anxiety attacks to relieve anxiety is to divert his thoughts from the stressful situations onto something else. Try to think of a positive image or non-threatening situation that will help calm you down. Imagine you are somewhere else such as the beach or a quiet place. Zone out all the mental interferences in your head for five minutes. This relaxation technique has proven to be effective for most people dealing with stress.
Teas that are made with St John’s Wort or Chamomile leaves have been used as herbal remedies to help bring about a calm state of mind. Many other herbs are found to have the same effects as well. The best treatment plan is one that takes into account the various alternatives that help one get on his road to recovery.
Click here to become elightened about how you can overcome your anxiety and panic attacks for good, starting today. You will soon discover that anxiety relief is just down the road and waiting for you to embrace it.
