1. Don't worry, be happy!

"Disease of the mind will need mental cure" the traditional Chinese saying still goes. Be bubbly always =)

I'd advise patients to seek help from counsellors before it eats into you. Diseases are not to be taken lightly!

Posted at 3:43PM on May 17th 2007 by Boon Kheng

2. Anxiety Producers: They Suck!
It took me less than 3 minutes to write this list of anxiety producers and they suck, as some kids would say in the language of today. You can think of some anxiety producers too. I want you to think of ways that these anxiety producers can be used to your advantage. How can stress, anxiety and panic be turned around to work for you instead of against you?Here is the list I jotted down. This is the working against you scenario.

Bills: Will I have enough money to pay everything this month?

Money: Did I make enough money to pay all the bills I have?

Illness: Am I getting ill from worry and missing work therefore losing money that I need to pay the bills?

Travel: Can I afford to travel to my new job that pays me more money so that I can pay the bills?

Kids: How will I be able to spend time with the kids if I am traveling to my better paying job?

Pregnancy: If I get pregnant will this effect my position in my new job?

Weather: When I am traveling in bad weather will I be able to get home each day to see the kids?

Pets: Who will look after the pets if we are traveling or I have to stay away from home for a few days?

Clothes: I will need new clothes for my new job and that will take money out of my budget to pay the bills.

Cars: I am traveling more because of my new job, my old car needs to be fixed and this costs money.

Relationships of all kinds: Now that there is so much stress, anxiety and panic, will my relationship survive? Does this remind you of the nursery rhyme about the cat that swallowed the mouse that swallowed the cheese and so on?Need I go on? You get the picture here.If we perceive a situation as stressful, feel anxious about it and that anxiousness becomes panic, the pattern of our lives can be sent on a roller coaster ride that is never ending. We have to find ways to eliminate the cycle or if left unchecked and left to its own devices these disorders can turn into depression or a combination of mental discordance.A good friend of mine is a Registered Practical Nurse and we got together to discuss what could be done to aid and stop the cycle of anxiety and its related disorders.

We came up with these suggestions to get everyone thinking about their own situations and in examining these situations we felt that was a good start to self-realization.

If you do not know the reasons why you feel or act the way you do, then it can be frustrating when you are looking for ways to help yourself or even telling a health professional how you are feeling.

Identify what your situation is by really being honest about the underlying feeling or situations that have occurred or are occurring now. Remember, that in many cases, you can tell yourself that the situation is only a memory and is not happening at this moment in time therefore it cannot hurt you.

Acknowledging that something has happened or is happening to you now is a good starting point to begin the recovery process.

Venting or talking to others perhaps in a group setting can help you by actually hearing yourself talk about the anxiety producers out loud. Hearing other people in the group helps you realize you are not alone in this healing process.

Do not expect to get a quick fix from the issues you have as they probably took some time to become ingrained in your subconscious mind.

We called the group setting a form of the buddy system. You may find a common thread with another person and pair up with each other. Making use of a friend who is going to a group for help just as you are can be beneficial to both parties as you become a sounding board for each other.

This also takes time because a sense of trust and familiarity has to develop. If you are in a group for anxiety it is often difficult to open up easily. If a connection is to be made it will be and you will know when and if it is in agreement with all concerned.

Family members make good buddies because you are related in blood and life. This gives you an advantage over developing a relationship with someone who has no idea of your history.

Buddy up with someone when you have to do or are about to be in an anxiety-producing situation. Gang up on the anxiety producers. An example might be when you go to the doctor’s office and perhaps there will be unsettling news about a test result or an upcoming surgical procedure.Having moral and physical support builds inner strength.

There is a saying that goes like this. You feel taller when someone is with you, you do not feel ground into the floor. The feelings of vulnerability are decreased therefore decreasing your anxiety, perhaps even eliminating it in this circumstance.

Identify the reasons for your anxiety. Be honest with your personal reasons . Remember, it may be a memory and cannot hurt you. Acknowledge, vent, hear, expect no quick fixes, do your emotional work, use the buddy system, build trust, use your family, gang up on anxiety, build strength, decrease and eliminate anxiety. Your recovery is waiting for you.

Send me your comments. I want to know what you really think.

Remember that anxiety producers can be found in all areas of life. Be prepared with your tool kit of information and anxiety will not stand a chance.

http://www.anxietyended.com/overcome

Posted at 10:04AM on May 18th 2007 by Lorraine Roach

3.




Anxiety Help: Humor And Laughing

Everyone has their own idea of what they consider funny. I believe that humor depends on the mood you are in. Sometimes what you think is funny today may cause you to be annoyed another day. Perhaps humor is a subjective thing that feeds off of people’s ability to relax and respond naturally.

I know that when you have a good belly laugh as it is called you forget everything temporarily. When you put your heart and sole into laughing at something it is good for anxiety, stress and depression. The endorphins released in the brain act on your mood. I personally have experienced this when watching a comedic movie. I really do not usually watch these types of movies but whenever I do I get the same reaction in my mood. I feel happier and cannot believe I am having such a good time.

How would a person who is suffering from anxiety and other traumatic issues even get to the point of watching a movie that was funny? Feeling anxious, panicky, depressed and stressed usually does not make you want to sit and watch something funny. Anxiety help comes in many forms,even if these forms seem too easy. Think of humor and laughing as a well kept secret in the fight against anxiety.

I would invite someone to join me for the movie at home on the television or I would offer to take him or her out to the theatre and pay his or her admission. Perhaps getting a group of friends together and going to a comedy club would be a suggestion. Just getting the person occupied and involved with something other than their problems would be a diversion and help give them some relief from their situation. Even if they did not laugh outwardly and you seemed to be dragging them along,

I feel that getting up and moving and being distracted can and has worked for me when I felt depressed.In other words I feel that humor is the best medicine and although it is not the total answer to all of life’s problems it does give us a safe way to escape temporarily the moments in life that we need help with.

If you look around you there is something funny going on at least once a day. Add humor to your other techniques when working on anxiety and panic.It takes repetition and a desire to change for something to become a habit. I have read that twenty-one days is the usual time for a change to occur when a person is motivated by emotion. Associate the behaviour you want to change with an emotion. This is a powerful tool to use in combination because these two things impress the change you want into your subconscious mind.

Put one funny joke, movie, story or recognize those situations that can come up unexpectedly in your daily routine.Maybe you will be the one who is providing the comic relief for someone else and providing anxiety help. They will forget the anxiety they have for a moment. Doing something for someone else is also a way to feel good about you. Laughing at and with yourself even when you are alone or in a crowd is a way of getting to know, care and value yourself. I know I was surprized at what I learned.

Comment on this and any blog I write. I am here for you. Looking forward to your ideas.

http://www.anxietyended.com/overcome

Posted at 10:06AM on May 18th 2007 by Lorraine Roach

4. Treatment For Depression And Anxiety: Get Help For Suicidal Thoughts


There are many reasons why a person can get to the point where they see suicide as their only option.For a particular friend of mine it was a series of life altering events that came one after another in quick succession.They tried to handle these events on their own and secretly because they did not want family, friends, neighbours and coworkers to know just how out of control their situation had become.Reaching out to get treatment for depression and anxiety is not easy for someone who is deeply ingrained in the effects of the depression. Somehow however I believe that even if we think we are hiding our problems they are evident to the outside world.It is our wish for privacy and the need to not ask for help as this might cause others to be inconvenienced can be reasons to not reach out when the problems take on a mushroom affect.How can people carry all the family, job, relationship, and perhaps financial responsibilities without eventually getting physically tired and emotionally drained.

The anxiety and stress combined with depression that arises as a result of this less than balanced lifestyle can break down the body and mind.

As we know the body and mind work together so if work is done on the mind the body will follow.

Getting help from doctors, friends, family, spiritually, medications and self-help programs are a way to come back from the depths of sadness, anxiety and suicide.

We can help people who are in a depressed state of mind by reaching out and recognizing the signs and symptoms that lead to suicide.

We must not be afraid to risk getting involved. We may get yelled at, told nothing is wrong or a number of other denial techniques people use as a defence mechanism when in an unbalanced place in their mind.

When our human needs are not being met and the stressors become out of balance it is time for intervention.

The emotional stressors come from a psychic origin but the reactions are real and manifest in a physical way.

I believe that we are searching to get those needs met and the biggest one is the need for unconditional love.

It has been explained to me from people who have thought of or tried to commit suicide that this need for love and acceptance has been at the core of the pain they felt inside and was like the root from which other problems stemmed. When you uncover the root causes ,you will be ready to receive the treatment for depression and anxiety. Being open to the possibilities of help is a step toward recovery.

Reach out to those around you if there is even a tiny bit of a feeling that someone is struggling or showing the signs of suicide.

You may think it is not your business to interfere but really it is not interference, it is acting knowledgeably and compassionately.

A statement by Helen Keller says, although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.

That statement gave me so much to think about and has already been a positive influence on my mind.

Perhaps it will put some of life’s situations into perspective for those who are now in a place of suffering and bring hope.

I am here to take any comments you have on this subject. Remember that you are not alone. There are so many people who are here to listen and do whatever is needed to be of service to those who are suffering with anxiety. At times I have been in some very depressing situations myself ,so I can relate when people talk about these issues.

Contact me with your comments. Please do not hesitate to say whatever is on your mind. We are here to help with information and support regarding the treatment for depression and anxiety.

http://www.anxietyended.com/overcome

Posted at 10:07AM on May 18th 2007 by Lorraine Roach

5. Stress And Anxiety: Motherhood
I am the mother of 6 children and the last “little chick” as I like to call them has now left home to make a nest for herself. I was basically a stay at home mom and I found that when I did things for myself and got out of the house for a few hours and just became Lorraine again instead of someone’s mom I could go back home and be energized for the next while.It made me a better listener and recharged my emotional batteries to spend a bit of time and a change of scenery away from the home. I was extremely busy with events, activities, daily living and parenting so I understand the words stress and anxiety when in relation to motherhood.

I always thought I should have a career like some of my friends. They always had money to do things and go on holidays as well as lots of new fashions and could pamper themselves with haircuts and pedicures etc.

There was some pressure from the outside world that staying home to look after children was not held in high regard. These things seemed important at times for me but I thought of ways to get creative and have some of these little personal luxuries too.

You have to think outside the box when you have 6 children and a husband. Stress and anxiety can go hand in hand with everyday life in a busy home.There is a lot going on in a house with that many personalities in it and it takes just as much thought and effort to keep everyone and everything running smoothly in the home as it does in the work place. We did certainly have our challenges but as in the career world you find ways to keep your “company” running successfully. I looked at my life when everyone left home and realized that I had been having a career all along. There was nothing I would have rather done. I see how wonderful, happy, intelligent and the nice people I helped to bring into society. The rest is now up to them, however I still am involved in their lives but now I have the freedom for myself too.

It is time for me to experience my own interests and now my children help and encourage me. The situation has turned around. They are my friends and when I think of all the stress and anxiety we went through I know it was worth it. Never give up on raising your children because it is a life long commitment in some form or another. If I had not worked at being a parent I do not think I would be looking at such a personal achievement.

Comments are welcome from mothers and any caregivers. Support is so very important when it comes to parenting. Someday we all will see our “chicks” leave the protection of the family nest and go out to build their own nests and pass on the knowledge and love we have given. Even when they leave us physically they never truely are gone. When the nest is finally empty, the stress and anxiety still go on because we are still involved in the lives of our children even when they leave the family unit. I am thankful for the fact that I will always have a part of them with me and I am sure you feel the same.

If you are feeling anxious,pick up a copy of this wonderful book and learn how to help yourself deal with stress and anxiety.

You can find the book at: http://www.anxietyended.com/overcome

Posted at 10:12AM on May 18th 2007 by Lorraine Roach

6. Anxiety and Stress: It Takes The Cake
When the communication has broken down between you and your spouse or partner, or anyone, I advise you to bake a cake.

You can literally bake the physical cake or have a special peace offering that you know the other person likes and would recognize as an icebreaker to further conversation.

Anxiety and stress between people can make you forget what is important in that relationship and if you wait too long to find your way back to them it gets difficult to reach out and you feel like it may be too late to get the relationship repaired.

Repaired is a good word to describe what needs to be done because emotions and the actions resulting from these emotions can cause damage to all involved.

Taking that step to reach out regardless of who began the lack of communication or what the circumstances were can make you feel scared, panic stricken, anxious and vulnerable.

I baked a cake once and ended up throwing it at the wall because I was so frustrated. This happened over 20 years ago and I can still see that cake flying across the room. I see the humor in it now but at the time my emotions and not knowing how to handle them made for many stressful events in a relationship I had.

I did not feel that I was in control of myself and I felt a lack of control in the relationship so I figured out that throwing the cake was an action resulting from other unresolved issues and not just about what was happening in the moment.

When all this was taking place I had lost my job due to an injury, I was having parenting challenges, there were financial issues and I found out that I was feeling the affects of low self-esteem.

These situations were under the surface of my understanding and I was not able to see the deeper issues I was suffering from.

The desire to understand and the need to get the feeling of self-control back into my life, led me on the journey for knowledge.

After talking to psychologists, a good friend who is a nurse and making positive changes in my life such as going back to work at a different job, meeting new friends and getting help with child rearing by taking some classes, I started to see and feel the changes in my mind and body.

Taking care of yourself and getting what you need is important in building a strong core for your mind. Having the inner fuel or gasoline to keep moving forward meets the needs to be fed mentally and physically.

Recognizing that perhaps you need help from outside sources, taking the help you get and using it for your own mental health is a positive step in self-help.

Anxiety and stress ignored can snowball into other issues that feed off of the weakened state of your mind. There are many organizations, books, programs, doctors or friends that can help when you are ready to recognize and accept the resources available.

Self-awareness is so important when you are on the road to recovery. Listen to the inner voice inside yourself and if it says lets make peace, bake a cake. You will know that you are ready to make changes that will benefit you and those around you.

There are no cake recipes in the book mentioned in the link below,however there is something much better for you. There is a way that will help eliminate anxiety so that the suffering you are going through can finally be thrown away.

I am interested in hearing how well you are doing. Send your comments along for me to read. I am thankful and want you to succeed. Do this for yourself because I know you do so much for everyone else.

http://www.anxietyended.com/overcome

Posted at 10:16AM on May 18th 2007 by Lorraine Roach

7. Panic Away: Getting The Anxiety Monkey Off Your Back
Are you denying yourself the freedom and enjoyment that every new anxiety-free day brings? You have only one life to live so you have to make every second count. Your happiness matters a lot.

Get your copy of Panic Away and learn the tips and technique that helped me get on with my life . You can do it too. All it takes is a small investment in yourself. You are worth it.

Let me know how you are doing with your journey to end anxiety.

Take a few minutes and drop me a comment or two.

http://www.anxietyended.com/recommends/panicaway

How long has it been since you felt the freedom to do whatever you want without experiencing any fears? You can get back your life. If you free yourself from panic or anxiety, almost every part of your life will be influenced dramatically.Don’t deny yourself the opportunity to enjoy your life. Why suffer when there is a cure waiting for you?You simply cannot allow panic attacks to be a part of your daily activities, interrupting whenever it pleases. You have to do something about it, right now.Just think about that anxiety monkey that is sitting on your back. That anxiety monkey has been the constant curse and companion of many panic, stress and depression sufferers for years.

Have you ever noticed one of the physical signs of a panic attack? I always thought that people having an attack would be flushed and feel overheated. I was right about that however each person and situation is different. I have also discovered that our skin can become pale during an attack as well.

This may seem like a small thing when you are in the throws of a full blown panic attack but for me it was a frightening sight to see when I was with my friend who had her first attack and I thought she was dying. The person experiencing the panic attack can feel like they are dying as this is one of the affects of panic but I was not the one in the situation and I felt helpless and confused because I did not know how to help her.A panic attack for her and anxiety for me. I can see how these attacks have a way of involving those around us too.After the initial shock of the event had lessened I was determined to have her read my copy of Panic Away.At first she did not want to even consider that what she had just been through was a panic attack but after I explained that I was a former sufferer and recognized the signs she exhibited, I wanted to help.When I had to go through so many years not knowing what was wrong with me and feeling powerless to stop it, I did not want my friend to have to live her life like I had been doing.

When she turned so pale that day of her first panic attack I remembered what led me to find help. Even though it has been eight months since my heart attack I know that panic, anxiety, stress and depression can be factors for the onset of heart problems.

We have to use the body’s internal energy to kick anxiety out of our system. A program like Panic Away is the long-term approach to solving panic and anxiety problems.

You can use the power of imagery or another word for it is visualization to defuse your fears and worries. In the Panic Away book I have learned to tell the difference between the truth and false perceptions of panic attacks as well as the causes and effects of these attacks.

Your emotions are involved in the causes as well as the cure for panic and anxiety attacks. Foods can trigger the onset as well. Eating the proper foods and following the food guides found at the health department offices or even get the information from schools. What goes into our mouths can be a simple factor in aiding us to recover. We can get that monkey off our backs before he gets any heavier or more attached to us.

There is a simple tapping procedure that brings immediate relief to panic sufferers. This was a definite help to me and I look on it as a new skill I have learned to help myself. Helping yourself and seeing results from the actions you have taken give you a real sense of power and control over your situations and the issues and events that come along.

Turn on your favorite music and just sit and listen to it, with or without the headphones. This tip works for me the best when I begin to feel stressed out. I have even gone into my car in the driveway to listen to my music loud. It depends on the individual what music to use, when to turn it on or what volume they want to use. Mix it up and do something different each time. We can customize our own methods from the knowledge we gain when we do our studies and homework to motivate us to end panic and anxiety. Taking a bath or exercising, as a diversionary tactic is just another simple thing we can do for ourselves.

There are many things right within our reach to aid in ridding ourselves of the anxiety monkey. Lets not feed him anymore. Get creative and do what gives you pleasure even if you have to tell others that you just need some time alone for a few minutes every day. Take control of the little things and it is amazing how good it feels to be regaining your life.

Remember to help yourself and pick up a copy of Panic Away. I know many people who are glad they did.

Remember to help yourself and pick up a copy of . I know many people who are glad they did.
http://www.anxietyended.com/recommends/panicaway

Posted at 10:24AM on May 18th 2007 by Lorraine Roach

8. Anxiety is the major “source” issue involved in most physical, emotional and mental health problems. Overcome your anxiety and your health will improve in mind body and heart.

We need new, safe, effective ways to reduce anxiety. Starting with the basics, people, MDs and researchers need to know the difference between real fear and anxiety.

If you confuse these two states you cannot overcome your anxiety and your test results will not be valid. For more read what Joe Wolpe, MD taught me 30 years ago. Click here http://www.drjeanette.com/anxiety.html

Posted at 2:06PM on Aug 22nd 2007 by Doris Jeanette, Psy.D.