Healthy
            Reflections Newsletter
               
                 
                   
 
 
 
 
Linda Young, Ph.D., LMFT
Publisher
(850) 656-1404
July 29, 2009
email: info@mentalhealthcorner.com
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Greetings!
 
 This past week, I've had conversations with at least three friends about the extent of anxiety they are currently experiencing.  As the recession drags on and we're left with many uncertainties in our lives, anxiety can be a manifestation of our current circumstances.  The following article describes some of the symptoms of anxiety as well as commonly recognized treatments for anxiety.  As always, I'd love to hear your feedback at info@mentalhealthcorner.com.
 
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Your Mental Health Nugget
 
Anxiety: Life With A Worried Face 
 
We all have experienced anxiety at one time or another. It can manifest as worry, nervousness, fear or concern. Anxiety can occur when we have to give a speech, go for a job interview, or go on that first date. Most of us manage anxious feelings without them causing a major disruption in our lives.  However, approximately 15% of the American population suffer from devastating and constant anxiety that severely affects their lives, sometimes resulting in living in highly confining ways.
 
For them, anxiety is a constant controlling factor in their lives. When an individual's anxiety is so pervasive that it begins to control his or her life, we refer to this problem as Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD.  An anxiety disorder affects a person's behavior, thoughts, feelings and physical sensations.
 
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is often accompanied by depression and is now the leading mental health concern facing Americans today. The predominant symptom for individuals suffering from GAD is their inability to stop worrying.  Instead of brief moments of intense anxiety, the person with generalized anxiety disorder feels symptoms throughout most of the day.  
 
 Although the pattern varies for each person, the most common symptoms include:
  • Increased blood pressure, which causes tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
  • Constriction of blood vessels in the arms and legs and dilation of the vessels surrounding the skeletal muscles
  • Reduced salivary secretions
  • Spasms in the esophagus, stomach and intestines
  • Hyperventilation or over-breathing, which lowers the level of carbon dioxide in the blood, with symptoms of air hunger, deep sighs and pins and needles sensations
  • Need for frequent urination
  • Tense muscles, which lead to involuntary trembling, tension headaches and other aches and pains
  • Feelings of apprehension, over-arousal and feeling on edge.

She or he may feel irritable and complain of poor concentration, insomnia or fatigue. Individuals with GAD usually are able to participate in daily life activities. However, they frequently do so with great effort. They often have difficulty shutting off their thoughts and are overcome with feelings of worry, dread, fatigue and a loss of interest in life. Recovery from generalized anxiety requires the proper treatment.

 The best treatment is based upon the individual's specific type of anxiety and his or her unique life factors. Length of treatment is based upon these unique life factors, with the time period ranging anywhere from a few weeks or months up to a year or more. Individuals with a condition such as depression or alcoholism in combination with an anxiety disorder typically require a more complicated, extended period of treatment.
 
While a treatment plan must be specifically designed for each individual, there are a number of standard approaches. Mental health professionals who specialize in treating anxiety most often use a combination of treatments.  Please remember there is no single correct approach.
 
Treatment may include: cognitive/behavioral therapy, relaxation training, biofeedback (including EEG neurofeedback) and medication. Cognitive/behavioral therapy explores the psychological and social stressors that may be contributing to the anxiety and how to make the behavioral changes to address the problem. Relaxation training and biofeedback are techniques to teach individuals ways to control bodily functions such as heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and even brain wave patterns in order to decrease anxiety and panic. EEG Neurofeedback has been found to be an effective, non-invasive  treatment for both generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks. Medication prescribed by a primary care physician or a psychiatrist is another method of treatment for both these conditions.  It usually involves taking medications such as anti-anxiety medications, beta blockers or benzodiazepines (sedatives).
 
 
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Quotes To Ponder:
 
Pessimist: One who, when he has the choice of two evils, chooses both. - Oscar Wilde, Irish Dramatist/Novelist/Poet
 
Learning never exhausts the mind. - Leonardo da Vinci, Italian Painter and Sculptor

Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. - Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor and Philosopher
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