Archives for December 2013

The holidays are supposed to be a fun and merry time, but it doesn’t always turn out that way. The holidays can be stressful for many people. There are presents to buy, gifts to wrap, family events to attend and much office work to do on a shortened schedule. The holidays are also difficult for those coping with financial worries and loss of loved ones during the year.

If you’re feeling stressed and blue instead of merry and bright, you might wonder how to get through this difficult time. One important thing to remember is that stress is the body’s natural reaction to what it perceives as threats. This can range from truly dangerous situations to issues such as rushing to accomplish a long to-do-list or feeling apprehensive about family gatherings during the holidays. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the symptoms of stress include sleeplessness, headaches, weight fluctuations, an upset stomach and back pain. People who are under stress report feeling angry, irritable, depressed and unable to focus. It can ruin the holidays. Here are three tips to help you reduce stress and feel more joyful as you deck the halls.

1. Set a schedule. Make a prioritized list of things to do. Put the most important items at the top, and allow yourself time to get them done. Give yourself permission to leave some things off of your list. Don’t worry about them. Focus on your accomplishments instead.
2. Do something different. If spending two days with certain family members makes you feel anxious, consider what would happen if you made a change. Go beyond your initial reaction that the world may come to an end. Weigh the pros and cons, and find a solution that suits you without making you stressed. For example, don’t spend the night at your parents’ house if it causes you unhappiness. Drop by for dinner only, and enjoy the brief time that you do spend together.
3. Stick to your budget. You may want to show your affection and appreciation for friends and family by buying gifts for them during the holidays. Think of simple, inexpensive and creative ways to let loved ones know you care without overspending. Going over your budget may lead to stressful situations that take the joy out of giving. Perhaps you can babysit your sister’s children on a weekend night of her choice instead of buying her a new outfit that you can’t afford.

If you are feeling stressed, you may wish to talk with someone about how to cope with unpleasant feelings during the holidays and throughout the year. Click here to learn how an experienced clinical New York City psychologist can help assess your situation.

You’ve just left the doctor with a clean bill of health, but suddenly something’s wrong. Your heart is racing, your head is spinning, your chest is aching, and you’re certain you’re going to die.

Don’t worry. What you’re having is a panic attack, and in this, you’re far from alone.

That’s right. While it may feel as though fate has singled you out, you’re actually in good company. An estimated 60 million Americans have experienced some of the following panic attack symptoms at least once in their lives. That’s about one out of every five people you’ll pass on the street each day.

Emotional Distress
Nearly everyone in the midst of a full-blown attack feels a sense of danger or impending doom. Some believe they must be dying or, worse, going insane. This normally triggers a desperate desire for immediate escape. Losing control would be too embarrassing. What would people think?

Panic Attack or Heart-Attack City?
Thanks to the rapid heart rate and chest pains that often accompany a panic attack, many sufferers firmly believe they’re about to die on the spot. The accompanying hyperventilation, elevated pulse rate and shortness of breath only add to that conviction. Again, the need to beat a hasty retreat seems paramount. No one wants to drop dead in the middle of a crowd.

Changes in Body Temperature
During an attack, you might sweat uncontrollably or flush with hot flashes. The opposite could also be true, with chills and trembling ruling the day. Whichever it happens to be, the symptoms can be as frightening as they are uncomfortable and only add to the expectation that death or something worse is surely imminent.

Gastrointestinal Problems
During a panic attack, the digestion can often go haywire. A tightness in the throat can lead to difficulty swallowing, and nausea or abdominal cramps could have you running toward the exits in a hurry.

Fear of Falling
As if the other symptoms weren’t bad enough, a feeling of faintness, dizziness or even vertigo can have the sufferer clutching the nearest wall, lamppost or human for support: this, on top of everything else. What could be going wrong?

What Panic Attacks are Not
Although panic attack symptoms can closely mimic those of many diseases, a medical exam will normally produce a clean bill of health. During a panic attack, you are not dying, nor are you likely to float away or lose your mind completely. It only feels that way, and the feeling won’t last forever.

In fact, relief could be closer than you think. Many sufferers credit cognitive behavioral therapy with putting an end to these debilitating symptoms. A visit to http://comprehendthemind.com/panic-attack-treatment/ will show you how it could do the same for you. Take the time to check it out, for as you surely already know, a panic-free life could be priceless.

A lot of media attention has been placed on bipolar disorder in recent years, and this has caused it to become a buzzword that is often utilized incorrectly. For example, many people have been inaccurately accused of being bipolar by their significant other for exhibiting behavior that their partner deems to be emotionally or mentally unsavory. However, this does not diminish the fact that 5.7 million Americans are currently battling this medical condition, and it is also important to note that the U.S. has a much higher percentage of cases than most other countries.

What are the Most Common Bipolar Symptoms?

There are multiple different types of bipolar disorder, and this can be confusing to people who are attempting to figure out whether they actually have a mental illness. Fortunately, there are a few common bipolar symptoms that can help you determine whether you need to talk to a psychiatrist or simply take a relaxing vacation. When considering these symptoms, it is vital to be aware that bipolar patients will experience them in cycles that alternate between highs and lows.

• Poor concentration
• Over sleeping or insomnia
• Extremely low or inflated self-esteem
• Very low or high energy levels
• Racing thoughts
• Impulsiveness
• Lack of interest in typical activities
• Helplessness
• Suicidal thoughts

If you have any combination of these issues, it is a good idea to seek medical attention. Otherwise, you are most likely simply dealing with the normal level of stress that can be caused by everyday life.

For people who suffer from panic disorder, lions and tigers and bears have nothing on the local shopping mall. When anxiety strikes from out of the blue, the most innocuous locations can trigger paroxysms of terror. What causes these attacks, and why don’t they happen to everyone?

What Are Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks often appear as part of a generalized anxiety disorder. Sufferers can become dizzy, short of breath and engulfed by a pronounced feeling of dread. Their heartbeats accelerate. A fear of losing control or dying on the spot consumes them. These symptoms can persist for 10 minutes or more, and as they increase in intensity, the person will experience a desperate need to escape.

Who Suffers From Panic Attacks?
While at least one in five American adults will suffer the occasional random attack, as many as 2 percent will experience full-blown panic disorder. The condition is twice as common in women as in men, and children are far from immune.

Regardless of the sufferer’s age, an initial panic attack can generate a phobia about the situation in which it originally occurred. As the attacks increase in severity and frequency, the victim may begin to avoid any situations and locations that he fears will trigger another. At this point, the condition can morph into agoraphobia, and the individual will frequently refuse to leave home at all.

Causes and Risk Factors
Causes of panic disorder will vary. Some research points to nutritional deficiencies, medical conditions and sensitivity to certain medications or food additives as potential instigators. Social stress, irrational fears and biological triggers can all play a part. However, although the condition also tends to run in families, not all cases have a genetic basis.

Effective Treatment of Panic Disorder
Although natural remedies for the condition are making the rounds, many question the safety and efficacy of unregulated over-the-counter supplements. In addition, prescription medications pose a possibility of serious side effects, potential for addiction and questionable effectiveness that should make their use a means of last resort.

Psychotherapeutic Treatment
Modern research currently highlights the importance of psychological therapy as an effective panic attack treatment. In many cases, nothing more is needed.

Cognitive behavioral therapy in particular will help the sufferer identify and directly address the irrational thought patterns and actions that lead to and reinforce panic attacks. Targeted relaxation techniques and gradual exposure to the situations that produce anxiety can prevent or decrease its intensity. The therapy can also assist the sufferer in thwarting the onset of a panic attack and putting the brakes on one that has already started.

Prognosis
The diagnosis of panic disorder need not be a life sentence. It is true that an untreated case can persist for years, but with prompt and proper therapy, the odds of a timely return to a normal life are excellent.