How To Learn More About Your Anxiety And Stress By Keeping A Diary

Anxiety disorders along with stress and even depressive disorders are often difficult to understand, by keeping a daily diary you will be able to recognise when you are feeling more anxious or stressed than usual, be able to pinpoint the symptoms you are feeling and over time you will be able to recognise the stressful situations and triggers. By avoiding situations that trigger stress and anxiety whenever possible you will be able to minimise the amount of suffering you have to endure. There are of course situations which simply cannot be avoided and have to be faced and we have to deal with them in the best way we can, but by keeping these situations to a minimum we will reduce our anxiety and stress levels.

Here are some tips to help in planning and keeping an anxiety and stress diary:

Choose a diary with plenty of space for daily entries, preferably a day to a page in A5 or A4 format, you could also just use a notepad or writing pad and date the pages as you use them
It is very important to try and make an entry everyday, by being consistent you will get the best results from your efforts
Write down what happens in your day, whether it good or bad. You can list symptoms and how you were feeling at a certain place or in a certain situation. If you felt terrible and you panicked, write it down in detail, why you felt that way and what triggered or caused you to react in that way. Remember to also write down the good times during that day, it is important not to dwell only on the negative feelings you had. If you have felt bad all day just think back to one moment that maybe something made you smile for a few seconds or perhaps you received something nice in the mail. Write it down, there's usually something good you can include each day and it will help to balance out the negative entries.
When you have had your diary for 2 or 3 weeks you can begin to go back over it, study each day and each entry you have written. Write a separate list of triggers that appear time and time again, situations that regularly make you anxious or stressed. Keep this list and add to it weekly or monthly, you will soon begin to see a pattern emerging. After a period of maybe 6 months you should have a list of most of the stress inducing situations, you should know what symptoms to look out for and you will recognise your individual triggers or anxiety provoking conditions.

If you follow the above consistently you will then be able to use your findings to make a drastic reduction in your anxiety and stress levels. Avoid stress inducing situations as much as you possibly can you will then have more strength and mental coping skills to deal with the situations that are unavoidable in our everyday lives.

© Andrew Tudor Jones

Andrew Tudor Jones is the owner of http://www.anxietydepressionselfhelp.com/, a website dedicated to anyone who suffers from anxiety and depression.The website offers valuable information on these conditions as well as 2 e-books which can be downloaded for free and a Blog,updated on a regular basis with relevant information. You can connect with Andrew on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/selfhelpforanxietyanddepression.

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The Truth About Anxiety Medication - Why Your Doctors Advice Might Be Doing You Harm!

The first time your anxiety disorder fully reveals itself can be a terrifying and confusing experience. There you are, going through your everyday routine, when all of a sudden, without any rational reason or warning your anxiety levels go off the scale.

You've just had the first of what turns out to be a series of episodes, scary thoughts run through your mind, maybe there's something seriously wrong with you, maybe you have a problem with your heart, maybe this is a serious threat to your health!

You start to feel more and more anxiety about everyday things, afraid to go out, irrational fears stalking your every waking moment. You're scared and you feel like you're struggling to cope, so you book an appointment to see your local doctor for advice.

Your doctor listens to your story, asks a few questions, and conducts a physical examination to see if he can find any physical cause for the symptoms you are describing. Depending on your doctor's knowledge at this point he may recommend you to a specialist for further testing, or he may realize that there is nothing physically wrong with you.

Either way, the end result is often the same, you are reassured that everything is alright, but recognising how stressed and anxious you appear to be, the doctor makes out a prescription for some medication to help you relax.

The drugs that are given to you can sometimes help in the short term to relieve some of the symptoms that you are experiencing, but the relief you feel from this treatment can only be considered temporary.

It is not a way of curing your problem and giving you back your life to enjoy again. As soon as you stop taking the medication your problems will usually resurface and torment you.

Even more worrying is the fact that many of the drugs you are offered have harmful side effects, and can be very addictive.

There are a number of different drugs that are used when dealing with anxiety disorders. Probably the most common are the benzodiazepines. This class of drugs includes the well known Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin and Librium.

Benzodiazepines act fairly quickly, and produce a sedative effect. It can temporarily reduce the feeling of anxiety, but can also lead to side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and impaired thinking. Because it builds up in the body these side effects can become even more pronounced with prolonged use.

But the worst problem with the use of benzodiazepines, comes because of the need to continue using it in the long term to manage your condition. With symptoms returning upon stopping taking the drug, the risk is that your use may continue beyond the point at which you become addicted.

The withdrawal from bezodiazepines can be a harrowing experience, with insomnia, tremors, muscle spasms, gastric problems, depression and anxiety all common symptoms. Sometimes the effects can be worse, with depersonalization, derealization, hallucinations and psychosis. This experience can last for months.

Added to this will usually be the return of your anxiety condition, as the root cause of your problem has still not been identified and dealt with. The combination of withdrawal and full exposure to your anxiety disorder can be very difficult to cope with.

Long term use of benzodiazepines often leads to depression, and the escalating dosage required to overcome the effects of the tolerance that you develop to the drug can increase the risk of experiencing depressive symptoms which can also lead to suicidal thoughts and feelings.

A different type of medication often prescribed are anti-depressants. Commonly these are Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), of which the best known is Prozac. These have less harmful side effects than the benzodiazepines, but are also more limited in their effectiveness to treat anxiety disorders, and usually take over a month to start having an effect.

However the side effects do still exist, and use of SSRIs can mean having to live with fatigue, nausea, tremors, headaches, weight gain, decreased sex drive, insomnia, anxiety and diarrhea.

There is also the danger that, in some people, long term use of anti-depressants can actually cause an increase in depression and anxiety and consequently an increased risk of suicide.

While they are not as addictive as benzodiazepines, withdrawal from anti-depressants can be very tough. It is common for it to cause depression, and can also result in tremors, insomnia and nightmares, and of course the resumption of your anxiety disorder in full force.

Beta blockers are another type of medication that are sometimes used to help anxiety. These are more frequently used to treat people with heart and blood pressure problems. They are not FDA approved for use with anxiety disorders but can be prescribed because there are scientific reports that support their use.

While they can help to keep some of the physical symptoms under control, like trembling and sweating, they are not useful for dealing with the psychological aspects of anxiety disorders.

Consequently they are of very limited use, and mainly seem to offer help to those with social phobia and performance anxiety in dealing with specific situations, such as giving a speech or performing in a public venue.

They also have a number of adverse reactions associated with them, including nausea, hallucinations, diarrhoea, dizziness and fatigue. Commonly prescribed beta blockers include Inderal and Tenormin.

Medication can be of help to people with severe symptoms who are desperate for immediate relief, but it should only ever be viewed as a very short term aid. Ultimately you need to cure yourself of this condition if you want to live a happy and satisfying life in the future, and the drugs you are prescribed are unlikely to do that for you.

If you are currently taking drugs to deal with your anxiety problem, strongly consider speaking to your doctor about slowly withdrawing from them, and start looking for a permanent solution.

You don't have to continue to suffer, or accept a future in which you have to manage your condition. You can beat your anxiety disorder, but you will need to utilise a different treatment method because relying on medication may end up doing you a lot more harm in the long run than it does good.

You can find out more about finding the right treatment method for you in my free report here: Dealing With Anxiety.

Don't lose hope, you can get better. Learn more about How To Relieve Anxiety without medication by clicking the link.

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All About Anxiety Attack Symptoms

Anxiety attack symptoms are physiologically, psychological and emotional, and they often appear simultaneously although the suffer is not fully aware of the mechanism. Under the command of the mind, dominated by extreme fear, the body shows the so-called fight-or-flight reactions.

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

The heart beat accelerates so that more blood is pumped towards the extremities to support the need or urge to run. As a consequence of this blood 'drainage', the panic attack sufferer grows pale in the face.

Panting or difficulty breathing is often counted among anxiety attack symptoms as the body needs more oxygen to support the fight-or-flight situation.

Pounding temples and limb shaking are common.

Digestive upset with vomiting and diarrhea have been frequently reported. The body clears away the extra weight in the system in preparation of the flight.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

Intense, gripping fear dominates among other anxiety attack symptoms. The fear is not logically explained although there is usually a trigger or stressor that allows for the feeling to escalate.

The growing fear is accompanied by fear of going crazy or losing control.

The urge to run and escape becomes dominant, particularly since the person also feels the imminence of death.

Feeling unreal like in a dream, the panic attack sufferer could also experience a sort of depersonalization, like it's all happening to someone else.

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

Emotional panic attack symptoms are subtler and they usually reveal themselves to the sufferer when under therapeutic scrutiny, with the specialist trying to make the patient aware of the mechanisms that accompany the panic attack. Emotional triggers are often to blame for the panic attack, however, it is possible to anticipate and even prevent a feat of anxiety by recognizing the symptoms in advance and acting against them.

There is no way to enumerate all the anxiety attack symptoms in an exhaustive list, since reactions differ from individual to individual. While in some sufferers the attacks are violent and debilitating, in others they sometimes pass unrecognized, with only minor manifestations. The real problem with anxiety attacks is that once you have one, you start fearing the next and thus you are most likely to trigger it yourself.

Therapy usually focuses on breaking the vicious circle that fear generates in such a way that the patient becomes in control of the condition and eliminates panic from his/her life for ever. You don't have to live with panic attacks, you just need to learn what to do against them.

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Important Facts About Anxiety Panic Disorder

An anxiety panic disorder is characterized by the recurrence of severe panic attacks. The panic attacks are difficult to predict although there are anticipatory attacks triggered by the patient's worry about having another attack. The medical world has not reached a clear-cut conclusion on the anxiety panic disorder, in the sense that some differentiate between anxiety and panic disorder while others treat them together. Although debilitating, the condition is treatable and controllable. Panic attacks could be unexpected, situational or situationally predisposed.

The attacks specific to an anxiety panic problem can wax and wane over longer periods of time, sometimes hours, although the intense episode lasts about ten minutes. The common symptoms of the panic attack include:

- rapid heartbeat;
- shortness of breath;
- a feeling of imminent death;
- trembling;
- dizziness;
- sweating;
- chest pain;
- nausea;
- numbness;
- a sense of altered reality etc.

This list of symptoms is not by far exhaustive. The symptom that appears to be common to all people diagnosed with an anxiety panic problem is the necessity to escape from the situation provoking the attack. As for causes, so far doctors have not been able to determine what the more general causes might be. Genetic predisposition has been confirmed as in families with anxiety panic disorder history, inheritance proves decisive.

Life transitions, stressful events, physical illness and even medications can be found behind an anxiety panic disorder. Stimulants in excess, such as caffeine, could also trigger a panic attack. Sometimes precisely the drugs used to control the condition (like SSRI medication) can exacerbate the condition due to their stimulant side effects. This is also the reason why doctors don't always rush into prescribing drugs to a patient suffering from an anxiety panic disorder. Medication can keep severe symptoms under control, but therapy is a lot more effective at bringing health improvement.

Some researchers suspect a chemical imbalance in patients with panic anxiety disorder. Drug therapy with benzodiazepines seems to regulate the possible chemical imbalances behind a panic attack, keeping the condition in check.

Besides drugs, there is a huge number of therapeutic strategies and techniques that can be used successfully to improve the health condition of an anxiety panic disorder sufferer. The most qualified person to answer your questions on this is your therapist. As part of the counseling sessions, the therapist will discuss various methods meant to bring you in control of your body and mind when a panic attack is at your door. Don't hesitate to ask, and start working towards achieving health improvement goals right away!

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All About Anxiety Drugs

Anxiety drugs are used to eliminate the main symptoms of anxiety disorders, allowing the patient to cope with daily tasks as normally as possible. Medication does not solve the causes of the problem, they just represent a means for managing the condition. They should always be used in parallel with cognitive-behavioral therapy which is the one to lead to health improvement and full recovery. The main classes of anti anxiety drugs include benzodiazepines, azapirones and antidepressants.

BENZODIAZEPINES are also known as tranquilizers. They slow down the response of the central nervous system, and they thus reduce the intensity of the anxiety symptoms fast. Drugs like Xanax or Klonopin are prescribed to reduce phobic behavior and panic attacks, as well as to induce sleep in patients with insomnia. Although they are pretty safe, tranquilizers do have side effects such as confusion and memory problems. Clinicians are also concerned with the fact that for the long term use, patients develop tolerance to the drug. One half of patients also experience withdrawal symptoms when the medication is discontinued.

ANTIDEPRESSANTS represent the conventional type of anti anxiety drugs. They include categories like tricyclic antidepressants or TCA, MAOI medication and SSRI drugs. TCA drugs usually treat panic disorders effectively. They are administered once a day, and the dosage is increased progressively according to the clinician's recommendation. The side effects diminish if the drugs are taken before going to bed. TCA medication takes longer to show effects, which makes it inferior to benzodiazepines in terms of speed of action.

MAOI medication is widely used in the treatment of social phobia and panic disorders. These drugs have serious side effects, and they should never be taken lightly. There will be diet restrictions for people using MAOIs as well as some lifestyle changes at the doctor's recommendation.

SSRI antidepressants include anxiety drugs like Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil. Their side effects are less severe than those of TCA and MAOI drugs. SSRI are also more popular because they don't have as high a sedation rate as TCAs and they cause less weight gain.

With AZAPIRONES, there is just one medication available buspirone or BuSpar. As compared to other anxiety drugs, buspirnone seems highly efficient for generalized anxiety disorders. This medication acts more slowly in comparison with tranquilizers. Another major plus of buspirone is that it does not cause sedation, which makes it ideal for people who need to drive or who work with heavy machinery. Buspirone is also a good choice for people with a history of alcohol or substance abuse, who can't use benzodiazepines.

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What You Should Know About Anxiety Symptoms

There is a diversity of anxiety symptoms. Some of them are difficult to recognize particularly when they are mild. This explains why so many anxiety disorders go untreated for so long, until they become bothersome and interfere with the sufferer's normal activities. Over one hundred anxiety symptoms have been identified so far, and this great number finds an explanation in the unique chemical make up that defines every individual. While a person may have two or three anxiety symptoms, another one may face a real battle with numerous and severe manifestations.

Some Internet websites provide long lists of anxiety symptoms classified in such a way so that they make sense to the reader and throw light on one's condition. Needless to say that none of these lists can be exhaustive, due to the same individual uniqueness that we've mentioned above. The diagnosis for anxiety can only be given by a clinician, based on the patient's description of the symptoms. It is of paramount importance to give a detailed account of everything you feel so that the doctor may determine the kind of anxiety and recommend a form of treatment.

Drugs are often prescribed as a way of keeping anxiety symptoms under control. When these symptoms interfere with the individual's day-to-day existence, jeopardizing family life, work and the totality of one's living, something needs to be done fast. Tranquilizers usually bring immediate anxiety symptoms relief, but specialists are reluctant when it comes to prescribing drugs without trying other therapeutic strategies. Only in the severest of forms are drugs the best solution, although medication is not a cure for anxiety and panic disorders.

Therapy is the only kind of treatment that can get the patient rid of medication and allow the anxiety sufferer to lead a normal, balanced life. It's a long way to achieving the set objectives, but step by step, cognitive-behavioral therapy gives the anxiety patient the tools to fight anxiety, panic attacks, phobias and all the negative thoughts that encourage them. Individual counseling, group therapy as well as self-help strategies can beat anxiety symptoms by increasing the individual's awareness together with the capacity of self analysis or introspection.

Consequently, treating the anxiety symptoms with medication is just the first step of a much more complex approach to this mental health problem. Fortunately the sciences dedicated to the study and recovery from mental health ailments have made incredible progress with research and clinical experience, allowing for the rehabilitation of thousands of anxiety sufferers.

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Top 4 Natural Remedies for Anxiety - What You Need to Know About Them

The hectic life which we are leading today has brought about a crisis of chronic anxiety. According to professionals, more than 50% of the population are affiliated with intermittent fits of devastating anxiety symptoms. Doctors endeavour to cure these medical conditions with medications. However, most of these anti-anxiety drugs will result in adverse complications as well as withdrawal symptoms. Luckily for us, there is another way to treat anxiety, and that is using natural remedies for anxiety. Natural remedies for anxiety can help to soothe the innate chaos and regain balance back to life.

Despite the fact that numerous experts argued against the belief that anxiety is being deemed as a "disorder", most people concurs that handling a chronic anxiety predicament can greatly lowers our capability to perform efficiently in the world. It can also have adverse effect on the body's immune system

Some of the most prevalent signs and symptoms of anxiety are irritability, constant worrying, insomnia, often overwhelmed with panic, teeth grinding, chest tightness, heart palpitations, short breathing and discomfort in the stomach. I would like to highlight in here that, there are just a few of the more prevalent signs and symptoms well of anxiety. There are easily thousands of signs and symptoms of anxiety. This is primarily because every person goes through anxiety in a distinct way.

The most popular method of treating anxiety problems in North America is the administration of medications. However, natural remedies for anxiety are proven to be much more productive and it is also better than conventional medications as natural remedies for anxiety do not lead to adverse effect on the body or bring about withdrawal symptoms. Below are some of the herbs and natural remedies for anxiety which are proven to be able to reduce, or in some circumstances, get rid of anxiety totally.

Passionflower

Passionflower is yet another promising herb being used to cure serious anxiety. A medically controlled comparative study was being made to compare the effectiveness of passion flower to Oxazepam in 36 persons exhibiting general anxiety symptoms. Even though the test outcome indicated that Oxezepam is more effective in alleviating anxiety faster, Passionflower was discovered to be similarly powerful over a time span of four weeks. Passion flower users also did not exhibit any adverse damaging side effects or any withdrawal signs and symptoms.

Kava

Kava - a natural herb which is being used as one of the natural remedies for anxiety, are being used for many years in Europe. This organic cure towards anxiety has been studied in numerous university sponsored tests in Europe, and the results of the studies demonstrate that it is indeed very productive in managing anxiety. But, due to the lately problems about how the Kava can affect the liver, the herb is now less frequently utilized in Europe. However, you can still find this herb in the United States which is usually given to anxiety patients in lower dosages.

Melatonin

Melatonin health supplements have been analyzed substantially for their innate capability to induce a good sleep. Melatonin has been the main topic of anxiety studies in the last few years. There was one study which demonstrated that melatonin is as powerful as anti-anxiety prescription drugs in alleviating stress pre-surgery stress in women. Minor researches also exhibit identical results for both men and women.

Skullcap.

Skullcap - a natural herb which is also one of the natural remedies for anxiety has been traditionally used for many years. While little research is being conducted on its usefulness, one double-blind placebo controlled research demonstrated that skullcap is extremely powerful in decreasing anxiety levels.

Besides these herbs which I mentioned together with other type of natural remedies for anxiety, there are also other alternative approaches to treat anxiety such as aromatherapy, relaxation treatments, meditation, guided visualization, biofeedback as well as acupuncture. Sadly, a majority of these options to treat anxiety have not been studied in depth. Hence, it is an uphill task to evaluate precisely how efficient any specific treatment can be. Nonetheless, there are historical proof which shows that relaxation treatment as well as guided visualization and substantially enhance both chronic anxiety and panic attacks. These other options to treat anxiety may prove to be a promising treatment to anxiety, when blended with other natural remedies for anxiety.

Is anxiety causing a serious complication in your life? Find out the killer methods in which many anxiety stricken patients are using to deal with anxiety. Discover the secrets in dealing with anxiety and lead a normal life once again.

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Surprising News About Anxiety Supplements

It is no secret that many of the pharmaceuticals that are used in the treatment of anxiety work just fine. But, it is also no secret that many of these have side-effects such as headache, sexual dysfunction, and nausea. Many of those who suffer from anxiety would prefer a more natural remedy that does not involve dangerous or annoying side-effects. Here are some natural options to consider:

The fatty acids known as Omega 3 occur naturally in some types of fish, salmon being just one example. The Omega 3 fatty acids are also found in some types of foods. These acids have been clinical proven to help in the treatments of depression as well as anxiety. They have also been shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol as well as contributing to a healthy heart.

Amino acids are also known to be a good treatment option for those suffering from anxiety issues. Amino acids, in general, work as neurotransmitters. They are known to decrease the stimulation that occurs in the brain which, in turn, reduces anxiety. Several of the more popular drug treatments for anxiety, benzodiazepene medications for example, are based on amino acids. For anxiety, the essential amino acids include:

Gamma-Aminobutyric acid, more commonly known as GABA, works with neurotransmitters in such a way that it inhibits various activities within the brain which lowers anxiety levels. GABA is often taken as an anxiety supplement.

Another amino acid is L-glycine. It is provides a calming effect within the CNS, (central nervous system) much the same as GABA. It has also been shown to inhibit the release of certain known stress hormones within the human brain.

The amino acid L-theanine helps to activate alpha waves within the brain. This helps to increase relaxation and overall alertness. This amino acid is found in various types of green tea.

L-glutamine reduces feelings of stress and helps regulate blood sugar levels (a dip in blood sugar levels can cause anxiety). It also creates a feeling of alertness by reducing the build up of ammonia in the brain.

For treatment of anxiety, L-tryptophan can play an important role. This amino acid helps in the production of serotonin which is an important neurotransmitter within the human brain for regulating mood. A lack of L-tryptophan will lead to a lack of serotonin. Several of the antidepressant drugs do their work by maintaining serotonin within the brain synapses longer, thusly allowing it more time to work. This added time helps to bring about a better, more positive, mood which, in turn, reduces anxiety symptoms.

In addition, 5-HTP (5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan) also works in the process of producing serotonin. It is a proven mood regulator for those who suffer from anxiety.

Anxiety sufferers can also benefit from vitamins and minerals. The vitamins B and C, as well as the minerals calcium and magnesium are thought to very effective in helping to reduce anxiety symptoms when they are taken as anxiety supplements. All of these are key elements for improved neurotransmssions. They work to help decrease the stress hormones found within the brain. It is important to ensure that anxiety sufferers get enough of these important vitamins and minerals either in their diet or as added supplements.

Want to learn more about anxiety supplements? Click here to visit Anxiety Panic Solutions and learn more about herbal anxiety remedies.

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Individual Psychotherapy - How It Can Help You Overcome Anxiety About Risk Taking

Individual psychotherapy can help people overcome fear of taking risks in life. To obtain important goals in life, individuals must take calculated risks. However, many people focus on failing to reach the goals they want, or they are afraid of the unknown consequences of failing. People are not sure of their own abilities, or afraid of not succeeding in the attempt. People often imagine irrational consequences of failing which frighten them.

It is very important to take rational and calculated risks to obtain goals. Otherwise, people do not progress and enrich their lives. People may have the abilities and talents to do many things in life and achieve spectacular goals, but only the rare person does not have to struggle and risk to achieve his or her goals.

Often, people seek the help of an individual psychotherapist. These trained professionals have the skill to listen in an unbiased manner and give advice and support to people to allow them to take risks. Fear and anxiety often prevent people from taking needed risks. An individual psychotherapist can help in a number of ways.

First, the psychotherapist provides guidance and counseling to help people identify their goals. The support of a psychotherapist helps people articulate and identify their goals, and imagine how they would feel once they attain these goals. For example, if a person is in a relationship they may identify that they want to attain the goal of making a commitment to their partner.

After identifying the goal, the individual psychotherapist can help people recognize the obstacles that need to be overcome to attain the goal. With regards to the above example, people may have a deep-seated anxiety about commitment based on their prior experiences in life. The anxiety may form a strong psychological obstacle preventing people from taking the risk to commit to another.

Through psychotherapy, people can determine and learn specific methods to allow them to conquer these obstacles. For example, the psychotherapist can help the above person with specific cognitive strategies to overcome the barrier preventing them from taking the risk of commitment.

An experienced, professional individual psychotherapist will allow people to recognize fears and anxieties that block them from attaining a goal. The psychotherapist can provide a supportive environment to learn specific cognitive strategies people can use to overcome their anxiety over risk taking. A major benefit of seeing a trained psychotherapist is that they can use their experience to provide effective techniques to overcome the problem in an unbiased and emotionally supportive manner.

Patricia H. Hecht, MFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over twenty years of experience treating individuals, families, and couples, she provides unbiased help and support to overcome many common life problems. To learn more about her and schedule an appointment, visit her website at http://www.hechtfamilytherapy.com/.

Copyright Patricia H. Hecht, MFT - All rights reserved.

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What You Need to Know About Teenage Anxiety

Today's teenager is under more stress than ever before. These stress events come in a variety of forms from school to peer pressure and many others. One response to these stressors is anxiety. When anxiety becomes an issue, parents must act.

We all know that it is not uncommon for teenagers to have issues as they grow and learn. This is normal. For some teens, however, their level of anxiety becomes more than average and can affect their daily life. For these teens, they may encounter trouble with their school work; they may have problems making or keeping relationships; and they may avoid social events and activities.

Many of these teens will feel as if they have to be perfect in all areas of their lives. This can lead disappointment as no one is perfect. It can also be a root cause for avoiding certain tasks or activities.

It is important that parents monitor their teenaged children for any of the symptoms that come about with severe anxiety disorders. Teens are at a special time in their lives and their psychological development is just now beginning to form into what they will carry into adulthood.

Parents already know that teens are often less than open with it comes to expressing their feelings or fears. They may not come to the parent when they feel anxious, thinking it a form of weakness. For this reason, parents must be on the lookout for the symptoms of anxiety disorders.

Some of the things to look for include being overly irritable for no apparent reason; trouble sleeping or waking up a lot during the night; problems at school; unexpected mood swings; and depression.

Parents should also be on the lookout for drug or alcohol use as these are often used by anxious teens as a form of self-medication. Use of these substances should always be considered a symptom of anxiety until it is proven to be otherwise. To make matters worse, the use of these substances will actually increase the symptoms of anxiety, thus causing the teen to use them more often or at higher levels.

If you feel your teen is suffering from anxiety above that which is normal, sit down and talk with him or her. Encourage the child to express his feelings, no matter what those feelings are. Do not be judgmental as this may cause the teen to shut down. Let your child know that you care and that as a family you will find treatment options that will work!

Want to learn more about teenage anxiety? Click here to visit Anxiety Panic Solutions and learn more about how to beat anxiety.

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