Anxiety is the most frequently occurring mental health disorder in the United States, according to the US Surgeon General. There are millions of people who are diagnosed with it every year. A small amount of anxiety helps to get us going, but when it becomes more severe, it can be overwhelming. If you start feeling like it's more than it should be, you may want to visit a doctor for a clinical diagnosis. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has estimated that 19 million Americans aged 18 to 54 suffer from anxiety disorder every year.
Fear is generally the basis for anxiety disorders. All of us have felt its tingle before we do something that makes us nervous, such as making a public speech or going out on a first date. When that feeling becomes more constant and starts to invade our daily lives, then it has become a disorder and it's time to get some help.
One of the best known forms of anxiety disorders is a Panic attack. During a Panic attach, the person is suffering from a panic attack experiences a racing heart with pain, or a heaviness in the chest with shortness of breath. Generalized anxiety disorder is another common form, characterized by a persistent and excessive worrying which occurs longer than six months and is accompanied by symptoms like insomnia, muscle tension, poor concentration, and irritability. Those suffering from general anxiety usually don't experience panic attacks, but it can still be incapacitating. The endless anxiety reduces energy, causes disinterest in life and frequent mood swings. Other forms of anxiety disorders include social anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorders.
Anxiety disorder can be complicated to treat; the functions of the brain simply aren't fully understood. Medical researchers don't understand why some people's imbedded fear response goes into overdrive. There are at least five different neurotransmitters that seem to be disturbed in various anxiety disorders, and all of them can be treated by anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications.
Thankfully there are a number of options for treating and even curing anxiety disorders. Western medicine relies on medications and psychotherapy. Some people see two practitioners: a psychologist to counsel with, and a psychiatrist for prescription medication. This combination of treatments can be quite effective. Tranquilizers from the class called "benzodiazepines" are often prescribed and often work quite well. Some of these brand names are Xanax, Valium, and Ativan and they help those suffering from panic and anxiety. Most of these aren't to be used for the long-term. Anti-depressants have proven more effective for those with acute anxiety disorders. The best ones seem to be the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) s. Some of these are Celexa, Zoloft, Prozac, and Paxil.
There are a number of alternative medicines being practiced today and some people prefer not to take pharmaceuticals. If you are in this category it may take trial and error as well as time and patience to find relief. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is an approach that zeroes in on the thought processes that cause us to worry. Its goal is to help separate realistic thoughts from those that are overblown. Some other things to try are relaxation training, desensitization, breathing, meditating, acupuncture, homeopathy, and biofeedback. Massage therapy, chiropractics, and just walking can also be of help.
Nansia Ressi is the manager of Pharmacy Lane, LLP - a guide to pharmaceutical resources on the internet. To read more of Nansia's work, please visit: http://www.pharmacylane.com

When a health care professional uses lab coats it conveys... Read More
"If you're one the nine out of ten adults in... Read More
When you're in need, the quickest way is the best:... Read More
Lunesta may be the only sleeping pill that is FDA... Read More
One of the least appreciated cost-savers in medical treatment is... Read More
Addictions come in many forms. It's important to recognize the... Read More
Step One: The Big DecisionOne of the most frustrating things... Read More
Paxil went on the market in 1992 at the height... Read More
The unfortunate truth about medical errors is that they plague... Read More
For well over a century modern science has progressed at... Read More
When was the last time you enjoyed a good night's... Read More
America's war on drugs, which has been fought in the... Read More
What an oxymoron the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has... Read More
Things are moving forward and new and advanced procedures are... Read More
When was the last time you enjoyed a good night's... Read More
I think this is a good time for a checkup,... Read More
How many of us have taken aspirin or a similar... Read More
=====KNOW YOUR ARTHRITIS=====Arthritis is referred to as the nation?s number... Read More
There's a whole group of drugs out there called benzodiazepines.They... Read More
Naturopathic Medicine is an holistic approach that relies on natural... Read More
"It's a chemical imbalance." I've heard those words so many... Read More
While there are numerous options for people to lower cholesterol... Read More
Acid reflux symptoms vary in degrees of discomfort, from person... Read More
Quality, dependable Medical Equipment is an important component of every... Read More
Looking for the best doctor to suite your medical needs... Read More
Would you buy groceries without knowing their prices? I suspect... Read More
What is the role of steroid injection in carpal tunnel... Read More
Serevent is an asthma inhalation medication, a bronchodilator, that relaxes... Read More
The U.S. government's annual bill for healthcare spending ? $3,925... Read More
(NC)-In most cases insect bites are harmless and if left... Read More
The NBC National News, quoted the Washington Post in March... Read More
Medical Care:Treatment options depend on the stage of ingrown toenails,... Read More
Don't laugh. Both get a lot of coverage in the... Read More
No person likes to feel housebound and dependent on others.... Read More
You might disagree, but hear me out on this...The drug... Read More
Many natural changes in fingers and toenails come with age.... Read More
Naproxen belongs to a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory... Read More
NAION is the latest side effect linked to Viagra and... Read More
The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis... Read More
How to find a doctor? There's no magical route to... Read More
Many eye doctors believed until recently that if a child's... Read More
As many as 8 out of 10 adults will experience... Read More
I stumbled across TMJ when I needed treat a literal... Read More
DENVER ? Sometimes as Freud once said a good cigar... Read More
Propulsid was a popular nighttime heartburn drug before it was... Read More
Electronic Medical RecordAn Electronic Medical Record is a secured electronic... Read More
When a patient has a serious illness and there is... Read More
The physicians conundrum: Everywhere, physicians are contemplating or engaged in... Read More
Cybill Shepherd has revealed that she suffers from irritable bowel... Read More
Everything can be found on the Internet. At various sites... Read More
Answering Service ResourceAnswering Service Resource |