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The Types of Anxiety



Feeling anxious from time to time is a natural part of our lives. However, feeling anxious constantly or letting that anxiety get in the way of living a normal life is not natural. If you feel you may have more anxiety or your anxiety is more intense than is proper, you may have an anxiety disorder.

Is your level of anxiety appropriate for each situation? If you see a man walking your way with a gun, your level of anxiety should appropriately be high. On the other hand, if you’re feeling incredibly anxious about driving two miles to the mall, your anxiety is probably out of proportion.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Constantly worrying about everything. It can keep you up at night, make you chronically tired, and cause nausea. Your levels of anxiety are higher than the average person’s and you invent and worry about situations that will most likely never happen to you or your loved ones. Example: Worrying that your daughter will get in a bike accident when she rides to school, worrying that you will be in a car accident as you drive to the grocery store, playing out the funeral scene in your mind should your husband die unexpectedly tomorrow.

Social Anxiety
This is beyond shyness; it’s a high level of anxiety about being out in public or in a group situation. It’s an excessive fear about social places and situations, and it can be incapacitating. You may have low self-esteem or worry too much about what others think of you. You may practice avoidance rather than deal with the anxiety. Example: Severe anxiousness when attending a church service or intense fear of going to a crowded movie.

Panic Disorder
Anticipated or random attacks of panic brought on by excessive adrenaline and incorrectly assessing a situation with intense anxiety. You spend a lot of time worrying you will have another panic attack and go to great lengths to avoid situations that might bring on an attack. Example: Having a panic attack with symptoms of not being able to breathe, racing heart, and clamminess while on an airplane.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive thoughts and anxieties that are tempered by performing rituals. These rituals are done over and over again the same way each time or great anxiety is the result. Example: Unlocking and locking your car door 6 times before you can leave it, or washing your hands with 3 squirts of soap and washing the back of the hands 4 times each.

PTSD
Varying anxiety symptoms as a result of a traumatic event. You have very real feelings of anxiety that a similar event will happen again. Example: The traumatic event of rape can lead to fear of men, flashbacks, not being able to sleep alone, and the new occurrence of panic attacks, etc.

Phobia
Phobias are persistent, irrational fears and are associated with anxiety. If you are presented with the object of your fears, you immediately experience high levels of anxiety. Example: Fear of airplanes or fear of snakes.

Having some anxiety in our lives is a normal occurrence, but when it is out of proportion to the event or seems to be taking over, then it could be that you are suffering from one of the above anxiety disorders.

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Children Coping With Anxiety



Everyone has worries from time to time. It’s not just exclusive to adults; children have worries too. Some anxiety in children is common and even considered part of growing up. In fact, children have behavioral phases of anxiety they go through before they reach adulthood.

Let’s look at what’s going on in their world:

Kids today are exposed to TV or Internet news like never before. News tends to sell best when reporting trauma, wars, strife, disease, famine, and natural disasters. Not only that, but they like to include graphic pictures with their stories. Do children really need to see dead bodies? You might have been more diligent in shielding your children’s eyes when they were toddlers, but don’t stop until they are truly old enough to handle it.

Kids are more attuned to what is going on in your life than you realize. Do you have problems – financial worries, job worries, medical worries, marriage worries? They not only hear you talk when you think they’re not paying attention, but also can feel it or sense it when you’re uptight or worried. Discussing your problems with others is very therapeutic for you; just make sure there are no little ones within earshot.

Separation anxiety can occur with very young children and may be a result of them realizing you are separate from them and that you have the ability to leave. This usually passes in time.

They may also have phobias at the younger ages. An example of that would be fear of the dark or monsters under the bed. Their imagination is also their reality until they are older and able to discern the differences.

Upcoming major events can cause stress for a child. Starting school, moving to a new home, having a new sister, or parents divorcing are major events. These can definitely cause anxiety in anyone, but especially children who are yet unable to cope with the unknown. Explain new situations as thoroughly as possible to your kids before they happen. If you encourage their questions you will see what their fears are and can help alleviate them.

Even physical illness or trauma can bring on stress. A broken leg for them (or you) changes the status quo and changes bring on anxiety. Again, explain the situation and likely outcome and answer their questions. The anxiety should pass.

It is not always easy to tell if a child is experiencing anxiety. Here are some signs:

* overly clingy
* fears for other family members
* avoidance of social situations
* trouble sleeping
* frequent stomachaches
* repeating the same actions over and over
* very low self-esteem

It’s also hard to know if it’s just a phase or really an anxiety disorder. If you’re unsure or have concerns, seek help. A qualified professional can ease your own anxieties about this or recommend a path of treatment if there is a problem.

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Top Tips For Stress Relief



Stressful situations are all around you; a deadline at work, an argument with a loved one, or a surprise bill in the mail all easier to handle if you have some tips for stress relief. These are considered temporary stresses and will come and go during your lifetime. To cope with any kind of stress, your best bet is to start off in “a better place”. By that I mean you should do things in your life to help you feel confident and good about yourself. That way you’re better able to cope with any stressful situations that come along, and you may even begin to calmly handle situations that previously stressed you out. Here are some tips for stress relief:

Top Tips For Stress Relief

Top Tips For Stress Relief

Top Tips For Stress Relief

Is your stress real or is it mostly created in your mind? Step away from the situation for a moment and ask yourself if you’re taking it too far and making a mountain out of a molehill. Sometimes it’s helpful to ask yourself, “What would Gandhi (or someone you admire who is laid back) do?” Calm yourself down and talk yourself through it as if you were having a conversation with that person you admire.

Sometimes you have to do something that you simply don’t want to do and this can make you feel stressed. If you must do this thing, don’t procrastinate because this causes the stress to build. Break the task down into smaller, manageable bites and start it. Sometimes just the act of starting can bring stress relief. When possible, get someone to help you or even pay someone to do it for you.

It’s also worth mentioning that poor time management can cause stress. Plan your tasks ahead of time so that you complete them without feeling rushed or forced. You may want to look into actively learning some time management skills.

When stressed, it can be helpful to talk to a friend who is centered, calm, and helpful. Chose someone who can help you put it all in perspective, not someone you can drag down with you. If you don’t know anyone like that, it’s okay to pay someone, i.e. a professional, to help you sort it out.

Can you change what stresses you? If you can, then take action to change it even if you’re afraid to. Taking action is a huge stress reliever. If you can’t change the stressful situation, then realize no amount of worrying about it will help.

Taking care of yourself is very important in preventing and dealing with stress. Learn how to do relaxation breathing, meditation, or yoga. Drink lots of water, get enough sleep, and eat healthy whole foods. Do what you can in these areas, but don’t stress about it if you’re not perfect.

Another big stress reliever is to volunteer and help others. This takes the focus off you and on other people with problems much bigger than yours. You feel good about helping, plus it puts your own worries into proper perspective.

Relief from stress can come from talking to someone who can help, taking care of yourself, taking action instead of dwelling on the problem, and helping others. By following these tips For stress relief you can learn to deal with the stressful situations that come your way.

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