As a Holistic energy practitioner I have had an awareness of the many clients and friends I have seen with ‘anxiety’ in many forms and recently I have been working on a ‘free’ anxiety program’ to allow those with ‘anxiety to take back control of their lives. I will be offering a series of short ‘blog’ posts on the differing identified areas or types of anxieties prior to the release of this program called The 7 Steps to Freedom so that if you or someone you love suffers from this often debilitating condition then you know that help is at hand

Is it Anxiety? My family have always been excessive worriers or concerned with fears, maybe that’s what’s wrong with me?

Anxiety can be either a short term or a long term state of being. It may present as a concern or a worry about a specific circumstance in your life for example, a job interview, a test or an exam, or simply doing something with which you are not familiar.

In the long term anxiety can have a much more profound effect on your body and the symptoms or the frequency of the symptoms that you experience may be much more profound, and in these instances it can literally take over a person’s life due to its frequency or the debilitating effects that it produces.

I am going to talk about the different types of anxieties in this series of short blog posts and share with you some of the symptoms that are associated with the differing forms of anxieties and related ‘phobias’.

Anxiety can be classified as a disorder when the symptoms of anxiety become longstanding or ‘chronic’ and have an effect on our daily lives and our ability to function in our everyday life.

Everyone gets nervous or anxious from time to time—when speaking in public, for instance, or when going through financial difficulty. For some people, however, anxiety becomes so frequent, or so forceful, that it begins to take over their lives. How can you tell if your everyday anxiety has crossed the line into a disorder? It’s not easy. Anxiety comes in many different forms—such as panic attacks, phobia, and social anxiety—and the distinction between an official diagnosis and “normal” anxiety isn’t always clear.

Panic Attacks or Panic Disorder

Panic Attacks or Panic Disorder is different from the normal fear and anxiety reactions to stressful events. Panic disorder is a serious situation or condition that may strike without reason or warning. Symptoms of panic disorder include sudden attacks of fear and nervousness, as well as physical symptoms such as sweating and a racing heart. During a panic attack, the fear response is out of proportion for the situation, which often is not threatening. Over time, a person with panic disorder may develop a constant fear of having another panic attack, which can affect their daily functioning and their general quality of life.

Panic disorder often occurs along with other serious conditions, such as depression, alcoholism, or drug abuse.

The Symptoms of a panic attack, which often last about 10 minutes, can include:

• Difficulty in breathing
• A pounding heart orchest pain
• An intense feeling of dread
• The sensation of choking or smothering
• Levels of dizziness or of  feeling faint
• Trembling, shaking or tremors
• Sweating, or sweating hands
• Nauseaor stomachache
• Tingling or numbness in the fingers and toes
• Chills orhot flashes
• A fear that you are losing control or are about to die
• The consumption of products that containcaffeine, such as coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate may have a triggering effect or increase the symptoms of panic attacks
• Beyond the panic attacks themselves, one of the main symptoms of panic attacks or panic disorder is the persistent fear of having future panic attacks. The fear of these attacks can cause the person to avoid places and situations where an attack has occurred or where they believe an attack may occur.

• Often people with Panic attacks may develop Agoraphobia. This is the fear of being in places or situations in which an attack may occur, or from which escape would be difficult or highly embarrassing. This fear can drive people to avoid public places and crowds, and may even progress to the point that the person will not leave his or her home. About one-third of people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia.

Although the exact cause of panic disorder is not fully understood, studies have shown that a combination of factors, including biological and environmental, may be involved. These factors include.

Some of the Causes Panic Disorder may include:

• Panic disorder may sometimes run in families, or it can be the result of a series of incidences which may be related to a combination of anxieties. Some studies indicate that it may be genetic and be passed on to people by one or both parents
• Panic disorder may be caused by problems in regulating brain areas that control the ‘fight or flight’ response. This can be an adrenalin imbalance as is often referred to the ‘cave man ‘fight or flight’ situation.
• In some instances the use or ‘abuse’ of some drugsboth prescription and illegal as well as alcohol can contribute to panic disorder.
• Stressful events and major life transitions, such as the death of a loved one, a divorce or even moving house can sometimes trigger panic attacks, which can potentially recur and go on to become a panic disorder.
• Some people may discontinue any activities in their lives that seem to trigger a panic attack. This can make a normal work and home life extremely difficult.

• The term Anticipatory anxiety refers to anxiety that is triggered merely by thinking about the possibility of having an anxiety attack.
• Claustrophobia. The person fears enclosed spaces.

How Common Is Panic Disorder?

Panic disorder affects about 2.4 million adult Americans. Panic disorder most often begins during late adolescence and early adulthood. It is twice as common in women as in men.

Anxiety, worry, and stress are all a part of most people’s life today. Anxiety becomes a disorder when the symptoms become chronic and interfere with our daily lives and our ability to function. People suffering from chronic anxiety and panic attacks often report the following symptoms:

• Muscle tension
• Physical weakness
• Poor memory
• Sweaty hands
• Fear or confusion
• Inability to relax
• Constant worry
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations
• Upset stomach
• Poor concentration
• Fears
• Unusual behaviors

These symptoms are severe and upsetting enough to make individuals feel extremely uncomfortable, out of control and helpless.

Anxiety disorders fall into a set of separate diagnoses, depending upon the symptoms and severity of the anxiety the person experiences. The anxiety disorders discussed in this series on anxiety are:

In support of this ‘free ‘ program  I have started a FB Community called Anxiety Need Not Be A Life Sentence at the link below. If this resonates with you I would invite you to please join us or to share the information with those to whom it may be of assistance

Peace Love and Light

Sheila

http://www.the7stepstofreedom/.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/anxietyneednotbealifesentence/