Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy

Panic Disorder is a serious problem and a condition recognized by the American Psychiatric Association that affects millions of Americans. This condition takes a panic attack a step further. Not only must you have experienced two or more attacks, you must also have had those attacks followed by a prolonged period of excessive worry over the possibility of another attack occurring. 

Anxiety attacks don´t occur because you are obsessing over something but rather they happen spontaneously, out of the blue, in places and among people you wouldn´t ordinarily associate with extreme apprehension. That is what makes these episodes so scary, the sheer unpredictability can be very troubling and cause the worry that turns these isolated instances into a disorder. 

The loss of control and fear are major contributing factors in turning isolated attacks into a disorder. Once you have panic disorder, your worry over another anxiety attack becomes pronounced and helps to foster an environment and feeling where attacks may only increase. 

In addition, avoidance tactics to prevent episodes may cause extreme harm to the normal functioning of your life.  Some of the symptoms associated with this disorder include:

Racing heart

Feeling faint or dizzy

Numbness

Hot or Cold Flashes

Excessive fear of losing control, dying or losing your mind

Muscle pain and discomfort

Chest pain and discomfort

These are just some of the symptoms and certainly if you have this problem you could be experiencing some, all or different sets of problems than what are listed here. Many people with this problem consult doctors, which is a smart course of action.

These symptoms can be very scary and they may be an indication that you have a serious medical problem. Getting checked out by a doctor is important to rule out any physical problems and provide some small measure of peace of mind about your suffering.

While consulting a doctor may rule out the need for multiple bypasses, it does not solve your problem. Panic attacks are still ruining your life. You can pay big bucks for psychological treatment or prescription medications to treat your anxiety and depression.

However, these options are not appealing to many people. There are alternatives. There are relaxation techniques that can be utilized to calm the overactive nerves and release the tension.

Many people are able to achieve positive results through a consistent exercise program where they work off accumulated stress and fill the body with endorphins, creating a positive feeling for a body and mind so sorely in need of it.

Many people also find that mind exercises such as meditation work to channel the anxiety into more positive pathways and release the negative build up. Meditation is a great way to control your panic attacks because it is fully portable. It can be done anywhere, at anytime and it soothes a worried mind and releases a lot of angst.

Meditation is something that anyone can learn and it really just requires practice and focus to become proficient. Using alternative techniques to relieve your worry is a great way to avoid the side effects and expense of prescription medications and therapy.

Panic Disorder is a serious problem and a condition recognized by the American Psychiatric Association that affects millions of Americans. This condition takes a panic attack a step further. Not only must you have experienced two or more attacks, you must also have had those attacks followed by a prolonged period of excessive worry over the possibility of another attack occurring.Anxiety attacks don´t occur because you are obsessing over something but rather they happen spontaneously, out of the blue, in places and among people you wouldn´t ordinarily associate with extreme apprehension. That is what makes these episodes so scary, the sheer unpredictability can be very troubling and cause the worry that turns these isolated instances into a disorder.The loss of control and fear are major contributing factors in turning isolated attacks into a disorder. Once you have panic disorder, your worry over another anxiety attack becomes pronounced and helps to foster an environment and feeling where attacks may only increase.In addition, avoidance tactics to prevent episodes may cause extreme harm to the normal functioning of your life. Some of the symptoms associated with this disorder include:? Trouble breathing? Racing heart? Feeling faint or dizzy? Numbness? Hot or Cold Flashes? Excessive fear of losing control, dying or losing your mind? Muscle pain and discomfort? Chest pain and discomfort? Bowel TroublesThese are just some of the symptoms and certainly if you have this problem you could be experiencing some, all or different sets of problems than what are listed here. Many people with this problem consult doctors, which is a smart course of action.These symptoms can be very scary and they may be an indication that you have a serious medical problem. Getting checked out by a doctor is important to rule out any physical problems and provide some small measure of peace of mind about your suffering.While consulting a doctor may rule out the need for multiple bypasses, it does not solve your problem. Panic attacks are still ruining your life. You can pay big bucks for psychological treatment or prescription medications to treat your anxiety and depression.However, these options are not appealing to many people. There are alternatives. There are relaxation techniques that can be utilized to calm the overactive nerves and release the tension.Many people are able to achieve positive results through a consistent exercise program where they work off accumulated stress and fill the body with endorphins, creating a positive feeling for a body and mind so sorely in need of it.Many people also find that mind exercises such as meditation work to channel the anxiety into more positive pathways and release the negative build up. Meditation is a great way to control your panic attacks because it is fully portable. It can be done anywhere, at anytime and it soothes a worried mind and releases a lot of angst.Meditation is something that anyone can learn and it really just requires practice and focus to become proficient. Using alternative techniques to relieve your worry is a great way to avoid the side effects and expense of prescription medications and therapy.

Here are some interesting panic attack disorder facts. A panic attack normally comes out of the blue. It’s one of the most terrifying experiences any person can go through, leaving you feeling shocked and distressed.

This is not your normal ‘stress’ or ‘anxiety’ or ‘feeling worried’ situation. It’s much more powerful than that, which most people can never

understand. They may think they’ve had it too, but it’s highly unlikely.

Generally, attacks last for several minutes. When it starts happening regularly, and if you start fearing the next one, you then have a panic or

anxiety disorder.Some Symptoms & Signs

Feeling dizzy & lightheaded

Breathing difficulty

Chest pains

Racing, pounding heart

Fear of dying

Fear of losing control

Fear of going crazy

Sweating

In the United States alone, it is thought that over 4 million people suffer from panic attacks. The numbers are probably higher. Many won’t even

know about it, as they go from doctor to doctor, only to be told they’re alright.

It’s estimated that 13% of the world has an anxiety disorder. That is a staggering statistic. That means 13 out of every 100 people have some

kind of anxiety disorder.

Most of the time, a panic attack hits a person in their late teens and early adulthood. When it starts to get worse, a sufferer starts avoiding

situations. This is known as agoraphobia, which is even more serious. You will end up with no quality of life.

One important panic attack disorder fact is that it does not ‘go away on its own’. Despite doctors telling you it’s not serious, or it’s in your head, it is here to stay. You will need proper treatment, or it can go on for years.Causes

Although highly researched, no one can confirm the causes. There is strong evidence that it’s biological. There is also strong evidence of

heredity. The only thing that can be confirmed is that it’s a genuine illness that requires help.Treatment

There are many effective methods available. These include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Alternate treatments like homeopathy

Self help such as The Linden Method

Support groups

Meditation

YogaHypnosis

Medication

Gradual exposure for agoraphobia

Flooding for agoraphobia

If you begin changing your thinking, this can lead to changing the way you react. Changing your reaction gradually forces the brain to react

differently. This makes the fear of panic attacks gradually disappear.

It takes a lot of big and little changes to get over anxiety disorders. Work on the subtle changes, things that won’t cause much anxiety and work your way up slowly.

For example, if you have panic attacks that are made worse by caffeine, slowly reduce it from your diet. Then move on to relaxation techniques such as deep breathing which requires time, effort and motivation.

After that, you could incorporate exercise into your routine. Time management is going to be a major factor. You’ll have to organize your life to fit in your therapy sessions.

It’s a slow process for most people, but you have to start somewhere. With a lot of changes and with proper guidance, you can make tremendous strides.

With the troubling times that have befallen us lately, the occurrence of anxiety or panic attacks are on the rise. Some top professionals have conducted studies that show at least 1 out of every 5 adults will be stricken with these conditions in any given year.
When you are looking for help with your panic attacks it can be very helpful if not only know what caused the attack, but when and where it o cured. Once an individual can recognize the preliminary symptoms it will be much easier for them to deal with. As you become more aware of the symptoms, your ability to stop one of these attacks will grow stronger.
When we try and analyze what is causing our panic or anxiety attacks, the following symptoms will help in the process:
1) A sense of tightening in the chest
2) Abnormal or erratic breathing conditions
3) A sense of fear that is not common
4) An overwhelming feeling of multiple problems to a singular situation
There are many forms and therapies that can be utilized to deal with panic or anxiety attacks. One of these things can be to change your focus to an event in your past that brought you pleasure. One other thing that works is to focus and try and control your breathing if it seems to be abnormal. Finally, it is a great idea to jot down what you think may have caused your latest episode to come to pass. These are merely short terms fixes to a sometimes long term problem and shouldn’t be used in place of professional advice.
Arguably one of the best things you can do when desiring help for panic attacks is to change your mental focus to something positive. Now I know this is easier said than done, but it can be very helpful if utilized. Most people don’t realize but your thoughts are very powerful things that can be very helpful in these situations.
As our world changes in what seems like for the worse, many more people are now experiencing anxiety or panic attacks than ever before. This is understandable given our current times, but we don’t have to sit back and feel helpless. Some people have recorded feeling totally overwhelmed while under an anxiety or panic attack. The good news is, there is a cure for this affliction. Just remember to take your focus off what’s enabling the attack and shift it toward something positive.

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting both children and adults.  There are about 40 million known cases in the United States alone.  These disorders usually develop from a complex set of risk factors which may include personality, brain chemistry, genetics, and life events.  Though anxiety disorders may be derived from so many factors, they are highly treatable.  However, perhaps because of the stigma attached to anxiety disorders, only about one in three people afflicted actually receive any type of treatment.

It is important to know that the phrase “anxiety disorder” is an umbrella term for more specialized disorders including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia), and Specific Phobias.  Regardless of what specific anxiety disorder a person has, they can be quite debilitating with a variety of symptoms.  In most cases, anxiety disorders present themselves with other mental disorders such as depression.

The symptoms of anxiety orders may manifest themselves at an early age or start suddenly, perhaps after a triggering event.  During high stress periods, anxiety disorder symptoms may present themselves more frequently or with greater severity.  Symptoms include sweating, headache, muscle spasms, hypertension, palpitations, fatigue, and exhaustion to name a few.

As mentioned, anxiety disorders are highly treatable.  Patients suffering from anxiety orders may be treated by psychosocial therapies, medication, or a combination of both.  Psychosocial therapies are usually attempted first and include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), anxiety management, relaxation therapies, exposure therapy, and psychotherapy.  These therapies always involve working closely with a mental health professional, usually a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker.  During such therapies, patients and professionals discover what the source of the anxiety disorder is and how to deal with it.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is one of the most useful of the therapies for anxiety disorders.  CBT actually helps people change their thinking patterns so that their reactions to anxiety-provoking situations become less severe.  Successful CBT can make patients understand that their panic or anxiety attack is not really a heart attack

Many times, anxiety disorders are treated with not only psychotherapies but also with medications.  The drugs most commonly associated with anxiety disorder treatment include SSRIs, which are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, beta blockers, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and MAOIs, which are monoamine oxidase inhibitors.  Medication alone will not cure anxiety disorders, but will help keep them under control.

The most successful treatments of anxiety disorders involve the combination of medication and psychotherapy.  Many doctors will prescribe medication shortly after diagnosis so that the symptoms are alleviated quickly (usually within 4 to 6 weeks) and allows the psychotherapy protocol time to become effective.

It strikes seemingly out of no where a sudden intense terror and overwhelming fear. You have been hit by panic attacks and you know you cannot stop it from happening once it started. You have been consumed by sheer fear that you find difficulties in breathing and your body is shaking and trembling. You may find your heartbeat pounding very hard and fast that it feels like it never go away. Are you pondering why panic attacks happen to yourself and the causes of your panic attacks?

A panic attack is undoubtedly a sensation so strong and real that leaves you emotionally debilitating, tired and shaking. The catalyst of the attacks can be very different from different persons; it might be even as mild as a sensation that ever impacted you significantly in your life. There may be a series of events that relate back to family history, mental health conditions, manipulation of drugs and so forth.

It is normal when you are told of panic attacks that strike during shopping at supermarket, watching a movie, struggling for an interview or even when sleeping or doing nothing at home. Do not be surprised at all because the triggers for panic attacks do not necessarily be something that is traumatic or painful in your encounter. It can hit you any time and anywhere!

This premise is always upheld curing the roots of a problem! Have you identify your personal panic attack causes in order to overcome your panic attacks through treatment and therapies? Finding the underlying roots of the attack is by far the most important yet most difficult task to begin with on your road to recovery. In light of the endless possible reasons that may trigger your attack, it is a challenging task to actually identify the real reason behind these triggers. Nevertheless, it cannot be stressed enough that only with the knowledge of your personal attack cause that you can more effectively and acutely cure yourself of panic attacks.

It entails taking a good hard look at your worst fears and finding the root of it. This is difficult in and of itself, but made doubly more so when you suffer from panic attacks.

A therapist skilled in the ways of panic attacks will definitely alleviate your sufferings but one must be prepared in the fact that intimate knowledge of your personal doings will be shared and analyzed by the said therapist.

Matters should hopefully progress from this and you should be able to work through your problems and perhaps be finally able to eliminate your panic attack cause, and ultimately your panic attacks once and for all.

Everyone experiences anxiety; sometimes it comes from stress for justifiable causes the fear of the unknown. In other cases, it’s more chronic, and persistent, and manifests as a mental illness: Social Anxiety Disorder. This condition manifests as fear, or worry, or apprehension at a heightened level. It can be directly confirmed if the subject is easily embarrassed, or terrified of practically any social situation.
Some cases of social anxiety disorder are tied to public speaking. Now, it’s normal even for trained speakers to have a bit of stage fright before going on to give a presentation. However, for someone with social anxiety disorder, the experience is heightened, and not in a good way. The date of the presentation or speaking engagement becomes filled with foreboding, often times for days or weeks in advance. A lot of social anxiety disorder can be described as a fear response completely disproportional to the anticipated stimulus.
Another name for social anxiety disorder is social phobia; the phobia is a category for long lasting stress, fear and anxiety, to the degree that it makes it difficult for the patient to function in normal daily activities. It is often triggered by extreme stress, or repeated high stress actions, and results in a recursive loop where the subject dwells upon and scrutinizes their activities and anxieties, at the expense of going out and doing anything. Somewhere around 13% of Americans have suffered from social anxiety disorder during their lives.
A person suffering a panic attack shows a number of common signs. These include, but are not limited to, blushing, sweating, nausea, trembling and stammering. It’s better to get a diagnosis early, as this can help stave off transitions of the syndrome to greater problems, like depression, or dysthemia. Some sufferers of social anxiety disorder self medicate, trying to numb themselves to their fear with alcohol, or using stimulants like cocaine or amphetamines to “jolt them over the top” and boost confidence. Even large doses of caffeine can be seen as an attempt at self-medication.
Social phobics have a difficult time working with normal social lives. They are overly self-conscious, and they place too much attention (and criticism) upon themselves, when it comes to attempting any activity. They abound in negativity.
Their fear can be crippling, as it is persistent and all pervasive, and often completely out of line with the thing they’re responding to. It can cause them to be shut-ins; they’re so afraid of being scrutinized by others, that they don’t date, or go out with friends, eat out at restaurants, or even attend parties where they might have to talk to a stranger. In children, social anxiety disorder shows up as shyness, clinging to parents, and crying. In adults, it’s sweating, and flushing and stammering. All of these make a self-reinforcing cycle when the subject is exposed to social activities.
What are the treatments for Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social anxiety disorder can be treated, and treated effectively. The usual treatment is a mixture of medication and psychotherapy. Cognitive behavior therapy, done individually or in group sessions, can be an effective remedy. The behavioral and cognitive components search for thought patterns that can be adjusted, in effect, identifying the triggers so that the subject can learn to avoid the triggers without avoiding their life.
The most common prescription medication for social anxiety disorder is the anti-depressent Paxil and the related compound Welbutrin. As the frequency of diagnosis has increased since it was added to the lexicon in the late 1990s, the marketing of drugs to treat it has increased tremendously. Both Paxil and Welbutrin are anti-depressants of the selective seratonin reuptake-inhibitors, or SSRIs, which have the benefit of not causing physical dependency, though it takes a habituation cycle for them to become effective. SSRIs have side effects such as insomnia, headaches and nausea. Many SSRIs will put a significant damper on sexual interest.

If your anxiety is severe or causing panic, your health care provider may prescribe a medicine to help you cope with the symptoms. To decrease anxiety, it is important to identify and use methods that relieve your symptoms. Your health care provider may want to see you regularly if your anxiety attacks include physical symptoms.

There are some ways to prevent the anxiety before it starts. Begin with positive routines to maintain a calm, relaxed outlook on life if you believe you may be at risk for general anxiety disorder due to genetics, family history or environment. Slot in routines such as a daily walk, yoga or meditation. Center on your own thought processes and place an emphasis on staying with beliefs, interpretations, and assumptions that tend to be caring in brightening your mood and inspiring you to engage in positive activities and behaviors.

Panic disorder is often accompanied by other serious conditions such as depression, drug abuse, or alcoholism and may lead to a pattern of avoidance of places or situations where panic attacks have occurred. For example, if a panic attack strikes while you’re riding in an elevator, you may develop a fear of elevators. If you start avoiding them, that could affect your choice of a job or apartment and greatly restrict other parts of your life.

Develop a better understanding of the potential links between various anxiety disorders and the links between anxiety disorders and other illnesses, such as depression or substance abuse.

Medical treatments will address the symptoms associated with the feelings of intense anxiety problems. Symptoms include irritability for no reason, restlessness, sleep problems, trembling, muscle tension, sweating, and digestive problems. Anyone who has spent at least six months in a state of excessive worry or who is experiencing anxiety about normal stresses should contact a doctor for a complete health evaluation.

A good support system is important when recovering from panic disorder. No one person should be your only source of support; relying on one person is not good for that person, and it may hurt your relationship with that person. A support system may consist of family, friends, support groups, and your health care team. Each person in your support system plays a different role. Understand your needs when creating a support system, and be open about how each person can help you.

Psychotherapy is the most frequently prescribed treatment method, especially cognitive behavioral therapy. This is in fact the only form of therapy that has shown to be effective in treating social anxiety disorder It is based on the idea that your own thoughts is what really determines how you behave or react and therefore the goal of the therapy is to change the negative thoughts and replace with positive ones.

Develop methods of relaxation like talking with positive-minded people, listening to music, sewing, playing cards, walking, or enjoying hobbies. Set limits when too many demands are placed on you. Learn to say no. Learn to use stress management techniques like muscle relaxation exercises, mental imagery, and diaphragmatic breathing.

To prevent anxiety from ruining your life, contact your doctor about anxiety and if it seems severe and impossible to control or if it causing you with difficulty in work, relationships, sleeping, remembering things or concentrating on what you are doing, all of these should be discuss with your doctor.

Social Anxiety Disorder! People suffering from this disorder feel like they are being judged and watched intensely by others and think that others think horrible thoughts about them.

They are afraid that they will embarrass or humiliate themselves in front of people when they meet them. This can seriously interfere with daily life such as school, work, relationships, and activities of daily living. Even though most people with social anxiety disorder know they’re feeling are not valid and excessive they cannot seem to manage or control them. When they are at function that they have to attend they can worry for months or weeks waiting for the dreadful day.

Social anxiety disorder can range in its behavior. Some individuals may only suffer from a specific fear such as eating or drinking, speaking, or writing if others are around or watching. Some people have a fear or going to the bathroom in a public restroom. This can be as serious as causing physical sickness or weakness to the bladder because of the anxiety involved, while some people are fearful in all social situations and is never comfortable.

The normal daily activities that most people take for granted are so horrifying and worrisome of social phobias it can be physically debilitating. This illness can cause people to miss work or school if they fear they will have to get up and be seen or noticed. Many persons with social phobia may have problems with relationships and can find it very difficult to meet and keep friends. Even when the person has friends they may not be able to enjoy going out with them or being with them in large crowds of other people who might be less known. Here are 5 of the most common symptoms they include:

1. Blushes often in social situations.

2. Profuse sweating when anxious.

3. Trembling when approached or spoke to.

4. Nausea as anxiety increases and possibly vomiting.

5. Extreme difficulty talking.

You may be extremely embarrassed by all of these symptoms if you have social phobia. It can feel like there are million people watching you all the time and you can’t get away. You might not even be able to stand being around your own family for fear of ridicule and rejection.

This is a common irrational fear that with out medication cannot be controlled. Even if you tried to face what fears you have the anxiety level before can be almost debilitating and can linger through out the whole experience. The anxiety can also linger afterwards and keep you feeling scared and anxious for weeks or months. Affecting approximately 5.3 million American adults with men and women being affected equally, social phobia usually starts to develop in childhood or the early teens.

There is belief that social anxiety disorder can also be hereditary so if a family member has it you are at a higher risk of developing it as well. Because of the nature and the severity anxiety people with this disorder have a higher risk of self-medicating with drugs and alcohol to try to relax and calm down. This only leads to worse problems and possibly addiction. To treat this disease one need to see a doctor and seek psychotherapy and/or medications.

There is hope and treatment for those persons who suffer with social anxiety disorder. There have been more and more drugs capable of helping control the feelings the ones that suffers with it. The antidepressants Paxil and Effexor are excellent and wide used to help those who suffer from social phobia. It can take two to four weeks for the medications to start to take effect and it can also take some time to find the right dosage that works the best with the least side effects.

In conclusion, the user needs to always follow the instructions on the prescription and take the medication every day. If the side effects are too bad or there is no improvement in four weeks the individual should call their doctor. Many patients will have to continue medications for months, years, or even a lifetime. Another important aspect is therapy. Most doctors use cognitive-behavioral therapy that changes the individual’s cognitive thinking patterns to help them eventually face fear in all social situations without debilitating.

In recent years people suffering from anxiety have increasingly sought a variety of alternative therapies, approaches other than the two mainstream treatments offered by most professionals: cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication.

The desire to explore alternative approaches reflects a general trend both in the mental health field as well as in medicine. Recent surveys have found that about 40 percent of the adult population in the United States seeks out the assistance of alternative health practitioners, often paying out of pocket, to address a variety of medical and health issues.

Reasons for the move to alternative therapies are varied. For people suffering from anxiety disorders, dissatisfaction with conventional treatments, particularly the side effects of prescription medications, often leads to an exploration of approaches such as herbs, acupuncture, yoga, or massage.

There seems to be a desire to try natural approaches first before becoming dependent on medication. In addition, many people wish to take responsibility for their own recovery rather than relying on professionals who are often high priced, inadequately covered by managed care health plans, and sometimes not particularly empathic or understanding of their clients’ needs.

A large segment of the population seems to have decided that the time has come to take personal responsibility for their health and well-being, entrusting their doctors only with care in emergencies or severe illness.

How well do alternative therapies work? Are they effective in helping people to overcome anxiety disorders? Some alternative approaches, certain herbs and acupuncture, for example, appear to have direct, demonstrable effects on reducing anxiety symptoms or the depression that accompanies anxiety disorders in about 50 percent of cases.

Such approaches are most helpful to persons whose anxiety and/or depression is in the mild to moderate range. “Mild to moderate” means your symptoms are a nuisance, probably an inconvenience, and may cause you a certain level of discomfort. However, they are not disabling.

They don’t prevent you from working, managing the routines of daily living, or maintaining relatively satisfying relationships with loved ones. And they do not cause you severe distress, a feeling of being frightened or overwhelmed, more than half of your waking hours.

When anxiety phobia interferes with your ability to function and causes you significant levels of distress, it may be said to fall in the moderate to severe range. Such anxiety may be helped by alternative approaches, but is best treated by a combination of well-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication.

The primary value of alternative therapies is their ability to improve your overall level of health and well-being. Such approaches work to make you feel better as a whole, rather than relieving a specific problem such as panic attacks, obsessions or a fear of driving far from home.

Their effect on anxiety symptoms is thus beneficial but indirect. Certainly if you feel better overall, you’re less likely to be vulnerable to anxiety or depression symptoms. But you’re also less likely to be bothered by any other stress-related symptoms, whether migraines, ulcers, low back pain, insomnia, or irritability.

Wellness involves multiple levels of your total being. If you feel more healthy and well in general, you’re not as likely to harbor the negative, fearful thoughts that instigate anxiety. You’re also less likely to hold the bodily tension and breathing restriction that can aggravate anxiety. It’s possible that even your brain neurotransmitters come into a better balance, improving your mood.

In general, you feel more confident and content with yourself and your life. Alternative therapies work to help you feel better as a whole person. That’s why they are often referred to as “holistic.” As such, they can definitely have a beneficial effect on anxiety and depression, along with everything else.

There is no precise formula for determining which of the many alternative therapies might be helpful for you. In reading through this article, listen to your intuition in deciding which particular approaches you feel drawn to try. Some trial and error is probably inevitable in the process of exploring those methods that ultimately turn out to be most effective for your particular situation.

Herbs and Supplements:

Herbs plant-based medicines have been an integral part of health care for thousands of years. In fact, about 25 percent of present-day prescription medications are still based on herbs. Pharmaceutical companies, however, are not very interested in herbs, because the plants from which they are derived cannot be patented and sold exclusively by any one company for profit.

Herbal treatments have been very popular in Europe and recently have gained increasing public interest in the United States. Most drug stores now offer an assortment of herbs that can treat conditions ranging from colds to poor memory.

Herbs tend to work more slowly and gently than prescription drugs. If you’re used to the rapid and intense effects of a drug like Xanax, you need to be patient with the milder effect of a relaxing herb such as valerian or kava.

The principal advantage of herbs is that they work naturally, in harmony with your body, rather than imposing a specific biochemical change, as in the case of drugs. Unlike medications, herbs generally have few or no side effects. Nor are they physically addictive, although you could become psychologically dependent on one that brings you consistent benefit.