Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy

In today’s world of high-speed and stressful life, panic attacks have become more common than we think. The best way to stop panic attacks in the long run is by getting medical help for it. Professional help like medication and therapy is essential in severe cases. We can stop an immediate panic attack by taking the following steps -Many patients start to hyperventilate while having a panic attack and this increases the presence of carbon dioxide in their body and they start to feel sick. Therefore, the person suffering from a panic attack should first try to relax and take deep breaths. He should try to focus on his breathing and tell himself that it is going to be just fine.The second step is to think positive and throw all the negative thoughts out of your mind. When in a panic mode, our mind tends to remind us of the worst case scenarios which may happen. If that’s the case, then you should try your best to stop it by telling yourself that it will be OK and try to interrupt those thoughts by concentrating on something else. The person should try to focus on something positive and channel your thoughts towards it.The third step is to find a positive statement that will help you in coping with the negative thoughts your mind has been throwing on you and making you panic. Instead of thinking negative things like “this is the worst thing that has ever happened to me” or “I am going to die” etc. try to reason with yourself when you feel panic about something. For example, if you are scared of thunderstorms and having a panic attack because of it, then you should keep telling yourself “it is just a thunderstorm and it will go away soon” or “thunder noises have never killed anyone” or ” I have been through so many thunderstorms and it has never harmed me” etc.The final step is to accept that you are scared and having a panic attack. Because if you try to hide it and pretend that you are fine then the anxiety can increase further. Do not feel ashamed of the fact that you are afraid of something because the first step to get rid of any problem is by admitting it. Denying the fact that you are feeling panicky will only increase your anxiety. So, make peace with yourself and accept your problem and then get the required help. Calmly tell yourself and the people around you that you are having a panic attack and try to resolve the problem.

Depressive disorders come in different forms, just as is the case with other illnesses such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease. This article briefly describes three of the most common types of depressive disorders.
However, within these types there are also variations in the symptoms, their severity and duration. Major depression causes symptoms i.e. excessive fatigue, relentless pessimism, hopelessness etc. that interfere with your ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy activities that were once pleasurable.
This type of depression can be disabling and may occur once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime. A less severe type of depression, dysthymia, generates longer-term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but prevent you from functioning optimally or feeling enthusiastic when you should.
Many also experience major depressive episodes sometime in their lives. Another form of depression is bipolar disorder.
This serious and often devastating disorder is characterized by mood changes that cycle in and out or on and off- severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). Occasionally, the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but usually they are slower and gradual.
When in the depressed cycle, one can have any or all of the symptoms of depression. When in the manic cycle,however, you may be overactive, over-talkative and manifest too much energy.
Mania often affects your thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems, anger and embarrassment. For example, once in a manic phase you may feel elated and full of grand schemes that might range from unwise business decisions to romantic or promiscuous sprees.
Left untreated, this disorder can literally ruin your life and even cause a deterioration into psychosis. Medical treatments typically used, depending on the condition type and severity, include anti-depressant medications, anti-psychotics, psychotherapy and mood stabilizers.
The best psychotherapeutic treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy which treats how your thinking processes affect your mood and behavior.
Unfortunately, sometimes patients inappropriately drop-out of medication therapy, rather than follow-through because of side effects which could have been ameliorated had they stayed in treatment.
Wonder if you are getting the correct treatment for your depression? The following recommendations are based on a review of the scientific literature regarding the use of psychotherapy, counseling and medication in treating depression.
Take heed:
1. The treatment of first choice for your depression should be cognitive behavioral or interpersonal psychotherapy. This is because of their superior long-term outcomes; they also pose fewer medical risks than using drugs or combined treatments. However, you should consider medications, combined treatment, or other types of psychotherapy if you do not respond appropriately.
2. You should not undergo insight-oriented psychotherapy by itself because studies suggest that it may produce poorer outcomes.
3. It is important that psychotherapy or counseling be included in your treatment program when anti-depressants are prescribed; you are at a higher risk for relapse if you use medication by itself.
Generally, the best results are achieved by the combined use of cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication.
4. Everything else being equal, when starting medication, a single medication administered with psychotherapy should be used.
5. Everything else being equal, when using an anti-depressant, you should use the lowest, safest therapeutic dose for the shortest possible duration. This minimizes the risk that you may experience any possible side effects, cardio-toxicity, potential suicidality or even drop-out of treatment prematurely.
6. If you are hospitalized, antidepressants should be only very cautiously prescribed, especially if you have cardiac vulnerabilities, because of the risk of sudden death.
7. If you have been suicidal, you should take antidepressants only if there is a vigilant monitoring plan in place to prevent over-dose.
8. Everything else being equal, you should be very reluctant to have ant-depressants prescribed for your children because there is no compelling evidence that they are effective for them and little is known about the health risks they pose for this population.
9. Caution should be used in prescribing antidepressants to elderly people because of possible hypotensive and side effect risks.
10. You should avoid taking regular minor tranquilizers alone for your depression because they have resulted in worse outcomes than no treatment at all.
11. It is crucial to hire the right professional for the right task. Clinical psychologists receive most of their training in psychology, counseling and psychotherapy.
Psychiatrists receive most of their training in medicine. Choose a psychologist for counseling and therapy; go to a psychiatrist for medication.

On a special Oprah panic attack show, Jonathan and Jordan Knight were featured. They gained fame in the late 80s and early 90s in their band called New Kids On The Block (NKOTB).

What the screaming girls probably didn’t know was that the brothers in the band had demons they had to deal with. The point is, panic attacks and anxiety disorders can happen to anyone.

People need to understand this. Not the ones who are suffering, but the ones who think it’s a fake illness or who think it’s brought on by the sufferer. This is not an act. Nobody wants to be like this.A Panic Attack On The Oprah Show

Jonathan Knight actually had a panic attack on the show. After he left NKOTB, he hid himself away and didn’t want to get out of bed. He probably had depression, which is linked to panic.

His brother Jordan also had anxiety issues. Jordan started getting books and read up on his condition. He did the right thing. By educating yourself on your condition, it plays a big part in the recovery process.

Jordan eventually found out that his father also suffered from panic attacks. There is certainly evidence to suggest that anxiety disorders can run in families and passed on.Panic Attacks Affect Women More Than Men

Panic attacks and panic disorder with agoraphobia tend to hit women more. Women suffer from this twice as much as men, but it can be harder for a man to have this and be accepted.

People in general will take this as a weakness in a man. They probably think it should be easier for a man to ‘get over it’. It’s a bit like crying. It’s alright if a woman cries, but REAL men don’t cry.

Panic attacks are treatable. Though it causes much anguish, the situation can be dealt with with great success. Today, there are so many methods of dealing with panic.

The obvious choice is to go to a doctor, but there are other alternative therapies available to treat panic attacks successfully. The road to wellness may not be easy, but it’s certainly worth it.

In case you’re interested in the Oprah panic attack show, click here for more. http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_past_20010301.jhtml

Panic and Anxiety attacks are terms that are swapped about so much that most people regard them as them same condition. Panic and anxiety attacks are a closely related phenomena, and the symptoms of a panic attack may include problems with breathing.

Panic and Anxiety attacks can be horrifying experiences and are much more common place than the person who suffers from them thinks. Depending on what research you read they either strike more than 10 million people or affect as many as 15% of all adults. Whichever number is looked at. I am sure you will agree with me that this problem that effects women more than men is massive.

Anxiety and Panic disorders becomes classified as a mental illness when the condition causes enough distress to reduce ones ability to function socially, occupationally, or psychologically. During a panic attack, unless you were medically educated, you might think you were having a heart attack, or some other form of medical crisis. Although when they get to this level they are both considered psychiatric conditions, they can be the easiest of all to treat and in most cases are highly treatable. Anxiety and panic attacks are an emotional and physical reaction to a threat, whether that threat is real or perceived. The attacks are often associated with shallow, rapid patterns of breathing and can respond to muscle relaxation techniques and breathing exercises that form a part of many complementary therapies.

It doesn’t matter from what walk of life you come from anxiety and panic attacks are non discriminatory and they appear in situations where your usual skills and talents seem to make no difference, so telling yourself to calm down, doesn’t work that well. The attacks seem to be self-perpetuating and they need prompt and effective intervention. Although anxiety and panic attacks are similar, panic attacks are more high pitched than anxiety.

Anxiety and panic attacks are very frightening and very real to the person suffering the attack and no matter what anybody says they are medical conditions as real to the person as if they were suffering from heart disease. Although they are very scary once you stop letting the fears take over, you’ll feel more in control. This is the first stage in getting better. You may be particularly vulnerable to anxiety and panic attacks if you are suffering from medical conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, severe pain or medical obesity.

Symptoms can include but are not limited to are: Rapid heart beat, palpitations (awareness of your heart beating), raised blood pressure feeling of tightness in the chest, breathlessness and hyperventilation (rapid, shallow breathing) sweating, pallor, chest pains, feelings of light-headedness and dizziness. Shaking and trembling pins and needles (caused by hyperventilation) usually in hands or feet. Feeling of intense fear and/or impending doom headaches and muscular aches and pains. Insomnia, irritability, nightmares fatigue digestive disturbances, e.g.nausea and/or vomiting, abdominal pain anddiarrhoea. Feeling cut off from yourself and other people, fear of dying, desensitization, depersonalization, feeling of unreality, depression, numbness and difficulty falling or staying asleep. symptoms of panic attacks, feelings of unreality, bodily sensations, body muscles, nausea and diarrhoea, natural instinct, flight reaction, derealisation, muscle tension, abdominal distress, tightness in chest, pounding heart,

Anxiety and panic attacks are a relatively short period of very intense fear and can start with an unpleasant feeling in the throat and a sudden shortness of breath. Anxiety and panic attacks usually last for 10 minutes but more severe attacks may last up to two hours. They may be part of an underlying anxiety disorder such as phobias (irrational fear of, for example, crowds or open spaces), obsessive compulsive disorder (recurrent thoughts and repetitive behaviour), post-traumatic stress, depression or other psychological problems. Or anxiety can come about as a result of pressure at work, in school, at home or even when having a major event or change in your life like death of loved one or divorce.

Anxiety and panic attacks are disorders and although you might be able to put a quick fix together during attacks it is important that you find treatment to free yourself from this disorder and eliminate anxiety and panic attacks permanently. Anxiety medication may not work as it may mask the symptoms and when you stop taking the medication the attacks generally flare back up again. Ultimately because anxiety medication is superficial, it doesn’t treat the root cause of your anxiety.

Most disorders are clinically dependent on each other. Hence, there is a possibility of a relationship between panic attacks and menopause. In fact, according to a research, panic attacks and menopause are closely related to each other.

Many people with attacks have a tendency to develop a certain type of chemical imbalance due to the effect of the attacks on their overall bodies.

When a woman undergoes menopause, there is a kind of hormonal imbalance that occurs in the human body. It tends to create a suitable environment where the woman is vulnerable to a number of disorders related to anxiety.

However, every woman with menopause does not face panic attacks. Hence, it should not be made a standard effect.

In order to rule out panic attacks during menopause, it is not necessary to take any medications.

1)  Here are certain symptoms shown by women who experience attacks during menopause:

a) Rapid breath and shallowly

b) Breathe with the muscles of the chest, shoulders and neck

c) Do not use diaphragm for breathing

If you notice any of the above mentioned symptoms, it would be best to seek help of a health care practitioner.

Women who experience panic attacks during menopause tend to get more frequent attacks in the long run.

Menopausal attacks may appear as a great shock to woman who have never experienced any sort of anxiety in their lives.

2)  The symptoms of menopausal panic attacks starts at the age of thirty five. These can be a symptom for many of the hormonal problems or changes faced by women such as the following:

a) Menopause

b) Premenstrual dysphoric disorder or (PMDD)

c) Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

d) Perimenopause

If an early diagnosis is done, one can get a great relief from panic disorder that result done to menopause. It is very important for peromenopausal women and family physicians to be aware of any possibility of a co-occurring condition such as panic attack.

These days, most adult females are going through or appreciating menopause. Hence, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of menopausal panic attacks.

You need to take preventative measures in this regard. There are several steps to do so. You must go for re-examination of certain medications to hold back panics. You may be required to increase the dosage or change the medications so as to prevent any sort of additional complications.

There are several therapies one can adopt in order to get rid of panic attacks during menopause.

Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy can be extremely beneficial for treating panic attacks during menopause.

There is also cognitive behavioral therapy to eliminate panic attacks. Certain medications are also available for overcoming panic attacks.

 

Most experts agree that our modern life style is frequently to blame for the extra levels of stress in our lives: less exercise, a breakdown in family support and communication, more pressure at work; it is hardly surprising these facts aggravate the problem. This results in stress being among the top ten most common ailments suffered in the UK.

A certain amount of stress in life is beneficial, however, long term stress can have an adverse effect on our well-being. Consider this fact: a stressed person’s body will produce excess adrenaline, resulting in an increase in heart beat, along with higher blood pressure. Depression, low libido, anxiety, hair loss, eczema and irritable bowel, can all be attributed to stress, resulting in a figure as high as 90% of visits to the doctor being stress-related.

A stimulant gives you short term energy by inducing a stress reaction. In order for your body to have the energy to respond to its perceived state of stress, it is usual to eat or drink more, resulting more often than not in an increase in blood pressure. This is known as a ‘fight or flight’ reaction and originated in pre-history when stress was caused by something like meeting a sabre-toothed tiger round the corner and having the option of fighting it or running away. The action of running away or fighting would use up the extra energy generated by the stress and return the body to its normal, non-stressed state.

Modern stresses tend not to be resolved by physical actions such as running away. In the wenty-first century men and women are more likely to be stressed in a traffic jam, or when meeting with their financial advisor. So the body remains stressed for longer, with no way of resolving it. In a state of stress, the body stops repairing itself, so that it can concentrate on reacting to the perceived stress. For an occasional stressful event this isn’t a problem, but he long-term result is that the more you stress your body, the less your body repairs itself and the faster you will age.

Avoiding stress is all very well in theory, but many people have worries that they can’t resolve, and statistics report that one in every twenty people have such problems that they suffer from panic attacks.

Panic attacks can be described as an intense surge of anxiety creating physical symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, chest pains, choking, sweating, trembling or feelings of being smothered, which can be extremely frightening.

Conventionally, sufferers may be prescribed tranquillizers, but some of these can have unpleasant side-effects including appetite loss, headaches, vision disorders and even seizures. On completion of drug therapy, patients may suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, blurred vision, dizziness, irritability and others, so many prefer to try natural alternatives before resorting to drugs.

Certain every-day substances can act as stressors – for instance: caffeine (in coffee and some fizzy drinks), sugar (including that in alcohol) and cigarettes. These should be avoided.

Beyond eliminating the above stimulants, many people like to take a natural remedy. Possibly the simplest of these is the Bach Flower “Rescue Remedy”, readily available at most pharmacists.

Another natural alternative that has been used for relieving anxiety, stress and restlessness is Kava Kava, a staple Polynesian traditional medicine, shown in numerous scientific studies to effectively reduce both general and menopausal anxiety. It acts on the limbic system, the brain’s most primitive system, which is associated with control of the emotional state. If taken with other drugs possessing tranquillising/sedative effects (e.g. benzodiazepines, butryrophenones) necessitate medical supervision in order to establish the optimum dosage.

With Kava being banned in some countries, the individual should conduct their own research as to whether its use is both safe and legal.

In the UK, at the time of writing (2009) L-Theanine, an amino acid found almost exclusively in green tea, is growing in popularity as an alternative to Kava Kava. Green tea is the second most popular drink in the world (after water) and has long been known as a relaxing beverage. Scientists now believe that both its taste and relaxing properties are attributable to its L-Theanine content. It is available in the UK from Solgar. http://www.solgar.co.uk/modules/shop/view.asp?catid=1&Prodcode=E2706

Websites I have researched are unclear about safety and legality so a safer and more tailored approach is to visit a professionally qualified homeopath or herbalist; either will take a detailed case history and recommend the best individual formulation for your circumstances.

Please note that no-one taking medication prescribed by their GP should take any additional products without his supervision, nor should they alter any instructions or dosages for their medication.

Alternatively, a life coach or counselor could help you explore stressful issues and circumstances in your life, with a view to reacting differently and thereby reducing stress and panic attacks.

Too many victims of panic attacks keep their condition private for fear of embarrassment. They struggle with the internal conflict of phobias and fears in solitude. Unfortunately, this self-help philosophy rarely produces any measurable results because the patient does not have enough resources to succeed. A support network is vital to the success of panic attack treatment since it helps to keep the patient focused on the challenges. This support network can come in many different forms, but it is typically comprised of three groups.
Family
One of the most obvious places to turn for support is within the family structure. Parents and siblings are often the first people to notice the changing behavior patterns associated with anxiety disorders. Because of this, their feedback can be a valuable tool when panic attacks reoccur. Overcoming panic attacks can be a long journey with numerous setbacks and challenges, and the steadying influence of family support is vital to helping the patient succeed
Friends
Friends may not have a hereditary relationship with patient, but their strong bond and trust level often make them the first place patients turn for support. While it can be difficult to offer advice for a condition that many are unfamiliar with, friends should realize that just being there can be enough to help sufferers through the rough days. There are also group therapy situations that friends can attend, and these are not only therapeutic for the patient, but they can also help supporters learn more about panic attacks.
Doctors
Having panic disorder diagnosed by a doctor is an important stage of recovery. Not only does it help the patient come to terms with the issue, but it also allows the opportunity to explore treatment options. Doctors carry the responsibility of recommending targeted treatments for panic attacks, while also monitoring the techniques and adjusting when necessary. These more scientific tasks hold some of the keys to overcoming panic attacks, but the best results come when the support network works as whole.
It is possible to stop panic attacks from overwhelming the lives of its victims, but successful treatment usually requires a network of supporters. The obstacles of panic disorder can be numerous, which in turn increases the likelihood of failure or relapse. This is where a solid support network will provide the encouragement and reassurance necessary to succeed. But the first step in recovery is for the patient to learn how to control panic attacks, and that process begins at http://controlpanicattack.com

We have watched Tony Soprano go in and talk to his therapist as well as Robert DeNiro, the crime boss talking to his therapist played by Billy Crystal in the movie ‘Analyze This’.  Watch any soap opera and they will get around to having a character see a shrink. Bob Newhart had a popular comedy show about a psychologist and his hilarious contacts with his patients from group therapy. So we all know about therapy.  Some of us think that only real sickos go in to visit a shrink and some of us won’t even admit we might need a helping hand from a therapist. There are different approaches to therapy and you need to know this because if you go to therapy you want to know which approach your therapist is using. You can choose because you have the up front knowledge you got here. Psychotherapy: This is the most famous kind of therapy we have heard of where a person goes in, lays down on a couch or sits in an easy chair, and talks about his mother.  It’s probably the worst way to treat depression. Sigmund Freud started this idea which said that behavior today is caused by our childhood conflicts.  Before a person can get better, he or she must solve the riddle of why he did things as a child. Insight must be achieved. You have to know exactly why you got depressed before you get any better.  The results of this type therapy have not been very effective. You can work and work and find out why you do the things you do but if you don’t change your behavior, no good results happen.  You are talking about the past and trying to analyze things that happened maybe forty years ago. The therapist typically sits there and tells you nothing, wanting you to come to your own conclusions. This therapy can go on forever, or as long as you have the money to afford it.  Few insurance companies are going to foot the bill for this drawn out therapy.  Only someone like Woody Allen can afford to keep it going. Behavioral Therapy: In this type of therapy the only thing you will be talking about is your behavior, what you did. The basis of this therapy is that you are feeling depression because of what you did. This therapist won’t be going into your past and asking about your parents or your birth order. This therapist wants to hear what is happening and then will work with you to change your behavior and do it now.  It works very well for many people. Cognitive Therapy: This therapy has as it’s belief that all emotion comes from thoughts. The basis for this therapy is for you to interrupt your thoughts, ask if they are really good and true, and discard them if they are not.  This therapy says that you have to review the way you typically think. Then you ask yourself if this thinking is based on good sound information. If you decide it is not, you need to change your way of thinking. It is a good therapy for someone who likes to spend a lot of time thinking about and analyzing their thoughts.  For others it’s way too complicated.

As Fibromyalgia (FM) sufferers we are often made to feel like our pain is “all in your head”, but research has consistently proven that Fibromyalgia is not a form of depression or hypochondria. IT IS REAL!  However, there is a connection between FM and other chronic pain conditions to depression and anxiety.  Treatment is important because both can make FM worse and interfere with symptom management.

There is some debate by medical and mental professionals about what causes what.  The “What came first?  The chicken or the egg” debate translates into “What came first?  The chronic pain or the depression?”  TRUE Fibromyalgia experts, researchers and others know that the chronic pain of FM & overlapping conditions leads to depression and anxiety. 

Fibromyalgia is a common condition in which a person suffers from chronic musculoskeletal pain. There are points called tender points, sometimes all over the body, and these tender and painful points are used as part of the diagnosis of FM. Individuals with FM may also be more susceptible to pain in general. Whenever the tender points are simply touched, they can send sharp pain impulses. Many Fibromyalgia sufferers experience pain all over and some experience pain only in specific regions. It can involve the muscles and the joints. Sometimes, there is so much pain that it is hard to pinpoint exactly where the pain originates.  Fibromyalgia is often accompanied by other overlapping conditions such as chronic myofascial pain (CMP), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), restless legs syndrome (RLS), migraine & tension headaches, interstitial cystitis (IC), mitral valve prolapse (MVP), cognitive dysfunction, depression, anxiety and more.  The symptoms of Fibromyalgia, alone, are wide-ranging and debilitating.  Do they really think that depression and anxiety is the CAUSE for ALL of the above?

Depression is a mental illness characterized by feelings of profound sadness and lack of interest in enjoyable activities. It is a constant low mood that interferes with the ability to function and appreciate things in life. It may cause a wide range of symptoms, both physical and emotional. It can last for weeks, months, or years. People with depression rarely recover without treatment and if you have Fibromyalgia, you may have to fight it for the rest of your life.

Anxiety is a normal state of apprehension, tension, and uneasiness in response to a real or perceived threat.  Although anxiety is considered a normal response to temporary periods of stress or uncertain situations, prolonged, intense, periods of anxiety may indicate an anxiety disorder. Other indicators of an anxiety disorder are anxiety that occurs without an external threat and anxiety that impairs daily functioning.

What can cause depression & anxiety?  Stressful life events, chronic stress, low self-esteem, imbalances in brain chemicals and hormones, lack of control over circumstances (helplessness and hopelessness), negative thought patterns and beliefs, chronic pain, chronic physical or mental illness, including thyroid disease & headaches can ALL cause both.  Little or no social  and familial support can be a main factor in depression for FM patients. Family history of depression & anxiety can also be a factor.

Lack of quality sleep is also believed to have an influence on depression.  Since FM & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients tend to have insomnia and/or other sleep disorders, it stands to reason that poor sleep can lead to depression.

There is a wide variety of medications, vitamins, minerals, herbs and therapies that can help ease the impact of pain, anxiety and depression.  With so many out there, you and your doctor may have to go through the process of trial and error to find what works best for you!

Exercise is not only good for FM, it is also highly beneficial for depression and anxiety.  Recent studies suggest exercise can change your brain chemistry. Exercising can boost your level of serotonin, a brain chemical that is effects mood and pain perception. It can also stimulate the production of endorphins, natural painkillers that can give you an overall feeling of well-being.

Exercise is a great for stress, too. It relieves muscle tension and it gets the heart rate up. The combination makes us more relaxed and alert, which helps us deal with our problems in a calmer and more controlled way.

There are several other methods you can use to combat stress, including: meditation, deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, mental imagery relaxation, relaxation to music, biofeedback, counseling – to help you recognize and release stress. 

You can learn more about this topic, medications, supplements, alternative therapies and more at my website AND I will be writing more articles – so check back here!

As Fibromyalgia (FM) sufferers we are often made to feel like our pain is “all in your head”, but research has consistently proven that Fibromyalgia is not a form of depression or hypochondria. IT IS REAL!  However, there is a connection between FM and other chronic pain conditions to depression and anxiety.  Treatment is important because both can make FM worse and interfere with symptom management.

There is some debate by medical and mental professionals about what causes what.  The “What came first?  The chicken or the egg” debate translates into “What came first?  The chronic pain or the depression?”  TRUE Fibromyalgia experts, researchers and others know that the chronic pain of FM & overlapping conditions leads to depression and anxiety. 

Fibromyalgia is a common condition in which a person suffers from chronic musculoskeletal pain. There are points called tender points, sometimes all over the body, and these tender and painful points are used as part of the diagnosis of FM. Individuals with FM may also be more susceptible to pain in general. Whenever the tender points are simply touched, they can send sharp pain impulses. Many Fibromyalgia sufferers experience pain all over and some experience pain only in specific regions. It can involve the muscles and the joints. Sometimes, there is so much pain that it is hard to pinpoint exactly where the pain originates.  Fibromyalgia is often accompanied by other overlapping conditions such as chronic myofascial pain (CMP), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), restless legs syndrome (RLS), migraine & tension headaches, interstitial cystitis (IC), mitral valve prolapse (MVP), cognitive dysfunction, depression, anxiety and more.  The symptoms of Fibromyalgia, alone, are wide-ranging and debilitating.  Do they really think that depression and anxiety is the CAUSE for ALL of the above?

Depression is a mental illness characterized by feelings of profound sadness and lack of interest in enjoyable activities. It is a constant low mood that interferes with the ability to function and appreciate things in life. It may cause a wide range of symptoms, both physical and emotional. It can last for weeks, months, or years. People with depression rarely recover without treatment and if you have Fibromyalgia, you may have to fight it for the rest of your life.

Anxiety is a normal state of apprehension, tension, and uneasiness in response to a real or perceived threat.  Although anxiety is considered a normal response to temporary periods of stress or uncertain situations, prolonged, intense, periods of anxiety may indicate an anxiety disorder. Other indicators of an anxiety disorder are anxiety that occurs without an external threat and anxiety that impairs daily functioning.

What can cause depression & anxiety?  Stressful life events, chronic stress, low self-esteem, imbalances in brain chemicals and hormones, lack of control over circumstances (helplessness and hopelessness), negative thought patterns and beliefs, chronic pain, chronic physical or mental illness, including thyroid disease & headaches can ALL cause both.  Little or no social  and familial support can be a main factor in depression for FM patients. Family history of depression & anxiety can also be a factor.

Lack of quality sleep is also believed to have an influence on depression.  Since FM & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients tend to have insomnia and/or other sleep disorders, it stands to reason that poor sleep can lead to depression.

There is a wide variety of medications, vitamins, minerals, herbs and therapies that can help ease the impact of pain, anxiety and depression.  With so many out there, you and your doctor may have to go through the process of trial and error to find what works best for you!

Exercise is not only good for FM, it is also highly beneficial for depression and anxiety.  Recent studies suggest exercise can change your brain chemistry. Exercising can boost your level of serotonin, a brain chemical that is effects mood and pain perception. It can also stimulate the production of endorphins, natural painkillers that can give you an overall feeling of well-being.

Exercise is a great for stress, too. It relieves muscle tension and it gets the heart rate up. The combination makes us more relaxed and alert, which helps us deal with our problems in a calmer and more controlled way.

There are several other methods you can use to combat stress, including: meditation, deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, mental imagery relaxation, relaxation to music, biofeedback, counseling – to help you recognize and release stress. 

You can learn more about this topic, medications, supplements, alternative therapies and more at my website AND I will be writing more articles – so check back here!