What are anxiety attacks? (otherwise known as panic attacks) According to the American Psychiatric Association (1994), a panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort and consists of 4 or more of the symptoms listed below. Panic attacks have an abrupt onset and the symptoms peak within 10 minutes. What are the symptoms of a …
OCD is characterised by recurrent obsessions or compulsions that are time consuming or cause significant distress or impairment. Obsessions are persistent ideas, thoughts, images or impulses which are experienced by the sufferer as anxiety provoking or distressing. The sufferer has difficulty switching his train of thought onto another topic. It’s like when one plays a scratched …
Worrying too much? It is normal to worry a little but if you are troubled by constant worries it is possible that you may have generalized anxiety disorder. The difference between “normal” worriers and people who are are considered to have an anxiety disorder, is that GAD sufferers worry about worrying. Worry definition Worrying has been …
According to the American Psychiatric Association (1994), post traumatic stress disorder develops after someone is exposed to an extremely traumatic event and they reacted to the event with intense fear, horror or helplessness. Such traumatic events include: war torture rape child sexual or physical assault physical assault being kidnapped terrorism a natural disaster (e.g. a bushfire, …
A specific phobia is an intense fear of a particular thing like a dog, or a situation like flying in an aeroplane. People’s fear of the object or situation is so severe that they may experience physical symptoms of anxiety, and even have panic attacks, when confronted with it, or even anticipating having to deal with …
Anxiety sufferers are advised to pay attention to dietary and lifestyle factors which can aggravate anxiety (Andrews, Creamer, Crino, Hunt, Lampe & Page, 2003). Caffeine Avoid or limit caffeine. Chocolate, some high energy drinks, hot chocolate beverages, coffee, tea & cola drinks all contain caffeine, a stimulant which accelerates the fight or flight response. Caffeine can …
Regular physical exercise is a simple and effective means of reducing stress. Physical exercise is the outlet for the body when it’s in the fight or flight state. Exercise releases the natural chemicals — such as adrenalin — that accumulate during stress. Exercise relieves chronic muscle tension, reduces insomnia and decreases depression and anxiety. Exercise also: …
What does cognitive behavioural therapy involve? Cognitive behavoural therapy posits that how you think affects how you feel, and that your emotions influence your behaviour. Therefore if you think realistic, helpful thoughts you will feel and function better. The example below — for someone who fears having a panic attack on a train — highlights the …
Exposure therapy is often essential if you are to overcome your anxiety disorder.The cognitive behavioural treatment of conditions such as: panic with agoraphobia, simple phobias, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and post traumatic stress usually entails an exposure component. That is, you must subject yourself in the situations you are worried about. Although this sounds frightening, your therapist will give …
Many anxiety sufferers breathe too fast and shallow. When confronted with a feared scenario they breathe rapidly which leads to increased shortness of breath and further hyperventilation. Some Symptoms of Hyperventilation dizziness lightheadedness lump in the throat fatigue poor concentration choking sensation difficulty swallowing racng heart shaking blurred vision shortness of breath chest pain disorientation tingly …