How To Identify Stress And Anxiety?

Every human being is an emotional being. The levels of emotions may be high or low. But when that level is disturbed, you have stress and anxiety. The dividing line between these two negative tendencies is very thin. Your anxiety may be due to stress or your stress may be due to anxiety. Every stress and anxiety has a root cause to it. And the symptoms are the by products of such causes.

The first symptom of stress is that you are not a normal person, when you are seized with it. Your face will indicate what you are! They say the face is the mirror of the man. Your emotions will be disturbed and it will show up on your face.

You have a feeling that is difficult to explain. You have only questions, with no definite answers. If there are answers, they are multiple answers. You see several options before you, you see several paths before you, but unable to decide which one is yours. The worry and uncertainty of the failure haunts you. You are totally confused. All these are stress symptoms.

Further, with the feeling of anxiety your self-esteem is hurt and motivation is punctured. You feel that you have come to a dead end. It is a state of uneasiness that you are unable to explain with convincing reasons. You are a split personality. Your emotions are not responding to your reason. You begin to come to haphazard conclusions. Most importantly, you don't understand why you feel what you feel. The way you feel. You are facing some grim experiences and your attitude turns cynical. You feel that the human beings are ignoble. You feel that the whole world is ignoble!

To walk to your freedom from the levels of stress of anxiety, you need to walk from darkness to light, from the secret den to the open sun. The fire-brand personality within you has to bloom. There is nothing wrong in the situations around you. Everything is happening the way it should! At the moment you may feel that it is working to your disadvantage. Your present confusion is due to your wrong perception of matters, not due to the reality of the issue involved. You are unnecessarily seeing the serpent in the rope, due the surrounding darkness. When the light is thrown in that area, you see that it a piece of lifeless rope!

What could be the root causes of symptoms of your stress and anxiety? Whenever you make compromises with your deep core values and your present disposition, your harmony is disturbed. Similarly, when you are worried about your future, future of your children due to economic or social circumstances it makes you anxious.

The right attitude is to live life in its trials, tribulations duty and beauty. God has created you for a purpose, try your best to fulfill it, without any motivated fear! Destroy the negative feelings, before they sprout!

Depression And Anxiety Could Be Cured By Natural Supplements

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem, and include panic disorders, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Anxiety disorders develop due to an interplay between enviromnental and genetic factors. Cognitive behavior therapy is useful for this disorder, as well as prescription anxiolytic drugs.

However, many patients prefer a natural approach or dislike the side effects of prescription drugs, and there are many non-prescription supplements available to help anxiety. Before starting natural supplements for an anxiety problem, be sure to mention your concerns and get a general checkup from your doctor. Symptoms resembling anxiety and anxiety attacks can be caused by physical diseases such as hormone imbalance, hyperthyroidism or cardiac arrhythmias.

However, if you are sure your problem is an anxiety disorder, the following supplements may be of help, and often have fewer side effects than commercial pharmaceutical products.

Chamomile tea is one of the best-known natural remedies for anxiety. Its affects the digestive tract and the nervous system, thus it is helpful for people who suffer from gastro-intestinal symptoms such as cramps along with mental anxiety. It is recommended that patients drink fresh tea made with chamomile leaves, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per cup of water, several times a day. It is also available in tinctures which can be added to water. Chamomile capsules are convenient to take along to work, and don't take as long to brew as the tea. The usual dose is 250 to 500 mg 3 to 4 times daily.

Damiana (Turnera diffusa) is a nerve tonic which also has a restorative (adaptogenic) property. It has a calming effect in cases of mild depression and anxiety, and is also reputed to be an aphrodisiac. Damiana contains flavonoids that act on benzodiazepine and GABA receptors. It exhibits anxiolytic activity, muscle relaxation and sedation. Use 2-4 g of dried leaves infused in a cup of boiling water; 2-3 cups are taken daily. Alternatively, 2-4 ml of a liquid extract or 3-4 grams of powdered leaf in tablets or capsules taken twice daily can be substituted if desired. 

Damiana has demonstrated mild hypoglycemic effects in animal studies. Patients with diabetes and hypoglycemia should use this plant with caution, and monitor blood sugar levels closely. Damiana has a traditional use as an abortive and is contraindicated during pregnancy.

Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) has a very quick calming effect on the nervous system and causes an uplifting, euphoric feeling. It is also a muscle relaxant and mild sedative. It is helps anxiety, tension, stress, irritability and insomnia. Kava stops the mind from racing, often a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder. 

The usual dose is 750 mg twice daily. Do not exceed 4 capsules per day. 

Kava Kava is a traditional Polynesian remedy, and while it has been used safely by Polynesians for centuries, now that it has become popular worldwide it has been linked to some cases of liver failure in people of other ethnic groups who have difficulty metabolizing it. Ask a health care professional before use if you have a history of liver problems, frequently use alcoholic beverages, or are taking any medication. Stop and see a doctor if you develop symptoms that may signal liver problems (e.g., unexplained fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools, yellow eyes or skin). 

Do not use kava kava if less than 18 years of age, or if pregnant/breastfeeding. Do not combine with alcoholic beverages, or prescription anxiolytics or antidepressants . Excessive use, or use with products that cause drowsiness, may impair your ability to operate a vehicle or heavy equipment. Do not take Kava Kava on a daily basis for more than four weeks without consulting a health care provider. Take frequent breaks from use.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is most often used for insomnia, but it can also be taken in the daytime to reduce the effects of stress and anxiety. This herb is often included in European formulas for heart palpitations, which often have anxiety as a component. It is taken in capsule form, 500 mg daily, or 20-30 drops of tincture, or as a fresh tea. Passionflower, though it helps bring on natural sleep, does not have the sedative effects of many prescription sleeping pills.

Pulsatilla is a homeopathic remedy said to be most suitable for shy, hypersensitive people who tend to feel warm rather than cold. Homeopathic practitioners recommend a 30C potency 2-4 times daily for relief of acute symptoms, and 30C or 6C 1-2 times daily for chronic use. Homeopathic remedies use miniscule concentrations of compounds to "nudge" the body into healing itself. They either help or they do not; there are no toxic side effects.

Scullcup (Scutellaria lateriflora) is a relaxing and gentle sedative for the central nervous system. It is very good for nervous tension and for nervous exhaustion plus neurological and neuromotor problems. The dose is 10-20 drops of fresh plant tincture or 1-2 dropperfuls of dried plant tincture. Skullcap can also be sleep inducing, but it is rarely habituating.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is commonly used for depression, but helps anxiety as well. Use a 300 mg extract 3 times daily. Quality varies widely between brands; it is best to buy a product standardized to contain 3-5% hyperforin and 0.3% hypericin. It works by increasing the level of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system such as serotonin and dopamine. Do not use this product if also taking prescription antidepressants.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) has been used since Greek and Roman times to promote sleep and relaxation. It can treat insomnia, anxiety, and stress related gastrointestinal upset. According to one theory, valerian affects the brain in a way similar to valium; while another theory holds that valerian contains GABA, a neurotransmitter which has a calming affect on the brain, or else influences the brain's natural production of GABA. Also, some reasearchers believe that valerian affects serotonin levels in a manner similar to anitdepressant drugs such as Prozac.

If using valerian to treat insomnia, take the herb 30 to 60 minutes before going to bed. It can be taken 2-4 times daily to help stress and anxiety. The recommended dose of tincture is 30-60 drops, or a capsule or tablet of 300-500 mg.

Some people feel groggy after taking valerian; if this occurs, lower the dose. Avoid hazardous activities while using valerian, and do not combine it with other sedatives, antidepressants or alcohol. Do not take valerian for more than 3 weeks, as it can be habituating.

Verbena (Verbena officinalis) is a relaxing nervous system tonic indicated for a wide range of nervous disorders including nervous exhaustion and stress. As a tincture, use 2-4 mls up to 4 times daily. Avoid use during pregnancy as this herb is a uterine stimulant.

Withania (Withania somnifera) is an ayurvedic herb sold under the name Ashwaghanda. It is a very good tonic herb that is especially helpful for debility and nervous exhaustion due to stress. It has steriodal, adaptogenic, sedative and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also useful for panic attacks and phobic disorders such as agoraphobia. Use 1 tsp powder 3 times daily.

Anxiety Treatment - The Natural Remedy for Anxiety Relief

L-Theanine, naturally occurring in green tea, proves effective in dealing with anxiety symptoms and providing anxiety relief. 

Anxiety is a state of intense fear, uncertainty, uneasiness, or apprehension due to anticipation of an imagined or real threatening future event. Anxiety can be both physically and psychologically devastating to the Anxiety sufferer's life. Anxiety is often sub-categorized according to the focus of the perceived threat. There is social anxiety, separation anxiety, dating anxiety, performance anxiety, math anxiety, etc. Stress and anxiety often go hand in hand and can result in anxiety depression as the individual feels powerless to receive any anxiety help.

There are a variety of anti-anxiety treatments to consider in overcoming anxiety. For some, anxiety medications prove to be a source of anxiety relief. Other's prefer not to use any of the anti-anxiety drugs and opt for more natural cures for anxiety management. These may include herbs for anxiety, acupuncture anxiety treatments, anxiety vitamins, aromatherapy for anxiety relief, even hypnosis has has proved beneficial overcoming anxiety.

This article discusses the perhaps little known amino acid L-Theanine as a natural remedy for anxiety relief.

L-Theanine is a unique free form amino acid found only in the tea plant and in the mushrooms Xerocomus badius and certain species of genus Camellia, C. japonica and C. sasanqua. Often drinkers of green tea report a feeling of calmness they feel after ingesting a cup or two even though green tea has roughly half the caffeine of coffee. This is due to the high L-Theanine content.

In addition to reducing anxiety symptoms, studies have shown L-Theanine may be effective in promoting concentration, supporting the immune system, improving learning performance, lowering blood pressure, increasing formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, and increasing brain dopamine levels among other positive benefits with no known downside.

Studies in cooperation with Taiyo Kagaku Co., The University of Shizuoka, and The Family Planning Institute of Japan have shown that women taking 200 mg L-Theanine daily have lower incidence of PMS symptoms. These symptoms include physical, mental, and social symptoms. Overall, a significant alleviation of PMS symptoms by L-Theanine was observed. 

While still under investigation, L-Theanine appears to have a role in the formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA). GABA blocks release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, playing a key role in the relaxation effect. 

Everyone knows the effects stress and anxiety can have on an individual's physical state of well-being. Fascinating neurochemistry research has revealed that given a shot of GABA essentially turned back the clocks in the brains of older monkeys, whose brain function briefly operated at levels normally seen in monkeys less than half their age.

GABA, or gamma-amino butyric acid, is a neurotransmitter chemical that is essential for optimizing how brain cells transmit messages to each other and acts to put a damper on unwanted brain signaling activity. Although GABA's age-related decline has not been documented in humans, a host of studies in mammals, including other primates, suggests that a similar process is at work in people.

Monkeys ages 26 and 32 -- considered old age for monkeys -- that got GABA directly delivered to their neurons responded to visual patterns, such as flashing vertical and horizontal lines, in much the same way as monkeys aged 7 to 9 years old did. 

Without GABA delivery, the monkeys' aged brains had more difficulty firing neurons that specifically gauge various aspects of depth perception, motion and color. Instead, older monkeys have more random firings that make it difficult to observe visual nuances. In younger monkeys, GABA had no effect since their brains already had optimal GABA functioning.

L-Theanine is considered to be safe based on its historical use as a component of tea and on favorable toxicology studies. Tea is the most consumed beverage worldwide after water, and has been consumed for thousands of years by billions of people. It is estimated that a heavy tea drinker (6-8 cups daily) will consume between 200 to 400 mg of L-Theanine daily.

While dosage for depression and anxiety disorder remain individual, it is recommended to take 100 to 200 mg 1 to 3 times daily for anxiety relief. Based on the results of clinical studies, it has been established that L-Theanine is effective in single dosages in the range of 50-200 mg. It is suggested that subjects with higher levels of anxiety take a dose at the higher end of the effective range (100 - 200 mg) for overcoming anxiety.

Anxiety, Depression and Defense Mechanisms

Sigmund Freud, the Father of Psychoanalysis, came up with his own theory of explaining the occurrence of anxiety and depression as part of human experience. His explanation of this phenomena traces its origin from the three divisions of the psyche. According to Freud, the human psyche is divided into the id, ego, and superego. These three divisions are only acquired eventually as a person also grows. To have a better understanding of the psyche and its three divisions, one should start with the world and its components.

The world is made up of numerous and different components, and one of those components is the human organism. A human organism has a special ability to survive and reproduce, his guiding force being his needs such as hunger, thirst, fear of pain and sex. It should be noted that these needs are part of a person's unconscious mind. A person's psyche is sensitive to these needs and transforms them into instincts, drives or wishes. This division of the psyche functions with a process called the “pleasure principle” and it is described as the id's responsibility to take care of the needs immediately. This behavior is mostly observed during infancy just like when a baby cries when it is hungry or thirsty. However, when a person's need is not satisfied by the id his or her need just becomes stronger. 

This need then enters  the  conscious mind which is associated to another division of the psyche. This part of the psyche is called the ego and it relates a person's consciousness or reality. This part of the psyche operates based on the “reality principle.” The reality principle is about the belief that the ego will respond to satisfy the need as soon as it finds the appropriate object to satisfy it. However, as the ego continuously responds to an organism's needs, it sometimes experiences obstacles against attaining its goals as well as things that assist it to attain the goals. The ego keeps track of these two types of factors, particularly the rewards and punishments that are given by two of the most influential persons in an organism's life, his or her parents. The records that the ego keep about obstacles to avoid and the strategies it must take are all passed onto the superego, the third division of a person's psyche. It is only when someone is around five or seven years old that this part of the psyche becomes complete.

The superego is divided into two subparts, the conscience and the ego ideal. The conscience is the internalization of the punishments and the warnings while the ego ideal is based on the rewards and positive models that a person had encountered. The superego, together with its subparts, communicate their own requirements to the ego through feelings such as shame, guilt, and pride. Because of the existence of the superego, a person also acquires a new set of needs as well as wishes. However, these new sets of needs are based on social rather than biological origins. These new wishes coming from the superego are sometimes in conflict with the wishes from the id, often leaving the ego overwhelmed or threatened.  

This overwhelmed and threatened feeling of the ego is where anxiety comes from. According to Freud, there are three kinds of anxiety. The first kind is called realistic anxiety and it takes the form of human fears which are consequences of threats from the physical world. The second one is known as moral anxiety and it is a result of the threat that the ego perceives from the social world. It usually takes the form of feelings such as guilt, shame, and fear of punishment. Finally, the third kind of anxiety is called neurotic anxiety and it is a result of the fear of being overwhelmed by the impulses from the id.

In order for the ego to deal with these threats without feeling overwhelmed, it sometimes unconsciously blocks the impulses or distorts them into more acceptable forms. This process of blocking and distorting is what Freud called a “defense mechanism.”

Defense mechanisms come in various forms. One mechanism in particular is called turning against self. This happens when a person feels negative impulses such as hatred, aggression, and anger towards others but displaces these impulses to one's self. This explains human emotions of inferiority, guilt, and depression. Depression, Freud further explains, actually results from anger that a person refuses to acknowledge.

As more and more people, nowadays, experience having problems with regards to their anxieties and depression, a better understanding of these concepts from a Freudian perspective can actually help in resolving it. According to Freud, resolution can only be achieved when a person is made aware of those experiences or ideas in the unconscious and therapy be directed to the root of the problems which are most likely rooted in the unconscious.

Causes Of Social Anxiety

Social anxiety or social phobia has many varied causes, including biological, psychological and social. However, each one may be intertwined so it is hard to specify exacting ones. Though it is not yet known if social anxiety is caused by a genetic disposition or something learned through family social conditioning, it does appear that it can run in the family.

The first group of causes include environmental and social. It is believed by some social phobia experts that it is possible to learn this from the environment in which you are in. It has been suggested that simply interacting and watching others with similar tendencies can be influential. Also, it is possible that overprotective and controlling parents may develop this in their children and fail to recognize the disorder in them because they too suffer from it and consider it to be perfectly normal. Others think that people may develop social phobias based on a negative childhood event, including bullying, public embarrassment and teasing. Such indicators include disfigurement, abuse (sexual and physical), neglect, speech impediments or conflicts within a family.

The second group of causes of social anxiety is thought to be due to psychological or emotional trauma experienced in childhood. The subsequent symptoms may be the direct result of unresolved traumatic experiences such as car accidents, abuse, relationship breakdowns, humiliation or even a natural disaster. The key elements of that are common amongst all people suffering anxiety as a result of traumas include an event or experience that was not expected, the person was not prepared for, and there was little if anything that the person could have done to have pretended it from occurring. However, such traumas can also run deeper, including a poor bonding between the major caregiver and the person during childhood. The person may well have not learned the skills needed to regulate calmness, self-soothing and focus during stressful events.

The third social anxiety cause is biological in nature, including biochemical reactions, the structure of the brain and the possibility of the disorder having been inherited genetically. In genetical inheritance, most researchers believe that the main part of the disorder is born out of inhibited behavior. Young babies with such a disposition are quick to show stress and fear of unfamiliar situations and people, and as they grow into teenagers and adults, their risk for getting social phobia increases. Also, studies have shown that it may also have something do with the section of your brain that controls fears (amygdale). Through CAT scans, doctors have found that people with this disorder have an excess amount of activity in the amygdale and too little in the prefrontal brain cortex. Biochemically speaking, more studies indicate that an imbalance in the serotonin levels in the brain, dopamine, GABA and neurotransmitters may be to blame.

The most common group that social anxiety disorder sufferers fall into is the second. Each and everyday, many people, young and old, experience traumas, some of which they may well put behind them for many years, or at least they believe, but somewhere inside of them, they have not learned to cope with the resulting trauma, but in fact pushed the emotional side ‘under the carpet’ or so to speak. When this happens it is essential to get medical support and treatment. Such traumas as abuse, rape and other experiences can develop from social anxiety to include even post-traumatic shock disorder, which can attack any person at any time in their lives. It may manifest itself many years later, even after the trauma has since been apparently forgotten.

Though there are many cause of social anxiety phobias, the bottom line is that the result is an unnatural fear of social interaction and a lowered self-esteem that can not only hinder a person’s ability to function in everyday situations, but in some cases hinder the person’s ability to simply live a normal existence outside of their home. Sometimes the disorder is so debilitating that the person cannot even carry on regular daytime activities. If you or anyone you suspect may have this disorder, there is no shame in asking for medical help. This does not have to be a lifelong affliction, nor is it normal because someone else you know is dealing with it by pushing it away. Your family doctor is your best source of relief in this regard.