It is almost beyond belief how many people are suffering from anxiety disorders. While statistics may vary,reports are that 40 million people of all ages are in the throes of some form of the various anxiety disorders and are frantically looking for much  needed relief. That relief may come with the medications for anxiety, herbal or natural treatments or some sort of therapy  such as cognitive/behavioral therapy, relaxation therapy or faith based therapy to name a few. Although this is not intended to  be a scholarly analysis of these various medications, our purpose is to give you an enlightening overview of what they are, their use and their effects.

Let’s take a look at the solutions out there for you, and there’s more than one. This is not an advanced course in psychology or medicine - it’s just to help simplify your way to getting help. Our information is from the ADAA, the Anxiety Association of America. You will learn the names of specific medications, briefly see what they do and how they do it. First a word of caution: medications for anxiety are to be used only under a doctor’s care; and they are not a cure unto themselves. They are usually used before other therapies are introduced to reduce the debilitating symptoms so the individual is able to receive effective benefits from other therapies.

We’ll start with the antidepressants which increase the concentration of the substance known as serotonin, which then  alleviates the anxiety. There are three SSRI medications, the most recent antidepressants, and they are Zolaft, Paxil and  Prozac, names most of you are familiar with. These are used to treat social and generalized anxiety; posttraumatic stress  disorder; panic disorder; and obsessice compulsive disorder.

Next let’s look briefly at the Tricylic (TCA) antidepressants, also effective in treating anxirty, which are Doxeprin, Anafranil  and Vivactil. These antidepressants work in a similar way to the SSRIs and target basically the same disorders. In addition to  increasing the concentration of serotonin, the TCA also affects the activity of a substance called norepinepherine. Medical  reports indicate that while TCAs are effective medicines, their unpleasant side effects make them less preferable than the  SSRIs.

Finally, the MAOI which are the first or the oldest of the antidepressants are Marplan, Nardil and Parnate, and are classified  as inhibitors, because they work by blocking or inhibiting the influence of an important brain enzyme. The MAOI are  generally prescribed by doctors in the treatment of panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder.

Again, we recommend that before beginning any treatment including medication, you consult your doctor concerning both the  benefits and the side effects of each of these drugs. There are other medical interventions such as beta-blockers and anti  anxiety medication that are effective in relieving the symptoms of anxiety, but are usually short term treatment, and also carry  some unpleasant side effects such as dependency and withdrawal symptoms.

One of the main obstacles to be overcome in the decision to use medications for anxiety is the fear of the after effects - the  fear and stigma that you may become addicted to the drug and will have withdrawal symptoms. While that is a real possibility,  fear that you may become addicted to the drug and will have withdrawal symptoms.  While that is a real possibility, just make  sure you have a doctor well qualified to treat your specific anxiety disorder and that he knows his medicines and their side  effects.

Although this has not been a scholarly treatise on medications for anxiety, now you should know that anxiety disorders are  very treatable, and should hopefully know a little more about what the medications are and how they work. The good news  for you anxiety sufferers is that  these interventions are very effective in bringing the relief you’re seeking.

You might be one of those people who are suffering from frequent anxiety attack symptoms so you realize how really hard it is even to go into a crowded room. You yourself realize the utter horror that accompanies a relatively easy task like answering ones telephone or taking part in simple conversations. If you are living in the reality of that realm of anxiety attacks, you know that it is also a world of loneliness, self-distain, fear and hopelessness.

One can never really understand the frustration and misery produced by an anxiety attack until he makes a serious effort to research the symptoms and effects.  Unlike other diseases or sicknesses, anxiety disorders do not command the attention of the public as do others.  Many who are addicted with an anxiety disorder are too often ridiculed when they display anxiety symptoms.

To better understand the reality of an actual anxiety attack, think of a time when you were so stricken with fear that you lost complete control of your actions and your emotions.   Now imagine this fear coming upon you, perhaps with ever increasing intensity, at unexpected times wherever you may be every day. Just the expectation of that fear or dread coming again may trigger it to happen.
 

Have you made the great discovery of this age of turmoil and terror?  In case you haven’t, let me spell it out for you: there’s no escape from w-o-r-r-y and a-n-x-i-e-t-y! Practically everybody in every nation is afflicted with some form of worry or anxiety. It may be worry over the economy and personal finances, anxiety about your health or the health of a loved one, or you have experienced a traumatic situation that continues to torment your mind. Whatever the form or cause, whether it’s mild or serious, this condition must not be ignored.  While too many individuals suffering from this disorder believe there is no help available and are just trying to cope, others are seeking the cure for worry and anxiety.

One reason why some people do not seek help is because they deny the fact that they have a problem. If you or a loved one are having difficulty relaxing or sleeping at night; or if you have become unduly pre-occupied with fears that things aren’t right or that something dreadful is going to happen; if you find it difficult to focus or concentrate; if you experience dizziness, a feeling of terror, and think you are dying of a heart attack, then please understand that you may be suffering from Generalized Anxiety or a Panic Attack and you need to seek help.
 
There are various possibilities of why people experience worry and anxiety disorders, and it’s important that you understand the reason you are having this disorder.  By doing so, you may be able to take the proper steps to stop the attacks or at least to reduce the number of attacks.  Research reveals that determining the exact cause of worry and anxiety disorders is difficult.  Some researchers believe it might be genetic and some attribute it to a chemical imbalance; others blame environmental and biological components similar to those of diabetes and heart disease. But the good news is that pinpointing the exact cause is not a necessity for effecting a cure for worry and anxiety
 
It’s important to be aware that attacks of mild anxiety, if neglected, may develop into a more severe type of disorder, like Generalized Anxiety or Panic Attacks. A mild anxiety attack may be described as experiencing a rush of adrenaline, an accelerated heartbeat, weakness of the legs, and a dry mouth.  These symptoms may go away with self-help interventions of getting proper rest and relaxation, exercise, and maintaining a proper diet. Family members, friends, faith-based support groups and counseling are excellent sources of treatment. Mild anxiety treatment, if needed, is usually handled on an out-patient basis.          
 
Hopefully we have made our point that worry and anxiety disorders are not to be taken lightly and that all forms are treatable!  All treatments are individualized with varied degrees of success; however, there are standard treatment options used by the various treatment centers.  Pharmaceutical treatment includes antidepressants often used together with the other therapies. Behavior Therapy, designed to change inappropriate behavior and to help the individual cope with uncomfortable situations and Cognitive Therapy, designed to change destructive and unproductive thought patterns, are often combined as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.
 
In seeking your cure for worry and anxiety, do not be overwhelmed by the boundless options available. Do your research, ask plenty of questions, and get the best specialized treatment available.  It’s your life, and you want it back!             
 

Even from the abbreviated descriptions given here, it is obvious that millions of people are struggling to function each day as a normal human being because of the devastating effects of one or more of these anxiety disorders.  Because of the fear of recalling and reliving a previous devastating encounter or event over and over again, far too many people are denying themselves the pleasures they formerly enjoyed like going to a baseball game; attending a party; going to church or to the shopping mall; attending a family celebration; riding in or driving a car - all for lack of an anxiety cure.   Reports have shown that there are those who have suffered for 30 years without finding or seeking relief, believing “it’s just something that I have to put up with”.  

Thank God there are those remarkable professionals who vehemently reject that spirit of hopelessness and have spent years successfully researching and designing specialized treatments for an anxiety cure.  As a result there are many effective programs available with diverse treatment options.   Many anxiety sufferers have given up hope of being cured because of receiving improper treatment.  It will be up to you to do the research and find the treatment that is specifically made-to-order for you or your loved one.  May you not give up until you have found the right program and the cure for your anxiety
 
If you are researching the web for that “just right”treatment program for your anxiety cure, here are some of the options you will find.   Perhaps first will be your doctor who will probably prescribe a treatment of medication tailored to your specific needs and perhaps refer you to a mental health therapist.  Medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications have proved to be helpful and are often used in conjunction with other treatments.  However, those critical of the medication use always caution about the possible addiction factor, the masking of the root of the anxiety, and possible medicinal side effects. 

Many treatment centers specialize in Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Therapy, often joining them together as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.  Both of these focus on the individual gaining control over his life by learning to cope with behaviors and thoughts (as their names suggest) and managing the stress that contributes to the anxiety through positive affirmation and relaxation exercises., leading eventually to an anxiety cure. For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other forms of anxiety disorder, a primary intervention used for anxiety cure is psychotherapy, drama therapy, faith-based group therapy having a social network for reconnecting and providing emotional, and spiritual healing. 

An alternative program found on the internet is the Panic Away program, whose testimonials celebrate finding the anxiety cure.  The founder of Panic Away asserts that the key to the cure is eliminating, terminating the initial fear of an anxiety or panic attack; it’s that “cycle of fear” of having another attack, that keeps feeding on itself that has to be eradicated.  According to the research, that fear in the lives of thousands of victims of anxiety and panic attacks has been eradicated, they have found the anxiety cure, their lives have been restored! 
 
We urge you and your loved ones to be encouraged by the information and hope for anxiety cure provided here for you.  Please do not delay. Take full advantage of all the help that is available and move forward with your anxiety-free life!
 

In researching the various treatments available for those frantically seeking something that could be alleged to be an anxiety cure, the encouraging news is that by undergoing professional care, almost all forms of anxiety can be helped or cured.  For some, the results may occur in a few months, for others it may take a year or so, and still others may require treatment for several years.  Research also indicates that most treatments begin with taking relatively simple steps to reduce everyday stress such as: eating healthier foods; exercising, scheduling planned relaxation time and getting plenty of sleep; and reducing saturated fats, sugar and caffeine.  Natural herb remedies, acupuncture, yoga, and hypnosis are included as interventions in some programs. 
  
 Hopefully, by briefly describing and categorizing the basic anxiety disorders you can better understand why a specific diagnosis is crucial to attaining an anxiety cure:  1) Panic Disorder –  just as the name indicates is an excruciating, reoccurring and unrelenting attack of panic. In the US it is almost at an epidemic level. Symptoms are identical to those of a heart attack including fear of dying accompanied by a sense of unreality.  2) Generalized Anxiety Disorder – presents itself in exaggerated, extreme and unrealistic worry over every-day issues which may continue for six or more months.  3) Social Anxiety Disorder – is an acute, irrational anxiety concerning their social behavior, believing they are targeted by others for ridicule and embarrassment which leads to avoidance of appearing in public or even to their place of work, even withdrawing from family affairs. 4) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder –is characterized by repeated, persistent thoughts that result in obsessive behaviors such as excessive washing of hands, exaggerated avoidance of contamination by using their foot instead of their hand to open doors (you saw the TV ad?), unnecessarily accumulating gadgets or articles, and repeating words and phrases.  5) Specific phobias – an unrealistic fear of certain or specific situations such as flying, being in crowds; animals or insects or other objects.  6) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – results from experiencing or witnessing a terrifying, unnerving incident or calamity. This could cause nightmares and or flashbacks from reliving the trauma.

Remember that you don’t have to put up with this..there is an anxiety cure.
 

Many sufferers are held back from getting the anxiety cure they desperately need because of negative reactions of friends, relatives, and society in general.  You’ve heard the expression, “Just pull yourself up by your boot straps”?  Well, when one suffering from some form of anxiety such as Panic Attacks, Generalized Anxiety Disorder,  Social Phobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Specific phobias or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, finally voices his symptoms, he is reaching out for help.  But when he hears such comments as: “it’s silly to feel that way; that’s nothing to be afraid of; just ‘suck it in’; get over it, start acting like the rest of us do and get on with your life”, it’s devastating, making him even more agitated and anxious. The stigma that is attached to any of the anxiety disorders can cause a person to mistakenly believe he doesn’t need help, he just needs to talk himself into believing he’s all right, and there goes his hope for an anxiety cure! As long as the individual is trapped into this web of thinking, no cure from anxiety or any kind of relief is possible.  
 
In order to effect an anxiety cure, it is essential to accurately diagnose or pinpoint the form of anxiety afflicting the individual.  Studies verify that much time and money are lost due to misdiagnoses of the problem.  Adding to the complexities of diagnosis is the probability that the individual may be suffering from depression, a combination of anxieties or phobias, as well as from addition to drugs or alcohol.  For this reason, it is important to make use of as many resources as possible in choosing the right treatment to bring about your anxiety cure.  The internet is an excellent resource.  Most treatment facilities promote specific treatments leading to recovery skills, such as coping more effectively with the stress or anxiety, medication and specific exercises.  Generally these therapist will  be a psychologist or psychiatrist, working with clinical professionals.  In my research there is one program that specifies not just coping and recovery skills, but an absolute cure. There may be others also that focus on anxiety cure rather than just coping.
 

One of the most common and costly illnesses affecting our nation’s adults and children today falls under the category of psychiatric rather than a physical illness and is labeled as Anxiety Disorder.   Some studies report that over 20 million people are suffering from at least one of the many conditions of anxiety disorder.  The cost of treating those seeking an anxiety cure is stated to be over $40 billion annually.   Most specialists working with this disorder believe that determining the cause is essential to finding the cure for the anxiety.  Many specialists believe that the cause of this illness may be hereditary, it may be due to certain life circumstances, or it could be the result of brain chemistry.  Other sources have alleged that anxiety disorder is caused by both environmental and biological factors.  

Whatever the cause, the 20 million individuals desperately seeking an anxiety cure from this debilitating condition that impacts their health and well-being, physically, mentally and emotionally, need to be assured that treatment is available that results in a complete cure for whichever form of anxiety they have.  Tragically, it is reported that at least two-thirds of the people suffering from some form of anxiety are not receiving treatment. This would suggest that they are unaware that there is treatment and a cure for their illness.  Our purpose is to enlighten readers about the various anxiety cures and the pressing urgency of getting effective treatment; the numerous treatments that are available; and to encourage families and individuals afflicted with this disorder to make every effort to get the treatment they need. 
 

Now, interesting enough, and extremely important for afflicted families to understand, in the occurrence of an anxiety or panic attack, this rush of adrenaline is triggered, not by any actual danger, but by the fearful anticipation of the impending danger.  While this does not result in any harm to the physical body, it should be understood that the fear, the anxiety, the feeling of panic is very real to the individual and definitely needs to be dealt with.  Hopefully family members of those afflicted with this panic attack disorder can begin to understand that when their loved one withdraws, refuses to participate in family functions, or displays unexplainable social behavior, he is not rejecting the family, but is reacting to his fear of actually reliving a previous frightening occurrence. 
 
Because of this fear that triggers the actual panic attack, the 20 million or so individuals plagued with this anxiety disorder are missing out on the pleasures of their lives, denying themselves the experiences that brought them pleasure, such as refusing to go outside, drive or ride in a car or any vehicle, to attend parties or family gatherings, or to attend church or other common activities, just to name a few.  It’s certainly understandable how friends and families can be alienated, not understanding the reason behind the seemingly aloof or antisocial behavior of the panic attack victim.  
 
The tragedy of the situation is that it doesn’t have to be this way.  By this way, I mean that from all the studies and research available, some individuals have been contending with panic/anxiety disorders for over thirty years!  It needn’t be too confusing in deciding which treatments would be preferable for your particular situation.  Hopefully you have been seeing a physician who could recommend an anxiety disorder treatment center.  Some avenues to pursue are self-help programs that teach skills for dealing with panic attacks; and treatments advocating various medications, however, critics will caution that medications can cover up the anxiety rather than cure it, and can be addictive
 
An acclaimed practice is the cognitive behavior treatment focusing on positive affirmation, relaxation and breathing exercises which deals with the symptoms and brings relief.  The founder of an alternative program called PanicAway, alleges that their approach actually eliminates the attacks because they have found the key to the problem of anxiety, panic and phobic disorders and stress. They found, after much experience and research, that it was the fear of an attack that was key to finding the cure.  So by eliminating the fear of going into a panic attack, that cycle of  fear continuing to recharge itself would be interrupted, thereby stopping the panic attack.            
 
. One of the main obstacles in getting treatment for anxiety panic attack disorder is the deplorable degree of misdiagnosis that exists, which results in the wrong treatment being prescribed.  To be effective, the prescribed treatment must be specific to the right diagnosis.  We urge you to carefully research the programs offered and our hope is that you have been enlightened and encouraged and will soon be enjoying a lifestyle of freedom and productivity.  
 

Panic Attacks-To Die Or Not To Die  Pt 1
 
To die or not to die. That is the question over 20 million Americans may be asking themselves today, as they struggle with a disorder that has been labeled as anxiety disorder, phobia attacks and just plain panic attacks.  If you are one of the 20 million, you don’t have to be told that any of these anxiety disorders affect you both physically and emotionally.  It not only affects your health with symptoms such as accelerated heart beat, loss of concentration, profuse sweating, dizziness, loss of sleep; it also causes conflicted feelings of fear and anxiety as well as the inability to cope with life events, so much so that your previously productive lifestyle has been brought to an abrupt halt. Your life has become such a roller-coaster of fear, anxiety, panic, confusion and immobility that you literally want to end it all.
 
For those trying to cope with a loved one or friend who is experiencing this kind of panic attack disorder, your main problem is perhaps due to the inability to understand what is happening to your loved one.  Surely anyone can “get over” feelings of fear, anxiety, or stress that occur from daily activities.  Our purpose is to provide additional insight into the effects and causes of phobia, anxiety and panic attacks and to offer encouragement that lives can be reclaimed from the effects of these devastating disorders.  
 
It may or may not be comforting to families afflicted with anxiety disorders to know that they are not alone in combating this affliction.  Studies and doctors’ reports show that stress, panic, anxiety and depression afflictions have increased to the level of being epidemic. One of the most common causes for panic attacks is the inability to handle stress and we certainly could cite numerous causes for stress in our culture today, but we won’t.  Other causes are attributed to biological and heredity factors. The most interesting studies explain the obvious cause as the fight or flight syndrome; that is the body most naturally responding to danger with a surge to fight the impending panic attack with adrenaline as protection against that danger.
 

Social Anxiety Disorder-Causes and Effects Pt 2

Even more deplorable, studies show that over 90 percent of Social Anxiety Disorders are misdiagnosed as manic depressive, schizophrenia, panic disorder or other related disorders.  The treatment must be specific to the proper social disorder in order for it to be effective.  And Social Anxiety Disorder definitely requires proper treatment! 
 
Social Anxiety can develop from a number of sources and at any age.. Studies have shown one source to possibly be genetics.  From the study of identical twins having identical genes, they have found that both have developed Social Anxiety Disorder.  On the other hand, studies of fraternal twins, twins that don’t have identical genes, have found the twins don’t share the Social Anxiety Disorder. 

Other causes of social phobia may be from what is called a learned response, either from parental or significant others in their lives who themselves experience stress and anxiety disorders or who, by their strict expectations, cause the child to give up in defeat.  Yet another cause may be from early childhood experiences interacting with teachers and other children in school, not conforming to the mold of cultural expectations, thereby causing them to see themselves as unworthy and not belonging. 
 
Finally, back to our opening sentence, our technologically exploding, advanced, stressful  society we now live in, in my opinion, is contributing to the increase in Social Anxiety Disorders.  By destroying the sense of family and community which in the past has provided a much needed sense of togetherness and security, we now have over 15 million stressed individuals diagnosed as anxious, stressed, lonely, phobic people, desperately needing help to get themselves back into the active, productive life they were meant to have.     
 
The good news is that while the causes and the effects of Social Anxiety Disorders may vary with each individual, there are many excellent treatment programs designed specifically to get to the heart of the phobia, find the cause, and with competent professionals applying their expert techniques, design the program that will bring the results of a life restored.