Significant improvements have been reported by more than 5,000 people through this non-invasive,
non-medical approach to alleviating pain and suffering.
Most people feel anxiety at some time in life. Anxiety is related to
a natural response of the body to potentially threatening
situations. When danger is sensed, the nervous system releases
adrenaline and cortisone into the blood stream, causing rapid heart
beat, shallow and rapid breathing, tensing of the muscles and
heightened alertness, all of which ready the mind and body for
action. However, when this response is not connected to a real
danger, or is more severe or longer lasting than necessary, it is
diagnosed as anxiety disorder. The main types of anxiety disorders
are:
1) General Anxiety Disorder
General anxiety disorder is defined as an inexplicable feeling of
apprehension or worry over events and situations that are normal and
everyday. Although we all worry needlessly about things, with
general anxiety disorder the worry is excessive and prolonged (more
than 6 months) and interferes with one's daily activity. People with
a general anxiety disorder have trouble concentrating, are unable to
relax, often have insomnia, frequently feel tired and irritable, and
suffer from headaches, chest pain, nausea, and other physical
symptoms. This disorder most often develops in early adulthood, but
can begin in childhood or adolescence. Twice as many women than men
are diagnosed with this disorder.
2) Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by the sudden onset of a "panic
attack" -- a feeling of overwhelming fear or tension for no apparent
reason. It can last a from a few seconds to a few minutes, and is
accompanied by physical symptoms such as dizziness and difficulty
breathing. The person experiencing the attack often believes that he
or she is dying or is "going crazy", and is often overcome by the
urge to run away or escape. Panic attacks can be triggered by too
much stress, a traumatic event in one life, or even by consuming too
much caffeine or other stimulants. No matter what the underlying
cause, a panic attack is always sudden and unexpected. Some
individuals have one panic attack and then are never affected again,
but when panic attacks are recurring a panic disorder is diagnosed.
This type of disorder most often develops in early adulthood, but
can begin in childhood or adolescence, and if not taken care of can
lead to other anxiety disorders such as phobias. One third of all
people with panic disorder develop phobias. Panic disorder can also
lead to depression and substance abuse. Twice as many women than men
are diagnosed with this disorder.
3) Phobias
A phobia is an irrational fear of a situation or thing, such as a
fear of heights or insects. Other types of phobias include social
phobias, the fear of doing things in public, or agoraphobia, the
fear open spaces. Phobias can become so serious that a person will
go to extreme lengths to avoid the object of their fear. This can
severely limit a person's activity and even confine them completely
to their home.
4) Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by an irrational
belief or fear that grips the mind, followed by a behavior intended
to avoid the perceived danger. For example, a person might have an
obsessive fear of germs for which they compensate by compulsively
washing their hands dozens of times each day . Even thought a person
may know their behavior is irrational, they find it difficult to
stop themselves from thinking and behaving that way. These thoughts
and behaviors can become so all-consuming that the person has a
difficult time leading a normal life. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
affects men and women equally.
5) Post traumatic stress disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder is the experience of reliving a
traumatic event through frightening thoughts, memories, flashbacks
or nightmares. It is most common with war veterans, but can also
affect people who have been in a serious accident, suffered a
violent attack, or experienced some kind of natural disaster.
Reliving a traumatic event is not unusual. However when the
terrifying memories persist for more than a month, post traumatic
stress disorder is diagnosed. Over time, individuals suffering from
post traumatic stress disorder tend to become detached from the
people and things they once enjoyed. They also often suffer from
insomnia, poor memory and the inability to concentrate. Post
traumatic stress disorder can also lead to depression and substance
abuse.
Physical Symptoms
Although each type of anxiety disorder has a different psychological
component, many are accompanied by similar physical symptoms that
are characteristic of the body's anxiety response. These symptoms
include:
heart palpitations
dizziness
trembling
muscle tension
excessive sweating
tingling or numbness
breathlessness or hyperventilation
chest pains
Factors that lead to anxiety
1) Recognizable stress:
An overwhelming or traumatic experience such as an accident, death
of a loved one, or a financial loss can contribute to anxiety.
2) Invisible stress:
There is a theory that past experiences of some unhappy or
frightening facet of childhood can lurk below the surface of the
conscious mind and reveal its presence in various anxiety disorders.
3) Genetic inheritance:
Genetics may predispose some individuals to anxiety. For example,
studies of identical twins show that if one member of an identical
pair suffers from anxiety, there is at least a 50% chance the other
will too.
4) Substance withdrawal:
Sudden withdrawal from alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs can lead to
symptoms of anxiety.
5) Organic disease:
Among the conditions that produce symptoms similar to those of
anxiety are hyperthyroidism, coronary artery disease, rapid heart
rate and other heart problems, and an imbalance of calcium in the
diet.
Demographics
Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental health problems,
affecting more than 23 million Americans each year.
An estimated 10 million Americans will be afflicted by general
anxiety disorder at some time in their life.
An estimated 2.5 million Americans will be afflicted
obsessive-compulsive disorders at some time in their life.
An estimated 3 million Americans will be afflicted by panic
disorder at some time in their life.
Anxiety disorders cost the U.S. 46.6 billion dollars each year in
direct and indirect costs, nearly 1/3 of the nation's total mental
health bill.
Harmful effects, which can be serious and even lethal, are
associated with every facet of modern medicine. Click
here for information about general hazards
of modern medical treatments.
Hazards of "Modern" Medicine Pertaining to Chronic Anxiety Avoided by Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health
Drugs of "Modern" Medicine and their side effects
Anxiety is approached by modern medicine using cognitive-behavioral
therapy or other types of psychotherapy, medications, or both.
Medications are prescribed to alleviate the symptoms associated with
anxiety such as terror, rapid heart beat, breathlessness, dizziness,
chest pains, and nausea.
The most common drugs used for treating anxiety are:
1. Benzodiazepines
2. Antidepressants
1. Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that act as central nervous
system depressants--in other words, they slow down the nervous
system. They are the most common drug used for anxiety disorders,
but they must be taken with caution as they are potentially
addictive, can be fatal if taken with alcohol or other medications
that depress the nervous system, and tend to lose their
effectiveness over time. Benzodiazepines include alprazolam,
chlordiazepoxide, and lorazepam
Side Effects
Side effects of benzodiazepines include:
drowsiness
dizziness
lightheadedness
slurred speech
headache
clumsiness
addiction
tolerance to the medication, making it less effective over time
2. Antidepressants
Three types of antidepressants are used to treat anxiety disorders
A) Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
B) Tricyclic antidepressants
C) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
A) Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as phenelzine block the action of
a chemical substance known as monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the nervous
system. They are prescribed for depression as well as treating panic
attacks, phobias, and other anxiety disorders.
Side Effects
Side effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors include:
dizziness
dry mouth
constipation
weight gain
insomnia
increased pulse and heart rate
B) Tricyclic antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants such as clomipramine, are an older class
of antidepressant that are prescribed in attempt to elevate mood.
They act by raising the level of neurotransmitters in brain tissue.
As with other antidepressants they are also used for treating a
variety of anxiety disorders. They have more severe side effects
than SSRIs.
Side Effects
Side effects of tricyclic antidepressants include:
dizziness
dry mouth
blurred vision
tremor
constipation
weight gain
reduced blood pressure
sensitivity to sunlight
C) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a newer class of
antidepressant that are used with the goal of affecting the action
of serotonin in the brain. They are prescribed for treating
obsessive-compulsive disorders, and other anxiety disorders. SSRIs
include fluoxetine and paroxetine.
Side Effects
Side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors include:
headache
diarrhea
dizziness
dry mouth
nausea
insomnia
increased sweating
Disclaimer: The content in these information pages is provided by the
Maharishi Vedic Vibration Technology program. It is for information
purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice or to replace the advice given by a
primary health care provider. Because of the rapid change of information in the field of medicine
Maharishi Vedic Health Center does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the
information provided.
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