Before we get started watch the video clip below. Then I'll share with you some thoughts on why I think it's an important metaphor for what you're going through and how it can help you to reduce, or maybe even erase, your abnormal anxiety. The truth is that I could try to explain to you all the nuances of abnormal anxiety until I'm blue in the face, yet there's a good chance that you'll remain in the dark about the big picture. In this regard, you could stay in the "Why this?" Or "Why that?" mode without ever finding real answers.
Anxiety in Pregnancy
I recently opened up the AG phone line and the first question is in. The question comes from Casey and she wants to know about anxiety during pregnancy and how anxiety might effect her ability to raise a child. This is an excellent and profound question on a lot of levels. Do anxious people make good parents? Is it a good or bad idea to have children when you suffer from long-term anxiety? I think these are profound questions because to a certain extent many, if not most of us, long to be parents at some point in our
Panic Disorder: Stories of Hope (1994)
This is a 20 minute documentary video that follows the story of three people with panic disorder. The video is a little dated and somewhat cheesy, but the information it contains is up to date and useful. It's kind of hard to find good media about anxiety disorders, so I was glad to find this video and make it available to you. The bottom line of this short video is that panic disorder can be crippling, but it is also highly treatable. If you can't see the video CLICK HERE. [poll id="7"]
More About The Causes Of Anxiety Disorders
As of today scientist don't know what causes anxiety disorders but they have some good guesses. Click the image to read about what those guesses are. Do you have a theory about the origin of anxiety disorders?
The Truth About Chemical Imbalance Theory And Antidepressants
A few years ago I visited my primary doctor because of chest pains and after a few tests he confirmed that I had an anxiety disorder and not heart disease. After the test he spoke to me for about 5 minutes, prescribed Prozac , and told me to have a great day. At first I really didn't think much about this, but for reasons unknown to me, I stuck the little bottle of pills in my pocket and vowed to never ingest any of it. In retrospect it may have been my natural suspicion and anxiety about things I knew nothing about, but over time it
Anxiety and Your Amygdala
I recently posted an entry about a new study taking place at Rutgers University. The post describes how researchers have found the small cluster of cells inside the brains amygdala that directly controls fear and anxiety. As a result of writing about that I wanted to evaluate the amygdala itself. When you have a first response of fear and anxiety it is instantaneous. You go from normal to very afraid in what seems like nanoseconds. What is going on in the brain when this happens? What fires the emotional trigger that sets you on a course
How To Reconnect With Loved Ones
Today I wanted to touch on a subject that I have struggled with for years. That issue is the connection, or lack thereof, with the people we love. This problem is not just between you and your significant other, but also between you and your sibling, parent(s), friends or even your dog. As I have mentioned many times in the past our anxiety disorders tend to make us selfish worrymites that only think about our disturbing thoughts or symptoms and how they are affecting us. During this worry time we exclude others from our lives and seem
How to Cope with Your Breathing Problem
Do you ever feel like you can't take a deep breath? Ever feel like you have a lump in your throat that just won't go away? Anxiety disorders can cause you to feel what seems like millions of symptoms and sensations. The feeling that you can't breathe right is a very common one. So your sitting there minding your own business when all of a sudden you feel like you can't expand your chest all the way. You yawn and sigh so that you can suck in more air, but as soon as you stop doing that you're right were you started. So what the heck is
Hot and Bothered: Anxiety and Irritability
Lately the temperature has been increasing and my temper has been headed in the same direction. Whether it's an anxiety disorder or PTSD, irritability is a very common symptom of people under stress for long periods of time. Sometimes this irritation is such a part of how you feel that everything bugs the hell out of you. It could be your girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse or even your dog that just drives you up the wall. Clearly all people become irritated from time to time, but irritability related to anxiety disorder can be intense. I have