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The development of anxiety is usually caused by factors such as family genetics, chemical/hormonal imbalance in the brain and environmental issues such as unresolved issues at home/work, built up stress as well as fixed defined behavioral patterns in the individual.

There are several physical symptoms that are tell tale signs of an anxiety attack. These manifestations include irritation, insomnia, tension, shortness of breath, feeling chest pains, rapid heartbeats and dizziness. Even though anxiety is prevalent in our society and can sometimes be rather serious, the silver lining is that is it definitely treatable.

The treatment for anxiety comes in many forms with the most common one being prescription of medications such as antidepressants as well as anti anxiety medicines. These medications can be used short term or long term depending on the severity of the anxiety attacks and can be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment.

Therapies which are conducted by counselors and therapist are an excellent treatment for anxiety disorders. Some of these therapies include behavior therapy, which involves the control of unwanted behavior and cognitive therapy, which is about getting rid of negative thought patterns in the individual. Other popular therapies include cognitive behavior therapy as well as relaxation and calming techniques such as aromatherapy, breathing and massage.

Natural remedies can also be used to treat anxiety disorders and symptoms. Some of these natural treatments include taking of dietary supplements, such as vitamin B complex, eating right to maintain the optimal blood sugar levels and exercising.

Know that you must exert control over your anxiety rather than letting it run your life. This disorder is treatable or at the very least, it's symptoms can be managed through the various treatments described above.

By: Rachel Andrews
Rachel Andrews is the owner of the anxiety and panic attacks site. Do sign up for her newsletter and learn more about eliminating your anxieties and panic attacks forever! Do not let these problems consume your precious life as it is treatable.]]> http://www.resourcesforattorneys.com/stress/index.php?entry=entry080427-182954
Laughter may not actually cure stress, depression, anxiousness, sadness or pain but it can sure help decrease stress, lighten depression, ease anxiety, mitigate pain and lessen sadness. Many medical researchers say that people who laugh often live longer lives.

Laughing is not hard, in fact it's easy. Read some jokes, learn and tell some jokes, watch some comedy acts on television, go to a comedy club or have a friend tell you some jokes. Eventually you'll find some jokes, humor or satirical stories that will appeal to you and before you know it you will find yourself laughing.

When my wife gets depressed I read some jokes, learn them and then retell them to her. Pretty soon her mood starts to lighten and her depression either lessens or goes away all together. When I get sad or frustrated I start reading jokes and quickly I start to feel that whatever is making me sad or frustrated isn't so bad and my mood improves immensely.

Go ahead, read or listen to some jokes and turn on the laughter. You'll be surprised how much better you will feel.

Copyright 2008 The Joke Index

By: David G. Hallstrom, Sr.
This article was written for the Joke Index, a portal to blogs and websites dedicated to Funny jokes, humor, humorous anecdotes, satire and stories and first published in the Stress Management blog from Resources For Attorneys.]]> http://www.resourcesforattorneys.com/stress/index.php?entry=entry080403-231805
It brings you many stress management advantages to have a life purpose. One that is so obvious it is often overlooked is that you are going in the direction you want to go. Not a direction or goal someone else has for you. It is true that if you don't have a purpose for being here the you are still living a life of purpose. It is just a purpose that belongs to somebody else. An agenda or goal you may not agree on. So its always better to have your own purpose and life mission.

Everyone is different. For some a life purpose could be having a great family. For others it could be having great relationships. A successful career for someone else. Writing a number one bestselling book for another. It differs.One thing is for sure. A life purpose keeps your energy focused and clear. It has other advantages, listed as follows.

Another stress management advantage to living a life of purpose is that there seems to be more 'flow' and less stress in your life. People and resources just seem to be there when you need them. I'll give you an example. You want some work done and you need a person with a certain skill but you currently don't know anyone. Somewhere and somehow this person pops into your life. He has all the skills you need for the job to help you accomplish your task. You are living a life of purpose and many favorable conditions, associations ,and events come your way. Life is not so much struggle but more of a positive flow.

The amount of stress we experience and the degree of our problem solving ability are closely related. Life is full of problems. Some we solve with greater ease than others. The better you get at solving problems the better life gets. Living your purpose helps you tap into your intuition. This is a big help in problem solving. Sometimes logical left brain thinking is needed to fix a problem. Sometimes creative right brain thinking is needed. Intuitive insight is what you require sometimes to solve a major problem. Living life with a purpose gets you more in touch with your intuition.

A super stress management tool is to have your own life purpose. My experience has been that it allows you to enjoy better relationships, a more successful and creative career, and better conditions in society as the method of working is one of contribution and adding value. It is my wish that you enjoy the same.

By: Jim Cassa
Jim Cassa is an entrepreneur that has rapidly learned some of the most effective Stress Management Techniques available out of the need to cope! To learn the some surprisingly powerful ways to reduce and eliminate stress, Click on http://instantstressmanagement.blogspot.com]]> http://www.resourcesforattorneys.com/stress/index.php?entry=entry080326-234546
Learning to control your anger is not complicated once you apply a few basic principles and anger techniques. Just remember that it is much easier to learn to manage your anger than burying it deep down inside and not letting it out (so if you can bury it --- you can definitely control it!). We have some simple steps you should take to achieve your anger management goals.

Think about the following tips when you are angry and it may help you to deal with the situation more effectively.

" Learn to laugh at yourself - this can defuse a situation and can help you to get a grip on your emotions at the same time

" Don't take things personally - the world doesn't revolve around you!

" You can't control other people so don't even try.

" And along with that, you have to realize that you can't control your surroundings either - you can only control yourself and your own reactions.

Problem solving skills are useful to identify the problem and generate alternative solutions by considering the consequences of each solution and selecting an effective and appropriate response.

Other strategies include: " avoiding situations that make you angry " changing environments " focusing on something positive " engaging in substitute positive activities " and improving communication and social skills.

As mentioned above, humor can also be very useful, if it is constructive.

Just remember that expressing or releasing your anger is just as important as controlling it. Both skills are required, in balance, to keep you healthy.

By: Pierre Amyotte
To learn the simple secrets to controlling your anger, visit http://www.angermanagement.healthehelp.com where you'll find everything you need to know about anger self help, anger courses, and much more!]]> http://www.resourcesforattorneys.com/stress/index.php?entry=entry080310-212957
About half the children experiencing depression also experience anxiety. Anxiety is easy to overlook because a child may not talk about his fears, especially if he's an adolescent. Young children tend to be much more open and at ease in sharing their fears and worries.

Anxiety usually takes one of two forms:

1. A generalized anxiety disorder

2. Anxiety related to panic attacks.

Symptoms of generalized anxiety relate to feelings of restlessness, being on edge, being overwhelmed, having difficulty concentrating, and experiencing muscle tension or sleep disturbance. With generalized anxiety, there may be more fears, but they aren't as intense as when a panic attack is involved.

The most common forms of a panic attack in children relate to school phobia or separation anxiety when a child is asked to leave the physical proximity of a parent. Children in these situations may become so anxious that they throw up, have major temper tantrums, and act defiant, even if they're usually well behaved.

The Differences between Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety differs from depression in that an anxious child usually has more energy and doesn't have as much negative attitude toward life. Instead, the anxious child is afraid and has fears that impede his ability to meet the demands placed on him. Anxiety can have a negative impact on his ability to attend school, engage in social activities, and simply be able to relax.

While the anxious child may avoid participating in activities, he does so for a different reason than the depressed child. The anxious child tries to avoid dealing with situations that make his nervous. The depressed child avoids dealing with a situation because he lacks the energy and frustration tolerance to deal with it. The anxious child also experiences the stress of perceived negative events more intensely.

But there's one way in which anxiety and depression are similar. Threats regarding the negative consequences of a child's behavior almost never produce the desired results. Instead, they'll probably make the situation worse. Threatening an anxious child will only cause more anxiety and lead to an "Oh, on!" response. The depressed child may not react to the threat because he doesn't have the energy or motivation to care, which results in a "So what?" response.

By: Sally Chia
http://www.teen-depression-tips.com]]> http://www.resourcesforattorneys.com/stress/index.php?entry=entry080229-222445
Some common essential oils that are believed to help chase away the blues include: Geranium, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Rose, Peppermint and Ylang Ylang.

Although counseling and medication have been the mainstays in the fight against depression, there are many side effects associated with pharmaceutical meds and many people stay in counseling for years without any significant progress. Others do experience relief using these methods and that is great. However, there are groups of individuals who would rather not use pharmaceutical drugs to cure their depression, or may be simply looking to supplement their drug regimen. They may be interested in experimenting with natural remedies. Aromatherapy gives them that option. It can be added as an additional tool in the fight against depression. To increase the effectiveness of this approach, changes in diet, physical activity, and supplementation can really help to multiply the effects of aromatherapy.

A 17th century herbalist by the name of John Gerard, believed that clary sage was good to use when individuals were suffering from mental tiredness, depression and other mental disorders. Today, many aromatherapists tend to agree. According to research conducted at the International Flavors and Fragrances in New Jersey, fragrances of orange are also believed to be helpful in reducing anxiety

Aromatherapy is generally more effective in people who are only having mild bouts of depression, and that either do not require medication or who are being weaned off of it. . This is because there is no threat of dangerous drug interactions. Now while aromatherapy can be very helpful, it is important that one doesn't suddenly stop using their medications. This could potentially be quite dangerous. It is vital that one works closely with their doctor, psychiatrist or psychologist, so that they can safely create an effective game plan to be weaned off prescribed medications as a health professional sees fit.

Probably the most effective forms of aromatherapy to treat depression are bath and massage oils. These allow you take advantage of both your sense of touch and smell. Aromatherapy is a fantastic way for individuals to treat mild depression. Lavender, geranium, rose and peppermint are some of the very best essential oils to use when one has the prolonged blues.

By: George Key
George Key lives in an island of Greece and he is very interested in natural health and alternative medicine. He owns a site dedicated to Aromatherapy and Essential Oils.]]> http://www.resourcesforattorneys.com/stress/index.php?entry=entry080219-214308
A study published in 2007 by the Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California about the relation between psychological stress and immune-related diseases found that elevated stress levels will make you very sick and could eventually kill you.

There are two types of stress that affect your life. Long-term stress is the type of stress that you endure on a daily basis. All of the things that come up in life contribute to your long-term stress. Acute stress is caused by more specific events. Marital strife, public speaking, and accidents all cause acute stress. It has been believed for decades that acute stress didn't really affect us as much as long-term stress. However, in the 2007 study it was discovered that both long-term and acute stress have profound and lasting effects on your immune system and disease.

Chronic stress has been found to cause systemic coronary inflammation. People who have low levels of stress and depression also have a low risk of major cardiac events. Those who have higher stress and depression have significantly higher risk of a major cardiac event. Taking care of the cardiovascular system should be priority #1 for each and every person but sadly it is not. You are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than any other cause.

Stress can be a significant cause in many types of illness. People who are chronically stressed are much more likely to have heart attacks and strokes. Stressed people have more cancer and other conditions like high blood pressure and severe arthritis.

Stress is one of the main ways to make sure you don't live as long as you should. Controlling the stress in your life should be a high priority if you are on a quest to live a long and healthy life.

So, what are some ways to control the stress? Here are a few tips that help me and I'm sure they can help you.

Tips to beat stress:

1. Slow Down: This is quite possibly my favorite. People who know me know that I am a rather slow person. I am also a very low stress person. It wasn't always this way. I learned long ago that I am in complete control of my life and the pace at which I live it. Ask anyone, I eat slow. I drive slow. I talk slow. I make decisions slow. What's the rush anyway? Why stuff your face so quickly? Why drive so fast and get angry and waste gas? Is it really worth saving two minutes? Don't jump from of thing to another at lightning speed. Very few choices must be made right now. Take your time. Live a little. Don't be so uptight all the time. This one tip will amaze you if you can teach yourself the habit of slowing down.

2. Evaluate and Prioritize: Take time now and then to evaluate what is causing you the most stress. What are the top three reasons you are stressed? Eliminate them. Period. It's not worth wasting your life full of stress and unhappiness. Do you hate your job? Think about the things in your job causing the most stress then start looking for one that doesn't include those negative points. Are you in the career you have always really wanted? Why not? Change it! I know that sounds scary but sometimes you just have to get some courage and go for it. Start going to school and prepare yourself for your real career and start living your real life. Never let any career, relationships or debts hold you down. Simplify. Start selling all your stuff. Get rid of the debt. Learn a new trade. Free up your life!

3. Take time to relax: Everyday just take some time for yourself. Forget the house. Forget the bills and the kids. Forget the boss. How is your life going? Are you getting where you want to be? What are some things you want to do this week? This month? This year? Before you die? Life is not about running the rat race. Life is about living and experiencing. Life is about envisioning what you want and then taking it. Sometimes it seems easier to ignore all these issues. But you can't ignore them. They sit in the back of your mind. Eating away at you like a cancer.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

By: Daniel Lee
There is so much more to learn about protecting your health and living to the fullest... Click Here Now to get the latest research and facts about your health.]]> http://www.resourcesforattorneys.com/stress/index.php?entry=entry080211-001558
No one is immune to Depression. It affects all ages from young children to senior citizens, manual labourers to corporate heads, literate or illiterate. Winston Churchill who suffered from depression called it the "black dog." Abraham Lincoln also suffered from bouts of depression. "It hits the most ambitious, creative and conscientious," says Jeffrey Spellar, a psychiatrist.

Women are three times more likely to suffer from depression due to their varying hormonal cycles, and are vulnerable premenstrually, after delivery, and during the perimenopausal years. Though about 80% of women suffer from post partum "baby blues" which last for a few days and resolve spontaneously, about 20% suffer from severe depression leading to suicidal tendencies, harming or killing their babies, or refusing to breast feed. Irritability, sleeplessness, weeping without reason, are some of the signs that warn of severe depression.

Men are depressed on specific issues like failure in business or loss of a job. The elderly, who live alone or who are totally dependant on others also suffer anxiety and depression.

During adolescence, both boys and girls are equally vulnerable. The transitory period before adulthood is a bewildering time of experimentation. They feel unsettled and out of control and scared because of the physical and emotional changes taking place. About 2-3% of adolescents are depressed.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research in 2001, 12.8% young children are found to be depressed. As they are unable to express sadness, they show it through aggression, refusal to eat, insomnia and other ways. When parents set impossible standards, the constant fear of failure makes them depressed.

Care givers of the ill or disabled, who are under constant stress, also suffer from depression. Stephen Hinshaw a Californian psychiatrist says, "Many people, especially those caring for others, get to a point when there is an imbalance between their own feelings of being human and their confrontation with difficult, distressful issues on a day to day basis. Things go tilt."

Depression has a genetic component and may run in families. Identical twins are at a greater risk. Environmental factors however, are the main reasons for depression. Loss of a job, divorce, marital friction, bereavement, financial difficulties, fear of failure, unreached goals, too many deadlines to keep, the struggle to keep up with the Joneses, are some of the exogenous causes that trigger depression. Recently there have been many suicides due to disappointment in love.

There are different grades of depression. Dysthmia is a less severe mood disorder, but lasts for about two years. Seasonal Affective Disorders (SAD) occur during winter months when energy levels drop. People become sluggish and tend to eat more sweets and carbohydrates.

Depression may manifest itself as lack of energy, withdrawal, unexplained sadness, feeling of worthlessness, suicidal tendencies, lack of libido, or irritability. In major depression, there may be a total disinterest in food, hobbies, sex and everything that is pleasurable.

All of us go through periods of depression, but we soon bounce back to normal. When symptoms persist for more than two weeks, it is a sign of clinical depression and must be treated. Depression is more harmful than chronic diseases. It aggravates the symptoms of arthritis, angina, diabetes, asthma or other medical problems. A research paper published in the Lancet says, "Depression impairs health state to a substantially greater degree than other diseases."

Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Neurotransmitters that carry messages to the brain and nerves such as serotonin and noradrenaline are reduced in the synapses along the nerve paths. Thought processes become impaired, and depression sets in. Heavy drinking and drugs reinforce depression.

There are many ways to take charge of one's depression.

• Tackling the cause of depression and remedying it. It may involve a change in life style, change in attitude to events or situations or people. Focus must be on living positively, and converting anxiety into positive energy.

• Expressing feelings of fear, anger or sadness. Talking to a sympathetic counsellor or a psychotherapist. Talk Therapy or Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is a valuable adjunct to medication. Putting feelings into words makes sadness or anger less intense. It reduces suicidal tendencies. Speaking about one's negative feelings activates that part of the brain which is responsible for control of emotions. Within the context of a caring relationship, Psychotherapy helps a person to identify the cause of his depression, enables him to cope, by identifying his positive resources and using them to change his attitude to problems. It helps him let go of negative attitudes and teaches him to discipline his mind.

• Regular Exercise. Brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming or any kind of physical activity, releases beta endorphins which neutralize stress hormones.

• Listening to music, singing or playing an instrument helps to ease depression by releasing hydrocortisone, which is an anti-stress hormone.

• Putting a stop to multitasking, which makes a person feel out of control. Trying to do one thing at a time will yield better results.

• De-stressing muscles through relaxation techniques, yoga or breathing exercises. The Art of Living guru Sri Sri Ravi advocates a special breathing technique called Sudharshan Kriya, which involves hyperventilation. It is supposed to be a mood lifter.

• Consciously avoiding comfort eating. Stress related fat is very difficult to shed.

• Medication should be under a doctor's supervision. Drugs alone don't address the cause, and must go hand in hand with psychotherapy.

• Spending time with the family and doing what is enjoyable. Seeking the company of happy people. Those who stay happy are seldom depressed. "Our brains are designed to reflect and catch the state of the person we're with," says Daniel Goldman, psychologist. "An unhappy person floods our minds with negative emotions that trigger stress centres."

• Hypnotherapy is useful for resistant cases. It relieves tension, helps deal with traumas, fears and phobias that cause stress.

• Meditation and Prayer will increase spiritual well being and help a person understand the meaning and purpose of life. It will change depressive attitudes into positive thinking.

By: Eva Bell
http://www.evabell.net
Eva Bell is a doctor of Medicine and also a freelance writer of articles, short stories, children stories. Published in Indian magazines and newspapers, anthologies and also on the web. Author of two novels, one non-fiction, two children's books. Special interest- Travel and Women's Issues.]]>