Having a hard time at work? Is your job causing you a great deal of stress? Stress causes more than just frustration – it causes emotional strife and physical illness. Indeed, feeling stressed out can cause you to feel sick. It can also put a strain on your heart. Sometimes medication isn’t enough. It might make you feel better temporarily, but it’s not a permanent solution. You should never become too dependent on anti-stress medicine.

Want to know how to better handle stress at work without taking any pills? You’ll be glad to know that there are a few methods of getting through the day without any problems! It might take some time for this strategy to start working, but as long as you do the following, you will feel better emotionally, mentally, and physically!

1. Meditate every morning before leaving for work. Some people underestimate the effectiveness of meditation. They dismiss it as something “silly” without even trying it! Learn breathing techniques; the great thing about breathing techniques is that you can do them anywhere at any time. You can do them before leaving for work and during work. Whenever you need to handle stress at work, breathe in deeply, hold your breath for a few seconds, and breathe out. Do this at least a dozen times.

2. Give aromatherapy a chance. Light incense during your meditation sessions. You can also add a few drips of liquid essence into a pot of hot water. If you think you’ll need some for work, take a small vial with you and inhale it whenever you feel stressed. You can choose from a variety of fragrances: lavender, sandalwood, rosemary, chamomile, and clary sage are all well known for their calming properties. Juniper berry is the best fragrance for reducing anger and anxiety.

3. Cut down on the sugar and caffeine. Caffeine in particular can cause anxiety. The more you drink, the harder it’ll be for you to stay calm and handle stress at work. It’s a stimulant, after all, so when you’re trying to calm your nerves, drinking caffeine will only be counterproductive. Instead, drink water, natural lemonade, and any drink with magnesium. Magnesium is said to be a natural sleep aid.

4. Get regular exercise. Doing regular exercise releases endorphins, which will make you feel happier and calm. Fitness not only improves your physical health, it enhances your mental health as well. It improves blood flow to the brain, bringing additional oxygen that will help you stay calm. Even if you are only able to do a few minutes of exercise a day, you’ll still experience some great benefits.

5. Never neglect yourself, no matter how stressed you’re feeling. Always make time for yourself. If you feel as if you are unable to handle stress at work, ask somebody to help you. If nobody can help you, then don’t push yourself too hard. No job is worth having anxiety attacks over. Whatever you do, don’t let your job take control over your life. Don’t forget to listen to music, go to the movies, eat out, and shop every now and then.

Follow these tips and you should start feeling better! Learn how to meditate and give aromatherapy a try. Eat healthy foods, cut down on caffeine, and start exercising more. Last but not least, don’t let your job ruin your entire life.

Above all, make sure you take the time to learn even more stress fighting tactics to incorporate into your day to day. The Conquering Stress program below does a really SUPER job of that. Check it out now and you’ll definitely gain a whole new perspective on how to approach work related stress, going forward.

Click Below to visit the Conquering Stress website…

Feeling guilty all the time can keep you from living your life. It’s a horrible feeling to have to live with, especially if it’s all you ever think about. Even if you try to stop feeling guilty, the emotion still continues to stick with you. Whether or not you’re truly responsible for what happened, it can be difficult to forgive yourself.

Do you want to know how to get rid of guilt once and for all? If so, you’ll be glad to know that it’s possible. However, you must stick with the proper steps. You can go on with your life and gain renewed trust if you do the following:

1. Determine why you’re feeling guilty in the first place. Write down all of your thoughts about what happened, and whether or not you’re the one who is truly to blame. Sometimes nobody is to blame at all. Unhealthy guilt is a feeling that you did something wrong even when you didn’t. For example, if you wanted to do something harmless for yourself and somebody else gets angry or hurt over it, you shouldn’t allow yourself to feel guilty. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do something, just as long as your intentions were pure.

However, if you really did do something wrong, then you are experiencing healthy guilt. In this case, you must truly take responsibility for your actions and learn from your mistakes in order to move on.

2. If you determine that you did indeed do something wrong, the next step is to think about it and why you did it. How would you rate what you did on a scale from one to ten? Whom did you hurt? How much guilt do you feel for hurting this person? In order to stop feeling guilty, you need to have a clear idea of how much trouble you caused. The fact that you feel bad for what you did is a good sign. Now, you need to figure out how to make amends.

3. Think about what you’re going to do. How will you make amends? Will a simple apology suffice? Or will the individual whom you hurt require much more? Think about when and where to meet them, and how to take action. Will they agree to meet you, or will you have to wait until they’re ready? Whatever you do, don’t try to run away from what you did. Seek help from friends and relatives if you have to. Explain that you are truly sorry and wish to make it up to the person you hurt, and see if anyone is willing to help you do so.

4. Once you are ready to make amends, don’t forget to forgive yourself. Don’t beat yourself up over it – you will never be able to stop feeling guilty if you can’t get over what happened. How can you expect the person you hurt to forgive you when you can’t even do it yourself? If you have a lot of pent up anger inside of you, try meditation or yoga. You can also rationalize your thoughts in a journal.

Getting through this part of life will take time, but you can do so if you really want to. Following the aforementioned steps will help you feel a lot better.

Another viable option is checking out an audio book that comes highly recommended. It’s called Stop Feeling Guilty – Forgive Yourself, by Erick Brown. I was sent a copy a long time ago by a friend and I have to say… I’m a fan.

When it comes to feeling less guilty, sometimes you need to tell yourself over and over that you REALLY ARE free from the emotion. This audio book makes it easy by reinforcing the mindset with simple advice and rationale. Check it out here.

Do you feel hurt and betrayed? Did someone you love lie to you or cheat on you? It’s not easy to get on with your life – especially if somebody really did something to hurt you. Feelings such as anger, resentment, depression, and stress are all related to betrayal. It’s hard to live a normal life when you’re filled with such negative emotions. You may even feel that forgiveness isn’t the right choice. Even if you want to forget, you might find it difficult to do so.

No matter how hurt you are, you need to realize that you’re not alone. Many people have been betrayed just as badly as you. There are certain steps to forgiveness you can follow in order to get on with your life.

These steps include:

1.  Recognition and acceptance. Recognize the pain, the source of the pain, and accept that your present situation is not a happy one. Recognize that you are not alone and accept the fact that you can’t control how anyone other than YOU is feeling. You can’t control how the person who hurt you is feeling. What you can do, however, is learn how to forgive.

2. Don’t forget that even good people make horrible mistakes sometimes. Even if what was done to you is horrible, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the person who did it is horrible. Try separating the person from his or her behavior. This can be very difficult to do – especially if it hurts you to face that person. Spend some time thinking about the good qualities that he or she possesses. Can you really let the pain from one incident ruin your life?

3. Try getting all of the anger out of your system once and for all. Whether you have to punch a pillow or scream until you lose your voice, you need to release all of the pent-up frustration inside of you. Promise yourself that once you are done, you will feel much better. Give yourself some time to release the anger and the pain, and then you can get started with the healing process.

4. Release both the offender and yourself from the pain. If you don’t, you will be imprisoned by your own anger. Forgiveness is 100% YOUR responsibility! Even if the offender doesn’t seem to care one way or another, you still need to forgive him or her for your own sake. Holding a grudge will only make you feel worse. Not forgiving someone will keep you from living in the present. Why? Because you are either living in the past through your anger, or living in the future through yearning for revenge. Neither of these is healthy, which is why learning the steps to forgiveness is essential.

5.  Whenever you feel enough courage, face the offender and let him or her know that you want to move on. Let the person who harmed you know that you forgive him or her. Whether or not that person responds positively is something over which you have no control. The only thing you can control is your forgiveness. Once you are able to forgive not just the offender but yourself, you will finally be able to move on with your life.

Follow these five steps to forgiveness and you will feel relieved, happy, and stress-free. Don’t let anger control your life, or you won’t be able to live to the fullest.

In addition to these tips, if you’re eager to fast forward the process of learning how to forgive (both yourself and others), I HIGHLY recommend you read this amazing book…Forgiveness Is a Choice.  The book is by a prominent author, Robert D. Enright, and it outlines step by step action plans for moving past anger, resentment and feelings of embarrassment – commonly associated with this topic.

Read the Reviews here!

Fortunately, there are some tactics you can try for improving your patience and overall outlook on life. It’s possible to reduce stress levels, although a great deal of effort is required. Whether you need to overcome social anxiety, deal with stress better, or both, you can do certain exercises.

• For starters, you can try breathing exercises. People often underestimate the benefits of deep breathing. When you start feeling anxious or tense, inhale deeply for four seconds; hold for four seconds, release for four seconds, hold for four seconds, and then begin the process again. Do this for a few minutes.

• Exercise more. Sometimes lack of physical activity will increase your chances of having an anxiety or panic attack. Set aside some time every week for exercising. Most experts recommend that beginners should do around thirty minutes of exercises three times a week. Slowly increase this amount as time goes on.

• Cut down on the caffeine and alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant, so if you’re already feeling down, it will only make you feel worse. Caffeine is also an anxiety trigger. It’s a challenge to stay calm when your system is filled with caffeine. However, quitting cold turkey isn’t the answer. Try cutting down a little bit at a time.

• Whatever you do, don’t bottle up your feelings. Don’t be afraid to speak out. Oftentimes, feeling anxious is a result of keeping everything inside. If you’re not yet ready to speak out, you can still write in a diary. Use it as your outlet wherein you can keep track of the troubled thoughts that run through your head.

• Organize your goals and create an outline on how you are going to achieve them. Take everything one step at a time. Many people try doing a number of tasks at once, and this results in an accumulation of anxiety triggers. Instead, concentrate on reaching your goal(s) one step at a time.

• Gather support. Never forget that you’re not suffering alone. Anxiety attacks occur to millions of people. Look online for support groups and see if there are any in your locality. Getting help for stress and learning patience isn’t all that hard when you have friends. Even chatting with someone online will help you to feel better.

• Learn how to enjoy the moment and not stress about the future. Take a relaxing bubble bath; watch your favorite childhood films; read a good book; go out for a hike with friends; etc. Be active in your quest to find happiness, and enjoy as much as you can!

Learning patience will take some time and effort, but you will find the process a lot easier if you learn how to deal with panic and stress. The best place to start is through the Panic Away program found here.

Comfort foods are foods that relax the psyche by reminding us of comforting childhood memories.

They’re also foods that warm the heart, make you feel cozy, safe and satisfied.

Comfort foods hit the spot when your craving that one specific taste.

There’s no exact category that a comfort food has to fit into. It should simply calm your mind, satisfy your hunger and provide an escape to whatever is stressing you out at the time.

So, why do people have comfort foods?

Well, with all the affects mentioned above, it’s pretty easy to see. Comfort foods relax the body and decrease overall stress.

All this sounds pretty good, huh?

Well, there is one general problem with most comfort foods. Because they are so rich and hearty, they tend to be pretty unhealthy.

You can’t eat them too often or else your weight will go up along with your mood. Suddenly, relying on comfort foods to ease your depression feels like binge eating…

…not so good.

Have no fear!

As a solution to this little dilemma, I’m presenting you the best low fat comfort foods.

Well, maybe that’s not the best description. See, below I’ve listed the top ten comfort foods with a little twist.

Low Fat Comfort Food Alternatives

These top ten comfort foods are comprised of the most popular comfort foods but with low fat alternatives as their ingredients. Alongside some of the more elaborate comfort foods, I’ve placed healthy recipes so you can make them on your own.

It’s a way to spoil yourself with your favorite comfort foods without feeling guilty over the indulgence.

See? You can have your cake and eat it too!

Top Ten Comfort Foods

1. Dark Chocolate
   Dark Chocolate is one of my favorite comfort foods around.

   Although, milk chocolate in general is more widely known as a comfort food, substituting with dark chocolate has loads of benefits.

   These benefits come from the fact that dark chocolate is made with plants that have flavonoids. Flavonoids are your friend! They provide the benefits listed below:

   The benefits of dark chocolate:

   • Contains antioxidents which prevent the body from aging
   • Antioxidents prevent free radicals like cancer cells
   • Relaxes blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide
   • Small amounts everyday actually lower cholesteral!

2. Apple Pie
   
   Nothing puts me in a better mood than a nice warm slice of apple pie. Add a little scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and I’m in absolute heaven.

   Unfortunately, that combo is loaded with calories. So, how can you cut back on the calorie count without taking away from this treat?

   Here’s a lowfat apple pie recipe you can make right now without the unhealthy side effects. CLICK HERE to see it now.

3. Chicken Soup
   
   Is there anything more soothing than chicken soup on a cold fall or winter day? Chicken Soup warms you from the inside out, putting you completely at ease.

   Although soup isn’t terribly unhealthy, there can be high levels of sodium, depending on what brand of soup you buy.

   Progresso makes a line of light soups appropriately named “Progresso Light”. They contain about half the sodium and they even have a vegitarian alternative for chicken soup lovers.

   The flavor still has that wholesome chicken soup broth taste but with less calories. It’s a great way to get your chicken soup fix without worry about the unhealthy side effects of high sodium content. Enjoy!

4. Grilled Cheese
   
   There’s nothing better than a gooey, warm grilled cheese sandwhich right off the frying pan.

   Try these healthy substitutes to take down the calorie count on this crispy, comfort food staple.

   Healthy Grilled Cheese Swaps: Start with your bread choice. Any light whole wheat or whole grain bread will do. For the cheese, choose any part skim cheese. I prefer american cheese, but swiss and cheddar work just as well. FYI – part skim cheeses will melt better than fat free cheeses. In your frying pan you can use either fat free cooking spray like “Pam” or a light, heart healthy butter like “Smart Balance” If you want to spice it up, you can add tomato slices or lean turkey bacon — oh yeah.

5. Fried Chicken
   
   When I get a craving for some delicious, crispy fried chicken, nothing can stand in my way. However, running out to KFC isn’t exactly the smartest move when it comes to eating right.

   Instead, I make this amazing baked chicken recipe below. It’s lowfat and gives me the same, crispy chicken satisfaction I get with the other stuff. You can buy either chicken breast on the bone or drumsticks from your local grocery.

   Here’s your lowfat comfort food alternative…

   Baked Chicken Recipe (for 2 people) Take out enough chicken for two people Remove the Skin Use one pouch of “Shake and Bake” original recipe. Wet the chicken with water. Drop it in the “Shake and Bake” bag with the seasoning. Shake it up until the chicken is evenly coated. Spray a flat cooking sheet with fat free cooking spray. Place the chicken on a flat cooking. Bake at 425° for 50 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serve with baked potato and a green vegetable.

   This healthy substitute will give you the same comfort of Fried Chicken without the flabby side effects. I love it.

6. Chocolate Chip Cookies
   
   Although there’s no way to turn chocolate chip cookies into a healthy snack, you can make some adjustments to the ingredients in order to make this comfort treat more beneficial.

   Make these adjustments with your favorite store bought cookie mix. Healthier Substitutes: Use dark chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate. Substitute sugar with a sugar substitute like “Splenda”. Use an egg subsitute like “Egg Beaters”. If you’re making cookies from scatch, you can use a whole wheat flour instead of white flour.

7. Peanut Butter and Jelly
   
   Whenever I eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich it never fails to bring me back to childhood when life was so much simpler.

   If you haven’t had a PB and J sandwhich in a while, this simple pleasure will really surprise you with its effectiveness for easing stress.

   As a lowfat comfort food alternative, try using toasted whole grain bread instead of plain old white bread. You’ll find that this healthier choice is actually much tastier as well.

   Also, I like to use “Skippy Reduced Fat” peanut butter. Honestly, in small doses peanut butter isn’t so bad for you. It has tons benefits including…

   The benefits of peanut butter:

   • Peanuts contribute to brain health, brain circulation and blood flow.
   • It’s a good source of Vitamin E which is great for your skin.
   • High in protein.
   • Has been shown to prevent certain types of cancer.

   That’s it – Enjoy!

   If possible, pick out a jelly that has reduced sugar. Other than that, eat up and enjoy this healthy treat. I like to add a glass of skim milk to this combo to make my meal complete!

8. Mashed Potatoes
   
   Oh, the joy of eating mashed potatoes…

   From the first bite, this cozy, warm dish makes me feel good all over. Although, you can’t really eat mashed potatoes as an entire meal, it certainly adds a nice comfort to any sit-down dinner or lunch.

   Here’s a recipe that will cut down on the fat and calories found in conventional mashed potato mixes.

   Mashed Potatoes Recipe (for 2 people) Peel and slice 4 potatoes. Place the potato slices in a pot of boiling water. Boil for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft and breakable to the touch. Strain the potatoes from the water. Place the potatoes in a large mixing bowl Using a potato masher or electric hand mixer, while mixing add your favorite skim milk until you get a thick and creamy consistency. Add a tablespoon of “Smart Balance” butter. Add salt and pepper to your liking.

9. Chili
   
   A hearty chili can really knock your socks off on a cool fall or winter day. I like to make chili right around New Years Eve when the weather is crisp and cold. It warms me up from the inside out.

   Here’s a great lowfat chili comfort food recipe that will get you ready for this monumental meal.

   Chile Recipe (for 2 people)
   2 pounds Lean Ground Turkey 1 large Zucchini cut cubed 2 Green Peppers 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil 5 Strips of Chopped up Turkey Bacon	1 Package of Chili Seasoning 3 Cans (15.5oz) Kidney Beans drained 3 Cans (14.5oz) Tomatos diced 1 Package Taco Seasoning 5 teaspoons Chicken Gravy Mix
   Start by cooking the ground turkey until it is fully cooked. Add the two tablespoons of Olive oil to the turkey meat. Before doing so, drain the fat from the pan. Add the chopped up turkey bacon to the pot and let it cook for another 5 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes and kidney beans. Drain two of the cans of kidney beans and add the final can with the juice in the pot. Add both the chili and taco seasoning packets. Mix it up. Cook for about 20 minutes on a medium flame on the stovetop. Add the onions, green peppers and zucchini to the pot and cook it for another 20 minutes. You’ll want to continuously stir the mix. After the the previous 20 minutes have passed add the 5 teaspoons of Chicken Gravy Mix It will thicken up the gravy and give it a great taste as well. Don’t fret too much over cooking time, taste test intermediately and go with your gut. It’s your chili. You can make it any way you like. Enjoy!

10. Macaroni and Cheese
    Macaroni and Cheese is my all time favorite comfort food.

    It’s easy to make and will help you forget your worries right away. Now, there’s NO WAY I’m going to try to convince you that macaroni and cheese is diet food. However, there are some things you can do to make it less fattening.

    You can lighten this dish up by using skim milk instead of regular milk. I also use “Smart Balance” light butter instead of regular butter. Whole wheat pasta will add fiber to the meal as well.

    And…

    If you really want to go all out with a healthy alternative, use part skim cheese instead of whole milk cheese.

    However you decide to make macaroni and cheese, you really can’t mess up when it comes to cheese and pasta. That combination is really infallable.

These top ten comfort foods will put you at ease immediately, so give their lowfat alternative recipes a shot and you’ll be encouraging your mental health without sabotaging your diet.

Also, these comfort food recipes are just the beginning…

Below, is a downloadable guide to healthy eating. It has tons of other healthy recipes in it that will allow you to substitute the bad stuff out of your favorite foods and still enjoy them with healthy ingredient alternatives.

It’s an e-book, so you just need to click the link below and download the healthy eating guide right to your computer.

It’s completely changed my life by taking the stress out of making difficult eating choices. Now I just Understand the fundamentals of nutrition better.

The major benefit is you can weight out food choices in your head and eat what you want without starving yourself to stay in shape.

This is the kind of knowledge you need to know in order to make a healthy lifestyle second nature when it comes to your food decisionmaking.

CLICK the link below right now, and start this next step towards self-improvement. This is your opportunity to be a better you for all time. Don’t let it pass you by. Seize this very moment. I know it will change your life as it’s changed mine.

Let me explain…

Feng shui is the ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both astronomy and geography to help you improve your life by receiving positive Qi (pronounced Chi)…

…that’s the official definition at least.

For the sake of avoiding a deep and philosophical explanation, simply recognize that Qi is positive energy.

Feng shui has been practiced for thousands of years and has millions of loyal followers.

Modern enthusiasts will tell you that the practice of feng shui is an artform. It’s a guide for arranging furniture, home decor and organizing living space to encourage a calm and peaceful domain.

Don’t underestimate the power of this practice. When your home encourages serenity, you’ll find it near impossible to let negative thoughts overwhelm you.

With the traditional feng shui rules I’ve applied to my home, soothing thoughts envelope my mind, even on the most stressful days, the moment I step through my door.

Below, I’ve outlined some of these traditional feng shui rules. Start implementing them today to transform your home into a calming environment where you can truly let go of all your anxiety and stress without distraction.

Traditional Feng Shui Rules

Get Rid of the Clutter

One of the quickest ways to create positive energy in your home is to declutter every nook and cranny.

Clutter, as described by feng shui theory, blocks the flow of Qi in your home. A big part of feng shui is creating a constant flowing energy (Qi) throughout each room.

Don’t look at clearing the clutter out of your house as a dreaded chore.

The clutter around you actually equates to a cluttered feelings in your head.

Think of it this way. As you remove the clutter from your home, you’re clearing out the distracting throughts from your mind.

This very important feng shui step will actually relax your thoughts in a very subconscious way. This has been proven through many studies.

I’m sure just like everyone else, you’ve got that one junk drawer that you just throw pencils, scissors, mail or papers into. It’s disorganized and you simply haven’t gotten to cleaning it up. Take the time to organize this clutter culprit and you’ll ease the subconscious stress that this superficial chaos can create.

I know how overwhelming this step can feel. I myself used to be quite a packrat. It’s no wonder I could never relax in my home before implementing traditional feng shui rules. There would always be something to clean up or push off to another day.

The real trick to decluttering your home is not to look at it as one huge task. Instead, take 5 minutes a day to get rid of a little trash or organize these areas in your home.

Taking baby steps towards decluttering will organize your house in no time.

One of the most challenging aspects to this might be cleaning up your closet that’s full of clothes you don’t wear anymore.

I know how attached you can get to old clothes. Often it feels like they’re too meaningful to give away.

A nice simple rule of thumb when getting rid of your “clothing clutter” is this…

If you haven’t worn an article of clothing for a year and you don’t see an exact moment in the near future where you’ll be wearing it, give it away.

There are tons of clothing drop-offs for shelters,veterans or the homeless. These people would truly benefit from your contribution and you can feel good about helping those that are in need.

Lucky Animal Statues

Numerous animals are considered fortuitous to your well-being according to traditional feng shui rules.

According to feng shui, these animals and mythical creature bring both money and good fortune to those they surround.

• Dragon: Dragons symbolize power and good fortune. In particular they benefit your family’s health.

• Three-Legged Frog: These statues depict a three-legged toad. The frog is usually shown sitting on a pile of gold coins. It is especially helpful in achieving wealth energy. Many business owners will place these statues next to a cash register.

• Fu Dogs: These dogs resemble stylized lions and they symbolize prestige and power. They usually come in pairs, one stationed on either side of doorways for protection. Personally, I find these to be a little over the top but traditional rules of feng shui hold these statues in high regard.

• Bat: The traditional feng shui rules consider bats to be harbingers of happiness and good fortune. A pair of bats bring double happiness. However, I wouldn’t recommend giving a pair of bats as a wedding gift!

• Crane: Cranes are symbolic of long life and wisdom.

• Fish: Carp swim upstream, so they represent success and perseverance, but all fish are considered lucky for abundance and money. This is another reason why fish tanks or Koi ponds are recommended to encourage prosperity.

• Phoenix: This magical, mythical creature who rises from the ashes symbolizes peace and blessings. If you were born in a Phoenix year, it is especially lucky.

Learning More

I know all these rules can seem complicated and overwhelming but feng shui really pays off once you get the gist of it. After taking just a little bit of time to learn more, the traditional feng shui rules have become second nature in my own decorating style.

The fact is, there’s so much more to learn and if you have any interest at all, I highly recommend you download the 26 Feng Shui secrets on the next page which go way more in depth on how to make your home a sanctuary for peace and tranquility.

Wouldn’t you love to come home to a nice relaxing environment that encourages your own well-being? Learn how to do just that by clicking the link below and learning 26 important feng shui secrets.

]]> http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/traditional-feng-shui-rules/feed 0 http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/how-does-stress-affect-the-mind-body http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/how-does-stress-affect-the-mind-body#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:32:15 +0000 admin http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/?p=294
Stress can be very destructive. It can disguise itself as something benign (i.e. stomachaches, back pain, stress eating) and can easily make you believe that you are just in a rut, nothing serious…

Well, that is not the case.

Stress can cause a lot of problems with regards to your physical and mental wellbeing. But, what exactly is it about stress that can lead so many people to breakdowns, heart attacks and strokes?

The degree of how stress affects the mind and body of one person may be different for you.

What you consider severely stressful could only be a mild irritation for another. People are wired differently and it is not your fault if you cannot handle something or conversely leave emotionally unscathed. That is just the way you are.

Stress affects the mind and body in many different ways. The physical and the psyche are closely connected when it comes to stress. Stress can affect the mind and body separately but some the stress related symptoms are innately connected. An example of this is stress induced overeating and binge eating.

It may seem like a psychological symptom at the start, but it can later on cause obesity, heart problems and even diabetes.

In what other ways does stress affect the mind and body? Stress can make you irritable, moody, less patient, and it can lead to a short and fiery temper.

At the same time, it can also lead to lack of concentration and a slowed response to stimuli. Stress may even cause problems with memory recall. It can also give you a feeling of uncertainty and even doom. All these can build up and increase your anxiety level.

These mental symptoms caused by stress can also affect your physical body. You can experience hypertension, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, profuse sweating, diarrhea, indigestion and so much more. You may also get stress related hives, rashes, dandruff and acne. Some people even experience hair loss.

Some of the ways that stress affects the mind and body may seem inconsequential. ‘After all’, you say “Everybody gets diarrhea and stomachache” or “I could deal with dandruff and breakouts easily.”

But what if you are dealing with the serious ways that stress can affect the mind and body? What if you experience a heart attack or a stroke just because you let yourself become too stressed out? What then? Before that happens, you need to put a stop to it and manage your stress levels as soon as possible.

The fact is, controlling your daily stress is way easier than you might imagine. When you know the exact formula and exercises for ending stress and anxiety, you can simply go through the motions and be confident that you’ll feel immediate stress relief in seconds.

]]> http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/how-does-stress-affect-the-mind-body/feed 0 http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/anxiety-induced-sweating http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/anxiety-induced-sweating#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:55:47 +0000 admin http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/?p=280
Anxiety induced sweating is one of the more embarrassing forms of excessive sweating. You may find this sweating trigger very uncomfortable because of the mental chain reaction once the sweating begins.

If you already have an inclination towards excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis, then anxiety induced sweating can really consume your social life.

One particular story comes to mind when I think of anxiety induced sweating. It was sent to my inbox a while ago. Perhaps you can relate to this scenario described by one of my readers below …

The Sweaty Business Meeting

… I was sitting in one of our usual business meetings at my PR company. I’m a computer engineer – it’s kind of the perfect job for an anxiety sufferer like myself.

My job normally keeps me pretty hidden, which is a plus considering I have terrible anxiety induced sweating in public situations. However, on this particular day, I needed to meet with the heads of our HR benefits group to discuss a new computer system I was implementing.

Like any business meeting, there was a line of questioning regarding the work I’d be performing.

I remember the sweat began the moment I began responding to their inquiries. It started, as usual, by beading at my forehead. I was praying it was just a momentary flush but my hopes were lost the moment I felt the first trickle bounce off my eyebrow.

It only escalated from that point on.

So, there I was, facing five human resource associates with sweat dripping down my face. The anxiety rushed through my body and my paranoia took me to the edge of a panic attack.

My mind took a downward spiral, heading towards self destruction.

“What can they possibly think of me?”

“How can I show my face at work again?”

“I’m such a loser”

All these terrible thoughts brought on stronger feelings, triggering anxiety induced sweating and I thought that the flood of perspiration would never stop.

I could feel their eyes drawing down on my wet, scared face.

All I wanted to do was get up out of my chair, run out the door and just leave the building to head home. I felt like a little kid who just got terribly embarrassed in front of the whole class in elementary school.

Somehow, and I attribute this to your website, I changed the direction of my thinking with the consecutive thought control method that I learned from your 5-Day email course.

It was then that I made the conscious decision to take control.

Thankfully, using the techniques on your site, I was able to control my anxiety and slowly bring my panic down to a rest.

I promptly excused myself to the restroom where I splashed ice cold water on my face, patted it down with a couple of paper towels and initiated the deep breathing and mental exercises you’ve taught me.

When I walked back into the meeting room, I felt re-energized and confident that I could win back my audience… and I did.

Thanks for the tips at your site. Although, I’m not completely over my anxiety induced sweating, you’re really helping me learn to defeat it day by day. – Sincerely, Louis G.

The Resolution

After hearing that story from Louis, I obtained his permission to share it with you for one sole reason. That story isn’t a fairytale. Louis didn’t overcome his anxiety induced sweating like some invincible hero in a movie.

Just like you, he fell victim to his anxiety induced sweating.

However, his temporary setback isn’t the significance of the story. Louis got right back up on the horse, using techniques he’s learned here and found strength to go on.

Everyone gets defeated now and again.

There’s no overnight fix for having an excessive sweating problem triggered by high anxiety. Fortunately though, there is a system, a proven strategy for getting back your inner serenity when you feel the sweat approaching.

This site is dedicated to ending you anxiety and anxiety induced sweating using natural treatments that will give you control over your temperment. You’ll lose the panic and fear that anxiety induced sweating can create.

Don’t be a slave to your anxiety induced sweating any longer. Take control and learn the tactics that will grant you mental health, emotional freedom and a new love for life.

You can start this process right now at Panic Away by CLICKING HERE!

]]> http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/anxiety-induced-sweating/feed 0 http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/help-for-agoraphobia http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/help-for-agoraphobia#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:23:32 +0000 admin http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/?p=266

Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces or of being in crowded‚ public places such as shopping malls, grocery stores, train stations, restaurants — really anywhere that is out of a person’s comfort zone such as their home.

The spectrum of Agoraphobia is very broad. There are extreme cases where a person will become dizzy the moment they step foot out the door. Also, many people are unable to drive due to this condition. These cases can completely immobilize the Agoraphobic.

Fortunately, my level of Agoraphobia wasn’t to this extreme. It did, however, interfere with my day to day activities.

My Panic Attacks in these “open” situations were perpetual.

Leaving the house was miserable, yet at the same time I was afraid of the condition worsening.

Ironically, the thinking behind agoraphobia is one based on a feeling of isolation, despite being out in public.

It’s a feeling of “all eyes on you” You feel of separated from those who are “normal”. It’s a feeling of being exposed.

When I’d walk out my door, I couldn’t help but think…

“If a Panic Attack occurs‚ who’s going to look after me?
How will I get the assistance that I need? What will people think when I freak out in front of them? How will I get to a hospital if I pass out? How will I get home if I feel too anxious to drive?

The emotional rollercoaster would spin round and round until I decided going out was just not worth the worry.

Also, my feelings of vulnerability would escalate the farther away I got from my home.

Similar to my “regular” routine of Panic Attacks, the anticipation of a Panic Attack outside the home led me to have the attacks. This cycle of anxiety enforced my agoraphobic tendencies and the fear of leaving my house began to take hold a majority of the time.

Sure, I would force myself to go to the occasional party or event. However, my time away from home was always laced with anxiety and I could never fully relax.

In my experience working with Agoraphobia sufferers, I’ve encountered “victims” (that’s really what they are) who have been housebound for numerous years.

If you suffer from Agorophobia, there is good news for you. Whether you’ve suffered from this condition for months or years, this is by no means a hopeless situation.

It doesn’t matter if you haven’t driven a car lately due to the condition. I don’t care how impossible you think your condition is. You will get over it. You will conquer this anxiety and start enjoying the world around you again.

I say this all from personal experience.

My battle overcoming Agoraphobia was long, but I did it — and you will too.

Find Confidence in Your Safety Anywhere

To start with, you’ll need to work on changing your thinking in terms of what is and what is not a “comfort zone”

Most Agoraphobics believe their home is their safe zone. They know it well.

The truth is, anywhere you are is equally safe. The anxiety in your mind is the only thing that distinguishes a place as bad or good, fun or miserable, happy or sad.

Controlling the anxiety will change your perspective on the world around you and you will see all places as being equally comfortable.

Your mind will come up with reasons why it believes only a certain area is safe and another is not. Those reasons range from being near the phone or people you trust to having familiar physical surroundings to reassure you.

The reality of anxiety is that there is no such thing as a safe zone. There is nothing life threatening about a Panic Attack‚ and therefore sitting at home is the same as sitting under the stars on a deserted island.

Of course‚ your mind will immediately rush to tell you that a deserted island is a completely dangerous place to be as there are no hospitals‚ no tranquillizers‚ no doctors‚ NO SAFETY NET.

Take a moment to think about your previous experiences with Panic Attacks. Aren’t you still here‚ alive and well‚ after all those attacks during which you were convinced you were going to die?

The bottom line is a Panic Attack will NEVER kill you. You are healthy and you will live a long happy life.

This moment, when you are reading this article is a great time to meditate on this belief. You can not make rational decisions when you feel overly anxious. Take the time right this moment, while you feel a bit calmer to understand that there is a 99.9% chance you will live a long healthy life and NOTHING BAD WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.

I know that can be a hard concept to grasp. If relying on statistics is comforting to you, know that the odds are completely in your favor to live a long life. That means, if you spend your days worrying about random accidents and happenings that will interfere with your health, you’re just wasting thoughts.

The fact is you’ll be fine. I can say that confidently, knowing that freak accidents happen to far and few between. Sure you’ve heard a story from a friend of a friend of a friend.

Don’t focus on the minority of things, focus on the fact that a majority of the population will live a long long time. Life expectancies are growing everyday with new breakthroughs in medicine and science. The truth is… you’ll be around for quite some time and nothing bad will ever happen to you.

Focus on the positive. Thank the universe for bringing you this far and be grateful for the health you DO have now.

There are people out in the world with REAL medical issues. Have gratitude to the world around you that you are physically healthy and yes I’ll say it…

You are LUCKY!

Believe this with all your heart.

Throw Out ALL Superstition

I don’t mean to sound harsh or abrasive here. I know first hand the terror that you are going through. The point of this article isn’t to give you some kind of lecture or guilt trip. Certainly, there’s nothing to feel guilty about.

My point is to help you see through the myths that our minds can so easily create.

For example, at 26 I used to fear relentlessly that I would have a heart attack. I would get anxious just saying the thought aloud. The truth was, I was exercising regularly, eating well, had excellent feedback on physicals with my doctor every year and had healthy parents in their late 50s who never had heart problems.

Even though all logic told me otherwise, my anxiety convinced me that I had heart problems. Obviously now that I know and am thinking differently, I’m much more relaxed about my health.

I’m giving you this example to illustrate how easily our minds can build prison walls around our logic. Without sensibility, it’s hard to enjoy yourself anywhere that doesn’t fit into your anxiety’s made-up rule system. It’s like living your life according to superstition. There’s no sense to it and it will only drive you crazy.

Throw superstition out the window. There’s never EVER been any evidence to back any superstition. That’s why it’s called superstition.

Learn Patience

Patience is a virtue. You’ve heard the expression over and over. But have you started practicing it yet?

I know it can be hard to find patience. You feel stressed and anxious and you just want to feel calm RIGHT NOW. Anxiety can make you feel rushed and unsure. Practicing patience is a way to gain control over your panic.

and…

I’m not just taking about having patience with your anxiety. It’s important for you to learn to have patience for others.

If an individual such as a partner or family member has not had a similar anxiety issue‚ that person may often find it hard to understand and empathize with what you are going through.

I am sure you have been dragged out of the house numerous times against your will‚ kicking and screaming. This can then lead to tensions and arguments and is upsetting as it can make you feel less understood by those around you.

People around agoraphobics are often simply trying what they feel is best. They don’t understand the feeling and it’s completely NOT their fault.

If you can see that their intentions are well meaning (although often misguided)‚ then you will be able to relate to them better and help soothe any potential conflicts.

Noone is “out to get you”. Believe this. Know that paranoia in the company of others is all in your head. Truth be told people are waaay more concerned about themselves that your own actions. Find confidence in knowing that everyone is looking for the same acceptance and take comfort that we are all just human and only want happiness for one another.

Love everyone you meet. Help and do right by everyone you meet.

If along the way you meet some people who don’t love you back, that’s okay. The love you have for them is yours. It’s yours just as every experience you have is yours.

Savor every feeling and experience as a different flavor in life. THINK positively.

Take the Next Step

There is one thing I am sure you will agree with‚ and that is that the only person who will get you out of agoraphobic thinking is yourself.

These are your thoughts‚ and only you can begin to change that pattern. Dealing with long term agoraphobia and Panic Attacks is a slow process to begin with‚ but once the results start happening‚ it moves faster and faster until you reach a point where you will find it hard to believe that going out was such a difficult task.

]]> http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/help-for-agoraphobia/feed 1 http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/how-is-agoraphobia-diagnosed http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/how-is-agoraphobia-diagnosed#comments Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:46:48 +0000 admin http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/?p=256

Have you ever felt anxious about stepping outside your door only to feel immediately vulnerable to death or germs. Agoraphobia is the abnormal fear of being in crowds, public places, or open areas, sometimes accompanied by anxiety attacks.

It’s only of the MOST disabiling forms of anxiety because it completely immobalizes you. No more visiting family and friends during holiday time. No more walking your dog. No more seeing your child at their first little league game. Nope! With Agoraphobia, stepping outside your door just doesn’t seem worth the risk.

Now, I know – if you don’t suffer from this form of anxiety (consider yourself lucky) this concept can be difficult to comprehend. A lot of OCD sufferers can relate to Agoraphobics because essentially, Agoraphobia is the next level of superstitious or obsessive behavior. The fear is so gripping that the person believes death, pain or disease is just outside the comfort of their own home.

A lot of Agoraphibics experience symptoms like dizziness, nausea, panic attacks and overwhelming fear the further they get from their home. The moment the step outside their threshold, panic ensues. It can be incredibly traumatic.

How is agoraphobia diagnosed?

Agoraphobia is diagnosed primarily through a psychological evaluation. In most cases, your doctor or mental health professional will pose some questions, and ask you to describe the symptoms and signs that you are experiencing.

Some aspects include relating scenarios to your physician, time when the symptoms occur, the intensity of the symptom, and the duration when experienced. In addition, you might be asked to talk about how your life has been changed due to the symptoms felt. Places or situations you usually avoid would also be asked.

Agoraphobia is also diagnosed through a physical exam. Physical exams diagnose agoraphobia through spotting the same signs and symptoms found in lung, heart, and other similar conditions. Doctors generally look for reactions similar to a panic attack, while posing questions and even pushing the patient into situations they normally find uncomfortable. It’s essentially the same as the first step a psychologist would take when inducing cognitive behavioral therapy.

To be fully diagnosed with agoraphobia, you must meet the criteria specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM. This is a manual that is published by the America Psychiatric Association, and mental health professionals use this to diagnose mental conditions. It’s pretty much the manual for this disorder. At a minimum, for you to be diagnosed with agoraphobia, you must meet the following criteria:

• Avoidance of situations or places where you feel you might have a panic attack or have great anxiety when placed in those situations.
• Anxiety about being in situations or places where you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed to escape.

If you think you’re going through denial or are just flat out unsure whether you suffer from Agoraphobia, ask a trusted friend or family member if they have noticed changes in you.

If they say that you are reluctant to leave home without company, or if they say that they have noticed that you always find reasons not to leave the home, then it may be time to seek professional help,. That way, if you do have agoraphobia, it can be diagnosed properly and at an early time.

Once agoraphobia is diagnosed, it doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Actually, it’s just the beginning for you . The recovery is LONG and hard but the reward is your independence and freedom.

The “Panic Away” program on the next page has had thousands of Agoraphobics naturally recover from their panic and anxiety in incredibly short periods of time. Check out the program here and see how you can improve and end your agoraphobia for good with a proven, NATURAL solution that’s already been shown to start working in days.

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