Is There A ‘Best’ Stress Relief?

Posted on September 7, 2008
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Vacations are one of the best forms of stress relief. Unfortunately, not everyone can take the vacation of their dreams or liking. Frequently, where or when you go is intertwined with other people’s desires as well as your own. A vacation of your choosing is the best stress relief but since I know that is not always going to happen, let me give you some quick tips you can use right now, right where you are.

Since you did not acquire all your stress at one time, don’t attempt to rid yourself of all for it in one quick setting. It takes time to learn new habits and changes, but gradually you will find relief for the stress.

Stress can be relieved in a number of different ways.

One method of relieving stress is with puzzles. They literally force your mind to change it’s focus and move from what is causing you stress. Puzzles are available in all sizes and for all ages.

Gardening is an excellent source of stress relief. Or getting out in the woods for a walk or cutting and stacking firewood can be a healthy means of releasing pent up nervous energy and stress.

Most of the time we are too busy to notice the beauty of nature around us. We’re so focused on the negative stress that we totally ignore or don’t let in what is a natural stress releiver. Go for a drive in the country, to the lake or ocean, to the mountains and spend some time observing.

Do you think you could add just one simple pleasure to your day?

Start a hobby. it doesn’t have to be expensive. I started buying little cacti from the local 99 cent store and replanting. Potting soil is pretty cheap as are pots and even if you’ve never had success before, try a cactus. Really, they’re easy to grow and they grow fast and many of them have flowers that bloom.

Natural supplemens are available to assist as well. Natural cures can be great alternatives to prescription drugs. They are frequently as good or better but you won’t hear that from the big drug companies, they want your money!

Music can alleviate a lot of stress. It can calm the children, providing you don’t overdose them with sugar and you are the person repsponsible for the selection of the music! Try singing or dancing with the kids, or your spouse for that matter.

Try picking up an instrument on ebay. Get something easy that you can play around with and have some relaxing fun. I ended up getting a bunch of odd and unusual noise makers for fun but also a nice Native American flute that even I can make sound good.

The Bible lets us know that we can make melody in our hearts and speak to ourselves words of blessing. It is true that when you hear yourself speak words of encouragement or peace, it has a very positive effect. Or, pick up a CD with relaxing passages or words of encouragement.

Stress can be releived by exercise. It provides a way for the body to get rid of all the tension and frustration. Exercise can heal the mind as it shapes your body.

Knowing the best you can be can be accomplished through some exercise. give yourself a boost of self confidence.

Laughter is the best medicine. Physiologically the body improves with a state of happiness. Laughter helps you to relax and reduce high levels of anxiety. So keep laughing for stress relief. Really, good honest, clean humor, which admittedly is hard to find, is the best.

Take some shots-with a camera! Scenes from nature known to have a relaxant effect are the Grand Canyon, the Matterhorn, mountain scenes, woods and pristine beaches. For some people, just pictures can help, but for others, the relief from stress comes from actually being there.

Whatever you eventually choose as your preferred stress relief tip, remember to always find time to do it. Don’t get so busy you don’t take time for yourself.

How do I overcome social anxiety?

Posted on September 6, 2008
Filed Under Anxiety | Leave a Comment

Despite the fact that social anxiety is one of the most commonly occuring psychological disorders very little is known about how and why it happens and why it continues to become even more common.

Social anxiety can show itself in a number of unique ways. Someone can experience it as a feeling of being watched or followed all the time. Even though they really know this is not the case they find it impossible to shake the feelings.

Common everyday tasks that we take for granted can be terrifying ordeals for someone with social anxiety disorder. Something as simple as opening the door when someone knocks can fill them with paralysing fear

The bottom line issue that everyone suffering from social anxiety is suffering with is an overall feeling of fear and worry about the outside world and especially in relation to people and social situations. They worry constantly about how others see them as they feel that others are never looking at them in a positive way.

While most people will have some issues with job interviews and public speaking situations for example if you suffer with social anxiety these are literally paralysing events that are virtually impossible to perform.

Oftentimes this generalised fear will turn into a full on social phobia which is a much more severe form of the condition that has now become a psychiatric disorder. The signs here in addition to the extreme self consciousness is severe fear and anxiety to go with it.

And as always there is the associated chronic worry about being constantly scrutinized and evaluated by others and the fear of making a fool of themselves or embarrassing themselves in some way

Today as the numbers of people with social anxiety increases many methods, both conventional (from medication to psychotherapy) and alternative (from acupuncture to hypnosis) are being offered as possible solutions. There is something you can do to help with your social anxiety.

Love, Art, Humor And Widowhood

Posted on September 5, 2008
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Several years ago I had quite a different life. I suddenly found myself a young single mother with three children to journey through life with. My neuvo-unmarried status was not a choice of mine. Fate had dealt me a losing hand. Never would I have imagined that when I kissed my husband good-bye that fateful morning I would never kiss, much less see him again.

My children greeted me as I arrived home later that evening. They seemed concerned that their father had not arrived home. I made frantic phone calls to friends and relatives. I had a feeling deep within my core that something was horribly wrong. My feelings were confirmed a short while later when I noticed a car slowly approach my house. My oldest daughter sensed something was amiss. There was a knock on the door. She pleaded with me not to answer.

I saw a police car out the window so opened the door. A detective was looking me in the eye. His eyes squinted and a slight frown on his face. I knew before he told me that it was a tragedy and had something to do with my family. I immediately fell to my knees, I childishly covered my ears with my hands and threw the phone at him. On the phone was my husbands’ brother whom I had been speaking with at the time. I heard the detectives words they burned deep into my being. He informed me that my husband was dead. I do not remember most of the following few weeks until this day.

Close ones took over my daily living chores and helped me through the initial shock. However the pain would not dissipate that easily. I felt severe almost phyisical pain in every breathe. I felt it in my thoughts. It was my constant companion, It kept me company in those long sleepless nights. The nights were always the worst. Darkness begets darkness. My pain was so immense that it burned through my veins circulating through my heart. There was no reprise. Pain ruled my impulses. At one point I considered ending it all. I plotted my own demise. It would have been so easy. So easy to curl up into a fetal position and reverse life. At one point I ran my car off the road only to turn the wheel back at the point of no return. I had pills. I had a gun. I toyed with these ideas, like a cat toys with its prey right before it pounces. I liked the idea of the gun it would be quick and there would be no chance to have a change of heart.

I had a lucid thought, who would clean the mess up? I began to laugh uncontrollably, then came the tears. I slept that night a long restful sleep. I awoke the next morning with a plan. Laughter and a plan, they have carried me far. I now enjoy life. I am a proud mother and grandmother of beautiful grown and infant children. I love life, humor, theater and the arts. Life goes on, and, surprisingly, it has only just begun.

Little Pieces Of Me: How I Survived Widowhood

Posted on September 5, 2008
Filed Under Depression | Leave a Comment

It seemed like only yesterday but it was over a decade that I had quite a different life. I suddenly found myself a young single mother with three children to journey through life with. My neuvo-unmarried status was not a choice of mine. Fate had dealt me a losing hand. Never would I have imagined that when I kissed my husband good-bye that fateful morning we would never see each other again.

I arrived home late that evening to be greeted by my children, who were concerned that their father had not arrived home. I made frantic phone calls to friends and relatives. I had a feeling deep within my core that something was horribly wrong. My feelings were confirmed a short while later when I noticed a car slowly approach my house. My oldest daughter sensed something was amiss. She begged me not to answer the knock on the door.

I opened the door to a police detective. I knew before he told me. I immediately fell to my knees, I childishly covered my ears with my hands and threw the phone at him. On the phone was my husbands’ brother whom I had been speaking with at the time. I heard the detectives words they burned deep into my being. He informed me that my husband was dead. The days that followed were a blur.

Close friends and family took over the daily routine of my life until I was through the initial shock. However the pain remained relentless. There was pain in every breathe I took and every thought I felt. Pain it was my constant companion, It kept me company in those long sleepless nights. The nights were always the worst. Darkness begets darkness. My pain was so immense that it burned through my veins circulating through my heart. There was no reprise. Pain ruled my impulses. At one point I considered ending it all. I plotted my own demise. It would have been so easy. So easy to curl up into a fetal position and reverse life. At one point I ran my car off the road only to turn the wheel back at the point of no return. I had pills. I had a gun. I toyed with these ideas, like a cat toys with its prey right before it pounces. The idea of the gun seemed most appropriate as it would be quick and no changing of my mind at the last minute.

I had a lucid thought, who would clean the mess up? I began to laugh uncontrollably, then came the tears. I slept that night a long restful sleep. I awoke the next morning with a plan. Laughter and a plan, they have carried me far. I now enjoy life. I am a proud mother and grandmother of beautiful grown and infant children. I love life, humor, theater and the arts. Life goes on, and, surprisingly, it has only just begun.

Stop Panic Attacks and Live Your Life

Posted on September 4, 2008
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Do you suddenly feel anxious or fearful for no reason? The symptoms that come over your body may be a sign that you are having panic attacks. You need to understand that there are ways to stop panic attacks, so that you can live your life free from these symptoms and enjoy life fully.

Panic attacks normally last anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes and can make you extremely uncomfortable. This attack can be quite scary for you, but you have to realize that there are ways for you to overcome these feelings and symptoms. By learning more about panic attacks, you can better determine what treatment you need, so that you can begin living your life in a healthier way.

Some people are able to “ride out” their panic attacks, simply because they have learned that the symptoms will go away if they wait long enough. These people are more experienced with the attacks, but if they have just started occurring, you may feel as if you are having a nervous breakdown or heart attack and may call for emergency assistance. Either way, you need to realize that these attacks can be overcome with the right panic treatment.

The whole body response that occurs during a panic attack is what makes them so uncomfortable and fearful. A panic attack can cause a plethora of different symptoms, including becoming dizzy, sweating, stomach issues, shortness of breath, and more. Each of these symptoms are caused by stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and the increased fear that comes when you have the symptoms only adds to the nervous system response causing the symptoms to keep occurring.

The abruptness of a panic attack is what makes it different from a nervous breakdown or heart attack. The symptoms can be very uncomfortable and scary, however, and this is what compels many people to seek emergency help when they go through their first panic attack.

Getting the right help to stop panic attacks for you will mean that you will need to visit the doctor. Many times, therapy is recommended to help you deal with the symptoms of a panic attack, but if therapy does not work, then other treatments can be used to help you overcome the attacks.

Paper bag breathing is one method of treatment for panic attacks. Breathing into a paper bag will help to balance your oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to help the symptoms of your panic attack subside. If you find that this treatment does not help, you can try medications to help relieve the symptoms, including anxiety and depressions medications.

By seeing your healthcare provider for your panic attacks, you can get the care that you need to help treat your symptoms. The panic treatment plan that your physician lays out should be followed to ensure that you will get the results that you are looking for. Panic attacks don’t have to impact your life ? find a treatment that works for you.

Are Your Children at Risk for Obesity?

Posted on September 3, 2008
Filed Under Depression | Leave a Comment

There are countless articles written about weight loss and hundreds of weight loss programs available. Yet few address the fact that our children are also overweight.

This is very sad considering that the number of obese children and teenagers has tripled in the last twenty years and those numbers are increasing.

The number of overweight children from 6-11 years old has increased from 4% in 1974 to 17.5% in 2004. The same statistics can be found for teenagers. From 6% in 1974, overweight children between the ages of 11-19 increased to 17% in 2004.

As of today, children who are overweight is at an all time high of 32%. Of the 32%, 16% are considered obese, but an alarming 11% are considered extremely obese.

Children are under even more peer pressure about their weight than most adults can imagine. Adolescent girls, as young as 13 years old, are begging for, and some are actually having, gastric surgeries to reduce their weight quickly. Some see bulimia or anorexia as their only solution.

The biggest threat of childhood obesity is that these children are the ones more likely to become obese adults. And instead of dealing with health issues at a later age, they are dealing with these health issues at a much younger age.

It has been foreseen that the children of this generation will be the first in history to have a shorter life span than their parents.

It is futile to talk about the reasons why we’ve let our children get fat. We all know the reasons, and we should take responsibility for it as adults, not the children.

Our children are fat because we feed them junk instead of healthy, nutritious foods. Too much sugar laden cereal and not enough oatmeal for breakfast.

They eat too many overly processed, nutritionally lacking, calorie-laden snacks instead of fruits and vegetables. There are also too many fast food, too much and too often.

On top of that, we’ve ceased to insist, or even encourage our kids to be active. It’s too easy to let them spend one mind-numbing hour after another in front of a TV screen or a computer monitor.

They’re becoming too sedentary, and to them playing outside is no longer fun. What have we done to our children?

If you have a child struggling with weight issues, it’s time to step up and take responsibility for it. The damage is not only being done to their physical body, inside and out, but it’s wreaking havoc on them emotionally.

At their age, children should not be dealing with depression and low self-esteem brought about by obesity. They shouldn’t have to suffer from the constant teasing and rude comments of their friends and classmate which lowers their self-image.

It is not fair to let your children’s body struggle with the added demands of carrying around excess weight when they are just starting to develop. I am asking all parents and grandparents who have overweight children to do something about it.

Get active with your child. Find the time, make the time to prepare healthier meals and offer healthier, wholesome snacks. And try my program Weight Loss Breeze to bring your child’s weight back to a normal, healthy level. It’s a natural, sensible approach to weight loss. And best of all, it works.

Are Your Children in Danger of Being Obese?

Posted on September 3, 2008
Filed Under Depression | Leave a Comment

There are countless articles written about weight loss and hundreds of weight loss programs available. Yet few address the fact that our children are also overweight.

This is even more alarming when you consider the number of overweight children and teenagers has tripled in the last twenty years and those numbers continue to grow.

The percentage of overweight children from 6-11 years of age has risen from 4% in 1974 to 17.5% in 2004. The numbers are no better for teenagers. Overweight children between the ages of 12 and 19 have increased from 6% in 1974 to 17% in 2004.

Today, 32% of children are overweight. 16% are obese. And 11% are considered extremely obese.

Children of this generation are under even more peer pressure about their weight than most adults can imagine. There are 13-year old girls begging for, and actually having gastric surgeries to lose weight. Some resort to bulimia or anorexia.

The biggest threat with childhood and teenage obesity is these children are much more likely to become obese adults. The difference is they’re being affected at a much younger age with the same health issues that plague obese adults.

It has been foreseen that the children of this generation will be the first in history to have a shorter life span than their parents.

It is futile to talk about the reasons why we’ve let our children get fat. We all know the reasons, and we should take responsibility for it as adults, not the children.

Our kids are obese because instead of healthy and nutritious food, we feed them junk food. Instead of oatmeal for breakfast, we feed them sugar laden cereal.

They eat too many overly processed, nutritionally lacking, calorie-laden snacks instead of fruits and vegetables. There are also too many fast food, too much and too often.

And to top it off, we no longer encourage and insist our kids to be active. We just allow them to spend hours in front of the TV screen or computer monitor.

They’re growing up so sedentary that even playing outside seems like work. What have we done to our children?

It is time for us to step up and take responsibility for our children who are struggling with weight issues. The damage reaches far more than their physical body, inside and out, because they are also affected by this emotionally.

At their age, children should not be dealing with depression and low self-esteem brought about by obesity. They shouldn’t have to suffer from the constant teasing and rude comments of their friends and classmate which lowers their self-image.

It is not right to have your children struggle with the demands of carrying around extra weight when their bodies are just starting to grow. I am pleading with the parents and grandparents who have overweight children to take action.

Involve your child in physical activities. Make sure that they eat healthier meals and snacks. And use my Weight Loss Breeze Program to reduce your child’s weight to a normal, healthy level. My program is a natural, reasonable approach to weight loss. But most importantly, it works.

Getting Panic Attack Help

Posted on September 3, 2008
Filed Under Panic Attacks | Leave a Comment

Panic attacks do not have to control your life. No matter how long you have been having them, you need to realize that there is panic attack help for you. You only need to find a physician who will help you to find a treatment plan that will help your panic attacks to subside to allow you to live your life the way that you want to.

To find the right physician for your panic attacks, you will want to do your research. Ask for recommendations from people that you know and when you visit the doctor, ask questions. By doing your research before you even step into the doctor’s office, you will be able to find the right doctor and treatment for you.

From prescriptions medications to therapy to breathing techniques, the treatments for panic attacks range in type and intensity. No matter what treatment plan is laid out for you, you want to be sure that you follow it carefully to get maximum effect. Your panic attacks can subside and decrease in intensity with the right treatment plan.

Common symptoms of a panic attack include a feeling of overwhelming fear, sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, etc. The scary part is that these symptoms can be very intense, which is why they may be thought to be something much more serious-especially during the first panic attack. The entire body is affected during a panic attack and this fact only increases the intensity of the fear and the symptoms.

Getting rid of the fear of having a panic attack will mean that you need to get the right panic attack help. Panic attacks don’t have to be an everyday part of your life. By choosing a physician that will help you create a treatment plan that works, you can get relief from the panic or anxiety attacks and begin to live your life.

People that are experienced with panic attacks often learn to live through the attacks or ride out the symptoms and this becomes their coping mechanism. They learn that the symptoms will end and use breathing techniques and more to try to control the symptoms and last through the fear and anxiety. This is difficult to do, however, if you have not been having the panic attacks for a long period of time.

The abrupt nature of panic attacks is what makes them so difficult to ignore and simply shrug off. They overwhelm the body and the mind, giving you symptoms from head to toes, which can be quite fear-inducing and overwhelming. The problem is that the fear causes the symptoms to increase even more, creating a cyclic affect that makes you feel as if they will never end.

By getting treatment for panic attacks, you can begin to enjoy your life even more without the worry of having a panic attack. Whether you use therapy, breathing techniques, or medication, you want to be sure that you do everything possible to overcome those panic attack symptoms. You can live a life free of the overwhelming fear and anxiety ? find the right way to treat panic attacks for you today.