Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time – it is a normal human emotion, after all. We feel nervous or anxious at work, before a big exam or when making crucial decisions in our life.
For some, however, anxiety goes beyond being just a passing feeling. Instead, it causes such great distress that affects their ability to live a normal life. This is when anxiety becomes a disorder.
Mild anxiety is vague and unsettling, while severe anxiety can be extremely debilitating, having a serious impact on daily life.
However, the good news is that no matter what the reason of anxiety is, one can manage or handle it effectively. Conversely, if ignored, anxiety can become devastating and unmanageable.
HIGH LEVELS OF ANXIETY AND STRESS CAN SHORTEN LIFESPAN BY UP TO SIX YEARS
Scientists have placed increasing emphasis on the science of telomeres over the past decade, as they continue to uncover how these zipper-like structures that bind our genetic destiny can prematurely shorten in response to environmental and lifestyle factors. Prior studies have found that our telomeres...click on the link below to learn more
http://www.naturalnews.com/036579_anxiety_lifespan_longevity.html
CAUSES OF ANXIETY
The exact cause of anxiety disorders is still unknown, but has been linked to chemical imbalances in the brain, as well as environmental stressors – or a combination of the two.
There are many external factors that may contribute to anxiety. These include: stress from school, stress in a personal relationship, stress at work, financial stress, stress that results from an emotional trauma such as the loss of a loved one, victimization by crime, a natural disaster, sexual disorder, viewing pornography, side effects of medication, stress form a serious illness, intoxication with an illicit drug like amphetamines or cocaine, noticing symptoms of a severe medical illness, and lack of oxygen (as a result of emphysema, pulmonary embolism, altitude sickness).
Ayurveda states that to be free from anxiety the emotional state as well as the mental state of a patient must be balanced and should be in equilibrium. The reason behind the anxiety disorders in Ayurveda is the unhealthy adaptation of physical and mental type leading into the mental imbalance. The improper diet and life style that leads the disturbed state of mind causes the negative feelings that overwhelm the mind.
ANXIETY AS ILLNESS
Research on the physiology of anxiety-related illness is still young, but there is growing evidence of mutual influence between emotions and physical functioning. Yet anxiety often goes unidentified as a source of other disorders, such as substance abuse or physical addiction that can result from attempts to quell feelings of anxiety and it is often overlooked in chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or migraine headache.
Nearly two-thirds of the estimated 57 million adults with anxiety disorders are women. What people with these disorders have in common is unwarranted fear or distress that interferes with daily life. Anxiety also plays a role in somatoform disorders, which are characterized by physical symptoms such as pain, nausea, weakness, or dizziness that have no apparent physical cause.
Anxiety has now been implicated in several chronic physical illnesses, including heart disease, chronic respiratory disorders, and gastrointestinal conditions. When people with these disorders have untreated anxiety, the disease itself is more difficult to treat, their physical symptoms often become worse, and in some cases they die sooner.
THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EFFECTS OF ANXIETY
Whether in small doses or in larger amounts with an anxiety disorder, anxiety can cause multiple physical symptoms. Many of the effects of anxiety on the body can make the patient feel ill.
Occasionally, the physical effects of anxiety can be really inconvenient and embarrassing. For example, a businessman anxious about meeting people may find that his palms are damp with perspiration, and this can make personal introductions and shaking hands into an ordeal. (If you shake hands with someone whose palms are sweating, you know he is anxious - and it simply isn't very pleasant, anyway).
Anxiety can have an effect on both your body and your mind.
Physical effects
Short-term effects:
Long-term effects:
Psychological effects
Anxiety can make you more fearful, alert, on edge, irritable, and unable to relax or concentrate. You may feel an overwhelming desire to seek the reassurance of others, to be weepy and dependent.
The way you think can be affected. If you fear that the worst is going to happen, you may start to see everything negatively and become very pessimistic. For example, if a friend is late, you may imagine and worry that he or she has had an accident or does not want to see you; even though your friend may simply be late because their train was delayed.
EMOTIONAL STRATEGIES CAN INFLUENCE ANXIETY
New research findings suggest that the way emotions are regulated can influence if or how much a person may suffer from anxiety. Those who engage in an emotional regulation strategy called reappraisal also tended to have less social anxiety and less anxiety in general than those who avoid expressing their feelings. (Emotion, published online May 13, 2013) Read more….
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/260439.php
CONTROLLING ANXIETY - HOW TO COOL THE FIRE
As you may have discovered from your own experience, anxiety can develop almost anywhere and at any time.
Treating anxiety is possible. For successful anxiety treatment it is important to use a variety of techniques and find out which ones are effective for you. No single technique will work for everyone. Often the healing process does take time. With stress and anxiety, healing is not something that you do once and then are finished. Usually symptoms are recurrent. They go away for a while and then come up again.
Diet and lifestyle changes are vital in bringing anxiety under control.
Use Natural Treatment For Anxiety
Living with anxiety is never easy. Situations that others can sail through without a thought can be crippling to someone with anxiety. The pharmaceutical drug regime has concocted an assortment of anti-anxiety medications, but many users report these drugs only mask symptoms, cause uncomfortable side….. Learn more…
http://www.naturalnews.com/030545_anxiety_natural_treatment.html
MORE TIPS TO COMBAT ANXIETY
If you really want to effectively manage your anxiety, the key is to accept it. This might sound counterintuitive. But anxiety, “in and of itself,” is not the real problem. Instead, it is our attempts at controlling and eliminating it. Not accepting these unwanted inner experiences is the actual source of so much of our self-induced suffering.
Accepting anxiety does not mean “resigning ourselves to a life of anxious misery. It simply means that we are better off recognizing and fully accepting the existence of anxiety and other uncomfortable emotional states that are inevitable, but transitory.
So if you experience anxiety today, simply observe it. Think of it like a wave of the ocean, allow it to come in, experience it, and ride it out.
VEDAS OFFERS SOLUTION TO FIGHT ANXIETY
The Vedas in their inimitable mantras and chants offer a wide variety of solutions to overcome stress, anxiety and depression. It puts the senses directly in touch with the source of energy, which directly powers the senses, the senses power the mind there by canalizing the mind in the right direction, to think right, and do things right. It brings clarity of thought and sets it to do constructive action and work, thereby increasing self- confidence and self worth.
Listen to the Vedic chants from “Eliminate Stress, Anxiety and Depression” cd from Ojas Foundation. The Vedic mantras in this cd are specifically chosen to help fill your mind with the right energy which eventually leads to clarity of thoughts.
The mantras seep into the mind and remove the root cause of stress, anxiety and depression and builds and fills the mind with right form of energy, which helps the individual to realize the presence of the 'Atman' the self which leads to the realization of the 'Being' or the oneness with the 'Paramatman'.
ANXIETY REDUCTION PROGRAM AT OJAS
Ojas Foundation also offers anxiety reduction program where issues relating to anxiety are addressed and solutions given under expert guidance.
In our Anxiety reduction program
We help you to reduce anxiety by identifying
Our class features consists of techniques like:
Anxiety can feel overwhelming. It can feel like chains around your feet, weighing you down but by taking small steps – like the ones above – you can minimize your anxiety and cope effectively.
Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. However, when it gets out of control it can become destructive. Uncontrollable anger can lead to serious problems at work and in personal relationships, and may undermine the individual's overall quality of life.
Outbursts of anger may trigger heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems in the two hours immediately afterwards, according to the first study to systematically evaluate previous research into the link between the extreme emotion and all cardiovascular outcomes.
The study -- a systematic review and meta-analysis -- published in the European Heart Journal, found that in the two hours immediately after an angry outburst, a person's risk of a heart attack (myocardial infarction (MI) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS)) increased nearly five-fold (4.74%), the risk of stroke increased more than three-fold (3.62%), and the risk of ventricular arrhythmia also increased compared to other times when they were not angry.
The researchers found that the absolute risk increased if people had existing risk factors such as a previous history of cardiovascular problems, and the more frequently they were angry.
Log on to http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140303211324.htm for more details.
DEALING WITH ANGER
“If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow” is a Chinese proverb.
Dealing with the angry dragon is no fun and if you want to learn how to calm down quickly, you have to know what to do in the moment, and what to do in the long run to make sure you live a calm and relaxing life. Everyone has a physical reaction to anger. Be aware of what your body is telling you, and take steps to calm yourself down. Arguments can make you very uncomfortable. The best way to resolve an argument is to negotiate with the other person.
RECOGNISE YOUR ANGER SIGNS
Your heart beats faster and you breathe more quickly, preparing you for action. You might also notice other signs, such as tension in your shoulders or clenching your fists. If you notice these signs, get out of the situation if you have a history of losing control.
VIOLENCE IS NOT A SOLUTION TO ANGER
You may find a person or an issue upsets you so much that you lash out. Violence may also be a way to release frustration when you don’t know what is upsetting you. This can be dangerous to both you and others, and may result in criminal charges.
To overcome violence, write a list of things that make you angry, for example, particular situations, people, moods, drugs or alcohol. Think about ways to avoid these people or things and about ways to contain your violence. There are many people you can talk to who can help you overcome your feelings of wanting to lash out.
Everyone has arguments. Arguments can arise for any number of reasons. Unresolved arguments can cause problems. Once you have an argument, it is easy to stay angry or upset with the other person. If you don’t resolve arguments with people you see often, it can be a very uncomfortable experience.
THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU GET ANGRY
Given below are a few tips to handle the situations when you are losing your temper:
HOW TO DISPLACE ANGER THROUGH EXERCISE
Improving your physical condition can help you better manage your emotions -- and when exercise is used in conjunction with therapy and anger management strategies it can help you control anger, frustration and anxiety. Any exercise is better than no exercise at all, but some exercises are more effective at controlling anger than others.
Running, walking, swimming, yoga and meditation are just a few of the activities that can help to get rid of irritation and anger.
WHY ANGER MANAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT?
Anger management can be a solution of your overall well being. Anger management is directing the energy of anger into productive activities.
ANGER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT OJAS
Ojas Foundation offers an anger management program where clients are offered strategies and techniques under expert guidance to manage excessive anger and make better life choices.
In our Anger management program we help in finding
Our unique methods implied are:
CONTROL ANGER – BEFORE IT CONTROLS YOU
With a long list of negative effects, it is apparent that learning to monitor and control one’s anger is vital to a healthy and good life. Not only can anger management improve one’s overall health, but it will also have a positive social effect. When anger and fits are controlled, our work environment will become more efficient and less stressful, while at home we can improve our close relationships with family and friends. Anger management therefore is a necessary and vital tool which can positively affect our life as well as those around us.
What is stress?
Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the ever increasing demands of life. Anything that poses a challenge or a threat to our well-being is a stress.
Stress May Affect Fertility –a new study
Can stress affect a woman’s ability to become pregnant? A new study says it may.
Stress can double the risk of infertility for women: Women under mental strain half as likely to conceive after 12 months of trying.
For more details please click on to the link below.
How stress can impact fertility?
In today’s modern, fast paced society, it is easy for people to become stressed. Trying to carry a pregnancy to term during stressful times places the fetus at risk. The body knows this, which is why it creates an environment that is basically inhospitable to conception. Generally, a stressed person is an unhealthy person. Women with stress are generally overly tired, filled with nervous tension and may not be living a healthy lifestyle.
How to Reduce the Effect of Stress on Your Fertility?
Reduce the stress in your life. This of course is easier said than done. But reducing the stress in your life is so important on so many levels. It will not only help your fertility and health but also your quality of life. If your job is really stressful, maybe begin to find a different job or occupation. If that is not possible some of the tips below will help you to deal with your stress differently.
TIPS TO HELP YOU HANDLE STRESS
Change how you react to stressful situations. When faced with an ongoing stressful situation there is only one thing you have control over… how you react. Pay attention to how you react to the stressful people at work, or to your stressful situation. Do you turn it over in your head all night long, do you create scary future visions of what could happen. Getting control of how you react will have a big impact on what happens inside of your body when a stressful situation presents itself. This takes some attention and practice.
WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS LEVELS
Have a practice or habit that helps you to reduce stress. Here are some suggestions of practices or daily habits that help reduce the effects of stress on your health.
HOW TO MANAGE STRESS – THE HOLISTIC APPROACH
Ancient scriptures have established the theory that the human mind governs the physical body. Therefore it is imperative to ensure a perfect balance between the body, mind and soul. To ensure that this balance is achieved and sustained, holistic approach is the answer.
Ojas offers a new paradigm in health care by combining ancient wisdom with modern technology where emotional restructuring, Diet, exercise, meditation, yoga, pranayama, mantra chanting, Kriya, and creative visualization impact the subtler realms of the mind, body soul and bring about changes far beyond the reach of conventional medicine.
Stress can be caused by physical, psychological, emotional, mental or spiritual imbalances. The Vedas, by means of chants and mantras, offer a variety of solutions to overcome stress, anxiety and depression symptoms by directly putting the senses in touch with the source of energy.
HOW DO VEDIC CHANTS HELP RELIEVE STRESS?
The Vedic mantras seep deep into the human mind and remove all stress, anxiety and depression and fill it with the right energy. This in turn brings clarity of thought and increases self- confidence and self worth.
Listening to Vedic mantras has a healing capacity and is a powerful method in dealing with stress.
Listen to the Vedic chants from “Eliminate Stress, Anxiety and Depression” cd from Ojas Foundation. The Vedic mantras in this cd are specifically chosen to help fill your mind with the right energy which eventually leads to clarity of thoughts.
STRESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT OJAS
Ojas Foundation also offers a stress management program where issues relating to stress are addressed and solutions given under expert guidance.
In our stress management program, we help you by identifying:
We help individuals to reduce their stress levels and also teach them how to avoid or manage future stressors.
A special wellness programme for women.
Ojas Foundation is conducting Ojas yoga summer camp 2013 @ Chennai for the wellbeing of women.
camp offers activities like yoga to reduce stress and tension, meditation, dietary awareness, stress management and pranayama.
Utilize this unique opportunity to improve your health.
Are you interested? click on to this link to know more details about the camp. www.ojasfoundation.com/camp/yoga
CONTRAINDICATION
Hypertension, headache due to congestion, very weak abdominal muscles.
TECHNIQUEÂ
Lie on the floor close to a wall so that the buttock is against the wall. Slowly start raising the legs along the length of the wall. Relax and breathe normally.
BENEFITS
Helps to get rid of varicose veins.
Indigestion, lack of appetite and constipation can be prevented.
Gives the benefit of headstand.
Can be practiced for postnatal stages.
Good for the internal organs of abdominal cavity
Contraindication
Pain on the knee. Severe back pain or stiffness at groin.
Technique
Lie on the floor with legs folded at knee. Keep the lower back on the floor. Relax the knees on either side naturally. Release arms towards head side. Normal breathing.
Benefits
Stimulates abdominal organs like the ovaries and prostate gland, bladder, and kidneys
Stimulates the heart and improves general circulation. Stretches the inner thighs, groins, and knees
Helps relieve the symptoms of stress, mild depression, menstruation and menopause.
Contraindication
High or low blood pressure, severe headache, serious lower back or neck injury
Technique
Lie down on your back. Stretch your legs pointing the toes. Taking support of the palms under your thigh, lifting the chest up, place the crown of the head on the floor. Release the arms on your thighs.
Benefits
Improves functioning of lungs and abdominal organs. Back and neck muscles also get strengthened.
Contraindication
Appendicitis, hernia, delicate lower abdomen.
Technique
Lie on your abdomen. Take both palms under respective thigh, rest the chin on the floor and raise the legs using abdominal and thigh muscles. Rhythmic breathing.
Benefits
Helps to relieve back pain during menstrual cycles. Muscles of waist and abdomen are strengthened. Cures constipation. Curative and preventive for sciatica and lumbago
Contraindication
Severe backache, neck ache, stomachache, knee pain or abdominal disorders
Technique
Sit in vajrasana. Hold both palms at your lower back. Lifting the chin slightly, start bending from your waist so to release forehead on the floor or relax the head wherever it is convenient.
Benefits
Helps to regain elasticity of the muscles after child birth. Constipation gets reduced. Large intestine gets the most of the benefit. Helps to cure lumbosacral pain.
Contraindication
Severe neck ache, back ache, pain in the abdomen, appendicitis.
Technique
Lie flat on the floor with your arms by your side. With exhalation lift both of your legs straight in the air keeping the knees straight. At the same time lift your upper body from the ground with your arms stretched out towards your legs.
Hold the posture until you feel your muscles getting tired and slowly place your body back onto the floor.
BENEFITS:
Naukasana strengthens belly muscles and thigh muscles.
Beneficial for kidneys, thyroid gland and prostate glands.
Improves digestion.