Kids Anxiety
Many kids experience anxiety and one of the main types is considered to be separation anxiety. Just because a child may experience anxiety when they are young does not mean that they will experience it when they are older especially if treated correctly. Treatment for anxiety doesn’t have to be through medication as many times a supportive person near them can help through the periods of anxiety whether it is suffered from being separated from a loved one or if it is caused by another trigger instead.
There are several factors that may contribute to a child feeling anxiety especially the fear of separation. These include changing the child’s routine, the child being sick or overtired, changes in the family such as a divorce or a new baby, and a change or repeated changes in the caregiver or the school that they attend.
There are a variety of ways that a parent or guardian can help a child through this anxiety. In terms of the anxiety coming from being separated from a loved one, by not prolonging the departure and being cheerful when leaving can help. Also, reminding the child of the things that they will do while the parent or guardian is away and not just saying that they will have fun can take away some anxiety.
For other situations and including separation anxiety, talking and listening is one of the biggest helps with anxiety disorders. Listening to the child and focusing on their feelings as well as letting them know that it is normal to feel that way and even talking about the parent’s feelings in a similar situation lets the child know that they aren’t alone and this alleviates some of their anxiety. It is important to give individual attention to the child during this time and to acknowledge that there is a problem.
It is vital to deal with a child’s anxiety in the proper manner as it will help them at that time and even later on down the road. This should be done in the right manner and if that is now known, then perhaps a professional can help.
Depressive Disorder
Depressive disorder is as old as time. Job and King David, two prominent Bible figures, were said to have endured the affliction. It was referred to as melancholia by Hippocrates. Depression has also been alluded to in the arts and literature for centuries past. In the 19th century, depression was perceived as an innate flaw of character. In the early 20th century, Sigmund Freud associated depression to remorse and inner discord. Another author, John Cheever, who also admitted to having suffered depressive disorder, claimed that his affliction was influenced by quarrels and encounters with his parents.
In the 50s and 60s depression was categorized into two types, neurotic and endogenous depression. Neurotic or reactive depression was attributed to triggering factors such as loss of a loved one, loss of job or any major loss. While endogenous depression is considered coming from within the body, maybe of genetic origin or from other sources. In the 70s and 80s the focus on depression changed from its reason or origin to its effect on the distressed person. The arguments on depressive disorder can continue but, there are some points to which experts agree on, and these are:
• A depressive disorder is a set of symptoms that manifests a gloomy and/or ill-tempered mood surpassing ordinary misery or sorrow. The misery of depression is typified by a greater force and longer interval and by more relentless symptoms and functional immobilization than what is normal.
• The symptoms of depressive disorder are distinguished not only by pessimistic thinking, disposition and actions but also by certain changes in bodily functions such as weeping bouts, body pains, weariness or low energy as well as problems in sleeping, eating and weight. These changes are called neurovegetative signs, which means that the changes in the brain’s nervous system is causing physical symptoms resulting in a lower or raised activity level.
• Some people suffering from depressive disorder, particularly manic depression or bipolar depression could have inherited the susceptibility to the condition
• Depressive disorder has become a big public-health problem
• Young persons who suffer depressive disorder is in danger of developing obesity
• A study found out that depressive disorder could cause more problems to people suffering from hypertension, arthritis diabetes and chronic lung cancer and in some cases with coronary artery disease.
We All Know What Anxiety Feels Like
Being anxious about family problems, before a tough interview or a big sales and marketing presentation, having to speak publicly for the first time are quite normal. So is fretting about a first date or a difficult exam. Anxiety is the body’s normal reaction to risks, threats and dangers. But when anxieties and fears have become recurring and are already inhibiting you from living a normal and happy life then it may be a more serious condition than the typical or normal fretting and worrying. It could be signs of an anxiety disorder.
Signs and symptoms of an anxiety disorder are not the same for everybody. Anxiety disorders are a collection of interrelated conditions and not a solitary complaint. One person may experience extreme anxiety attacks that hit without any warning, while somebody else will become unnerved at the thought of socializing at a party. Another may grapple with an immobilizing dread of driving or unmanageable, disturbing thoughts. Still someone else may live in an unremitting state of apprehension, fretting about anything and everything. Regardless of this difference in forms or types of anxiety attacks, all anxiety disorders share a foremost symptom, that of a relentless and intense fear or nervousness in circumstances where most people would not feel susceptible or endangered.
There are both emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety disorder in addition to the illogical and intense terror and worry. The emotional symptoms could be difficulty concentrating, being edgy and tense, bad temper, agitation, forever anticipating dangers or the worst and having a blank mind. Physical signs are profuse sweating, palpitations, stomach upset, diarrhea, muscle rigidity, fatigue, headaches and insomnia.
Most people suffering with anxiety disorder are prone to depression. Anxiety and depression are believed to come from the same biological susceptibility. This could be the explanation why anxiety and depression almost often go together. Because anxiety makes depression worse and vice versa, it is vital to try to find remedy for both conditions.
Anxiety Attacks or Panic Attacks
Anxiety Attacks or Panic Attacks
Most people experience anxiety attacks also know as panic attacks every now and then. Anxiety attacks are incidents of severe panic or fright. It can happen unexpectedly and without any forewarning. For some, anxiety attacks or panic attacks are set off by a palpable cause such as a strong earthquake, a traffic accident or being stuck in an elevator. Subsequent panic attacks could be cause by the thought of another such trigger. Panic attacks normally last only for a few minutes to about half an hour. But during that short period the feeling of fear is so intense that sometimes it promotes nausea, dizziness, stomach upset and even a feeling of totally being out of control. For some, the feeling is akin to having a heart attack. The physical manifestation of a panic attack is so alarming that you dread the thought of it happening again.
Even perfectly healthy and happy people may suffer an anxiety attack once or twice in their lives. It is the recurring anxiety attacks that come out of the blue and is a symptom of a more serious emotional disorder such as an anxiety disorder or even depressions that is rather threatening and require professional help.
There are effective treatments and coping mechanisms for anxiety attacks. What is important is to seek help and seek help fast. The goal of a treatment for anxiety attacks is to help the patient behave or function normally in their day – to- day life. This is achieved with medication and what is known as cognitive behavioral therapy.
Medications are vital components of the treatment for anxiety attacks. Once they are started it should not be stopped abruptly without consulting the doctor or the attending mental health professional. Cognitive behavioral therapies that are components of the treatment help the patients to :
• Understand and control misleading notions of the causes of stress in life
• Learn to identify and substitute anxiety – causing thoughts to decrease the sense of vulnerability
• Learn stress management and ways to relax that are needed when the signs of anxiety crop up
• Learn that minor concerns do not usually become big problems
Understanding Clinical Depression
Understanding Clinical Depression
Depression is a severe state of mind and body suffered by men and women, adults and adolescent. The pervasiveness of depression has dramatically increased in this century. Depression is now the number one disability in the US for women. It is characterized by deep sadness making the sufferer experience a loss of joy. It also brings about oppressive depressive notions that can adversely affect how they get on with their day, relate with others, and perform their tasks and responsibilities. A relentless depressed mood is most frequently attended by disagreeable physical symptoms such as headache, lower back pain, sleep disorder, fatigue and poor appetite.
Depression is a disease not a preference. People suffering from depression do not usually choose the condition for themselves. The choice is how to prevent and check depression. It is a condition that should not be taken lightly. A persistent, slight, or acute depression are signs of a serious disability. The cost to a person is deep distress and angst as well as physical pain.
There are more than a few types of and reasons for depression. Unrelenting depressive anguish usually ensues a loss of a loved one or a trauma, a pattern of worrying internal dialogues, or can happen without any reason. Depression is a condition of body and mind that affects people from all walks of life from the very rich to the very poor, from the top government officials to ordinary people in the streets.
Depression is not a simple single condition. This biological, psychological and social form of ailment is often accompanied by difficult and coexisting conditions such as fretfulness, being a perfectionist, and even substance abuse. Because of the various forms, complications, and causes of depression an all – encompassing, common formula to halt or stop the progress of depression will not work as a universal cure.
