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Stress and Panic Attacks

By Joy Healey

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Published: 04May2009
Word count: 800
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It's no secret that experts agree that our modern life style is often to blame for the increased stress in our lives: less exercise, a breakdown in family support and greater pressure at work all contribute to the problem. Stress is among the top ten most common ailments suffered in this country.

A certain amount of stress in life is good for us, but long term stress can trigger off many major illnesses. As an example, when we are stressed we produce too much adrenaline which makes the heart beat faster and raises blood pressure. Stress can be the cause of depression, low libido, anxiety, hair loss, eczema and irritable bowel, so as many as 90% of visits to the doctor may be stress-related.

A stimulant gives you short term energy by inducing a stress reaction. So that your body has the energy to respond to its perceived state of stress you may want to eat or drink more and your blood pressure will probably rise. This is known as a 'fight or flight' reaction and originated in pre-history when stress was caused by something like meeting a sabre-toothed tiger round the corner and having the option of fighting it or running away. The action of running away or fighting would use up the extra energy generated by the stress and return the body to its normal, non-stressed state.

Modern stresses tend not to be resolved by physical actions such as running away. Twenty-first century man (and woman) is more likely to be stressed in a traffic jam, or in a meeting with the bank manager. So the body remains stressed for longer, with no way of resolving it. In a state of stress, the body stops repairing itself, so that it can concentrate on reacting to the perceived stress. For an occasional stressful event this isn't a problem, but he long-term result is that the more you stress your body, the less your body repairs itself and the faster you will age.

Avoiding stress is all very well in theory, but many people have worries that they can't resolve, and statistics report that one in every twenty people have such problems that they suffer from panic attacks.

Panic attacks can be described as an intense surge of anxiety creating physical symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, chest pains, choking, sweating, trembling or feelings of being smothered, which can be extremely frightening.

Conventionally, sufferers may be prescribed tranquillizers, but some of these can have unpleasant side-effects including appetite loss, headaches, vision disorders and even seizures. On completion of drug therapy, patients may suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, blurred vision, dizziness, irritability and others, so many prefer to try natural alternatives before resorting to drugs.

Certain every-day substances can act as stressors - for instance: caffeine (in coffee and some fizzy drinks), sugar (including that in alcohol) and cigarettes. These should be avoided.

Beyond eliminating the above stimulants, many people like to take a natural remedy. Possibly the simplest of these is the Bach Flower "Rescue Remedy", readily available at most pharmacists.

Another natural alternative that has been used for relieving anxiety, stress and restlessness is Kava Kava, a staple Polynesian traditional medicine, shown in numerous scientific studies to effectively reduce both general and menopausal anxiety. It acts on the limbic system, the brain's most primitive system, which is associated with control of the emotional state. If taken with other drugs possessing tranquillising/sedative effects (e.g. benzodiazepines, butryrophenones) medical supervision is required to establish a suitable dosage.

However, Kava has been banned in some countries, so you should make your own enquiries as to whether it is safe or legal to use it.

In the UK, at the time of writing (2009) L-Theanine, an amino acid found almost exclusively in green tea, is growing in popularity as an alternative to Kava Kava. Green tea is the second most popular drink in the world (after water) and has long been known as a relaxing beverage. Scientists now believe that both its taste and relaxing properties are attributable to its L-Theanine content. It is available in the UK from Solgar. http://www.solgar.co.uk/modules/shop/view.asp?catid=1&Prodcode=E2706

Websites I have researched are unclear about safety and legality so a safer and more tailored approach is to visit a professionally qualified homeopath or herbalist; either will take a detailed case history and recommend the best individual formulation for your circumstances.

Please note that no-one taking medication prescribed by their GP should take any additional products without his supervision, nor should they alter any instructions or dosages for their medication.

Alternatively, a life coach or counselor could help you explore stressful issues and circumstances in your life, with a view to reacting differently and thereby reducing stress and panic attacks.

Joy Healey is a qualified complementary therapist, specializing in nutrition and stress. Visit her website for more information: http://www.anxietyreliefnaturally.com/

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