Remedies for Depression

Posts Tagged ‘Panic Attack’

One of the worst things about a panic attack is that its symptoms often mirror other health conditions, so it might take a while for you to realize that your suffering is caused by anxiety and nervousness and you might not receive the proper treatment. Even if you have never suffered from a panic attack before, it is important that you learn about the symptoms of an attack. This way, should you start exhibiting any of these symptoms you can ask yourself if they are related to your mental or your physical health?

Here is a list of the most common panic attack symptoms

· Chest pain

· Feeling light headed or dizzy

· Feeling intense fear of losing control

· Feeling intense fear of embarrassment

· Feeling like you have lost touch with your surroundings (or the people in them)

· An impending feeling of doom or that something terrible is going to happen

· Feeling like you are about to die

· Heart palpitations

· Heart beats too fast

· Pounding heartbeat

· Cold or hot flashes

· Sweating

· Trembling

· Upset or uncomfortable stomach

· Nausea or Diarrhea

· Tingling or numbness in your feet or hands

· Tingling lips and or/numbness around your mouth

· The feeling of being suffocated

· Hyperventilation

· Cramping and/or curling of fingers and toes

Many of these symptoms are associated with other physical conditions like a heart attack or the stomach flu. When you start to feel these symptoms it is important that you learn how to take a step back and ask yourself why you might be feeling these symptoms. Learn some relaxation techniques and practice them when you feel the onset of panic attack symptoms. If the symptoms go away, you were having a panic attack. If there is still pain or discomfort (but you no longer feel out of control), you are likely having a physical problem and should see a doctor.

If you have a relative that suffers from panic or anxiety attacks on a regular basis, it is likely that you will also experience them in your lifetime as well. Of course, the only person who can diagnose you with an anxiety disorder is a mental health professional. If you think that you might be at risk for an anxiety disorder or you start to notice panic attack symptoms happening on a regular basis, you should find a good counselor.

Together you, your counselor, your friends and your family can work to figure out the best way to help you prevent as well as work through an attack. It is very important that you tell your friends and family about the panic attack symptoms so that they can be on the alert for them. Sometimes you might not be able to calm yourself down, but another person will have success.

Learning to recognize the signs and the symptoms is the best way to stay in control of your anxiety.

Statistics in the past year, indicated between 10 to 12 % people suffered some form of panic attack. Some the most common related terms are given in the list below.

- General Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Attack Disorder
- Anxiety Panic Disorder
- Peformance Anxiety
- Anxiety Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder

Panic attacks make up the number-one problem facing men and women and is second only to alcohol and drug-related problem. As a reponse to stressful situations, like examinations, public speaking, worry of layoffs, up goes anxiety. Such heightened disorder, has become a normal occurrence affecting one out of three persons in the past year.

Symtoms of Anxiety Panic Disorder
Panic attack disorder symptoms include shortness of breath, a choking feeling, heart palpitations, sweating, shaking and trembling, chest pains, dizziness, hot flashes or cold chills, feeling of unreality (such as being in a fog, on the moon, in mid air), and fear of dying, or losing control.

Panic attacks which can come unexpectedly, with at least six or seven of the symptoms you have just read, escalates quickly will subsides within minutes. On the other hand, anxiety panic disorder builds up gradually and is not sudden and unexpected, symptoms are fewer and milder.

Anxiety Panic Disorder is an emergency response

In general anxiety disorder is not that bad though. It keeps us primed, as if it trains us to be always on our toes. It also keeps us psychologically alert, an emergency response. Proper exercises can be good to ensure things may start to get nasty.

When we are engulfed in our ‘panic room’, we have one of two choices. We can either face it or get away from it. This is better known as the “fight” or “flight” response. Given a choice, would you face it and experience its full impact, or would you rather retreat or run away from it?

If we equate panic to fear (the two are similar in a lot of ways), the easy way out is to avoid it. But there is always a great chance (and you can be sure of it) that it will haunt you again and again. Whatever that fear is, literally speaking, this will keep you on the run and you will always be checking and looking behind you, cowering from it. The more you run away from it, the more it will chase you and make fun of you. It will be like a ghost running after you!

Given this kind of a situation, it is apparently more logical to face panic attacks. But do not “fight” the symptoms of any attack. Try to “flow” with the symptoms and allow yourself to become calm. Keep reminding yourself that what you are experiencing is a natural emergency response.

The more experiences you get out of it, the more confident you become. And when you are confident, what you used to fear will not make you fearful anymore. You will get immune to it. The more instances you are able to handle it, the more capable you will be each time it occurs, like practice. Practice makes perfect. In the end, you will perfect the art of handling your condition, from fearing it to handling it remarkably in a positive way. That’s an achievement.

Now, let’s go back to the point where you still dread panic attacks with a question you might raise that goes: “Just how am I supposed to face a anxiety panic disorder knowing all too well it might subdue and eat me out of my guts?” The answer: “You don’t do anything about it. Just let it be. Let it run its entire course and just experience it”. But then you may ask: “What if I don’t survive it?” The answer: “You will definitely survive it.

Keep this in mind. This experience is a state of mind, an apprehension. It is just imagined. There is no way a person will experience a brush on something like a heart attack, a coma, or even death because this condition is not life threatening. There is never a recorded case of a person who has died as a result of anxiety. Rest your mind to the fact that this condition is not a physical ailment, even with the physical manifestations like sweating, palpitations, stomach cramps, and all that. You will be able to face and experience its full impact without any life-threatening effects. Bring it on”. This is the attitude you must adopt the next time you have a bout with it.

Say silently inside your head “I am becoming calm….It’s a matter of minutes only. I can handle it as I have handled it before. . .I am calm and steady. ” Like we must always believe, “if you think you can - then you can”.

Thank you for reading.

Panic and anxiety attacks are problems that affect a large number of people. They can be somewhat scary but for most people they are relatively mild and don’t occur all that often. A panic attack may happen a few times, but it is usually not a chronic problem.
Panic disorders, on the other hand, can be much more severe. People who suffer from these disorders live in constant fear and anxiety, for ongoing periods of time.
The symptoms of isolated panic attacks and chronic disorder are much the same. A disorder is more difficult to deal with because part of what makes it worse is the constant worrying about when the next attack will come. This makes the attack that much more severe, and the viscious cycle continues to get worse.
Panic disorder needs to be treated as quickly as possible. If it isn’t treated properly, it will continue to escalate and can lead to a condition called agoraphobia, where the sufferer remains housebound because of their fear of having an attack while in public situations.
These panic disorders affect a wide age group. They can show up in the teenage years right through adulthood. Major stresses or changes in a person’s life can sometimes trigger them. The effects of panic can range from mild to very serious, in some cases causing social withdrawal and the earlier mentioned agoraphobia.
Symptoms of both panic attacks and panic disorders include the following:
- Chest pains
- Dizziness and/or lightheadedness
- Elevated heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea and other stomach problems
- Shaking or trembling
- Difficulty breathing
- Tingling sensation in your extremeties
Panic disorders also often include the following symptoms:
- Lingering worry
- Fear of the next panic attack
- Depression
- Social withdrawal
While the symptoms of panic attacks and disorders are similar, the effect they can have on a person’s life is vastly different. In either case, however, it is best to discuss the problem with your doctor. They will be able to give you a more thorough diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment plan.

Panic Attack – Fear.  These are both terrible words.  If you have had more than a couple of Panic Attacks, you will begin to fear having another one.  This can end up being as debilitating as the Panic Attacks themselves.

If you are in fear of having another Panic Attack, you will probably start to avoid going or doing things that you might think will give you another one.  These are usually the activities and places where you have had Panic Attacks in the past.

This fear can limit your entire life.  It will have an effect on your personal life, your family, friends, marriage, work, etc.  This fear has a spiraling effect, the more isolated you feel, the more stressed and depressed you get, and the more you will have Panic Attacks.  This is not something you want to fall into.  If at all possible, Panic Attacks should be stopped and controlled before you get to this point, making your recovery that much easier.

In very severe cases, you can become homebound and unable to function.  The fear of the Panic Attack will start to dominate your life.

What this fear will do is start you to avoiding things.  For example, if you believe you will have a heart attack if you over exert yourself, you will avoid anything that makes your heart beat fast, such as running, sports, exercising or walking up steps.  This type of behavior just keeps getting worse and worse and if put into the situation where your heartbeat speeds up, you will give yourself another Panic Attack.
 
There are two common thoughts of how to change this type of behavior.  One is called “flooding” and the other is called “desensitization”. 
 Flooding is where you will throw yourself headfirst into what you fear. 
 Desensitization is where you take steady and gradual steps towards overcoming your fear.  For example, if you were afraid of having a heart attack during exercise, you would probably do the following.  The first day, you would take a short walk, the next day, a longer walk and so on and so forth.

Fear of Panic Attacks can seem like it is incurable, but, if you find the right technique, fear can be overcome and you can be cured of Panic Attacks.

What is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is a sudden, out of the blue feeling of extreme fear and discomfort. It comes most unexpectedly and without any warning and you can feel your heart beating fast, feel dizzy, breathless, choked or as if you are going crazy or going to die. What is Panic Disorder?

A person is diagnosed as having panic disorder if he has recurrent episodes of panic attacks and develops a fear of having another attack. Many times the patient will convince himself/herself so fervently that they are dying that many sufferers often feel the need to go to the emergency room and get tested. Even though this disorder is easily as well as successfully treatable, if it is not diagnosed it can become very debilitating to the individual.

Learn more on Panic Attacks and Panic Disorders

Panic disorder strikes between 3 and 6 million Americans, and is twice as common in women as in men. It can appear at any age in children or in the elderly but most often it begins in young adults.Symptoms of a Panic Attack

In a panic attack symptoms develop abruptly and usually reach their peak within 10 minutes. Some of the common symptoms include:

a) Palpitations

b) Sweating

c) Trembling

d) Shortness of breath

e) Chest pain or discomfort

f) Nausea

g) Dizziness

h) Fear of losing control

i) Fear of dying Treatment for Panic Disorder

Panic disorder often responds to treatment with medication, therapy, or a combination of both.

Cognitive/behavioral therapy is a relatively new treatment for panic that has been shown to be successful. Instead of using old-fashioned analysis-based techniques, therapists employing new CBT methods focus on the present panic — and how to eliminate it.

People who experience panic are not “crazy” and do not need to be in therapy for extended periods of time.

Some people find the greatest relief from panic disorder symptoms when they take certain prescription medications.Two types of medications that have been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of panic disorder are Antidepressants and Benzodiazepines.

In addition, people with panic disorder may need treatment for other emotional problems. Depression has often been associated with panic disorder, as have alcohol and drug abuse.

Click Here for more information on Anxiety Attack CuresWhat Causes Panic Disorder?

There are several theories about the causes of panic disorder and since every individual has a different predisposition, zeroing in on a specific cause can be quite an arduous task. Although treatable, this disorder can be very devastating and debilitating to the person if it goes untreated and may result in specific phobias like fear of driving the car or fear of leaving the house. It can result in the loss of a job or even relationship problems.

Fortunately, even with this disorder’s rather undefined nature of causality, there is much treatment available that has helped majority of people suffering from panic disorder to cope with this problem.

Cathy M. Ross

All of us are prone to panic attacks.  The degree of the attack varies from person to person and it becomes acute panic attack when it debilitates us from leading a normal life. In our day-to-day life all of us enter into intense feelings of fear and anxiety when we are faced with threatful situations. Whereas in case of acute panic attacks there is no apparent cause for our fear and that is what makes the situation worse. In normal situations, when the cause disappears with time, our fear and anxiety too vanishes whereas in the case of acute panic attacks there is no real cause and the fear is irrational so it stays with us as it is not founded on reason. There are a number of cures available for acute panic attacks and what we need to understand about these treatments is that, what works for one does not necessarily work for the other as each one is unique. So while selecting your treatment for acute panic attacks you must give yourself enough time to respond to the treatment.Here are top 10 ways of treating your acute panic attacks listed in no specific order of importance:1. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the best cures or therapies for acute panic attacks. This is most widely accepted and used treatment for acute panic attacks. 2. Panic Away – This is in the form of an EBook that will help you work with your acute panic attacks. This system was developed by Joe Barry who suffered from panic attacks himself. 3. Ease Out of Fear – This is developed by Mark Pasay and this system will help you in handling your acute panic attacks by spending just three minutes every day.4. Lucinda Bassett’s Attacking Anxiety and Depression – This is program brings to you a complete guide on how to cope with acute panic attacks through its exhaustive materials including 16 audio cassettes, 3 DVDs, a 250 page book and 16 ready reference cards. 5. Psychotherapy helps you in minimizing the intensity of the symptoms and it clears the disorder as well. 6. The Linden Method – This is yet another effective program and over 100,000 people have been benefited by this method. 7. If you want to try medications, the drugs approved by Food and Drug Administration for acute panic disorder include Sertraline, Paroxetine and Clonazepam. 8. The Easy Calm – This program was developed by Jon Mercer and this is a 10 part video series that you can download to your computer. Jon Mercer suffered from acute panic attacks and he has developed a powerful system to help people who suffer from the same condition. 9. Pure Calm – This is a natural drug remedy developed by one of the leading clinical psychologists for Native Remedies and this does not have any harmful side effects. This can be used by both adults and children as they do not have any negative side effects.10. Holo Think – This brings meditational sound tracks that help you cope with acute panic attacks. These audio tracks relax your brain through binaural beats.

Panic attacks are common to us all.  What is different is the degree of these attacks, as it is different from one person to the next. Nevertheless, panic attack becomes “acute” when our normal day-to-day living is affected drastically by this condition. Although it is natural for everyone of us to experience overwhelming feelings of panic and anxiety when we are confronted with threatening situations, acute panic attacks are made worse by the fact that no obvious reason can be pointed to as the cause for its occurrence!  Naturally, after the incidence that caused our initial fear passes, so does our fear but with acute panic attack, there is no reprieve because there was no rational cause for the acute panic in the first instance.On the other hand, there exists “light at the end of the tunnel” for sufferers of acute panic attacks as there are quite a number of treatments that are available for acute panic attacks. All we need to know about these treatments are that their results vary from person-to-person, therefore what may work for one, may not necessary work for the other. Below you will find the top 10 most effective acute panic attacks cure, just be sure to allow yourself adequate time in which to realistically respond to these treatments – before you begin to panic!1. The intensity of your acute panic attack can be minimized by psychotherapy. Psychotherapy also clears the disorder as well.2. The Panic Away eBook: Developed by Joe Barry, this ebook teaches you how to employ the One Move Technique™ which helps you learn to work with your acute panic attack. One Move Technique™ was developed by Joe Barry who was an acute panic attacks sufferer himself.3. One of the best cures for acute panic attacks is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It is also arguably the most widely accepted remedies for acute panic attacks.4. Also worthy of mention are the drugs for acute panic disorder (Sertraline, Paroxetine and Clonazepam) approved by the Food and Drug Administration. 5. Ease Out of Fear: Developed by Mark Pasay, this system shows you how you can manage your acute panic attacks by investing three minutes only daily.6. You can also download Jon Mercer’s 10 part video series – downloadable onto your hard drive – called The Easy Calm. For a long while Jon Mercer experienced acute panic attacks and as a result, he has developed The Easy Calm, a very potent system, to assist people who are currently suffering from the same condition.7. Another guide that reveals how you can cope with your acute panic attacks is Lucinda Bassett’s Attacking Anxiety and Depression. This guide is complete and exhaustive,  containing 3 DVDs, 16 ready reference cards, 16 audio cassettes, and a 250 page book. 8. Another very effective program worth trying out is The Linden Method – Its effectiveness has been attested to by over one hundred thousand people who claim to have benefited from its revealed system. 9. If you are into music, you might want to check out Holo Think. Holo Think is a compilation of sounds that are meditative in nature. These sound tracks helps to calm your brain through the use of binaural beats which helps you cope with acute panic attack.10. Pure Calm – Is a natural acute panic attack cure which also doesn’t have any harmful side effects thereby making it a potential remedy or both adults and children. It was developed by one of the leading clinical psychologists for Native Remedies.

To establish precedence, allow me to say this: “We are all prone to panic attacks”.  What singles you out is the intensity with which you experience your own panic attack, as it mostly would vary from how I might experience mine. However way we might experience these attacks, it does not become acute panic attacks until it radically alters the way we go about our day to day activities. Even though we all encounter situations that make us afraid and gets our hearts pumping, acute panic attack is different in that its source is not logically apparent – this is what makes it worse than normal panic in comparison! For example, in the case of normal panic, our heart beat goes back to its normal rate (once the cause of its increased rate has been identified and dealt with), whereas because there is no readily apparent reason for the fear we experience in the case of acute panic attack, that irrational fear remains with us. This is the condition that has come to be called acute panic attack.The good news is that, while acute panic attack is a critical condition, there exist quite a number of cures for it. Just bear in mind that what works for me may not necessary be what works for you even though you will be hard pressed not to find a cure for your acute panic attack from the top 10 most effective cures for acute panic attack which I have enumerated below.1. A very effective way to cure your acute panic attack is through psychotherapy. This will help you drastically minimize the power of the symptoms while also curing the ailment as well. 2. If 100,000 people try a method and say it works, will you believe them? Well, it’s worth considering. After trying The Linden Method, over one hundred thousand people say they have benefited from this effective method. 3. Sertraline, Paroxetine and Clonazepam are acute panic disorder drugs that have been tested and approved by the Food and Drug Administration. 4. Recently promoted as the best ebook to hit the digital bookshelves is Panic Away, an ebook by bestselling author Joe Barry. Joe Barry uses the One Move Technique™ to show you step-by-step how you can eradicate your acute panic attacks beginning today! As a previous sufferer of panic attack himself, Joe Barry writes from the vantage point of one who feels your pain. 5. Is time a factor in your life? Well, fret no more because Mark Pasay has come out with his radically effective “Ease Out of Fear” - Handling your acute panic attacks just became “faster” as Ease Out of Fear shows you how to do so by spending just three minutes only every day.6. Lucinda Bassett’s Attacking Anxiety and Depression is another program worthy of noting. A complete guide on coping acute with acute panic attacks, this program contains exhaustive materials which include: a 250 page book, 3 DVDs, 16 audio cassettes, and 16 ready reference. 7. The most generally accepted and employed treatment for acute panic attacks is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Where acute panic attack therapy is concerned, it ranks amongst the best of the best. This is most widely accepted and used treatment for acute panic attacks. 8. One of the leading clinical psychologists for Native Remedies is the developer of Pure Calm, a natural drug remedy for acute panic attacks having no negative harmful side effects and also useable by both adults and children.9. Holo Think employs audio tracks that help relax your brain using binaural beats. These meditational sound tracks help you cope with your acute panic attacks.10. Jon Mercer who is also a former sufferer of acute panic attack has developed a system for tackling the condition which he calls The Easy Calm. The Easy Calm is a 10 part video series which you can easily download to your computer.

On a special Oprah panic attack show, Jonathan and Jordan Knight were featured. They gained fame in the late 80s and early 90s in their band called New Kids On The Block (NKOTB).

What the screaming girls probably didn’t know was that the brothers in the band had demons they had to deal with. The point is, panic attacks and anxiety disorders can happen to anyone.

People need to understand this. Not the ones who are suffering, but the ones who think it’s a fake illness or who think it’s brought on by the sufferer. This is not an act. Nobody wants to be like this.A Panic Attack On The Oprah Show

Jonathan Knight actually had a panic attack on the show. After he left NKOTB, he hid himself away and didn’t want to get out of bed. He probably had depression, which is linked to panic.

His brother Jordan also had anxiety issues. Jordan started getting books and read up on his condition. He did the right thing. By educating yourself on your condition, it plays a big part in the recovery process.

Jordan eventually found out that his father also suffered from panic attacks. There is certainly evidence to suggest that anxiety disorders can run in families and passed on.Panic Attacks Affect Women More Than Men

Panic attacks and panic disorder with agoraphobia tend to hit women more. Women suffer from this twice as much as men, but it can be harder for a man to have this and be accepted.

People in general will take this as a weakness in a man. They probably think it should be easier for a man to ‘get over it’. It’s a bit like crying. It’s alright if a woman cries, but REAL men don’t cry.

Panic attacks are treatable. Though it causes much anguish, the situation can be dealt with with great success. Today, there are so many methods of dealing with panic.

The obvious choice is to go to a doctor, but there are other alternative therapies available to treat panic attacks successfully. The road to wellness may not be easy, but it’s certainly worth it.

In case you’re interested in the Oprah panic attack show, click here for more. http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_past_20010301.jhtml

Copyright (c) 2007 Mary Ann Copson

If you have ever had a panic attack, you don’t want another one. The “fight-or flight” response in your body is involuntarily turned on and your nervous system signals your adrenal glands to start pumping out stress hormones to get you ready to either run away or turn and fight.

Your muscles tense, your heartbeat speeds up, and your breathing becomes more rapid. You might feel like you are smothering, claustrophobic or you may experience an urgency to get away. On top of that, you may get hot flashes, sweating, and/or chills and trembling, plus numbness, tingling sensations, dizziness, and nausea.

You become overwhelmed by an extreme sense of fear and impending disaster and you lose your ability to think calmly and clearly while experiencing a distorted sense of time and a feeling of unreality.

In the face of a physical threat, accident, or natural disaster, this type of response is normal and can be life-saving. But panic attacks that occur unexpectedly in the presence of normal events can be debilitating. They may happen with no forewarning, at any time of the day or night, and last several seconds or more than half an hour.

The triggers for panic attacks are unpredictable. Most panic attacks are set off by some minor or major stressor. But panic attacks can also be triggered by changes in emotions, or as a response to certain drugs, foods, allergies (including hidden food allergies), hypoglycemia, and illnesses.

A panic attack is an example of an acute anxiety disorder and can affect teens to middle-agers and beyond. Women are reported to experience panic attacks twice as often as men but some believe that is only because men are more reticent to report panic attacks.

Recent studies point to a complex set of causes and panic attacks are regarded as a treatable psychobiological condition (i.e. having both psychological and biological causes). Successful resolution of panic attacks requires an integrated, multi-modality approach.

Even though panic attacks are not a simple condition and there are no simple answers for their successful resolution, herbal therapy can be useful as part of an integrated, multi-modality approach.

When you experience anxiety, your body releases a set of neurotransmitters called catecholamines, which stimulate your central nervous system and activate your sympathetic nervous system. Sometimes your sympathetic nervous system (the high alert part of your nervous system) can get stuck in the ?on? mode leaving you in an ongoing state of anxiety - a fertile ground for panic attacks.

A class of herbs called nervines helps to turn off the sympathetic nervous system by gently facilitating the functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system ? the part of the nervous system that prompts relaxation - helping us to wind down and come off ?high alert?.

It is a good idea to experiment with different anti-anxiety herbs before you are in a crisis or panic situation. Try out several herbs in varying doses. Start with a low dose and increase if needed so that you will know how the herb affects you and how to use it when you need it.

Some effective herbal nervines to consider using:

Oatstraw (Avena sativa) ? the green milky tops of oatstraw provide a wonderful soothing, nourishing and gentle herb for frayed and stressed nervous systems. Oatstraw has a restorative effect on an exhausted nervous system reliably strengthening the whole nervous system after prolong stress. Oatstraw has both an immediate effect (useful when experiencing extreme nervousness and anxiety) and a more long-term restorative effect. Oatstraw is well tolerated by even highly sensitive people and is used for nervous debility, stress, weak nerve and energy force, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and general fatigue.

German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla/ Matricaria recutita) ? an all time favorite ?because it works. Chamomile tones the nervous system, relaxes your muscles and calms nervous digestion. It has mild sedating properties and is not as strong an herbal sedative as valerian or passionflower. However, chamomile is a great option for anxiety in children or teens and for anxiety associated with mild sleep problems. If you are allergic to ragweed, asters, or chrysanthemums you are better off choosing another anti-anxiety herb.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) ?has mild sedative properties and is useful in conditions of nervous agitation with sleep problems and digestive complaints. Lemon balm is especially useful for over-anxiety that causes digestive problems such as nausea, bloating, and colic like pains. Traditionally lemon balm was used to lift the spirits and encourage longevity. Lemon balm is a relaxing tonic for anxiety, restlessness, irritability, and mild depression and its actions will quiet the racing heart that often accompanies anxiety. It has mild anti-thyroid effects and is best avoided by people with hypothyroid problems.

Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia) ?tonifies and relaxes the nervous system and is useful for anxiety of all types especially anxiety and irritability that is hormonally based such as premenstrual syndrome. It is a sedative nervine and has mild anti-spasmodic and anti-hypertensive effects. Skullcap is a great herb to use when your anxiety is accompanied by a runaway mind that is stuck on worry. It is tolerated well by most people and has few side effects.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) ? one of the most well known anti-anxiety herbs, valerian is a potent herb whose active ingredients, valepotriates, bind to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain (similarly to the drug Valium). The use of valerian does not, however, result in dependence or the development of tolerance but instead tones the nervous system.

Valerian can be used to improve the sleep quality and relax both the skeletal and smooth muscles. Valerian should not be used for those with chronic exhaustion, adrenal fatigue, thyroid disorders, and depression as it may increase anxiety, worsen present symptoms, and/or result in excessive restlessness in these conditions.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) ? a strong calming, anti-spasmodic herb that is good for severe daytime anxiety. Passionflower is also a good choice for middle of the night waking terrors, nightmares, and the onset of sudden anxiety feelings. It acts as a central nervous system depressant giving a calming, relaxing and anti-anxiety effect and is specific for anxiety related to insomnia, muscle tension, restlessness, and nervousness due to worry, overwork, hysteria, or excessive excitement. If you are taking an MAO inhibitor, you should avoid taking passionflower except under supervision.

Stress Relief Tea

Here is a simple herbal tea mixture that I have found effective in my private practice working with women having mood and energy problems.

Mix together equal parts of the following dry herbs:

?Oatstraw

?Lemon Balm

?Skullcap

?Nettles

?Orange

?Chamomile

Use 1-2 teaspoons of the mixture and steep covered in 8 oz. of boiling water for 5-10 minutes.

The use of herbal nervines as part of an integrative program can help restore a sense of calm and well being, soothe distress, stabilize a confused and overwhelmed energy system, and foster clear thinking.

If you are taking anti-anxiety and/or anti-depressant medications or other medications, have a diagnosed condition or illness, are pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly or very young it is important to consult a knowledgeable health care practitioner before using herbs. Consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment of any medical conditions.