How to Manage Panic Attacks Without Medication

Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural response to stress in our life. Your heart races due to a burst of adrenaline, your palms become sweaty, your dizzy, trembling and have a dry mouth. You might be constantly worried, have diarrhea, mood swings and can't sleep or sleep to much. You may feel fatigued, have lost your appetite or suffer from high blood pressure. These are all symptoms of anxiety.

Hope is not lost, these symptoms can be controlled with a combination of stress relief techniques. Further relief can come from dietary changes and herbal therapies which can have a serene and calming effect on your mood.

First however you need to make a trip to your doctor to rule out any underlying causes. Have your blood sugar, thyroid, and heart. Nutritional deficiency or clinical depression could also be the cause. Once these factors have been ruled out, try some of the following remedies.

Next you need to cut out as much stress as possible. Shy away from caffeine, sugar (cakes, candies, chocolate), nicotine, black tea, alcohol and drugs. Try to get plenty of rest and eat a healthy diet as described above along with the following dietary suggestions.

• Plan well rounded small basic meals.


• Try eating smaller meals throughout the day instead of three big meals.


• Eat Brown rice, oats of some type of whole grain every meal.


• Also increase your green leafy vegetables such as broccoli or lettuce, asparagus but NO SPINACH!


• Also, soy beans, nuts, molasses, salmon, oysters, sardines, and unsweetened cultured yogurt can help keep you cool and collected.

Other stress reducers you may incorporate into your daily plan;

• Vitamin B6- 50mg once or twice daily. All B Vitamins help with reducing stress but B6 is the most important of these.


• Valerian- Strong nerve relaxer, when taking 300mg two or three times daily. This also helps with insomnia as well.


• Saint-John's-Wort- Take 300mg three times daily for depression or anxiety.


• Ashwagandha is a stress hormone reducer. 250mg extract daily.


• Chromium 200mg two or three times a day to balance blood sugar levels.


• Inositol- 4 grams daily to help panic attacks.


• Chamomile and oatstraw are herbal tea flavors.


• Fish oil is important for a lasting treatment.

Try one of these herbs for relief

• 5-hydroxytryptophan- Do not take this in conjunction with other anxiety or depression pharmaceutical medication. Take 50 to 100mg, two to three times a day.


• Kava- 200 to 250mg, two or three times daily of any product with up to 30% kava lactones. Do not take with other pharmaceuticals. Only take this under a doctors supervision. Can calm panic attacks and severe anxiety.


• theanine-200mg to 250mg daily for a calming effect.


• GABA- 500mg two or three times daily for calming effect.


• Calcium and Magnesium- take 500mg calcium and 250mg magnesium twice daily. For calming the nervous system.


• Passionflower- 250mg two or three times daily. This relaxes the nervous system and is gentle enough to take during the day.

You may also try the remedy from this list that best suit your symptoms: If you have not gotten any relief after 3 days, stop that one and try another. Only take one of these remedies at a time. Take 2 pellets or 30C twice daily to prevent or reduce anxiety. For a panic attack or acute anxiety you may take this same dosage for up to 6 times every fifteen minutes or until symptoms subside.

• Aconitum Napellus- for acute panic attacks that make you feel like you will die. You are experiencing heart palpitations and shortness of breath.


• Calcarea- You are generally chilly and tire easily and feel overwhelmed.


• Gelsemium- Fear of being in a crowd that is accompanied by diarrhea.


• Ignatia- You may have suffered an emotional trauma and feel moody.


• Kali Phosphoricum- For general anxiety, poor memory and fatigue. Take 6x potency, three times daily.


• Lycopodim for stage fright or social anxiety


• Pulsatilla- Scared of being alone.

Although these are all remedies you may try to help reduce your panic attacks and anxiety, it will not cure the underlying cause of your attacks.

For more information regarding a natural way of curing your panic attacks, please visit us at www.thehealingfactor.com. Also pick up a copy of our free report, Holistic Healing "A path to the future". This information will be of use to you for years to come...

Three Effective Grief Tools To Use During The Holidays

Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and special days always add an extra sense of remembering after a loss. I experienced the loss of my sweetheart last month. To add to that, it's my father's birthday, and next month will be the anniversary of his death. The two heroes in my life.

As a grief coach, all this put me in a place of "practicing what I preach." I'll share with you a few tools that allowed me to arrive at a place of peace and completion. Please know that it is normal and natural to grieve after a significant loss (from death, divorce, separation, relationship, job, money, etc.). Do not suppress this important step on your grief journey. There is the other side, but the only way to navigate this wilderness of grief is to go through it. Also, know that no one can tell you how to grieve because there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and no one can really know or understand the relationship you shared with your loved one.

Here are three tools that I not only use for my grief coaching clients, but worked effectively for me:

1. Find an activity where you can give back. I volunteered on Thanksgiving Day at a nursing/rehabilitation center, and I can't express in words the joy and fulfillment this experience gave me. I honestly felt as though this is where I was really supposed to be at that time. I watched the Thanksgiving Day Parade on television with one 98 year old resident, who didn't want me to leave. I visited with another resident who joyfully shared her miracle of healing, and learned that she is a neighbor, thereby manifesting a new friend. As they both offered endless expressions of thanks to me, I found myself saying thank you to them. I left the facility feeling as if I was walking on air. Not to discount my loss, but giving me so much gratitude for being where I was at that period of time.


2. Don't feel obligated to do anything you don't feel like doing. It is okay to say "no." Yes, family members and friends were concerned and invited me to dinner. After pondering how to say no, I practiced what I preach, and just told them thanks for the invitation, but I would not be joining them. Don't have regrets. True family and friends will understand. Remember, they are just trying to help.


3. Write a letter. Another effective grief activity that I recommend is to write a letter. If the loss was from a death, write a letter to your loved one. End the letter with "Good Bye" and sign it. This will help if you are having trouble with accepting the loss, and this is hindering you from moving through the journey and moving forward.

I can't stress enough to you that the sooner you accept that your life as it was will never be the same again, the sooner you can begin to move forward with your "new life." I recommend grief coaching, support groups, or professional help if you need it. I leave you with one of my favorite quotes. "The hardest part of any journey is taking the first step, but you must keep on stepping."

Symptoms of Clinical Depression

Every year on average, one in four people in the UK suffer from some kind of mental health problem, anxiety and depression being the most common disorders. There has been a tenfold increase in depression since the Second World War the main form of depression is known as clinical depression. So what are the symptoms of clinical depression?

Feeling hopeless and lack of interest in the things you once liked doing - There's no point in doing anything because nothing's important anymore. Black and white thinking - "it's all bad," or "I knew this would happen, nothing good ever happens to me."

Feeling Sad and emotional for little or no apparent reason - Feeling sorry for yourself - "I don't know why I keep crying, I never used to be like this."

Sleeping problems and feeling tired - Staying too long in the REM stage (the intense dreaming stage) of sleep is a major symptom of clinical depression. When we sleep we ruminate - process unfulfilled thoughts we had during the day. Some of these thoughts come to us in the form of nightmares in the REM sleep stage. If we stay too long in this stage we don't get enough deep sleep. We wake up in the morning tired as if we haven't slept much at all - even though we may have had a lot of sleep.

Becoming irritable or easily annoyed - Making 'mountains out of molehills' and overdramatising trivial negative issues. Low tolerance of other people, especially at parties or in crowds. Getting angry because someone annoyed us such as being stuck behind a slow driver then over-reacting by beeping the horn constantly.

Trouble concentrating - The mind wanders and you begin thinking about negative things. Dwelling on the negative starts a train of thoughts about past hurts or regrets and you get caught up in its cycle.

Weight gain or weight loss - When someone is depressed others may notice that they have lost or gained weight, according to their metabolism, even though the depressed person may not even be aware of this. Another symptom of depression is lack of appetite hence the weight loss. The other end extreme is to overeat.

Feeling worthless - This is a symptom of depression common in people who have lost a job in the past and still haven't got over it. Feeling worthless is linked to lack of hope, the clinically depressed person focuses their attention inwards and my blame themselves for being 'inadequate'.

Lack of interest in sex - The clinically depressed person may not feel worthy of their partner because they feel they aren't good enough for their partner anymore. If they've been dwelling on the hopelessness of their life it could interfere with their sex lives - "nothing interests me anymore - not even sex."

Suicidal thoughts - More people than you might expect have thoughts of suicide one or even a few times in their lives for a variety of reasons. A clinical depression sufferer who feels that life isn't worth living may become suicidal.

If you have one or more of the symptoms of clinical depression above it could be possible that it may only a temporary detour on life's highway. If the symptoms persist however it may be worth seeing your gp or a qualified therapist or both.

One of the problems depression sufferers face is that if they are feeling hopeless and worthless they may not even notice or care about getting help. The onus should then fall on a family member or friend to step in and help.

Recovery from depression can take time but with the right care and support life will become rosier and more purposeful again.

Using a TENS Machine to Fight the Negative Feelings of Depression

First of all, I'm not a doctor or therapist. I just have spent most of my life learning from them, to undo the effects of major depression that I've had from childhood. If you suffer from depression, first talk to your medical professional to see what approach is best for you. That is what I've done, but I add to what I've learned by trying a few other things on my own. Don't do anything to yourself that is potentially self-injurious, it pays to research any new technique or approach thoroughly, just to be safe. Whatever works for me may not work for you, we all have our own ways of responding to different treatments. I just know that not all my recovery has come from what was learned at the doctor's office. Being exceptionally strong-willed, my mission has mainly been to boost self-esteem, and fight those inner feelings of sadness that never go away (effects of depression.) Here are some ways that have helped me live a productive and successful life, despite mental challenges.

Six months ago, it was necessary for me to go for physical therapy for a slipped disk in my back. The therapist hooked me up to a small machine called a TENS unit, for one of my treatments. They put small, non-invasive sticky circles (electrodes) on the part of my body needing therapy and then turned the machine on. It felt really good, sort of like a massage. Depending upon how the therapist adjusted the dials, the machine would make knocking or pinging sensations on my back. There are also knobs to adjust the intensity of each sensation. After researching the TENS unit on the internet, I ordered a small one, about the size of a deck of playing cards.

According to what I read about them, TENS machines are not only good for distracting your body into feeling good sensations rather than pain, but they can make your body produce endorphins, or feel-good chemicals, too. This intrigued me, since having depression, I'll take all the feel-good anything I can get (as long as it is both moral and legal.) So, I set up to test this on myself and see if there was any merit to the theory. After years of taking various anti-depressants, some work more than others but none completely take away depression, in my experience. Not being a scientist or doctor, I read up on everything about the TENS machine. There are rules that come along with the machine, like not putting the electrodes on the head, neck or the heart areas. Make sure to follow all of them thoroughly. People with pacemakers should not use TENS units, because it can interfere with the way they work. As with medicines, ask your doctor before using one.

By placing the electrodes along my spine, and setting the TENS settings to the recommended low frequency (pulse) levels. You want low muscle contraction, and to use the TENS for approximately 20 to 40 minutes. If you set it for higher muscle contractions, your muscles may ache later, so I rely on what the experts say, to use it at low settings. For more detailed information, I found these sites helpful:

http://www.bootsmaternityrentalproducts.co.uk/abouttens.php
http://www.medcareservice.com/Pain-Control-Mechanism-Article.cfm

Using the TENS unit has helped my overall mood, it seems, as after using it, my demeanor is calm and relaxed. Though I don't know if this is due to the machine itself or not, but I believe that using it has helped me. Combined with other treatments, this TENS therapy is assisting me (along with other techniques for reducing depression) in making a more enjoyable life. Go ahead and research TENS units online, and see if this is something suitable for you. In my point of view, it is a viable way to help combat depression.

Life Insurance Information For Kentucky Residents

Life insurance is a highly regulated industry and in Kentucky it's no different. There is a governmental organization designed to regulate life insurance in the state and that is the Kentucky Department of Insurance. This organization is designed to regulate the insurance companies that do business within the state and respond to consumer complaints.

There are also other ways that the state protects consumers and insurers interests. All companies classified as life insurance companies and licensed to sell such policies in the state are required by law to be members of KLHIGA (Kentucky Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Act).

Legislation has been enacted setting maximum limits on the amounts that can be paid out by an insurer to one person when that person owns more than one policy on another person. Some types of plans are also outlawed by this legislation. These are inferior products that would not benefit the consumer.

Prior to obtaining a quote in Kentucky, it would be wise to contact the Kentucky Department of Insurance to ascertain whether or not the company is reputable and operating according to the law. You can actually directly contact the department if you have a question or want a little more information on what to watch for and what different insurance products are available.

The major types of plans are: term, whole life, universal, annuities, as well as many other variations and additions to these policies. Additional coverage that's added to a policy is called a rider, and a common type is commonly referred to as the "long-term care rider." This is in addition to the death benefit and covers the insured in the event that they need to be housed and cared for in a long-term care facility.

As a Kentucky resident, you have a great deal of rights and you ought to get in touch with the state insurance department if you think you are being treated unjustly in any manner. Once your formal complaint is received, the prevailing body will assess your claim in an expedient fashion and take the proper action as dictated by the circumstances. Just like any other purchase you make, be careful. Do some research before you buy.

Spiritual Sexuality - The Antidote For Depression

Spiritual Sexuality is an expression of our inner most desires and longings to explore intimate passion stepping into the unknown. When we allow ourselves to explore outside our "box" we feel a stirring in our belly that likens itself to nervousness even borders on fear. The kind of fear one has when taking on a challenge for the first time, skiing a difficult slope, rock climbing, or any type of competition. There is something about being on the edge that leaves no room for depression.

There are different grades of depression, major depression single episode, major depression recurrent, atypical depression: a residual category for individuals who cannot be diagnosed in the above categories. The list of depressive disorders goes on and on. I have created my own label called low-grade depression. It is like a low-grade fever. You can still go to work and carry on with your day but you feel "under the weather". Western Medicine treats these disorders with medication, antidepressants.

This therapist wants to know when was the last time you had sex? How often do you have sex? Does you masturbate and how often? More times then not a person's sex life has diminished or is non-existent. Lack of sex and intimacy is the underlying cause for disease, illness and depression. There are many reasons individuals stop having sex; from the birth of children, to a partner who is no longer interested, to a busy life style, or years of relationship where they have grown apart sexually but are still compatible in every other way.

Bottom line, it is not only a depressing situation but the individual is losing their energy and internal drive to succeed or accomplish their previous enthusiastic goals. Those who manage to keep going may do OK but far less then what they are capable of when fully functioning and using their sexuality as their catalyst life force energy.

Awakening the vital passionate energy that stimulates the hormones and heals us at a cellular level is the first step in pulling yourself out of depression. This means doing things you have never done before in any category of life (legally) but especially sexually. Breaking out of the sexual box is one of the most difficult things you will ever do. Your partner may be challenged and put up resistance. You will have to rock the boat and create what is called a " healing crises". You have to move past your own fears and discover a new world that is filled with energy. The fastest way to lift yourself out of depression is to have a fantastic love making session, breaking your normal patterns. Whatever that may look like for you, give yourself whole-heartedly to the absurd, bizarre, unconventional exploration of sacred sexuality.

The key to exploring your sexuality is to assume authority, take responsibility and be spiritually accountable for your actions. This is not license to do whatever you please but Freedom to do what you need to do to maintain your emotional, mental, physical, spiritual and sexual well being responsible.
 
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Can Prayer Help To Ease The Symptoms Of Depression?

Does prayer help to ease your depression? Well, the jury is still out on that, depending on the individual. Let me ask you this. Do you feel better after you've gone to see a psychiatrist or participated in group therapy? That answer for me is both yes and no. You see, going to see a psychiatrist was a good experience, depending on who the person was and their type of personality. Some psychiatric professionals are visibly more caring than others. Some are more "strictly by the book" and seem to lack compassion.

Taking part in group therapy never was very helpful for me. I found it difficult listening to the problems of others that didn't relate to my own. I was always sympathetic and tried to be understanding, but I found it difficult to participate unless someone mentioned something that I was experiencing personally. I had days when I was feeling good before the group session and walked out feeling bad. I think that groups are fine as long as they're extremely focused and everyone in the room is on the same page.

As far as prayer helping, I believe that it's an excellent method of relieving stress and tension. There are times when it can really help to ease your burden, especially if you have difficulty sharing your feelings with others. The one thing that makes God so very endearing is that he'll never leave you, he's with you twenty four hours a day, seven days per week and you can give him a ring any time day or night. He never tires of hearing from you or hearing your problems over and over again. You can say practically anything to him respectfully and he's okay with it.

I know that prayer has helped me to deal with my depression issues simply because I know that I'm not alone. While visiting "professionals", I sometimes felt as if I was the only one in the room. Do you know what I mean? The person that asks you a couple of questions and then looks at the clock again? It never made me feel quite right, because even though this person may have gone to school for treating these symptoms, it's likely that they've never personally experienced them.

The next time that your depressive symptoms are trying to get the best of you, why not find a quiet place and start a conversation with your heavenly father? I guarantee that he'll always listen, never criticize you and genuinely cares about you and your problems. You may or may not experience a visible "miracle", but sometimes just knowing that he's walking with you in life and carrying you when you're hurting the most is enough. Give prayer a try. It's free.