Category: ANXIETY 101
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WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF STRESS?
Stress is a normal physical response to events that make one feel threatened or that upset one’s balance in some way. The nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, that rouse the body for emergency action. During development, stress has often been regarded as a potentially disruptive force,…
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WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS?
Typically, genetic and environmental factors are risk factors for anxiety disorders. More specific variables have been identified such as shyness, or behavioral inhibition in childhood, being female, economic pressure, low social support, exposure to trauma, parental history of mental disorders, and anxiety disorders in close biological relatives.
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WHAT CAUSES ANXIETY?
Anxiety disorders run in families, and that they have a biological basis, much like allergies or diabetes and other disorders. Anxiety disorders may develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events, particularly stress.
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IS ANXIETY CURABLE?
The answer is a resounding YES! Anxiety can be cured with the proper treatment and lifestyle changes. The brain is malleable and new brain connections sprout out everyday, which tells you that your brain can change. Look at anxiety as a bad habit that you need to unlearn.
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ARE THERE LAB TESTS OR BRAIN SCANS FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS?
No, anxiety cannot be detected through a blood sample or an X-ray. Instead, a diagnosis is made based on the individual’s answers to specific questions and the physician’s observation. Advances in brain science and technology could in the near future yield a method to diagnose an anxiety disorder just by looking at the brain, so…
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ARE SLEEP PROBLEMS COMMON WITH ANXIETY?
Yes, sleep problems are a common occurrence in anxiety. For example, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) list sleep disorders as one of the core symptoms of the conditions. Sleep problems in anxiety include difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up too early.
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WHEN SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY ANXIETY?
If you are asking this question, it means that you should be concerned. If your anxiety is overwhelming, disrupts your normal functioning, and you feel depressed and unhappy, then you ought to take action. At MindRise, we offer many resources and info to help you overcome or manage your anxiety on your own. However, if…
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WHAT IS THE USE OF LEARNING ABOUT HOW CERTAIN BRAIN REGIONS ARE OVERACTIVE/UNDERACTIVE IN ANXIETY?
It is very helpful when you have anxiety to understand what is actually happening in the brain, because it provides us with an objective fact. Instead of letting our emotions run wild and start believing in catastrophic thoughts about the possibility that we might be losing our mind, we can calmly remind our self that…
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WHAT IS HYPERVENTILATION?
Hyperventilation refers to the act of breathing fast or increasing the respiratory rate. When we breathe normally, we take about 15 to 18 breaths per minute (one breath cycle includes one inhalation and one exhalation); however when we hyperventilate we take about 18 to 20 breaths per minute, and this rate can go up to…