Category: anxiety self-help
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KRIPALU-STYLE YOGIC BREATHING
Nadi Shodhana (Alternate-Nostril Breath)* This breathing exercise can be practiced daily and/or during times when you feel anxious, stressed or exhausted. TIME: 5 to 10 minutes or until you feel relaxed. POSITION: Sit comfortably on the floor with spine erect and eyes closed. You can add a blanket around your waist to enhance groundedness and stability.…
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DOES SINGING PROMOTE RELAXATION?
A number of studies have documented the effects of singing on cardio-respiratory health. For example, one study reports that choir group singing improves heart rate variability, which is a significant predictor of cardiovascular health. Notably, decreased heart rate variability is linked to hypertension, heart failure and work stress, while increased heart rate variability indicates a…
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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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THREE SELF-REPORT QUESTIONNAIRES COMMONLY USED TO EVALUATE AND ASSESS ANXIETY SYMPTOMS
In a therapeutic setting, symptoms of anxiety are assessed and measured on a scale, as one of many tools used to screen for the presence and severity of anxiety. Typically, a scale is a questionnaire that is administered by a clinician in some cases or by the self in others. Each one lists a series…
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THE 10 MOST RELAXING SONGS*
*ACCORDING TO NEUROSCIENCE A study from MindLab International was conducted to investigate how much anxiety reduction participants experienced while listening to a specific song. Below is a list of the top 10 most relaxing songs, with the top one producing the highest level of relaxation.