• Performance Anxiety – A condition where a person is unable to make speeches or cannot function under pressure while participating in a participation sport.
• Test Anxiety – A similar condition where a person fails tests in school, even though he or she is adequately familiar with the content of the test.
• Separation Anxiety – When a person, often a child cannot stand to be left alone.
• Anxiety or Panic Disorder – Where a person experiences spell of intense panic when there is no external reason to be in a state of panic.

Though these conditions seem to run the gamut of a wide variety of situations, often times self-help treatments can be very beneficial and maybe even sufficient to start to bring about a cure to each one. A couple of self help treatments that can be very beneficial to anxiety and panic sufferers are reading an excellent psychology book, such as “Psycho-Cybernetics or partaking in progressive relaxation.  First however, we must make this disclaimer:

Panic attacks will sometimes make the sufferer feel as if he or she is experiencing a heart attack or a stroke. It is important a person suffering from this condition gets a clean bill of health from a doctor before assuming the panic has brought on these common mock heart attack or stroke symptoms. Once the patient’s health is no longer in question, he or she should no longer pay any attention to these false symptoms while under the influence of the adrenaline brought on by the panic attack.

Though ignoring anxiety’s symptoms is difficult when one’s nerves are sensitized, doing so is key to putting an end to panic attacks.  One technique many people have used to start down the road to desensitizing their nerves is progressive relaxation.

There are three stages to progressive relaxation exercises. First, the anxiety sufferer lies down or relaxes in an easy chair. Once comfortable, the patient instructs the major body parts to relax. This is accomplished by instructing the body starting at the bottom and moving to the top. In other words, “feet relax, legs relax, lower legs and buttocks relax,” etc. This is continued right up to the head and in this way some degree of relaxation is accomplished.

In the second stage, the patient becomes aware of the breathing, which should be slower than normal but comfortable. He or she should pay no attention to any outside noises but only tune into this slow, comfortable breathing.

After a few minutes, the patient should think of some relaxing time or scene he or she has experienced some time in the past, or if no peaceful scene from the past can be thought of, the patient should make one up. The key is to use the imagination and the breathing to be drawn into a peaceful state of mind.

Finally, the patient should imagine him or herself acting in a way that would be his or her ideal. For instance, the test anxiety sufferer should imagine being calm and confident while taking a test. The panic sufferer should imagine dismissing any hint of panic and continuing on through the day undisturbed.

While this may seem too simple to give any real results, I used this method when I suffered frequent severe panic attacks and it was what got me to turn the corner and head toward complete recovery. So, I know it works, but there is one more key to a successful recovery.

An anxiety sufferer needs to recognize the fact he or she is suffering from anxiety disorder and needs to acknowledge it will only leave after the body’s overly sensitized adrenaline system becomes healed. This can only happen on its own timetable and will only happen after the patient realizes that no amount of fighting the condition or trying to run away from it will help. However, acceptance together with time will heal panic attack anxiety.

The key is to use relaxation and recall relaxed feelings throughout the day. Then, live through anxieties symptoms, paying them as little attention as possible. A complete recovery will come soon after this acceptance takes hold.

Here is a post from the blog Stop Anxiety Stop Panic. Come visit and learn how to deal with and defeat anxiety and panic disorder.

Symptom of Anxiety

Anxiety and Panic Disorder Related:

1. Panic Attack Anxiety Symptoms Panic attack anxiety symptoms usually include symptoms of whatever...
2. Phobia of Leaving The phobia of leaving a place where one fears...
3. Psychotic Anxiety Psychotic anxiety is definitely a condition that requires professional...
4. Panic Attacks and Agoraphobia Panic attacks and agoraphobia are intertwined.  Here’s how:  Look in...
5. Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia Panic disorder with agoraphobia is a fairly common type...

The anxiety sufferer knows it is true anxiety when she cancels appointments and avoids certain person, places and things because of fear her anxiety will cause her to somehow make a fool of herself or in many cases she fears her anxiety will make her feel she will have an attack of some kind that will cause her to need to be “taken away.”  Such things are not in the mind of one who is simply nervous.

Most often, when a person is experiencing true anxiety, panic enters into the fray.  Sometimes, this panic or panic attack is said to be paranoia.  While this term does not exactly describe what panic attack due to anxiety actually is, it is a term often used.

Panic is the result of anxiety that builds and builds and builds.  This is normal for those experiencing anxiety but not for folks who are simply nervous.  The panic starts to develop when the sufferer becomes afraid of the funny and often very scary feelings anxiety brings on.  Many times these scary feelings make the sufferer wonder if he or she is having a heart attack or stroke. 

 Of course, such feelings should be brought to the attention of a medical professional quickly.  However, even after the patient has been cleared of these medical conditions, his or her continued fear of them only brings more anxiety into his or her life and this added fear on top of of the existing  anxious condition eventually can lead to panic attacks.

Ordinary Nervousness or True Anxiety, can You Tell?

photo credit: SashaW

Here is a post from the blog Stop Anxiety Stop Panic. Come visit and learn how to deal with and defeat anxiety and panic disorder.

Anxiety Signs and Symptoms

Anxiety and Panic Disorder Related:

1. Panic Attack Anxiety Symptoms Panic attack anxiety symptoms usually include symptoms of whatever...
2. Psychotic Anxiety Psychotic anxiety is definitely a condition that requires professional...
3. What is the Connection Between Panic and Agoraphobia Agoraphobia is defined as fear of the market place....
4. Panic Attacks and Agoraphobia Panic attacks and agoraphobia are intertwined.  Here’s how:  Look in...
5. Panic Attack Causes Panic Attack Causes by Melissa Geroe When it comes...