Anxious about anxiety?

Here's help on how to stay calm.

Fear and anxiety are an unavoidable part of life. You may feel anxious before a dental appointment, or when you’re walking alone down a dark street. This kind of anxiety is useful - it can make you more alert or careful. It usually ends soon after you are out of the situation that caused it. But for millions of people around the world, the anxiety does not go away, and it can even get worse over time, with symptoms such as chest pains or nightmares. Some may even be afraid to leave home. These people have anxiety disorders.

Here’s how to recognize the differences between normal anxiety and anxiety disorders, courtesy of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America:

Normal Anxiety

• Occasional worry about circumstantial events that may leave you upset, such as financial worries, family problems, or traffic jams
• Embarrassment or self-consciousness in the face of uncomfortable social situations
• Random case of "nerves" or jitters, dizziness, and/or sweating over an important event like an exam, job interview, or oral presentation
• Realistic fear of a threatening object, place, or situation
• Wanting to be sure that you are healthy and living in a safe, hazard-free environment
• Anxiety, sadness, or difficulty sleeping immediately following a traumatic event

Anxiety Disorder

• Constant, chronic, and unsubstantiated worry that causes significant distress, disturbs your social life, and interferes with work
• Avoidance of common social situations for fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated
• Repeated, random panic attacks or persistent worry/anticipation of another panic attack and feelings of terror or impending doom
• Irrational fear or avoidance of an object, place, or situation that poses little or no threat of danger
• Performing uncontrollable, repetitive actions, such as washing your hands repeatedly or checking things over and over
• Ongoing and recurring nightmares, flashbacks, or emotional numbing relating to a traumatic event in your life that occurred several months or years ago

If you can relate to any of the anxiety disorder symptoms, you may want to talk to someone who is professionally qualified to help. For normal anxiety, the following strategies will also help you to stay calm:

• Exercise. Physical activity helps your body and mind. It doesn’t matter whether you jog, work out, play tennis, or go for a walk. Just get off the couch and get moving!
• Eat a balanced diet. Don't skip meals, and try to eat from all of the food groups.
• Limit alcohol and stimulant use. Alcohol can aggravate anxiety and can also cause panic attacks, and too much caffeine can do the same as well.
• Get involved. Being active in your church or community creates a support network and gives you a break from your everyday stress.
• Do your best instead of trying to be perfect.We all know perfection isn't possible, so be proud of however close you get.
• Take a timeout. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, just take a deep breath and count to 10. Stepping back from the problem lets you clear your head. Practicing meditation, listening to soothing music, or getting a relaxing massage are great ways to calm down.
• Put things in perspective. Think about your situation. Ask yourself whether it's really as bad as you think it is or if you might be blowing it out of proportion.
• Talk to someone. Don't let things bottle up to the verge of explosion. Reach out to trusted friends or family if you're feeling low.
• Find out what triggers your anxiety. Take notes or write in a journal when you're feeling anxious or stressed, and then look for patterns.
• Drink 4 ounces (120 ml) of GoChi™ every day!

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In a recent human clinical trial featured in the peer-reviewed Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM), participants drinking a daily serving of just 4 ounces (120 ml) of GoChi reported significantly increased feelings of calm, contentment, and happiness in as little as 14 days! The study participants drinking GoChi also reported experiencing significantly less stress when compared to the start of the study. The publication of our study by the independent experts of a peer-reviewed publication such as JACM represents a first for a functional juice beverage in the Direct Selling industry, and it demonstrates FreeLife’s ongoing commitment to supporting its claims with solid scientific research.
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REFERENCES:
“Got Anxiety? Get Help.” Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Silver Spring, MD. Retrieved July 10, 2008. Available at http://www.gotanxiety.org
“Medline Plus: Anxiety.” U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. Bethesda, MD. Retrieved July 10, 2008. Available at http://www.nlm.ni h.gov/medlineplus/anxiety.html
Amagase H, Nance DM. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study of the General Effects of a Standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi™. J Altern Complement Med. 2008; 14(4), pp. 403-412. Abstract available on PubMed at http://www.pubmed.gov (PMID: 18447631)

Article Copyright: Health Watch Weekly Freelife International