Ive Tried Getting Professional Help And That Doesnt Work
Unfortunately, there are many mental health and medical professionals out there who wont get you and your circumstances. Remember: what works for one person might not work for another. It sucks if you havent been able to find someone who gets you, understands your problems and is able to offer you solutions that suit you.
If you feel this way, you dont have to stick with the same person or medication. There are heaps of really great GPs, psychologists and psychiatrists out there who do have the right kinds of skills and experience to help you.
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Fear is one of the most powerful emotions. It has a very strong effect on your mind and body.
Fear can create strong signals of response when were in emergencies for instance, if we are caught in a fire or are being attacked.
It can also take effect when youre faced with non-dangerous events, like exams, public speaking, a new job, a date, or even a party. Its a natural response to a threat that can be either perceived or real.
Anxiety is a word we use for some types of fear that are usually to do with the thought of a threat or something going wrong in the future, rather than right now.
Fear and anxiety can last for a short time and then pass, but they can also last much longer and you can get stuck with them. In some cases they can take over your life, affecting your ability to eat, sleep, concentrate, travel, enjoy life, or even leave the house or go to work or school. This can hold you back from doing things you want or need to do, and it also affects your health.
Some people become overwhelmed by fear and want to avoid situations that might make them frightened or anxious. It can be hard to break this cycle, but there are lots of ways to do it. You can learn to feel less fearful and to cope with fear so that it doesnt stop you from living.
What Causes Separation Anxiety In Dogs
Before you can help your pets separation anxiety, you must understand what is causing it. Separation anxiety can be caused by various factors, including your pets personality, training, and major life events.
In many cases, separation anxiety results from dogs not learning how to be alone when they are puppies. While developing a strong bond with your dog is essential, its also important to teach them to be independent.
Some dogs are naturally more independent, while others may require extra help to feel comfortable being alone.
In other cases, separation anxiety can result from a traumatic experience. Dogs who are adopted after being abandoned often struggle with being left alone.
Their experience with abandonment can make them fearful that you will leave and not return.
Additionally, major life changes can spark anxiety issues in previously well-behaved dogs. Examples of major life events may include a death in the family or a recent move. Sudden changes in your daily schedule may also cause anxiety.
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Phobias And Irrational Fears
A phobia is an unrealistic or exaggerated fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that in reality presents little to no danger. Common phobias include fear of animals , fear of flying, and fear of needles. In the case of a severe phobia, you might go to extreme lengths to avoid the object of your fear. Unfortunately, avoidance only strengthens the phobia.
How Are Anxiety Disorders Treated
You can check what treatment and care is recommended for anxiety disorders on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence website.
NICE produce guidelines for how health professionals should treat certain conditions. NICE only provide guidelines for:
- Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder,
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder ,
- Post-traumatic stress disorder , and
- Social anxiety disorder.
The NHS does not have to follow these recommendations. But they should have a good reason for not following them.
We have described some of the treatments for anxiety disorders below. The treatments you will be offered depend upon the type of anxiety disorder you are experiencing.
You can find more information about treatments for:
Monitoring your symptomsSome anxiety disorders, such as generalised anxiety disorder may get better by itself with no treatment at all. Or after education and advice from your doctor. Your doctor will monitor your symptoms to see if they improve. And they will talk to you about medications that you can get without a prescription. These are sometimes called over-the-counter medications.
Individual non-facilitated self helpThis involves working from a book or a computer program. You will be supported by a trained professional
Individual guided self-helpYou should:
Your learning should:
Medications
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Make It A Competition
Do you have a competitive nature? If so, could you make a sport out of trying to overcome your social anxiety? If you clam up at dinner parties, try over-preparing with interesting stories to tell.
Try to ask every person at least one question. Keep track of how many times you speak and give yourself points. Make it a game!
Quick Ways To Cope With Anxiety
If your anxiety is sporadic and getting in the way of your focus or tasks, there are some quick natural remedies that could help you take control of the situation.
If your anxiety is focused around a situation, such as being worried about an upcoming event, you may notice the symptoms are short-lived and usually subside after the anticipated event takes place.
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Symptoms Of Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, isnt just about being shy or introverted. Most of us feel nervous or uncomfortable in certain social situations, and some people are just more introverted than others. On the other hand, social anxiety is a mental illness that can severely disrupt peoples lives when left untreated.
According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual , the book that mental health professionals use to classify different psychiatric diagnoses, the symptoms of social anxiety disorder include:
- You feel intense fear and anxiety about being judged, criticized, or humiliated in social settings. You might be aware that these fears are illogical, but that doesnt make them go away. The anxiety is persistent and severe, and not just everyday nervousness.
- You are experiencing this fear about at least one specific social situation. For example, you might be afraid of one-on-one social interactions, public speaking, or eating in front of others. These situations always, or almost always, cause severe anxiety.
- You avoid the social situations that cause fear and anxiety.
- Fear that the actual symptoms of anxiety will cause even further humiliation.
- You experience these symptoms when theyre not proportionate to the social event in question.
- Symptoms are persistent and severely disrupt everyday functioning .
Stay In The Moment To Relieve Anxiety Attacks
Although your gut response might be to leave the stressful situation immediately, dont. Let your anxiety level come down, advises Carmin. Then you can decide if you want to leave or if there’s a way to get back to whatever you were doing when the anxiety attack started. Staying in the moment will help you overcome anxiety, but its hard to do this at first.
Its one of the things I respect the most about people I work with, that they are taking the leap of faith and willing to do the things that terrify them,” Carmin says. “That takes a lot of courage.”
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Tip : Distinguish Between Solvable And Unsolvable Worries
Research shows that while youre worrying, you temporarily feel less anxious. Running over the problem in your head distracts you from your emotions and makes you feel like youre getting something accomplished. But worrying and problem solving are two very different things.
Problem solving involves evaluating a situation, coming up with concrete steps for dealing with it, and then putting the plan into action. Worrying, on the other hand, rarely leads to solutions. No matter how much time you spend dwelling on worst-case scenarios, youre no more prepared to deal with them should they actually happen.
Dog Separation Anxiety: What You Need To Know And How To Help
In some cases, the fear can lead to destructive behavior and even physical harm. As a dog owner, you must be able to recognize the signs of separation anxiety so you can help ease your pets fear.
In this article, Ill discuss what you need to know about separation anxiety and some new tools that can help your pet.
Dog Endorsed is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases for recommended products.
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Try An Herbal Supplement
If you really feel like trying something medicinal, but aren’t yet ready to broach the topic of medication with your doctor or psychiatrist, consider trying an herbal supplement from your drug store.
There are many herbal supplements that are used in managing anxiety however, it is important to know that herbal supplements are not regulated by the United States Food & Drug Administration the same way that traditional medications are evaluated. Be sure to read about any cautions, warnings or medication interactions before taking an herbal supplement.
Avoid The Usual Temptations
If you have a bad habit of wasting too much time on the internet or watching television instead of socializing, try cutting back or making it educational time in terms of learning about SAD and social skills. See how much time you gain to focus on overcoming your social anxiety and building your social skills.
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Aromatherapy And Essential Oils
Essential oils, the extract from plants, have been used for thousands of years to treat a number of conditions, including anxiety. Essential oils activate certain areas of your brain and release feel-good chemicals such as serotonin. They have been found to ease symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression, improve mood, and improve sleep.
Recommended use includes diffusing, inhalation, or topical treatment which can aid with anxiety symptoms. When diffusing an essential oil or essential oil blend you will need an essential oil diffuser to fill your space with the desired scent. Inhalation is used by deeply smelling the essential oil straight from the bottle or by applying a drop or two of the oil on something such as a diffuser pad or lava bead that is connected to a bracelet, necklace, or even keychain. You can also place a drop or two of essential oil into your hands, rub them together, then cup your hands and take a few deep inhalations to get the desired effect.
You should be sure that the essential oils you use are pure oils and not mixed with chemicals. Some good brands to use include: Mountain Rose Herbs, Plant Therapy, Young Living, Doterra. You can do your own research to find a brand that will best work for you and your budget. Remember that a bottle of essential oil will last a long time since you typically use only a few drops at a time.
Essential oils that are great for treating anxiety include:
- Lavender
- Vetiver
Listen To Good Mood Music
Music can have a powerful effect on your mood and on anxiety. They key however is to not just choose songs you like. but also make sure that you are listening to music that represents the way you want to feel. Happy or relaxing music can directly impact your mood and the way you feel.
While many people find it soothing to listen to angry music when theyâre angry or sad music when theyâre sad, the truth is that this type of music will only help you get in touch with those negative emotions. That won’t help you feel better. When you’re trying to stop anxiety, you should listen to music that will help you feel the way you want to feel.
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Train Your Dog To Spend Time Alone
If your dog is used to spending all of their time with you, they will need to practice spending time alone. Start by creating short periods of alone time. Set your dog up in their crate or a pet-safe room where they can not hear or see you.
In the beginning, you can even stay in the house to see how your pet reacts. As your pet gets more comfortable being alone, you can gradually increase the amount of time they spend in their room or crate.
What Are The Different Types Of Anxiety Disorder
This section provides an overview of the most common types of anxiety disorders.
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Generalised anxiety disorder
GAD is common. The main symptom of GAD is over worrying about different activities and events. This may feel out of your control. You feel anxious a lot of the time if you have GAD. You might feel on edge and alert to your surroundings.
This can affect your day-to-day life. You might find that it affects your ability to work, travel places or leave the house. You might also get tired easily or have trouble sleeping or concentrating. You might have physical symptoms, such as muscle tension and sweating.
It is common to have other conditions such as depression or other anxiety disorders if you have GAD.
GAD can be difficult to diagnose because it does not have some of the unique symptoms of other anxiety disorders. Your doctor is likely to say you have GAD if you have felt anxious for most days over six months and it has had a bad impact on areas of your life.
Panic disorder
You will have regular panic attacks with no particular trigger if you have panic disorder. They can happen suddenly and feel intense and frightening. You may also worry about having another panic attack.
Panic disorder symptoms can include the following.
You may also dissociate during a panic attack. Such as feeling detached from yourself.
Social anxiety disorder
Some common situations where you may experience anxiety are the following.
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New Treatments For Separation Anxiety In Dogs
As dog owners look for more ways to help their pets with separation anxiety, more treatment options are becoming available. One of these options is Purina Pro Plans Calming Care. This product is a probiotic supplement designed to help dogs struggling with anxiety.
Probiotics are commonly used in dogs to promote a healthy gut. However, new research suggests a strong correlation between the microorganisms of the intestinal tract and an individuals mood and behavior.
In fact, studies in human medicine have shown positive results when using probiotics to treat anxiety and depression.
The primary bacterial strain found in Purinas Calming Care is Bifidobacterium longum. This specific strain is also known as BL999 and has been shown to promote calm behavior in both cats and dogs.
To test the effects of BL999 in dogs, Purina conducted a study evaluating the strains impact on both physiologic and behavioral indicators of stress.
This included assessing dogs heart rates and cortisol levels in their saliva. Researchers also monitored anxious behaviors such as jumping, spinning, pacing, and vocalization.
During the six-week study, dogs were split into two groups. One group of dogs received a placebo supplement, while the other group was provided the BL999.
The study showed that dogs who received the BL999 supplement had lower heart rates and cortisol levels. The BL999 also reduced other behaviors commonly associated with anxiety.