Another reason some people struggle with anxiety disorder and its symptoms for years is that they are fully convinced they know what to do to overcome their anxiety disorder but just haven’t . . . → Read More: Barriers to overcoming anxiety disorder and its symptoms – Part 2]]> Believing you know what to do, but haven’t done it yet, thinking some day you will do what it takes to recover

Another reason some people struggle with anxiety disorder and its symptoms for years is that they are fully convinced they know what to do to overcome their anxiety disorder but just haven’t done it yet. This type of thinking often leads to the conclusion that, “Some day I will get a handle on my anxiety disorder and symptoms.” Unfortunately, that “some day” seldom arrives.

Since the causes of anxiety disorder often involve complex issues, unless a person is trained to uncover and successfully resolve these complex issues, the self-help approach most often produces only limited results.

And because the issues often at the core of anxiety disorder are complex, there aren’t “quick-fix” or “miraculous” cures for anxiety disorder. Overcoming anxiety disorder for good almost always requires professional assistance, hard work, and persistent effort.

A part of overcoming anxiety disorder, then, is accepting that your issues may be more complex than you can handle on your own and that they may require the help of a professional. The next part is following through on not only getting professional help but also on following through with the work the therapist asks you to do. Knowledge, while helpful, doesn’t produce results. It’s the faithful application of that knowledge that brings results.

Also keep in mind that anxiety symptoms AREN’T the problem themselves, they are just an “indication” of a problem with anxiety. It’s the underlying factors of anxiety (the complex issues) that are the cause of anxiety disorder. Until these underlying factors are successfully addressed, the core of the problem remains. Eliminating symptoms is JUST eliminating the “indications” of the problem but not the problem itself. (Anxiety symptoms often ebb and flow. Many people struggle with “episodes” of anxiety disorder their entire lives because they haven’t addressed the core issues of their anxiety, so their problem replays itself over and over again.)

Lasting anxiety disorder recovery is attainable for anyone with the right help, support, and effort. People only continue to struggle because they either haven’t received the right help yet, or haven’t done the right work.

Getting the right help is the first step in lasting success.

The authors of the report conclude that limiting children’s . . . → Read More: Screen time linked to psychological problems in children]]> A recent study of over 1000 children between the ages of ten and eleven found that children who spend longer than two hours in front of a computer or television screen are more likely to suffer psychological difficulties, regardless of how physically active they are.

The authors of the report conclude that limiting children’s screen time may be important for ensuring children’s future health and wellbeing.

“Whilst low levels of screen viewing may not be problematic, we cannot rely on physical activity to ‘compensate’ for long hours of screen viewing,” says lead author Dr. Angie Page from the University of Bristol’s Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences.

“Watching TV or playing computer games for more than two hours a day is related to greater psychological difficulties irrespective of how active children are.”

Children’s psychological wellbeing was assessed on the basis of a strengths and difficulties questionnaire which rated their emotional, peer, conduct and hyperactivity problems.

The research was published in the November edition of the American journal Pediatrics.

The study, authored by Yinjiao Ye, assistant professor . . . → Read More: URI professor warns: TV viewing likely to make you fear sickness]]> KINGSTON, R.I.-– September 30, 2010 – Watching television and its heavy dose of medical content in news and drama can lead to more concern about personal health and reduce a person’s satisfaction with life according to a new study out of the University of Rhode Island.

The study, authored by Yinjiao Ye, assistant professor of communications studies found that TV viewing affects people’s awareness of health-risks and whether they believe they can protect their own health. People develop these perceptions because TV viewing leads them to believe they have a greater likelihood of being victimized by health-risks as well as a strong belief in the severity of those risks. The research was published in the September issue of the journal Mass Communication and Society.

Millions watch medical shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, House, and E.R. Evidence has shown that the mass media are powerful in disseminating health knowledge and changing health attitudes and behaviors through such programming. Such knowledge, however, may lead people to think they are more likely to suffer from the maladies presented on TV.

Given that people are predisposed to seek life satisfaction and the benefits of life satisfaction on health and longevity, high doses of television viewing may prevent people from achieving that goal. Of course, life dissatisfaction may be a reason why people watch television to start with, but television is not the best solution according to this and other studies. Other leisure activities such as socializing and exercise may actually be better options.

Since most people learn important information about health risks from the mass media, there is clearly a double-edged-sword effect at work here. As people become more knowledgeable, they enjoy life less. But ignorance, at least of TV’s presentations of medical information, is closer to bliss.

These findings extend previous research that TV viewing can also cause people to be less satisfied with their lives because it makes them more materialistic and causes them to overestimate other people’s possessions compared to their own. Now getting sick and not being able to do much about it can be added as a second cause of life dissatisfaction.

In her study, the URI professor surveyed 274 students in the College of Communications at the University of Alabama about their TV viewing and life satisfaction. The students were not told the purpose of the survey.

The surveyed students ranged in age from 18 to 31, a youthful group associated with good health and vitality. “While this surveyed group shows dissatisfaction, I suspect that if I surveyed a more general population the dissatisfaction would be even higher,” says the researcher.

Contact: Jan Wenzel
wenzel@advance.uri.edu
401-874-2116
University of Rhode Island

That’s because tranquil scenes have a positive impact on the brain.

New research, which was published in the journal NeuroImage, finds tranquil environmental scenes containing natural features, such as the sea, . . . → Read More: Feeling stressed? Go for a drive in the country, to the lake, or to the ocean.]]> Can’t go for a drive? Even looking at pictures or videos of these environments can reduce stress and make you feel more tranquil.

That’s because tranquil scenes have a positive impact on the brain.

New research, which was published in the journal NeuroImage, finds tranquil environmental scenes containing natural features, such as the sea, cause distinct brain areas to become “connected” with one another whereas man-made environments, such as motorways, disrupt the brain connections.

For more information about this new research, member’s can read about it in the News section in Chapter 14 in the Member’s area of our website.

Research has shown that . . . → Read More: Help! Anxiety is controlling my life. What can I do to get rid of it and its symptoms?]]> A great many people ask us this question when they come across our website. And because anxiety and its sensations and symptoms can be quite disruptive and disconcerting, we understand the desperate pleas for help. I (Jim Folk) made them too when I first began struggling with my anxiety condition.

Research has shown that the most effective way to overcome anxiety disorder (which eliminates its symptoms) is with the combination of good self-help information and therapy. That’s because self-help information can help you understand what anxiety is, why it occurs, how it can affect the body, and more importantly, what you can do to overcome it and its symptoms.

But because anxiety disorder is generally caused by complex reasons, which vary from person to person, the help of a therapist is almost always required to help identify and address the reasons specific to each individual. So while self-help information can play an important role in recovery, it seldom produces complete and lasting results by itself.

Since all of us at anxietycentre.com have experienced anxiety disorder and have successfully overcome it, we understand the importance of the combination of good self-help information and therapy for recovery. And that’s the reason we established anxietycentre.com: to help people overcome anxiety disorder using information and methods that work.

So to that end, we developed the self-help information in the member’s area of our website to help you better understand anxiety disorder and its sensations and symptoms as well as to provide you with a long list of natural and practical things you can do on your own to help reduce and eliminate anxiety-caused sensations and symptoms.

So to answer your question, the first thing you should do to help yourself overcome anxiety disorder and its sensations and symptoms is access good self-help information. The more you know, the better off you’ll be. Keep in mind that not all information about anxiety disorder is true. In fact, there is a lot of misinformation about anxiety disorder on the Internet and even coming from professional medical and mental health care providers. So you want to be sure you get the right information so that you can get your recovery on track as soon as possible. Accessing misinformation can not only impede your progress but also can cause more harm than good. So be sure the information you are getting is accurate.

To help in this regard, we have developed the information in the member’s area of our website. We’ve worked hard to make sure this information is accurate. This information will help you understand what anxiety is, how it affects the body, and what you can do to help your body eliminate anxiety-caused sensations and symptoms. This information was pivotal in our own recoveries, and we believe it is “must know” information for anyone struggling with anxiety disorder.

And because there is a lot of information to learn, we developed the self-help information in the member’s area of our website so that you could learn on your own and at your own pace. Many of our members have found this information to be an invaluable and irreplaceable anxiety disorder resource.

Some people ask us why we charge to access the member’s area. Well, we didn’t develop anxietycentre.com as a “get rich quick” scheme. We developed it to help people overcome anxiety disorder. Membership fees allow us to help people fulltime so that we can help as many people as possible. This is the career we’ve chosen because we know the hardship anxiety disorder can cause, and we don’t want others to struggle needlessly, as we did. We are passionate about helping people, and this is the way we’ve chosen to do that so that we CAN help people fulltime.

Since we don’t automatically renew memberships without your permission, there is no risk to you. If you like what you find in the member’s area and want to continue to use the help that is provided there, we’ll let you know when your membership is about to expire and you can let us know if you want to renew. If you do, we’ll renew your membership as requested. If you don’t, we’ll allow your membership to expire on its expiry date. Again, there’s no risk.

Once you have a better understanding of anxiety disorder and its sensations and symptoms, the next thing you should do is consider working with an experienced anxiety disorder therapist. As we mentioned, since anxiety disorder is generally caused by complex and often invisible underlying factors, working with a therapist is the best way to work through these factors so that lasting success can be attained.

So to that end, we developed our Personal Coaching/Counseling/Therapy program so that those who want to overcome anxiety disorder for good could find the best help available. And because we wanted to ensure that our therapists are the “best of the best” therapists, since not all therapists are equal—many claim to be able to help people overcome anxiety disorder but few are good at it—we take great care in selecting and training our recommended therapists.

Our Personal Therapy option allows individuals to work directly with a professional therapist who has personally experienced and has successfully overcome anxiety disorder in his or her own life. Our Personal Coaching/Counseling/Therapy program is specifically designed to help individuals regain their normal health based on their unique circumstances and situation. It’s ideal for those who want help with a step-by-step approach to resolving their anxiety, or when self-help efforts have produced only limited results.

Our recommended therapists work with people from around the world by providing telephone, Skype (voice using the computer), and instant messaging. We found counseling by telephone and Skype to be very effective. In fact, the great majority of our in-person clients have switched to counseling by telephone and Skype because they find it is more effective, convenient, and confidential than face-to-face counseling. We find it to be an extremely effective way to provide counseling help to anyone around the world.

As well, we don’t ask for a long-term commitment if you want to work with one of our recommended therapists. You can stop at any time. If you find it helpful, you can choose to book more appointments. If you don’t find it helpful, you can quit at any time. We don’t lock you into anything you don’t want or find helpful.

Because we’ve all struggled with and have successfully overcome anxiety disorder, we know how challenging it can be. But we also know that anyone can overcome it, as we have, with the right information, help, and support. And that is the mandate of anxietycentre.com: to help others overcome anxiety disorder so that they can regain their normal health and get on with their lives as we have. Because of our personal and professional experiences with anxiety disorder, we know what works and what doesn’t work. Anxietycentre.com focuses on what works so that our clients can move toward recovery efficiently and effectively.

So if you are struggling with anxiety disorder and its sensations and symptoms, recognize you don’t have to suffer needlessly. There is a lot you can do to get rid of your disorder and its sensations and symptoms…and for good. You hold the power to overcome them.

Yes, there aren’t quick or easy solutions to overcome anxiety disorder. Overcoming anxiety disorder and eliminating its sensation and symptoms often requires information, help, support, effort, and patience. But if you are willing and committed to regaining your normal health, you can. Consider the above recommendations, then start your recovery today. It’s fully within your ability.

For a more in-depth explanation about why the combination of self-help information and therapy are important, see our four-part article entitled, “Two Levels of Anxiety Disorder Recovery.”

For more information about our membership options:
http://www.anxietycentre.com/become-member.shtml

For more information about our Personal Coaching/Counseling/Therapy option:
http://www.anxietycentre.com/personal-coaching.shtml

Level One recovery is learning as much as you can about anxiety so that you:

As . . . → Read More: Two Levels of Anxiety Disorder Recovery – Part 3: Level Two Recovery]]> Level One recovery—understanding anxiety, learning that you don’t have to fear anxiety and its sensations and symptoms, and working to help the body recover—is an important first step in overcoming anxiety disorder. While Level One recovery addresses the fears, consequences, and complications of anxiety disorder, it doesn’t address the CAUSE of anxiety disorder.

As we mentioned earlier, the CAUSE of anxiety disorder is learned unhealthy thoughts and behaviors, which we call the underlying factors of anxiety disorder. And until these underlying factors are addressed, there is a high likelihood that you will remain vulnerable to episodes of high anxiety and its consequences and complications.

Level Two recovery, then, is identifying and successfully addressing the underlying factors at the root of your anxiety disorder. Level Two recovery eliminates anxiety as a disorder, because when you eliminate the cause of the problem, you eliminate the problem’s symptoms, sensations, and complications too.

For example, having a fear of health issues is a common underlying factor. So just because a person becomes unafraid of his symptoms doesn’t mean he would manage other health concerns differently. Being fearful of health issues could still cause his body to experience the sensations and symptoms of elevated anxiety. So even though he may not be as fearful of his present symptoms, worrying about other health issues could still cause his existing symptoms to persist or escalate.

Relating to others in unhealthy ways is another common underlying factor of anxiety. For example, those who relate to others in unhealthy ways often are in unhealthy relationships. So if you are in an unhealthy relationship, the stress of your unhealthy relationship could keep your body stressed and therefore symptomatic. So while you may not fear anxiety symptoms, the stress of your unhealthy relationship could cause your symptoms to persist or escalate. Moreover, your overall health would most likely be dependent upon how tumultuous your relationship is. For example, when things are going smoothly with your relationship you may feel fine, but when things aren’t going smoothly you may feel ill and symptomatic. So in this case, the success or difficulty with your relationship determines your health. This, in our opinion, is not a healthy way to live.

These are just a couple of examples of how unresolved underlying factors can continue to cause anxiety and its sensations and symptoms.

Unfortunately, unresolved underlying factors are also typically the cause of episodes of anxiety that come and go. And as we just mentioned, unless our underlying factors are successfully addressed, our health is at the mercy of our circumstances.

So if lasting recovery is desired, you need to accomplish both levels of anxiety disorder recovery. Doing so ensures you’ve addressed the root causes of your anxiety. And once done, anxiety disorder is eliminated along with its sensations, symptoms, and complications.

When I (Jim Folk) look back at my recovery and over the many years that I’ve maintained my normal health, one of the reasons I’ve been so successful is because I’ve addressed my underlying factors. Sure, I did experience some recovery success with Level One recovery only, but that would have taken me only so far. Accomplishing Level Two recovery is what finally set me free…and for good.

Now that doesn’t mean I’ve completed my work. Because I had so many underlying factors, I’m sure I’ll be doing this work until the day I die. But I’m fine with that. I don’t mind finding ways to improve my character and approach to life.

Nonetheless, the work I did at the beginning was enough to set me free from anxiety disorder once and for all. Again, I wouldn’t have been able to sustain my normal health all these years had I not done that work.

I also see this in many of the clients we’ve worked with over the years. Those who stop therapy once they’ve reached Level One recovery often continued to struggle off and on until they address Level Two recovery. But once Level Two recovery has been addressed, anxiety as a disorder is eliminated.

That’s not to say that we never experience anxiety again. That’s unrealistic. Everyone is fearful of certain things from time to time. But the difference is that we never struggle with anxiety as a disorder again. Once we’ve achieved Level Two recovery, we experience life normally and that makes a world of difference. And the skills we learn during Level Two recovery sustain us for the rest of our lives.

There are also many other benefits that Level Two recovery can bring. So when I say a return to normal health, I mean that our physical health returns to normal, but our emotional and psychological health are greatly improved and enhanced. So not only did I overcome my anxiety disorder but I also learned to live authentically and more at peace. These benefits in themselves were well worth the effort and time I spent working through Level Two recovery.

So if you want to attain and maintain normal health, I recommend that you work at both levels of recovery. Once done, normal health returns because anxiety as a disorder is eliminated. This is the best way to ensure lasting freedom from anxiety disorder and its sensations, symptoms, and complications.

But because the physiological, psychological, and emotional changes that occur as a result of being afraid—and . . . → Read More: Two Levels of Anxiety Disorder Recovery – Part 2: Level One Recovery]]> Anxiety disorder often occurs when we become overly afraid. And being overly afraid is the result of learned unhealthy behaviors—we have learned to think and behave more fearfully than those people who don’t develop anxiety as a disorder.

But because the physiological, psychological, and emotional changes that occur as a result of being afraid—and the feelings and sensations associated with them—can seem powerful, many people become afraid of them. And since these changes, including their associated feelings and sensations, can affect many parts of the body and in unexpected and odd ways, anxious personalities may also fear that these changes (including their feelings and sensations) are being caused by an undiagnosed and serious medical or mental health illness. It’s this fear that only not often sends many anxious personalities to the emergency room or to their doctors thinking they are having a medical emergency but also often scares them in a more advanced condition.

Moreover, up until a few years ago, anxiety disorder wasn’t well understood, which is why it seemed hard to treat. And as a result, some people from both the medical and mental health communities made some incorrect assumptions about the cause and treatment of anxiety disorder.

For example, some people assumed that anxiety disorder was caused by a “chemical imbalance” in the brain that required medication to correct. Others assumed that anxiety disorder was caused by a genetic predisposition. Unfortunately, these incorrect assumptions and their treatments weren’t helpful to sufferers. As a result, many anxiety disorder sufferers believed that they had succumbed to a condition that was outside of their control with little chance to overcome it and live a normal life again. Since fear is the driving force behind anxiety disorder, you can see why these false assumptions, once they became “socially acceptable,” could cause the persistence of anxiety disorder, therefore, making it hard to treat.

Fortunately, anxiety disorder is better understood today. But the battle to overturn these incorrect assumptions continues.

Level One recovery, then, involves learning the truth about anxiety disorder, learning that you don’t have to fear anxiety disorder or its consequences (the physiological, psychological and emotional changes and their associated sensations and symptoms), and learning and applying recovery strategies that work. This can be accomplished with the help of good self-help information and support.

Good self-help information can help you understand what anxiety is, how your body responds to it, what your body can do when you are anxious too much or too often, how stress plays a role, and more importantly, what you can do to resolve the many sensations and symptoms commonly associated with anxiety disorder.

The adage, “knowledge is power” is true and especially as it pertains to overcoming anxiety disorder. The more you know, the better off you’ll be. That’s because there are a number of natural and practical things you can do on your own to eliminate anxiety-caused sensations and symptoms when you know WHAT to do. Knowing recovery expectations can be helpful too. And this is the role that good self-help information can play.

Also, having the ability to talk with others is helpful. And especially when people are discussing the right information.

Unfortunately, there still is a lot of misinformation about anxiety disorder, and this misinformation can cause more harm than good. So accessing the right information is important to expedient recovery.

So again, Level One recovery is learning about anxiety, learning how to help the body recover, and applying proven recovery strategies so that your body can recover and eliminate anxiety-caused sensations and symptoms.

The self-help information in the member’s area of our website was developed for Level One recovery.  For example, the information in chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 is “must know” information for anyone struggling with an anxiety disorder. This information is often pivotal for a successful and long-term recovery. Moreover, the members area contains a Discussion Forum where members can talk about their experiences with anxiety disorder, which provides a community environment where people can help themselves better understand and overcome anxiety disorder. The combination of this self-help information and community discussion forum can play an important role in Level One recovery.

But this is just the FIRST step in anxiety disorder resolution. And while it is an important step, Level Two recovery is the MOST important step of recovery if long-term results are desired. We’ll address that next.