Don’t worry, be happy

Unforeseen problems, with no immediate solution in hand, leads to anxiety. Size or severity of the problem determines the amount of anxiety. A jug of water overturned on the dining table, a missed flight or today’s global recession are few types of problems. Some of these problems are quickly sorted out but some have domino effect leading to panic.

Prolonged emotional, financial , medical problems create anxiety disorder. This may appear in the form of temper tantrums, inability to think straight, loss of appetite, insomnia.

Panic disorder follows inability to overcome anxiety disorder. It is more common among adolescent and middle-aged women. Its occurrence diminishes past 50 years. It follows an intense fear leading to trembling ð perspiration ð breathlessness ð dizziness ð numbness. In more severe cases it may be nausea ð cardiac arrest ð fainting.

Remedy: In our attempt to find a quick solution we often resort to quick-fix remedies like increased consumption of alcohol or substance abuse of harmful drugs or various types of sedatives to fight sleep disorder. These are habit forming and prolonged use leads to other complications which bring more problems. Moreover, substance abuse numbs our brain temporarily but the symptoms return as soon as the effect wears off.

Mental peace is essential for curing anxiety and the resultant panic stress. An acute sufferer should be removed from his regular environment to a entirely different surroundings. This is required to divert his mind from things that remind him of the problem. Involving in some light creative activities or hobbies like gardening is effective.  Yoga and meditation are proven mental and physical therapies. They can achieve what elaborate and expensive medications or psychiatric treatments are yet to.

Yoga helps proper blood supply to all parts of the body, thereby alleviating

heart palpitation, trembling, sweating, breathlessness, dizziness, indigestion and a myriad of related problems. Practicing it among a group of people is preferable for a first timer. The company, under proper guidance, helps motivate and keep the interest alive. The instructor helps identify different exercises to be done , the duration of each exercise and also the food to be eaten.

Meditation is self-analysis. In other word we are our own psychiatrist. Since we are analysing our self, we must put our self in third person and try to find out the reason for the problem that led to anxiety and the resultant panic. Once the reason is identified, all-out effort is made to find the solution. If unable to find proper solution, discussion with friends, family are found to be quite effective. Sharing with others halves our problems. In fact most psychiatrists try to help achieve the same. Concentration comes gradually and with practice. Temporarily relocating to new surroundings is effective.