Treatment of Panic Quickly - Know all about Anxiety and Panic Attacks!

Panic attack is a sudden onset of an episode of intense fear or anxiety, which includes four or more symptoms: rapid heartbeat (palpitations), tremors, sweating, feeling of choking, chest pain, dizziness and nausea.
It is estimated that up to 4% of the population suffers from severe and frequent panic attacks. In women, the disease is 2 to 3 times more often than men.
Panic disorder is a condition in which repeated bouts of anxiety followed by the fact that there will be another crisis, so that a person goes in constant fear. Not all patients who experience anxiety attacks will develop panic disorder. There are many patients who only had one experience in an attack that never repeats.This condition may be accompanied by agoraphobia.Agoraphobia is a condition in which the patient is afraid to go outside the house. Fear comes from the idea that any panic attack that will occur in such places - from the safe haven of his home, finds them unprepared and helpless. This can lead to many problems. This can lead to loss of employment, complete social isolation and zero self-esteem and confidence.
* Without treatment, sufferers can still get anxiety attacks for many years. This can seriously affect their relationships with family, friends and colleagues.* Their life is becoming more and more difficult. For example, people may begin to avoid situations that cause him fear. These may be everyday activities like shopping or driving. In extreme cases, people with untreated panic disorder are too afraid to leave the house.* Many people with this disorder also suffer from severe depression.Often, trying unsuccessfully to reduce the symptoms of alcohol or other substances, only exacerbates their symptoms. In severe cases it can even lead to suicide.* Some people may find it hard to be productive at work. Symptoms of this condition may prevent them from going to work or stay there as soon as they arrive. They may even refuse a promotion or job because they believe it will make them more vulnerable to attack. Some people have even quit their jobs.
The condition can be fully resolved with appropriate treatment. This is good news. The bad news is that most people try to treat it with buy cheap Valium. Drugs have many side effects and may lead to dependence. Moreover, they only treat symptoms, not the cause of the disease.
To treat this condition is necessary to take control of your mind. Here are a few ways to do this:
Do not try to deal with your feelings. The more you are willing to admit and face the problem, the easier it will get rid of it.* Stay in the moment. Observe what happens to you and do not let yourself become a victim, what do you think happens to you. You actually do not die or go mad. It is only in your mind.

Who's at Peril for Postpartum Depression?

For some moms-to-be, bit bundles of joy also come with bouts of discouragement. But do you know why some women get the baby blues and others don't? Here are some answers. Welcoming a lady into the world is always a joyous affair, right? In truth, the "baby blues" walk-out a significant number of women by some estimates, up to 85 percent of moms surface some sadness after their newborn is born.

But for 7 to 13 percent of women, cosset blues are more like mood indigo: a diagnosable train called postpartum depression. If you're planning a pregnancy, it's unpretentious to wonder whether you're at risk for this keyboard of depression. In fact, many researchers and doctors say they palm off on more women would seriously ponder postpartum depression's risk factors, the buy generic Valium. That way, new moms could get serve before depression wreaked havoc on their lives and their of children rearing.

Will You Feel Blue After Your Baby Is Born?

Fortunately, new studies are shedding shallow on just what those jeopardy factors are. A recent review of information from 1,863 new mothers (surveyed as forsake of the 1996–2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Over) showed that more than half the women who had postpartum pit had a history of mental health issues, either more willingly than or during pregnancy. Those whose mind-set health problems occurred ahead pregnancy were twice as qualified to have postpartum depression, while those who struggled with disturbed health issues during pregnancy had an 11-times higher peril of postpartum depression.

"We indeed showed that a trouble's mental health repute before and during pregnancy is a brawny predictor of poor mind-set health after confinement," says analyse author Whitney Witt, PhD, MPH, have to do with professor in the department of populace health sciences at the University of Wisconsin Shape of Medicine and Public Haleness in Madison. "We looked at the domino sense: If women are in poor inclination health before pregnancy, then they are more promising to have poor nutty health during pregnancy, and sober more likely to force poor mental health afterwards." Dr. Witt's cram is the first to consider the predictive value of batty health during pregnancy as a peril factor for postpartum downturn.

"There are a valid number of women who should prefer to poor mental healthiness postpartum who could be identified earlier," she says, adding that women should let their doctors separate if they have concerns close by their mental robustness status and buy Valium online. In addition, these results converse to the need for access to eminence health care for women in the vanguard and during pregnancy, she says.

Researchers are gaining a superiority understanding of the risk factors for postpartum concavity. And as they do, women and their physicians intention have more information with which to discover appropriate medical decisions such as whether to bear in mind early intervention for a mood snarl or to have pain levels after expression monitored more carefully. 

Parental Depression Within first Year of Childbirth

Researchers in the UK discovered that over 30 percent of mothers and about 20 percent of fathers experience depression within the first year after birth.
“Depression in parents is associated with adverse behavioral, developmental and cognitive outcomes in their children,” the authors write. “While the maternal depression and child outcome literature is well established, there are fewer studies on paternal depression. There is evidence that paternal depression is not uncommon, with rates higher than those in the general adult male population; however, a wide range of prevalence rates for paternal depression have been reported.”
Shreya Davé, Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc., of the Medical Research Council, London, England, and colleagues examined parental depression in 86,957 families in the U.K. primary care facilities between 1993 and 2007.
The depression rate was 7.53 per 100 mothers per year and 2.69 per 100 fathers per year. The highest rates were observed in the first year after the birth of a child. “These high rates of depression in the postpartum period are not surprising owing to the potential stress associated with the birth of a baby, e.g., poor parental sleep, the demands made on parents and the change in their responsibilities, and the pressure this could place on the couple’s relationship,” the authors write.

Antidepressant user after childbirth possibly linked to parental depression.

“The high rate of parental depression in the first year after delivery may also be partly due to a resumption of antidepressant use following a break during pregnancy and breastfeeding.”
Depression involves feelings of sadness lasting for two weeks or longer, often accompanied by a loss of interest in life, hopelessness, and decreased energy. Such distressing feelings can affect one's ability to perform the usual tasks and activities of daily living.
Researchers found that parents who had some sort of history of depression and were younger (ages 15 to 24, compared with 25 and older) when their child was born and who were more socially deprived were more likely to develop depression.
“There is a well-established link between depression and social and economic deprivation both in the general population and among parents. This finding may reflect the stresses of poverty, unemployment, low employment grade and lower social support among people of lower socioeconomic status,” the authors write. In addition, “younger parents may be less prepared for parenthood with more unplanned pregnancies and may be less able to deal with the stresses of parenthood compared with older parents.”

Postpartum depression is part of mental health awareness

Postpartum depression is a common disorder that occurs after giving birth. As mental health awareness week starts today, do not forget that postpartum depression is a part of mental health awareness. There are many facets of mental health. Mental illness is often misunderstood. As mental health awareness week progresses, it is important to become informed of the many disorders and the complexities of dealing with each one.
On medication for postpartum depression, feeling better, but wanting to help others with depression, I attended a speech by a fellow colleague to a small group of women. I felt pride in my heart that I was getting the word out, helping others.
My colleague went on introducing the topic, when one of the ladies raised her hand to make a comment. She stated that she made sure she would not get depressed because whenever she felt sad, she thought happy thoughts and the sad feeling went away. At the time, I was distraught. It made me angry, but then I remembered that I was there to support the cause.
I raised my hand, in turn and explained that I was normally a very happy person. I had goals I was working on and looked to the future with bright feelings. I had never been prone to depression in the past. However, after the birth of my third baby, things were much different. My plans had not changed, but something was very different and very upsetting.
I remember as I was being prepped for the cesarean section, I was terrified. Being a nurse, I immediately thought of all the things that could go wrong with the surgery. I began to feel the depression set in. It was very weird to me and I tried to shake the feeling. Later, after the baby was born, I could still feel it. It did not go away.
After I returned to my regular day to day activities, the depression got worse. I began crying over silly little things. Once I started to cry, I cried half the day. For some reason, I was unable to stop crying. The worst was my thoughts. I wondered why in the world people enjoyed being alive. I wondered why I wanted to be a mom. I even wondered why I wanted to live! At this point, I was very scared.
One of my friends sat me down and talked to me one day. I vividly remember how she told me her story of postpartum depression, how she nearly lost her life because of it. She urged me to get help before I got to the same point. I did get help. I was put on medication, but it took a while before the medication began to kick in. Once it started to work it was well worth it. I was finally feeling like myself again.
I dealt with postpartum depression for several years. With my experience of postpartum depression, I wanted to help others get through it, too, to know they are not alone. With the small speech to others and helping this woman understand that depression is not just avoided by “being happy and thinking happy thoughts” I felt a power within myself to be able to come up out of the lowest areas I was once in. Helping others was healing to me.
Though many moms experience baby blues after giving birth, about 10% of new moms will experience a more severe form of baby blues, called postpartum depression. Sometimes this progresses to postpartum psychosis in rare cases. Postpartum depression signs and symptoms include loss of appetite, insomnia, intense irritability and anger, overwhelming fatigue, loss of interest in sex, lack of joy in life, feelings of shame, guilt or inadequacy, severe mood swings, difficulty bonding with the baby, withdrawal from family and friends, and thoughts of harming yourself or the baby.
Mental illness is rarely understood until one goes through it themselves. With Mental Health Awareness week, learn about the different disorders and become involved in helping your community to be aware of those who suffer from mental illness. If you think you or a loved one may be suffering from postpartum depression, it is important to get help. Call your obstetrician to begin bonding with your baby.

Edwards To Announce Proposal To Address PTSD In Veterans

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) on Monday during a speech at Plymouth State Universityin New Hampshire plans to announce a proposal to address the high rateof post-traumatic stress disorder in combat soldiers who return fromthe wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other issues related tohealth care for veterans, the AP/Wichita Eagle reports. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs,the number of veterans who experienced PTSD increased by 70% — or by20,000 cases — during the last fiscal year. The proposal would allowveterans to seek counseling for PTSD at health care facilities outsidethe VA system.

In addition, the proposal would increase thenumber of PTSD counselors employed by VA and ask family members to helpidentify cases. The proposal also would increase the time betweendeployments for soldiers who return from the wars in Iraq andAfghanistan. A Defense Departmentstudy conducted earlier this year found that insufficient time betweendeployments can lead to higher rates of PTSD or increased mental stress.
Theproposal also would provide all veterans with a comprehensive medicalexamination as part of a "Homefront Redeployment Plan."
Edwardssaid that he would finance the proposal, which would cost about $400million, through the elimination of certain tax breaks loopholes andincreased efficiency in tax collection practices. "I strongly believewe must restore the sacred contract we have with our veterans and theirfamilies and that we must begin by reforming our system for treatingPTSD," Edwards said in a copy of the speech (Elliot, AP/Wichita Eagle, 11/12). In related news, Caucus4Priorities,which supports a reduction in military spending and increased spendingfor health care and other social programs, on Friday endorsed Edwardsand promised to help him campaign in Iowa (Leys, Des Moines Register, 11/10).
Americans for Health Care
Americans for Health Care, a group organized by the Service Employees International Union, will hold mock caucuses in several states to promote health care as an issue in national and local elections, the Nevada Appealreports. In addition, the group will provide voters with an analysis ofthe health care proposals offered by presidential candidates.
Thegroup supports proposals that would ensure access to affordable,quality health care for all U.S. residents; focus on preventive care;and reduce costs (Dornan, Nevada Appeal, 11/8).
Clinton Record on Health Care ‘Concealed,’ According to Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times on Sunday examined how, although presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton(D-N.Y.) "presents herself as the candidate best able to give thenation better health care at lower prices" because of the "searingexperience she gained in trying to overhaul the health care systemduring her husband’s presidency," a "big part of that history is beingconcealed."
According to the Times, hundreds ofpages of "memos and correspondence involving the health care plan ofthe early 1990s have been withheld, leaving a gap in a historic periodwhen Clinton undertook one of the most ambitious domestic policy foraysever attempted" (Nicholas, Los Angeles Times, 11/11).
Opinion Piece Addresses Giuliani Position on Health Care
Presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani(R) "is so busy offering dissembled statistics on how lethal England’shealth care system is to men with prostate cancer" that he "fails tosee just how free-market-friendly universal coverage would be," St. Petersburg Timesstaff writer Robyn Blumner writes in an opinion piece. Blumner writes,"Employer-sponsored health insurance is a historical accident that isnow crippling American competitiveness," and, "from a macroeconomicperspective, universal coverage would not weaken the free market asGiuliani asserts" but would "bolster and energize just about everyaspect of it."
According to Blumner, many U.S. residents mustremain in their current jobs because of the health insurance that theyreceive through their employers. Blumner concludes, "If you’re one ofthose employees stuck in a miserable job year after year for the healthbenefits, Giuliani has good news for you: At least you aren’t likely todie of prostate cancer" (Blumner, St. Petersburg Times, 11/11).

Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. Youcan view the entire Kaiser DailyHealth Policy Report, search the archives, and sign up for email deliveryat kaisernetwork.org/email. The Kaiser Daily HealthPolicy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The HenryJ. Kaiser Family Foundation. 2007 Advisory Board Company and KaiserFamily Foundation. All rights reserved.

U.S. Antidepressant Use Rises Twofold

Between 1996 and 2005, use of antidepressants in the United States doubled while the use of psychotherapy (talk therapy) declined significantly. Antidepressants are now the most commonly prescribed class of drugs in America, surpassing prescribed blood pressure medications.
Results of the study, which were published in the August issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, show that during the ten-year period, antidepressant use rose from 5.84 percent to 10.12 percent. This translates to an estimated increase from 1.3 million to 27 million users older than six years of age. The study population included a total of 18,993 individuals in the 1996 survey and 28,445 in the 2005 survey.
The increase in antidepressant use varied across sociodemographic groups. Among African Americans, the rate of antidepressant use was 3.61 percent in 1996 and 4.51 percent in 2005. In the Hispanic population, the respective rates were 3.72 and 5.21 percent.
The study’s authors speculate that antidepressant use has risen for several reasons, including an actual rise in major depression, the FDA approval of several new antidepressants during the study period, and a general expansion in the availability of mental health treatment.
It also appears that antidepressant use has continued to increase since the 2005 figures were documented. According to a report by Scott Hensley on National Public Radio on August 5, 2009, the group Wolters Kluwer Health Pharma Solutions state that total prescriptions for antidepressants was 230 million in 2008, which was an increase of 27 million, or 13 percent, from 203 million in 2005.
It is unknown whether this upward trend of antidepressant use will continue, especially in view of the current economic crisis. A recent study (July 2009) published in Lancet, for example, reports that “the rising rates of suicide and murders in the population are directly associated to the growing unemployment rates originated by the economic downturn.” Whether the financial turmoil experienced by millions of people will translate into a rise in antidepressant use remains to be seen.

Studies Suggest, But Don’t Confirm, Bullying-Suicide Connection

Researchers have repeatedly found signs of an apparent connection between bullying and suicide in children, according to a new review of studies from 13 countries. Nevertheless, there is no definitive evidence that bullying makes kids more likely to kill themselves.
Still, “once we see that there’s an association, we can act on it and try to prevent it,” said review lead author Dr. Young-Shin Kim, an assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine’s Child Study Center.
According to international studies, bullying is common and affects anywhere from 9 percent to 54 percent of children. In the United States, many have blamed bullying for spurring acts of violence, including the Columbine High School massacre.
Kim said her interest in bullying grew several years ago when she visited South Korea and heard several new slang terms referring to bullies and their victims. The words reflected “an elaborated system of bullying,” she said.
In the United States, adults scoff at bullying and say, “Oh, that’s what happens when kids are growing up,” according to Kim, who argues that bullying is a serious situation that causes major problems for children — perhaps even contributing to suicidal thoughts and actions.
In the new review, Kim and a colleague analyzed 37 studies that examined bullying and suicide among children and adolescents. The studies took place in the United States, Canada, several European countries (including the United Kingdom and Germany), South Korea, Japan and South Africa.
The review findings appear in the latest issue of the International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health.
Almost all of the studies found connections between bullying and suicidal thoughts among children. Five reported that bullying victims were two to nine times more likely to report suicidal thoughts than other children were.
Not just the victims were in danger: “The perpetrators who are the bullies also have an increased risk for suicidal behaviors,” Kim said.
However, the designs of the studies made it impossible for researchers to determine conclusively whether bullying leads to suicide, Kim said. In addition, the authors report that most of the studies failed to take into account the influence of factors like gender, psychiatric problems and a history of suicide attempts.
The review by Kim and colleagues is useful because it compiles what researchers know into one place and is consistent with evidence that “bullying experiences should be taken seriously,” said Stephen Russell, director of the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth and Families at the University of Arizona.
As for the connection between bullying and suicide in teens, Russell said it relates to identity and self-worth, with bullies undermining teens who are trying to figure out who they are and what they think about themselves.
Kim is working on research that will explore whether bullying actually causes suicide, although she acknowledges it will be difficult for researchers to get a firm grasp on a cause-and-effect relationship. To confirm a definitive link, researchers would have to rule out the possibility that some unknown factor makes certain children more susceptible to both bullying and suicide.
Russell said it is difficult to figure out the extent to which suicidal thoughts and attempts actually predict suicide. “Not everyone who commits suicide is known to have thought about it or to have had prior attempts — and certainly not everyone who thinks about it or even attempts it will make a serious attempt or complete suicide,” he said.
For now, Kim said, the existing research should encourage adults to pay more attention to bullying and signs of suicidal behavior in children. “When we see kids who are associated with bullying, we should ask them if they’re thinking about hurting themselves,” she said. “We should evaluate and prevent these things from happening.”
A researcher who studies teen suicide agreed: “We need to keep at it; not studying it and trying to intervene is just not an option,” said David Jobes, professor of psychology at The Catholic University of America.

Gene Exists that Affects Chances of Depression but Has Small Impact

There is strong evidence that depression has a genetic foundation and researchers have found a particular variant, often referred to as the depression gene, which may increase the chances that a person will suffer. However, researchers from the University of Michigan say that although they have found more evidence of the gene’s existence, the effect is probably pretty small.

Genetic Variation Probably Accounts for 5-7% of Chances of Developing Depression

Dr. Srijan Sen, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School, and colleagues examined evidence from 54 studies conducted between 2001 and 2010 that specifically focused on the 5-HTTLPR region of a gene called SLC644. This gene is responsible for coding the serotonin transporter and 5-HTT is the major site of serotonin reuptake. A variant to the 5-HTTLPR s allele is associated with an increased risk of developing depression under stress.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps relay messages from one area of the brain to another. Brain cells most influenced by serotonin are those that control mood, appetite, sleep, memory and learning and other social behavior. Researchers believe that an imbalance in serotonin levels leads to depression.
Although many studies strongly support the existence of a “depression gene”, Dr. Sen says that having the genetic variant probably only accounts for about 5 to 7 percent of one’s likelihood of developing clinical depression. There are likely other genetic factors involved, he stresses.
However, a better understanding of this region of the serotonin transporter gene may be able to help predict those with a predisposition toward depression and perhaps better individualize treatment and provide support to those at risk.
"Over the last ten years, there are more and more people looking at how to promote positive emotions instead of just playing defense against the negative ones," says Sen. "For those with a genetic predisposition towards depression, it will become very important to learn how to promote positive emotions and resilience in these patients to ward off a possible episode of depression."
Medication development is another area that could benefit from this knowledge. Currently, there are many who do not respond positively to the most popular class of antidepressant medications, known as SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Genetic research may help pharmaceutical makers develop a better drug to help those who suffer from depression due to this gene mutation.