Articles by ter1000 on ArticleSnatch.com

Parents and Emotional Problems

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:15:18 -0400

As a child our parents are God to us. We worship the ground they walk on; they gave us life and keep us alive. A father shows his son what it is to be a man, a mother, to her daughter, a woman. And yet this same parent, the one we worship, can come to make us feel as though we are inadequate, stupid, weak and worthless. Significant others can do the same to some extent – but our parents are different; their genes are a part of us, their behaviour toward us strikes at our very existence, our inner-self, our being and we cannot feel any way toward them without feeling the same about part of our self. Throughout recent history, there have been changes in thinking about the influence of parents on their children. Parents have gone from being fully responsible or having no responsibility at all to a middle ground, where other things, such as peers, school, society, and media play a major part. And they do, but nothing influences us like our parents; **End Summary** Topics: emotional problems]]> make us feel bad]]> anxiety disorders]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of www.help-for.com and author of EVOLVING SELF CONFIDENCE: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression.

Anxiety Disorders, Depression and the Media

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:06:43 -0500

One of the most powerful sources of information in society today is the media. The media not only reflects society but also drives it. It guides and shapes every single one of us in believing what is right, good and successful. Media-driven ideals regarding success are worshipped: we aspire to the examples of successful living they create. If we cannot achieve similar success we are deemed a failure and, even worse, made to feel a failure. Hand-in-hand with success and failure comes criticism. Today's society is also one of criticism. We love to criticise; to build people up then knock them down. Perhaps the negative feelings we all felt when criticised as a child find expression later in life by such means. The media is extremely powerful; TV sits there in the corner of the room, day in and day out, bombarding us with messages, many of which are negative. (An interesting aside: many psychotic problems involve 'hearing strange voices' - well we all hear strange voices everyday, they travel through the air as radio waves and come out of small electronic boxes in our homes). **End Summary** Topics: anxiety disorders]]> negative feelings]]> body image]]> depression]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of www.help-for.com and author of EVOLVING SELF CONFIDENCE: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression.

Anxiety Disorders, Depression and Anger

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:01:24 -0500

The anger of others and our own suppressed anger can play a part in many anxiety disorders and depression. We need anger to survive. It is the precursor to aggression; all of us may have to fight to protect our loved ones or ourselves at some stage in our lives. Like anxiety, it is an energizer, readying us for action. Anger can mask anxiety, for example, the first reaction of a mother that has lost a child, on finding the child, is often to scold him or her, getting angry with them masks the fear of what might have happened. Similarly anxiety can mask anger. It is natural to get angry in conflict, to want to take some action and do something about it. As children, we often see our parents getting angry in dealing with various situations and when they act angrily toward us we want to complain, get angry back and end the conflict. But this isn’t possible; we cannot fight a more powerful adult and anger toward a loved one is not acceptable because we love them and need them, so we suppress our anger. **End Summary** Topics: anxiety and anger]]> suppressed anger]]> parent-child-conflict]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of www.help-for.com and author of EVOLVING SELF CONFIDENCE: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression. Read more about curing anxiety disorders and depression

How to Calm Down

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:29:36 -0500

When we panic (or have anxiety attacks) a number of things happen to us. And we should know that in panic and high anxiety the symptoms that we experience are the same. The difference lies in the build up: anxiety usually builds up slowly, getting stronger and stronger until it becomes a full-blown attack; panic occurs instantly, usually in response to a clear and imminent threat or danger. An anxiety attack is, in effect, panic. In both anxiety and panic we become jumpy and jittery, on-edge, charged with energy, ready for action. We feel 'in a rush', needing to do something. This can also be seen at times when we are not anxious or panicked, but actually in a rush, for example when we are late for something. In such situations we often feel anxious and 'panicky'. This charge of energy within our body comes from two main things: our breathing and heartbeat - they both become considerably faster. We breathe faster to get more oxygen into the bloodstream to feed the main muscles for action (arms, chest, legs) and the heart speeds up to get this oxygen around our body to these muscles more quickly. **End Summary** Topics: calm down]]> anxiety and panic]]> diaphragmatic breathing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of www.help-for.com. Discover what really causes anxiety disorders and how to cure them completely in EVOLVING SELF CONFIDENCE: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression. Read More

What Causes Physical Anxiety Symptoms?

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:21:56 -0500

When we talk about the physical symptoms that we experience when we are anxious there is a whole range of sensations and feelings that can happen to our body.. These may vary from person to person, but they all happen in the same way and for the same reason - the reason that we have the anxiety in the first place: to warn us of danger and help us deal with it or get away from it. Physical anxiety symptoms include:- Our breathing becomes more rapid Our heart beat speeds up We feel dizzy and light-headed We get 'butterflies' in our stomach We feel sick and/or need the toilet Our mouth becomes dry and it feels difficult to swallow We can experience profuse sweating We feel 'jittery' and 'jumpy' a feeling of being 'on-edge' All these symptoms happen for one reason: to energize us for action. Here's how:- Our breathing becomes more rapid to get more oxygen into the blood to supply the major body muscles (arms, legs, chest) Our heartbeat speeds up to get the blood to these muscles quicker. Blood is diverted from the brain (making us light-headed and dizzy and from the stomach (causing 'butterflies'). **End Summary** Topics: physical anxiety symptoms]]> fight or flight]]> anger and panic]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of www.help-for.com. Discover what's really happening with anxiety problems, why we get them and how to end them completely and permanently in EVOLVING SELF CONFIDENCE: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression.Read More >>

The Awesome Power of Fear and Belief

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:29:03 -0500

In society's striving to attribute medical causes to all ailments and diseases and so produce a 'quick and easy fix' often in the form of medication, something extremely important is usually overlooked. And it is the most important thing of all, for it often means life or death. It is a psychological phenomenon ... the potent mixture of fear and belief. I can think of no better way to illustrate this than the story below - it sums up the situation perfectly: Our own mind can destroy us, even when no real problem exists. Fear and belief affects everything but its greatest effect comes into play with life-threatening illness such as cancer. It is also an extremely important part of anxiety disorders (and depression). Indeed it's the most important thing of all in these problems: our own mind, not some chemical imbalance or genetic flaw, but our own fears and beliefs can chain us to a life of misery. Of course, the flip side of this situation is that positive beliefs can work wonders and transform our lives. They can also cure the seemingly incurable. Here's the story. I take no credit for it. **End Summary** Topics: fear and belief]]> our own mind]]> self-fulfilling prophecies]]> mind]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of www.help-for.com and author of EVOLVING SELF CONFIDENCE: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression. Read more about curing anxiety disorders and depression

How to Overcome Anxiety Disorders

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:30:45 -0500

Anxiety attacks and panic attacks; chronic worrying and obsessive thoughts; compulsive behaviours; irrational fears and phobias, even severe depression - these problems all involve heightened anxiety. In overcoming them, the goal is not to get rid of anxiety, for to have anxiety is normal, it is a part of being human, helps ready us for action and is there for our survival. The aim is to understand why it has become so strong, change what it means to us and know how to reduce it and prevent it spiralling out of control. It is possible to experience anxiety without it leading to panic, obsessions, compulsions or despair - to experience it and yet still be calm. In fact many people do experience anxiety like this frequently (job interviews / dating / performance situations - sports, social). They feel shaky on the inside but relatively calm on the outside, this is normal, this is part of anxiety, this is how it feels. -- On a popular TV quiz show, where the contestants answer questions and can double their winnings up to a million, the quizmaster has said to many contestants, words to the effect - 'you look remarkably calm'. **End Summary** Topics: overcome anxiety disorders]]> reduce anxious thoughts]]> anxiety]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of www.help-for.com and author of EVOLVING SELF CONFIDENCE: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression. Discover how to cure anxiety problems completely

Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:50:11 -0500

Anxiety disorder symptoms give us insight into how anxiety disorders develop. Stemming from experiences, anxiety/panic and learning, these symptoms can be expressed physically, behaviourally and psychologically. Many of them occur across all anxiety disorders reinforcing the belief that these problems are all related. When we truly understand anxiety disorders, we know that it is much more than this. These problems are not just related, they are the same problem, merely expressed in different ways. Here's some of the symptoms that many people experience, whatever their disorder. PHYSICAL These can include:- headaches, digestion problems, bowel problems, allergy-type problems, fatigue, constant colds and skin problems and may be due in part to the suppression of the body's immune system by chemicals released into the bloodstream when anxious. (Please note that any recurring physical symptoms such as pains or function problems (eg. digestion, bowel) need to be checked out by a medical doctor as they could be the signs of underlying physical disease) BEHAVIOURAL - some examples are:- Chronic shyness Feeling nervous and uncomfortable in the company of other people. (possibly mild social phobia / social anxiety symptoms) Excessive worrying Persistant and uncontrollable worrying about people / events / situations. **End Summary** Topics: anxiety disorder symptoms]]> cure anxiety disorders]]> shyness]]> OCD]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of Help-For.com. Discover what's really happening with anxiety problems, why we get them and how to end them completely and permanently in Evolving Self Confidence: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression.

Anxiety Disorders, Depression and Survival

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:10:21 -0500

Generalized anxiety, anxiety attacks and panic attacks, OCD, PTSD and even depression - all of these problems involve fear, anxiety and panic. And fear, anxiety and panic are all about one thing: survival. It is the main drive of every living thing "?" to survive and reproduce (so that our genes survive). It drives everything we do "?" every waking second and every sleeping second, every conscious minute and every unconscious minute. Anxiety-related problems are all formed around this drive to survive. Carl Rogers, perhaps one of the most influential psychologists in American history, founder of the humanistic psychology movement, based his client-centered therapy approach on the concept that everything in life strives to "??be"??, to exist as best they can, given the circumstances. In his book, "??A Way of Being"??, he describes one of his boyhood memories, that, to him, clearly demonstrates this "??drive to exist"?? in all things. The family used to store their winter"??s supply of potatoes in the basement, in a bin that was several feet below a small window. The conditions were unfavourable, but the potatoes would begin to sprout "? **End Summary** Topics: fight-or-flight]]> anxiety and panic]]> drive to survive]]> survival]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of www.help-for.com. Discover what's really happening with anxiety disorders, why we get them and how to end them completely and permanently in EVOLVING SELF CONFIDENCE: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression. Read the Introduction and Chapter1 online.

Anxiety (Disorders) and Control

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:36 -0500

It lies deep within human nature … the need to be in control of our environment; it must – our very survival depends on it. We have an innate drive to understand things that influence our lives so that we can have some control over them, some control over our own survival and existence. Any situation that we cannot understand or control remains, in a sense, unresolved, anything might happen; the situation has the potential to cause us harm and as such remains frightening. This drive has led humans to conquer the oceans, the highest mountains and outer space and we'll search a lifetime to achieve insight into something we feel has power over us. When we have a sense of control over something we feel safe for we know we can handle whatever happens. However, knowing that we cannot control something causes constant anxiety. Anxiety and panic, phobias, OCD and depression seem so strong because they involve feelings of not being in control; we don't understand them and feel that they control us. A sense of being in control is reflected in love, joy, knowledge and freedom; lack of control involves fear and despair. **End Summary** Topics: anxiety and control]]> lack of control]]> constant stress]]> anxiety]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of Help-For.com and author of Evolving Self Confidence: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression.

How to Overcome Anxiety and Fear

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:26:48 -0400

Extreme nervousness and apprehension, excessive worrying and obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviours, anxiety attacks and panic attacks, irrational fears and phobias, even severe depression - are all based on anxiety and fear. Millions of people spend a lifetime searching for the answer to these problems. Many undergo therapy or take medication for years, often with little success. They can seem impossible to deal with and make us feel that we'll never be free... but it doesn't have to be like this. With the right knowledge it is possible to cure all these problems completely. There is one way to truly overcome anxiety and fear, here it is:- 1. Grade things that cause you anxiety on a scale from 1-10 (more if you need to). 10 = situations / circumstances / compulsions / thoughts / tasks etc. that cause only very mild anxiety. 1 = the most terrifying. 2. Start with number 10. Feel the anxiety, let it happen and control it by accepting it and relaxing. Note that here it is very important that you actually have anxiety, feel it and feel yourself control it. **End Summary** Topics: becoming confident]]> develops confidence]]> extreme nervousness]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of Help-For.com and author of Evolving Self Confidence: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression.

Anxiety Disorders and Depression: nature versus nurture

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:18:11 -0400

Anxiety is a part of human nature, a survival mechanism that has evolved to protect us, and the problems it can bring, in themselves, reflect what it means to be human:- - worrying (planning ahead) - physical symptoms (eg. increased heartrate/breathing to prepare us for action) - even obsessive compulsive behaviour (the need for order and control) All are deeply ingrained in human make-up to help us survive. However, when we talk about nature versus nurture in regard to anxiety and depression problems we are usually referring to the cause of the problem: is it due to nature (a faulty gene, brain structure, chemical imbalance or disease) or nurture (the environment we live in, our experiences, learning and conditioning)? The answer, of course, is both - but what role does each actually play? Genetic information passed from parent to child could contain much more than we are aware of today, possibly even passing on hopes, fears and desires - such things being an integral part of a person's make up. Without doubt a parent that has lived a life 'surviving' with OCD (or depression or high anxiety etc.) will pass such 'survival' information to their offspring. **End Summary** Topics: anxiety and depression]]> surviving with OCD]]> genetic history]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of Help-For.com. Discover how to cure anxiety problems completely in Evolving Self Confidence: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression.

What is Anxiety?

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 06:15:53 -0400

Imagine you're lying on a beach. It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining and there is a gentle breeze wafting over your body. Sounds of nature fill the air as you chat and laugh with family and friends. You are surrounded by people you love and respect and who love and respect you. You feel warm, contented and happy, totally relaxed, anxiety-free. Now imagine a very different scene. It's the dead of night, you are alone walking down a dimly-lit alley. There are doorways on either side - who knows what's hiding in them, waiting to pounce? You are scared, your senses are heightened - your sight and hearing have become more sensitive, able to pinpoint the slightest movement or sound. Your breathing and heartbeat have become more rapid, you feel light-headed and dizzy, want to go to the toilet or throw up, your limbs feel shaky and your whole body is now charged with energy, full of anxiety, ready to fight or flee, possibly for your life. These two scenes represent either end of the anxiety scale. In the first we feel warm, secure and safe, we are fully relaxed, virtually anxiety-free. **End Summary** Topics: ocd and depression]]> being harmed]]> anxiety scale]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of Help-For.com. Discover how to cure anxiety problems completely in Evolving Self Confidence: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression.

How to Cure Anxiety and Depression Problems

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Anxiety and depression problems can overwhelm us and leave us feeling out of control. They feel as though we are driven to act like this, strengthen with every 'attack' and lead to constant searching for reasons and answers. Involving self-doubt, insecurity and fear, anxiety problems can appear too powerful to deal with. However, there is a way to understand these problems that takes away much of this power - to know what they really are, how they work and why we get them. And with this insight it is possible to cure anxiety problems naturally ourselves, without deep therapy or medication; to stop them completely and permanently at their very core. We cannot fight the unknown ... The key to curing these problems lies in understanding how they work. Like everything in life, when we know how and why something works we know how to master it. To try and overcome these problems without this understanding is exceptionally difficult for whatever we may try, as soon as any symptoms occur, we think that it's not working, that it cannot be the answer and continue the never-ending search for the 'real answer'. **End Summary** Topics: cure anxiety]]> anxiety and depression]]> self-doubt]]> insecurity]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of Help-For.com. Discover what's really happening with anxiety problems, why we get them and how to end them completely and permanently in Evolving Self Confidence: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression.

Are We Looking at Anxiety Disorders and Depression the Wrong Way?

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Current explanations of the cause and cure of problems involving such things as: extreme nervousness, anxiety and panic; obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviour; phobias and depression have failed millions of people looking to understand and overcome these problems. Beliefs about illness / medical / genetic causes and treatments based upon these beliefs have not even come close to an answer. Yet, when we look closely at these problems we can see that they are not:- Diseases - They follow a logical psychological progression based on our life experiences and we can map exactly what happened and why, the effect it had on us and how this fits in with our problem. Mental illness - most people with these problems are actually above average intelligence and are fully aware of what is happening, yet feel powerless to stop it. Chemical imbalances - Synapses, those connections between the neurons in our brain (around 10,000 for each neuron), are tiny spaces that are occupied by chemical messengers called neurotransmitters that carry information between neurons. **End Summary** Topics: anxiety and depression]]> anxiety disorders]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> By Terry Dixon, founder of Help-For.com and author of Evolving Self Confidence: How to Become Free from Anxiety Disorders and Depression.