How to Stop Panic Attacks - How to Prevent Anxiety and Panic Attacks by Relaxation Methods

By Laura J.

Panic attacks are one of the most frightening problems you can have. I know it personally - the most frightening aspect of such episodes is that they might come at any moment: When I was calmly watching TV, when I was driving, when I was talking to friends on the phone... Suddenly my heart began racing, my chest was tightened, and I was disconnected from the world. And this could happen at any moment.

Or so would it seem. Recent researches have shown definitely that all panic attacks have certain triggers. So detecting those triggers are the key on how to stop panic attacks. And it is how I treated my own anxiety disorder.

Whenever you feel stressed for whatever reason, this relaxation exercise will relieve you.

Lie down on your back (or a good chair if you can't lie down). Close your eyes for a small while. Concentrate on your muscle groups. But first, concentrate on your breathing. Calm down, and breathe slowly. It is an important point to note that with every breath you give out, you utter the words such as "calm, peace, relax". Then go with the muscle exercises:

Hands: Clench your right arm tensely, so tense that you can feel the muscles in your forearm tense. Continue clenching for five seconds, and then relax as you breathe out. Do this for the other hand too.

Arms: Bend your elbow and tense all your muscles in your arm. Just like in the hand method, leave it tense for a few seconds before you relax.

Stomach: Do the same for the stomach. Tense the muscles on your stomach for a few seconds as tight as possible, and then relax them.

Scientific research proves that there underlying triggers to panic attacks - and you can stop panic attacks by conditioning your mind hours before it actually occurs. This is called the "one move technique" and is how I stopped my panic attacks.

Visit my site for more information about how I achieved this, and my story of how this changed my life. If you have an anxiety problem of any kind, I strongly urge you to click here now!

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Causes of Panic Attacks

This is a long article on anxiety but well worth reading to the end. Very enlightening to a sufferer like me!

The short and obvious answer: panic attacks are caused by high anxiety. But, what exactly is anxiety? Understanding how anxiety crops up will help you defeat panic attacks.

One of the biggest myths surrounding anxiety is that it is harmful and can lead to a number of various life-threatening conditions.

Definition of Anxiety

Anxiety is defined as a state of apprehension or fear resulting from the anticipation of a real or imagined threat, event, or situation. It is one of the most common human emotions experienced by people at some point in their lives.

However, most people who have never experienced a panic attack, or extreme anxiety, fail to realize the terrifying nature of the experience. Extreme dizziness, blurred vision, tingling and feelings of breathlessness—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

When these sensations occur and people do not understand why, they feel they have contracted an illness, or a serious mental condition. The threat of losing complete control seems very real and naturally very terrifying.

Fight/Flight Response: One of the root causes of panic attacks?

I am sure most of you have heard of the fight/flight response as an explanation for one of the root causes of panic attacks. Have you made the connection between this response and the unusual sensations you experience during and after a panic attack episode?

Anxiety is a response to a danger or threat. It is so named because all of its effects are aimed toward either fighting or fleeing from the danger. Thus, the sole purpose of anxiety is to protect the individual from harm. This may seem ironic given that you no doubt feel your anxiety is actually causing you great harm...perhaps the most significant of all the causes of panic attacks.

However, the anxiety that the fight/flight response created was vital in the daily survival of our ancient ancestors—when faced with some danger, an automatic response would take over that propelled them to take immediate action such as attack or run. Even in today's hectic world, this is still a necessary mechanism. It comes in useful when you must respond to a real threat within a split second.

Anxiety is a built-in mechanism to protect us from danger. Interestingly, it is a mechanism that protects but does not harm—an important point that will be elaborated upon later.

What Are The Causes Of Panic Attacks?The Physical Manifestations of a Panic Attack: Other pieces of the puzzle to understand the causes of panic attacks. Nervousness and Chemical Effects...

When confronted with danger, the brain sends signals to a section of the nervous system. It is this system that is responsible for gearing the body up for action and also calms the body down and restores equilibrium. To carry out these two vital functions, the autonomic nervous system has two subsections, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.

Although I don't want to become too "scientific," having a basic understanding of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system will help you understand the causes of panic attacks.

The sympathetic nervous system is the one we tend to know all too much about because it primes our body for action, readies us for the “fight or flight” response, while the parasympathetic nervous system is the one we love dearly as it serves as our restoring system, which returns the body to its normal state.

When either of these systems is activated, they stimulate the whole body, which has an “all or nothing” effect. This explains why when a panic attack occurs, the individual often feels a number of different sensations throughout the body.

The sympathetic system is responsible for releasing the adrenaline from the adrenal glands on the kidneys. These are small glands located just above the kidneys. Less known, however, is that the adrenal glands also release adrenaline, which functions as the body’s chemical messengers to keep the activity going. When a panic attack begins, it does not switch off as easily as it is turned on. There is always a period of what would seem increased or continued anxiety, as these messengers travel throughout the body. Think of them as one of the physiological causes of panic attacks, if you will.

After a period of time, the parasympathetic nervous system gets called into action. Its role is to return the body to normal functioning once the perceived danger is gone. The parasympathetic system is the system we all know and love, because it returns us to a calm relaxed state.

When we engage in a coping strategy that we have learned, for example, a relaxation technique, we are in fact willing the parasympathetic nervous system into action. A good thing to remember is that this system will be brought into action at some stage whether we will it or not. The body cannot continue in an ever-increasing spiral of anxiety. It reaches a point where it simply must kick in, relaxing the body. This is one of the many built-in protection systems our bodies have for survival.

You can do your best with worrying thoughts, keeping the sympathetic nervous system going, but eventually it stops. In time, it becomes a little smarter than us, and realizes that there really is no danger. Our bodies are incredibly intelligent—modern science is always discovering amazing patterns of intelligence that run throughout the cells of our body. Our body seems to have infinite ways of dealing with the most complicated array of functions we take for granted. Rest assured that your body’s primary goal is to keep you alive and well.

Not so convinced?

Try holding your breath for as long as you can. No matter how strong your mental will is, it can never override the will of the body. This is good news—no matter how hard you try to convince yourself that you are gong to die from a panic attack, you won’t. Your body will override that fear and search for a state of balance. There has never been a reported incident of someone dying from a panic attack.

Remember this next time you have a panic attack; he causes of panic attacks cannot do you any physical harm. Your mind may make the sensations continue longer than the body intended, but eventually everything will return to a state of balance. In fact, balance (homeostasis) is what our body continually strives for.

The interference for your body is nothing more than the sensations of doing rigorous exercise. Our body is not alarmed by these symptoms. Why should it be? It knows its own capability. It’s our thinking minds that panic, which overreact and scream in sheer terror! We tend to fear the worst and exaggerate our own sensations. A quickened heart beat becomes a heart attack. An overactive mind seems like a close shave with schizophrenia. Is it our fault? Not really—we are simply diagnosing from poor information.

Causes of Panic AttacksCauses of Panic Attacks: Cardiovascular Effects Activity in the sympathetic nervous system increases our heartbeat rate, speeds up the blood flow throughout the body, ensures all areas are well supplied with oxygen and that waste products are removed. This happens in order to prime the body for action.

A fascinating feature of the “fight or flight” mechanism is that blood (which is channelled from areas where it is currently not needed by a tightening of the blood vessels) is brought to areas where it is urgently needed.

For example, should there be a physical attack, blood drains from the skin, fingers, and toes so that less blood is lost, and is moved to “active areas” such as the thighs and biceps to help the body prepare for action.

This is why many feel numbness and tingling during a panic attack-often misinterpreted as some serious health risk-such as the precursor to a heart attack. Interestingly, most people who suffer from anxiety often feel they have heart problems. If you are really worried that such is the case with your situation, visit your doctor and have it checked out. At least then you can put your mind at rest.

Causes of Panic Attacks: Respiratory Effects

One of the scariest effects of a panic attack is the fear of suffocating or smothering. It is very common during a panic attack to feel tightness in the chest and throat. I’m sure everyone can relate to some fear of losing control of your breathing. From personal experience, anxiety grows from the fear that your breathing itself would cease and you would be unable to recover. Can a panic attack stop our breathing? No.

A panic attack is associated with an increase in the speed and depth of breathing. This has obvious importance for the defense of the body since the tissues need to get more oxygen to prepare for action. The feelings produced by this increase in breathing, however, can include breathlessness, hyperventilation, sensations of choking or smothering, and even pains or tightness in the chest. The real problem is that these sensations are alien to us, and they feel unnatural.

Having experienced extreme panic attacks myself, I remember that on many occasions, I would have this feeling that I couldn’t trust my body to do the breathing for me, so I would have to manually take over and tell myself when to breathe in and when to breathe out. Of course, this didn’t suit my body’s requirement of oxygen and so the sensations would intensify—along with the anxiety. It was only when I employed the technique I will describe for you later, did I let the body continue doing what it does best—running the whole show.

Importantly, a side-effect of increased breathing, (especially if no actual activity occurs) is that the blood supply to the head is actually decreased. While such a decrease is only a small amount and is not at all dangerous, it produces a variety of unpleasant but harmless symptoms that include dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, sense of unreality, and hot flushes.

Other Physical Effects of Panic Attacks: Causes of Panic Attacks

Now that we've discussed some of the primary physiological causes of panic attacks, there are a number of other effects that are produced by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, none of which are in any way harmful.

For example, the pupils widen to let in more light, which may result in blurred vision, or “seeing” stars, etc. There is a decrease in salivation, resulting in dry mouth. There is decreased activity in the digestive system, which often produces nausea, a heavy feeling in the stomach, and even constipation. Finally, many of the muscle groups tense up in preparation for “fight or flight” and this results in subjective feelings of tension, sometimes extending to actual aches and pains, as well as trembling and shaking.

Overall, the fight/flight response results in a general activation of the whole bodily metabolism. Thus, one often feels hot and flushed and, because this process takes a lot of energy, the person generally feels tired and drained.

Causes of Panic AttacksMental Manifestations: Causes of Panic Attacks Are the causes of panic attacks all in my head? is a question many people wonder to themselves.

The goal of the fight/flight response is making the individual aware of the potential danger that may be present. Therefore, when activated, the mental priority is placed upon searching the surroundings for potential threats. In this state one is highly-strung, so to speak. It is very difficult to concentrate on any one activity, as the mind has been trained to seek all potential threats and not to give up until the threat has been identified. As soon as the panic hits, many people look for the quick and easiest exit from their current surroundings, such as by simply leaving the bank queue and walking outside. Sometimes the anxiety can heighten, if we perceive that leaving will cause some sort of social embarrassment.

If you have a panic attack while at the workplace but feel you must press on with whatever task it is you are doing, it is quite understandable that you would find it very hard to concentrate. It is quite common to become agitated and generally restless in such a situation. Many individuals I have worked with who have suffered from panic attacks over the years indicated that artificial light—such as that which comes from computer monitors and televisions screens—can can be one of the causes of panic attacks by triggering them or worsen a panic attack, particularly if the person is feeling tired or run down.

This is worth bearing in mind if you work for long periods of time on a computer. Regular break reminders should be set up on your computer to remind you to get up from the desk and get some fresh air when possible.

In other situations, when during a panic attack an outside threat cannot normally be found, the mind turns inwards and begins to contemplate the possible illness the body or mind could be suffering from. This ranges from thinking it might have been something you ate at lunch, to the possibility of an oncoming cardiac arrest.

The burning question is: Why is the fight/flight response activated during a panic attack even when there is apparently nothing to be frightened of?

Upon closer examination of the causes of panic attacks, it would appear that what we are afraid of are the sensations themselves—we are afraid of the body losing control. These unexpected physical symptoms create the fear or panic that something is terribly wrong. Why do you experience the physical symptoms of the fight/flight response if you are not frightened to begin with? There are many ways these symptoms can manifest themselves, not just through fear.

For example, it may be that you have become generally stressed for some reason in your life, and this stress results in an increase in the production of adrenaline and other chemicals, which from time to time, would produce symptoms....and which you perceive as the causes of panic attacks.

This increased adrenaline can be maintained chemically in the body, even after the stress has long gone. Another possibility is diet, which directly affects our level of stress. Excess caffeine, alcohol, or sugar is known for causing stress in the body, and is believed to be one of the contributing factors of the causes of panic attacks (Chapter 5 gives a full discussion on diet and its importance).

Unresolved emotions are often pointed to as possible trigger of panic attacks, but it is important to point out that eliminating panic attacks from your life does not necessarily mean analyzing your psyche and digging into your subconscious. The “One Move” technique will teach you to deal with the present moment and defuse the attack along with removing the underlying anxiety that sparks the initial anxiety.

Before moving to the key of this, let’s examine some of the common myths and misinterpretations of an anxiety disorder.

http://www.panic-and-anxiety-attacks.com/causes-of-panic-attacks.html

This article is copywritten material
Any requests for reprinting this article must be made to Joe Barry McDonagh

Joe Barry is an international panic disorder coach. His informative site on all issues related to panic and anxiety attacks can be found here:

http://www.panic-and-anxiety-attacks.com/

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Mental Health Services

Mental health problems are common with around 25% of the population believed to be suffering from some form of mental health problem at any point in time. Anyone suffering from a mental health problem can access proper treatment and most who do seek help will make a complete recovery but unfortunately, there are still people who are afraid of admitting that they cannot cope or that they need help and will suffer unnecessary mental distress due to lack of understanding about their illness or awareness of what help is available. So what mental health services are available to anyone suffering from mental illness?

Doctor

The first point of contact is your doctor. They will be able to make a full assessment of your symptoms and your physical and mental health in general as well as take into consideration any other factors involved including any family history of mental illness in order to make an accurate diagnosis because an accurate diagnosis is essential if the right help and assistance is to be offered. For most people, a simple visit to the doctor may be all that is required to put them on the road to recovery.

However, your doctor might feel that you could also benefit from other mental health services so once he or she has made a diagnosis they will be able to start you on a suitable treatment programme which could include medication and/or referral to other professionals or specialists in the community mental health team as required, for example, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, various types of counsellors or therapists and so on.

The Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)

It may be that you require specialist skills in order to help you cope with your mental illness and as one person couldn't conceivably be an expert in every single area, you could be referred to someone in the community mental health team. The community mental health team will vary depending on which area that you live, some may be attached to a hospital or work from a doctors surgery and others could possibly have their own clinic in a separate building but typically, they consist of professionals such as psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses who may also be trained to deal with specific problems or behaviours, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, and various other therapists and counsellors.

It is quite likely that one person will be appointed as your key worker and will be liaising with you on a regular basis and visiting you at home. This person could be a social worker, a nurse, some type of therapist or quite commonly, a community psychiatric nurse or CPN.

The CPN will assess your progress on a regular basis, will identify and help you deal with any problems you might have and put you in touch with others who can help, they will monitor your mediation and any effects of that medication and will generally offer support. They will work closely with other professionals in the team so that everyone is aware of any particular issues or challenges that need to be dealt with. The CMHT will also regularly inform your doctor about your progress, your medication and any other issues involved in your case.

It might be that you need help from other professionals. For example, an occupational therapist can help you regain some independence in your life if you are suffering from any disabilities, they can help you to do things for yourself and improve your confidence in areas such as dressing, washing and other practical skills. Social workers can help with many social problems such as housing needs, financial issues and maybe parenting or child care challenges. Basically, the Community Mental Health Team enables you to access the right kind of help from professionals who are trained in a specific area.

Hospital

It might be that you need to spend some time in hospital to get over a particularly difficult episode of mental illness or where it is considered appropriate but this decision is not taken lightly. Hospitals can offer safety and protection and many people will voluntarily admit themselves to hospital in order to get the right assistance and support. However, there are also compulsory admissions made under the Mental Health Act in order to protect the person themselves or those around them. For some people, the thought of admission to hospital can be frightening but it is important to remember that a stay in hospital can be a lifesaver and hospitals are there to help and are better equipped to deal with particularly severe cases of mental illness.

More support

Family and friends can be instrumental in helping someone who is suffering from mental health problems to progress and regain control of their lives and as such are an extremely important part of any support network. There are also numerous other agencies, support organisations, and charities offering help to people suffering from various mental health problems. Some will also tackle issues related to mental health by raising awareness in the community and others can provide information, advice and support to people who are affected by mental health problems in their family. You can ask your doctor or mental health professional what other assistance is available in your area.

Depression and anxiety are serious mental health conditions that can strike anyone at anytime. For more information about depression and self help come and visit http://www.fightingdepression.co.uk

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Do You Need A Mental Game Coach?

Tiger Woods has one. So does Andre Agassi. Almost every college pro team, major league pro sports team and Olympic team has one. Virtually every pro golfer and pro tennis player has one.

What do they have?

A Mental Game Coach.

These top sports stars are smart. They're good already. Even great. Some are all-stars and superstars. Why do "they" have a mind coach? They want to maintain their excellence. And, they want to get better. They want every edge they can get, because they know their opponents have this mental advantage.

I coach top corporate America executives, and you can turn on the TV and see the top college sports stars and major-league pro sports stars I coach. This article will help you learn what a Mental Game Coach does for these peak performers, and about how you can choose the right mind game coach.

Did you know there are at least 25 types of mind practitioners? The term mind practitioner itself is a very broad one. Maybe you're looking for a mental health professional. Perhaps someone to help you in business. Maybe you want to reduce stress, stop a bad habit and overcome a fear or phobia. Maybe you need to perform better on the presentation platform or in the competitive sports arena and avoid the dreaded choke. Maybe you want to learn how to get in the zone more often, on command. Whatever your reason for seeking a coach, they all, to one degree or another, help you train your brain. Find your mind. Get your motivation in motion.

The mental game encompasses every mind issue you can imagine in business, sports and life.

A mental game coach can help you in these arenas:

1. Awareness

2. Learning

3. Development

4. Change

5. Habit Formation

6. Performance

7. Coaching, Mentoring, Managing and Leading

Mental Game Coaches are particularly skilled at helping you with these critical performance issues:

1. Anxiety

2. Choking

3. Focus

4. Sales Rejection Issues

5. Telephone Call Reluctance

6. Goal-Setting and Achievement

7. Perfectionism

8. Procrastination

9. Mental Preparation

10. Mental Practice

11. Self-Discipline

12. Getting In The Zone

13. Slumps and Confidence

14. Hecklers And Psych-Outs

15. Performing Under Pressure

16. The Fear Of Success

17. The Fear Of Failure

18. The Imposter Syndrome

FIVE SPECIFIC MIND TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES COACHES USE

The public is usually aware of these five major mind coaching tools. These techniques are not tied to any one particular school of coaching or therapy. Practitioners from virtually every discipline utilize these.

1. Positive Thinking

2. Mental Practice

3. Visualization

4. Self-Hypnosis

5. Cognitive Restructuring

MAKE YOUR MIND COACH SELECTION CAREFULLY AND WISELY

When selecting your mind coach, take your time. One size does not fit all. Each coach has different limitations and plusses, and not all coach background and training is equal. Not all coaches trained the same have the same abilities and capabilities. As an MD friend is fond of telling people who ask, "Even the last person to graduate in the medical school class is called "Doctor".

Some coach training is narrow and deep and some coach training is broad and general. The field is a wide one, so make sure you select someone who has had successful experience in helping people with your specific issues, desires and goals. Choose a practitioner on background, reputation and results, not merely degrees. Chemistry and trust are the two final vital issues on which to measure your potential coach.

Good luck in your coach-hunting!

This article covers only one small part of the mental game. A complete mental training program includes motivation and goal-setting, pre-event mental preparation, post-event review and analysis, mental strengthening, self-regulation training, breath control training, motor skill training, mental rehearsal, concentration training, pressure-proofing, communication training, confidence-building, breaking through mental barriers, slump prevention, mental toughness training, flow training, relaxation training, momentum training, psych-out proofing and media training.

For a comprehensive overview of your mental abilities you need an assessment instrument that identifies your complete mental strengths and weaknesses. For a free, easy-to-take 65-item sport psychology assessment tool you can score right on the spot, visit http://www.mentalgamecoach.com/Assessments/MentalGameOfSports.html This assessment gives you a quick snapshot of your strengths and weaknesses in your mental game. You can use this as a guide in creating your own mental training program, or as the basis for a program you undertake with Bill Cole, MS, MA to improve your mental game. This assessment would be an excellent first step to help you get the big picture about your mental game.

Copyright © Bill Cole, MS, MA 2006 All rights reserved.

Bill Cole, MS, MA is one of the world's leading mental game coaches who consults with athletes of all levels including children, amateurs and professionals. Mr. Cole is the founder and President of the International Mental Game Coaching Association, the global leader in certification of mental game coaches. Read over 400 free articles on sports psychology at http://www.mentalgamecoaching.com/index.html or call 408-294-2776 for more information.

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ADD/ADHD and Careers Options For It

Many career options are exclusively designed for ADHD needs. They fulfill specific requirements and provide ample opportunities to explore stimulation, multitasking and opportunity to work independently. You should bear it in mind that not all jobs fulfill these three criteria. In such scenario, you must prioritize your choice and prefer one which suits you best. Before deciding on a particular option, you must introspect and find out your preferred category and see whether you would be able to perform it or not. This approach helps you make best career option for yourself.

Technical – The primary prerequisite of a technical job is socialization with the masses for which you perform your duties. You may be assigned for repairing works or installation of equipments. You can serve them as a telephone engineer or an electronics mechanic. This specific work provides you an opportunity to handle multiple tasks independently.

Technological – It sounds similar to work like a technical staff when you perform technological assignments. Only similarity these jobs have is multitasking and freedom which you get in both. In reality there is a big difference in both. You must have knowledge in newer and state-of-the-art technologies to perform this duty. Technological works include working as a computer technician, computer builder or expertise in electronics work.

Maintenance – Working in maintenance field doesn’t mean you work as an office assistance cleaning offices. Carpentering, car mechanics and electrician works are good options. Basic motto of this profession is to help consumers keep their products maintained so that they remain endurable. This profession too provides freedom.

Science – Assisting the research oriented teams in various capacities is a better job option unlike the general phenomenon of avoiding research work which most ADD sufferers do. You can work as a supporting tool in medical field by maintaining machines. Choose a company which specifies in maintaining the medical equipments like EEG/MRI or ultrasound machines for proper functioning,

Military - At first glance, you may be thinking that I’m crazy to include the Military as a field we ADDers could excel in, particularly when you consider how rigid and structured it is. But that is what makes it so beneficial. The military offers structure so that you aren’t necessarily “bouncing” around, and forces you to learn organizational skills. Once you make it through basic training, there are many jobs and careers in the military that you might enjoy: Paratrooper, Helicopter Pilot, Aircraft Technician, and more.

Entrepreneur - If you can harness your energy and remain focused, this can be quite a successful area for you. You will have variety, stimulation, and ultimate control over yourself and your product. You are able to be creative and energetic. Until you can afford it, though, you will have to pay attention to detail work (paper work, etc.) and this can be a stumbling block for a lot of us.

Aviation – There are varieties of job categories. In case you don’t join military, make career in aviation and work as pilot, air traffic controller or aviation engineer. Get opportunity to work independently by choosing your option out of other job categories.

Dentist- Let me tell you something about dentistry as a profession before you blame it a boring thing. You get opportunity to explore variety in it and enjoy freedom as an expert in this specific area.

Transportation - No, there’s not much stimulation depending on what sort of driving you do, but you get a lot of independence. Variety may come in the form of having different routes assigned or changing the product you are delivering. Then again, an ambulance driver may have more stimulation and variety given the nature of the job.

Engineer - Think here about the guy (or gal!) who operates heavy equipment or is a professional engineer (chemical, nuclear, electronics). These jobs offer stimulation and variety while letting you be independent. Even though many of the tasks here require attention to detail, the work of detail is embedded in the task - in other words, it’s not a side issue such as what an entrepreneur would face. For the entrepreneur, it would be a hassle. For the engineer, it’s part and parcel of the job itself.

Hopefully, you are seeing how you might fit into one of these areas.


About The Author
As a leading practitioner in the field of treating http://3stepsadd.com/premium/ attention deficit disorder, Jimmy Brownen has had man years of experience in the treatment of such disorders. For more information on http://3stepsadd.com/ adderall or vyvanse, please visit his site today.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health

by: Arthur Buchanan

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Mental Health Is Important

Mental health is how people think, feel, and act as they face life's situations. It affects how people handle stress, relate to one another, and make decisions. Mental health influences the ways individuals look at themselves, their lives, and others in their lives. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life.

All aspects of our lives are affected by our mental health. Caring for and protecting our children is an obligation and is critical to their daily lives and their independence.

Children and Adolescents Can Have Serious Mental Health Problems

Like adults, children and adolescents can have mental health disorders that interfere with the way they think, feel, and act. When untreated, mental health disorders can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug abuse, violence, and even suicide. Untreated mental health disorders can be very costly to families, communities, and the health care system.

Mental Health Disorders Are More Common in Young People than Many Realize

Studies show that at least one in five children and adolescents have a mental health disorder. At least one in 10, or about 6 million people, have a serious emotional disturbance.

The Causes Are Complicated

Mental health disorders in children and adolescents are caused mostly by biology and environment. Examples of biological causes are genetics, chemical imbalances in the body, or damage to the central nervous system, such as a head injury. Many environmental factors also put young people at risk for developing mental health disorders. Examples include:
• Exposure to environmental toxins, such as high levels of lead;
• Exposure to violence, such as witnessing or being the victim of physical or sexual abuse, drive-by shootings, muggings, or other disasters;
• Stress related to chronic poverty, discrimination, or other serious hardships; and
• The loss of important people through death, divorce, or broken relationships.

Signs of Mental Health Disorders Can Signal a Need for Help

Children and adolescents with mental health issues need to get help as soon as possible. A variety of signs may point to mental health disorders or serious emotional disturbances in children or adolescents. Pay attention if a child or adolescent you know has any of these warning signs:

A child or adolescent is troubled by feeling:
• Sad and hopeless for no reason, and these feelings do not go away.
• Very angry most of the time and crying a lot or overreacting to things.
• Worthless or guilty often.
• Anxious or worried often.
• Unable to get over a loss or death of someone important.
• Extremely fearful or having unexplained fears.
• Constantly concerned about physical problems or physical appearance.
• Frightened that his or her mind either is controlled or is out of control.

A child or adolescent experiences big changes, such as:
• Showing declining performance in school.
• Losing interest in things once enjoyed.
• Experiencing unexplained changes in sleeping or eating patterns.
• Avoiding friends or family and wanting to be alone all the time.
• Daydreaming too much and not completing tasks.
• Feeling life is too hard to handle.
• Hearing voices that cannot be explained.
• Experiencing suicidal thoughts.

A child or adolescent experiences:
• Poor concentration and is unable to think straight or make up his or her mind.
• An inability to sit still or focus attention.
• Worry about being harmed, hurting others, or doing something "bad".
• A need to wash, clean things, or perform certain routines hundreds of times a day, in order to avoid an unsubstantiated danger.
• Racing thoughts that are almost too fast to follow.
• Persistent nightmares.

A child or adolescent behaves in ways that cause problems, such as:
• Using alcohol or other drugs.
• Eating large amounts of food and then purging, or abusing laxatives, to avoid weight gain.
• Dieting and/or exercising obsessively.
• Violating the rights of others or constantly breaking the law without regard for other people.
• Setting fires.
• Doing things that can be life threatening.
• Killing animals.

Comprehensive Services through Systems of Care Can Help

Some children diagnosed with severe mental health disorders may be eligible for comprehensive and community-based services through systems of care. Systems of care help children with serious emotional disturbances and their families cope with the challenges of difficult mental, emotional, or behavioral problems.

To learn more about systems of care, call the National Mental Health Information Center at 1-800-789-2647, and request fact sheets on systems of care and serious emotional disturbances, or visit the Center's web site at http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

Finding the Right Services Is Critical

To find the right services for their children, families can do the following:
• Get accurate information from hotlines, libraries, or other sources.
• Seek referrals from professionals.
• Ask questions about treatments and services.
• Talk to other families in their communities.
• Find family network organizations.

It is critical that people who are not satisfied with the mental health care they receive discuss their concerns with providers, ask for information, and seek help from other sources.

Important Messages About Child and Adolescent Mental Health:
• Every child's mental health is important.
• Many children have mental health problems.
• These problems are real, painful, and can be severe.
• Mental health problems can be recognized and treated.
• Caring families and communities working together can help.
• Information is available; call 1-800-789-2647.

This is one of many fact sheets on children's mental health disorders. All the fact sheets listed below are written in an easy-to-read style. Families, caretakers, and media professionals may find them helpful when looking for information about mental health disorders. For free copies, call 1-800-789-2647, or visit

http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

About The Author

Arthur Buchanan

Listen to Arthur Buchanan on the Mike Litman Show!
http://freesuccessaudios.com/Artlive.mp3 THIS LINK WORKS, LISTEN TODAY!

With Much Love,
Arthur Buchanan
President/CEO
Out of Darkness & Into the Light
43 Oakwood Ave. Suite 1012
Huron Ohio, 44839
567-998-4107 (home)
www.out-of-darkness.com
www.adhdandme.com
www.biologicalhapiness.com
www.mentalillnessandme.com
arthur@out-of-darkness.com

A First Person Account on Agoraphobia

When my therapist told me I had agoraphobia I stared at her in puzzlement. I had never heard the term before, but I did know my symptoms. Agoraphobia is defined as a fear of open spaces. Many of the definitions I have read on the internet state that this phobia is “a fear of leaving the house”. I am not sure which definition would describe my own experiences with this illness, but shades of each could fit the bill.

A number of things I blame on marriage since it started shortly after marriage. I just all of a sudden would develop full blown panic attacks in places outside the home. Panic attacks meaning my chest squeezing, being unable to breathe, and feeling like I would pass out. Just having this feeling when I was outside made me not want to go outside and I would not if I did not have to. Home and work were the only two places where I seemed to feel safe. My husband would insist that I had to leave now and then. I would hop into the car to take a trip upstate and not 10 minutes into the trip we would have to pull over as I would have diarrhea. The anxiety was unstoppable. I remember thinking during those times when my husband would yell at me for never wanting to go out, that I needed therapy. Unfortunately my husband belonged to a church that did not believe in such things. I was expected to pray about it and God would come to my rescue. Well that did not work. I needed some mind fixing.

The divorce came around a couple years later and I sought the therapy that I was sure could help me. I must say it took quite a few sessions for things to finally begin to sink into my brain, but in time things began to look brighter. Even when I found I could easily walk into a grocery store and shop without problems, my therapist had told me the anxiety could come back. Anxiety will probably always be a part of my life now, but I have learned how to handle it. I refuse to let it get the best of me. My therapist has given me the tools to combat. Therefore I shall!

This is just my personal experience with this mental illness. While therapy worked for me, others may have better luck with prescription drugs. And praying cannot hurt in any situation.

Linda Courtney is currently residing in Philadelphia, PA and has a web-based e-book business to help people in all areas of health and fitness. www.fitnessebooksforall.com.