Panic Attacks and Anxiety

My pastor taught an interesting sermon this morning. The theme was “Refilling our Faith,” and the premise was one we don’t like to face: our life with Jesus doesn’t always get ‘sweeter as the days go by’ in the words of an old hymn. In fact, at times, despite our best efforts to be pious and devout, if we were truly honest with ourselves and with others, we would have to face the fact that sometimes our faith just dwindles. Many times in day-to-day life, we just feel a sense of emptiness. Haven’t you experienced this?

Perhaps the reason comes from poor health, divorce, vanishing bank accounts, loss of job, rising grocery costs or a hundred other stressors which come at us from every angle on any given day. But the bottom line is, more often than we care to admit, we feel an emptiness. Our faith, which is supposed to carry us on wings like eagles, doesn’t seem to even be able to lift us off the ground. (Isaiah 40:31)

What is the solution? We can deny it. Paint a mask on our faces and walk around saying, “I’m fine, thank you.” We can memorize a few more bible verses in hopes that a dogmatic approach will ease the growing emptiness. We can turn to prescription drugs for depression or enter into therapy, both of which have their appropriate place in healing and wholeness. But I would like to submit that adding worship into our daily devotion, seeking healing through music that is based on the bible can bring about inner peace and hope.

More than two thousand years ago, the psalmist David found that music ushered in deep interaction, even intimacy, with Almighty God. Psalm 42; Psalm 62-63. As Psalm 33:18 states, the One who created our hearts truly understands our every need and emotion.

So, when we feel empty, depressed, lonely, we can acknowledge our feelings, confess our fears, cry our tears in the presence of the only One who truly understands. This, in fact, is the only solution which can set us on the road to wellness and peace.

When we become aware of an emptiness in our heart, those are the the times we most need to draw near to God in an attitude of worship. When our faith in Jesus seems to have lost power to motivate us, not to mention move mountains, we can still run to our Saviour as a refuge and a hiding place. I have experienced in my own journey of faith that in these times of emptiness, if I can just press into the Lord instead of turning away, I find not only comfort and rest, but a deep sense of security and peace.

There are two ways that I have personally learned how to press in even when I feel unworthy, unspiritual, unmotivated. The first is to just continue reading and [meditating the Word of God. When I cannot gather up desire for an intense (or even a simple) Bible study, I open my Bible to a favorite passage, a psalm perhaps, and I read just a few words. Then I allow those words to wash over my spirit, and I pray for faith, for serenity, for hope, for whatever I need. The Lord never disappoints. It’s a promise He has made – when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. (James 4:8)

But mostly, the main way that I have learned to press into the Lord, to experience a spiritual connection even when my total being is depleted of energy and life, is through music. I believe that music is one of God’s most valuable creations; and our ability to appreciate it – or create it – can be a direct pathway into His presence.

I have been playing the piano and singing most of my life, and music has become a personal prayer language for me. It has become the fastest way for me to enter into an attitude of worship, and the Lord has used music in my life as a method of healing and renewing.

So, the next time you feel empty or need emotional stability, invited the word of God to minister to you and the presence of God to be in you and around you. Try listening to (or creating if you are so inclined) music that is rooted in scripture.

Jesus offers us a never-ending well of living water. (John 4:14) When we need to “refill our faith” we can go back to the well time and time again and say, “I need more!” Jesus answers, “Come!” Worship through music can be an avenue through which we come to that well.

Sheila Lloyd

Some ideas and expressions were taken from sermon “Refilling Our Faith” by Pastor Brad Selan of Windhaven Church, www.windhavenchurch.com

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Do you ever lay in bed at night and think to yourself, I hope that I will experience a panic attack today? Nobody does but sadly, these things do happen and if you do not learn to do something about it, they can quickly take over your life. In an effort to help stop anxiety attacks, you should ask your self these five questions…

1. Are you faced with too many different responsibilities?

The main cause of panic attacks is stress. Let’s face it… stress sucks and overloading yourself with too many responsibilities and tasks can really start to take a toll on a person and begin to stress them out. You would be far more productive and work more efficiently if you started to spread your responsibilities out and began to take a breather from time to time.

2. Do you need a helping hand?

Once in a while, there is nothing wrong with asking for a helping hand in a task. There is always someone there that will support you and help out, you just need to let go of the fear and ask. Do not let pride or fear stand in your way of asking for a hand. You can help ease the load a little by teaming up with a friend or family member, so try asking for help today.

3. Do you have someone that offers emotional support to you?

Emotional support is important for everyone. It helps ensure that we are doing alright and that we are on the right path. Daily life can throw a lot of stress at us that can be really difficult to handle at times. It is important to have somebody you can talk to when times are hard. In an effort to help reduce your panic attacks, make sure that you have someone that you can turn to for emotional guidance.

4. Does your agenda include fun?

It does not matter how hectic your schedule gets, it is very important that you take some time out for some fun once in a while. Taking the time to relax and enjoy yourself can help release a great amount of built up pressure or stress from within. It does not matter what you do to find your relaxation, it can be as simple as a walk in the park, just make sure that you do it and get your mind off of things for a while.

5. Are you taking care of your body?

Lastly, you must ask yourself the important question as to whether or not you are taking proper care of your physical body. This involves getting the proper amount of rest, eating right, and exercising. While it is important to get work done, your body is your temple and your need to treat it well.

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Due to developed sinus infections or blocking of sinuses people suffer from sinus headaches. What’s more, it is often quite difficult to get rid of your sinus headache and what’s even more worrying is the fact that if you continue taking medications over a prolonged period of time you could end up with some very severe side effects that will only worsen your condition. It is therefore necessary that you pick the right sinus headache remedy with which to cure your symptoms.

Sinus Headache Remedy Naturally

In fact, you should opt for a natural sinus headache remedy as such an option provides you with safe, effective and less costly relief. The simplest of these natural sinus headache remedies is to drink a lot of water so as to hydrate yourself which helps take care of mucous that would otherwise block your sinus and give you a splitting sinus headache. In fact, as soon as symptoms of a sinus headache develop you will need to start increasing your water intake and in fact, drink as many clear liquids as possible so that your body becomes well irrigated.

It has also been found that a sinus headache occurs most often when the weather is dry since this dry weather causes the sinuses to dry up and even get clogged. One possible sinus headache remedy in such circumstances would be to use a portable humidifier or you can even humidify the air by boiling some water in your room. Even a steam tent is an effective sinus headache remedy and one that is well worth using.

Another good sinus headache remedy, applying a hot and wet compress to your face can do wonders for your sinus headache and it only requires wetting a washcloth in some hot water and then you can apply this washcloth to your nose as well as cheeks and in this way heat up the sinus as well as nasal cavities which will then loosen up the mucous and provide relief from the pressure caused by a sinus headache. In addition, don’t forget to check out some herbal sinus headache remedies that too can prove to be very effective; especially peppermint or even eucalyptus that can be added to warm water and then you can inhale the steam.

In regard to getting relief from severe sinus headaches you have to look beyond simply treating your headache and look instead at the root causes of the problem. There is in fact little sense in popping a pill to get immediate relief; unless, you cure the root cause the problem will recur and so cause you needless discomfort.

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment For Children

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorderis a neurobehavioral condition that is prominently found in children, particularly boys. This condition may continue from childhood to adulthood with the individual not undergoing any type of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment. Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorderay not be as clear or noticeable as those in children. The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment usually includes several treatment options which are combined for maximum effect. While some children with this condition may not be in severe need of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment, most do. The effects of this behavioral disorder are actually what many parents want to avoid. The causes of this disorder are not yet clear but there are many possible links that lead experts to believe that genetics, exposure to environmental factors and social factors may play roles in this condition.

Symptoms

The symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are not varied and can be easily recognized although there are also some that may be misinterpreted without proper screening or testing. Screening or testing is imperative before attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment is applied. The treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can depend on the extent or degree of the symptoms from which the child is going through.

Inattention is one of the more dominant symptoms of this condition. Children who need attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment are those who frequently lose track of instructions, seem to be spacing out or daydreaming perpetually, always loses things without being able to find them and not being able to concentrate on what is currently in front of him or her. The child may also show some difficulty in understanding and acquiring information and instructions compared to other children his or her age.

Another symptom of this condition is impulsive behavior. Manifestations of this are inability to contain one’s impatience and always interrupting conversations with his or her ideas and feelings. Children who are impulsive usually act before they think of the consequences. Hyperactivity is another sign of ADHD which is one reason why attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment may be called for. Many children with ADHD injure or offend other children and adults with their irrational and rash behavior.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment for children may be a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. Medication may be necessary to help control and manage the impulses and hyperactivity that children may have some difficulty controlling compared to adults. Lifestyle changes are other attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatments that can be combined with medications. These comprise changes in sleeping patterns, healthy sugar-free diet and the introduction of exercise.

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Teresa was a thirty-six-year-old bookkeeper who knew that she had a drinking problem. For instance, within the past two months she has experienced the need to have a drink or two before going to work, three months ago she failed to pass a random blood alcohol test at work, six weeks ago she got arrested for “driving under the influence”, and lastly, for roughly three months she has begun to forget what she does and says when she goes out drinking with her pals.

Similar to multitudes of other individuals, Teresa’s experiences with alcohol began gradually and continued at this speed for quite some time because from time to time she engaged in casual social drinking. In actual fact, for around a year, every time she went out with her friends to drink, she made sure to drink moderately. Something about her drinking circumstances, nevertheless, seemed to totally change when her husband divorced her.

In Order To Get Over the Breakup of Her Husband In a More Trouble-Free Manner, Teresa Made Up Her Mind That She Will Begin Associating More Often With Some of Her Buddies Who Love to ”Get Down” and Drink

Teresa got awfully disheartened about the loss of her husband, and as a way to stop fixating on her depressing emotions she came to the conclusion that she would begin hanging out more frequently with some of her pals who love to have fun drinking.

Quite forthrightly, Teresa concluded that having fun just about every day by getting a “buzz” by drinking with her buddies would help her get over the breakup of her husband with less sorrow.

Teresa’s Drinking Escalates Considerably the More Routinely She Goes to Private Parties, Family Get-Togethers, Dinner Dates, Sporting Events, and Happy Hours With Her Pals

It didn’t take long, nevertheless, before her drinking escalated considerably the more frequently she went to and drank at sporting events, family get-togethers, dinner dates, happy hours, and private parties with her friends. Furthermore, the fact that her drinking friends were all considerably younger than she was and therefore able to party and drink more irresponsibly was one of the reasons why she didn’t allocate more of her attention to her increased drinking. In brief, she was drinking and having a lot of fun just like everybody else in her group of buddies without much forethought about the unhealthy effects of her abusive and irresponsible drinking.

Yet someplace in her mind she knew that she most probably needed alcohol treatment but stayed away from the thought as much as humanly possible.

Teresa Gets a Physical Exam, Acknowledges Her Abusive and Hazardous Drinking to Her Healthcare Practitioner, and ”Comes Clean” About Her Melancholy

One morning during her annual physical, her physician asked her if she drank alcohol. Not wanting to tell “stories” to her doctor, Teresa ”came clean” and said that she often drinks more than she should. In point of fact, she said that she frequently drinks in an abusive and irresponsible manner. Then Teresa told her healthcare professional about her dejection. More precisely, she mentioned that shattered relationships often elicited a negative cycle of events characterized by increased drinking which further led to more depressing feelings that, in turn, resulted in even more drinking. And this is exactly what happened when her husband and she got divorced four years ago.

When her healthcare professional heard this, he told Teresa that according to various facts and statistics on alcoholism he has been researching, alcoholism and depression routinely happen in the same individual. He then informed her that some of the alcohol statistics, facts, and research investigations he has been looking into also highlight the fact that individuals who drink in a hazardous and excessive manner and who also experience depression need to obtain treatment for both medical situations.

Teresa’s Doctor Schedules an Appointment for a Psychological Assessment and For an Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Evaluation

Teresa’s physician then told her the following: “I am not trying to make an impulsive judgment, but with your medical circumstances we may be working with two separate matters. Consequently, I think we ought to schedule an appointment for you to get an alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse appraisal from my partner, Dr. Rosenberg, who is an alcoholism and alcohol abuse specialist. Whether your drinking problem is more related to alcoholism or alcohol abuse is unclear, but I think that further exploration is required. Then I think we should schedule an appointment for you to get a psychological exam from another one of my partners, Dr. Carlson, who is a clinical psychologist. I want to get a better handle on your dejection and see how much your drinking and depression are intertwined.” Teresa displayed her satisfaction with her doctor’s “game plan” and thanked him for his time and assistance. Now all she had to do was to try to trim down on her drinking and get ready for her appointments.

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The exact causes of anxiety is pretty difficult to determine, although basically doctors suspect brain chemistry, genetics and environmental stress as major contributors to the development of such psychological disorders. Not even the therapeutic mechanism of the medication prescribed for the alleviation of symptoms is not fully known or explained. From this perspective it seems like a nervous disease has lots of unknown elements in the equation, and that symptoms are easier to treat than the causes. In spite of that, anxiety help doesn’t have to be out of the reach, on the contrary, a full recovery of the health condition can result from the adequate combination of therapy and medication.

Anxiety seems to be caused by Brain Chemistry and the abnormal levels of neurotransmitters which are responsible for the panic episodes. Chemicals called neurotransmitters allow Information to travels from never to nerve. When the brain chemical secretion is faulty, the brain gets incorrect messages, and the reaction is often anxiety. Other than brain chemistry, genetics play an important part among the causes of anxiety, since the frequency of the disorder is higher in families with mental illness history. Thus, the brain sensitivity is inherited and passed on to the next generation.

Other causes of anxiety are traumatic life events, but it all depends on the sensitivity of the person in question. Thus, the death of a dear person, frequent job and school changes, divorce and emotional problems could lead to anxiety and depression. Anxiety disorders usually become worse during periods of intense stress, with the mention that it affects most of the people who try to discontinue the use of an addictive substance. Thus, quitting smoking, or eliminating alcohol and caffeine can be more than a simple challenge if you suffer from generalized anxiety disorder.

Pregnancy for instance is another great life change that may cause temporary anxiety, but it all depends on the subjective individual factors and sensitivities as well. Then, the use of drugs like cannabis, ecstasy, LSD or amphetamines can also trigger anxiety in different forms and at various intensity levels. Some causes of anxiety can be identified in daily life; in fact, from a certain perspective, stress is the key to a successful career sometimes. Therefore, the causes of anxiety don’t have to be pathological; in many cases they are easy to diagnose and eliminate with proper relaxation and the right attitude.

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