Hooked-up with a friend I hadn’t seen in a while today. And I’m very glad we had lunch together. You know, the lessons life unexpectedly throws our way can be absolutely amazing. She taught me one such lesson.Suzanne and I were in the same cohort throughout grad school. I’ll never forget that very first class, as sixteen of us gathered for what would be the first of many experiences together over the next two years. As I looked around the room I noticed a woman with a very stylish “crew-cut.” And I entertained the thought that the look could be the result of a medical situation. As our first semester continued, Suzanne, indeed, confirmed it was.Being in a graduate counseling program, every member of the cohort had their moment in the self-disclosure sun. Suzanne shared she’d recently had a benign tumor removed from her brain, followed by grueling physical therapy to get her walking again. And she endured a second procedure to insert a shunt in response to hydrocephalus. As she embarked upon her master’s work Suzanne had to confront some post-operative learning and memory issues that were a formidable barrier to her academic success. And with great resolve, she moved forward, graduating with the rest of us.But her medical challenges continued. Suzanne was diagnosed with breast cancer, and though the cancer presented in only one breast, she elected to have a double mastectomy. As we lunched, Suzanne provided an update on her medical situation; revealing some upsetting hearing loss, as well as vision issues. She also told me her memory and cognitive issues continued. Naturally, she wonders if her new symptoms suggest another brain tumor or, perhaps, a cancer relapse. But, in spite of it all, Suzanne’s outlook and spirit are remarkably positive and admirable.Always in search of any insight I can muster regarding the true meaning of life, I asked Suzanne how she justified getting up every morning. She simply said it was all about the pleasure of knowing a new day had arrived and a true appreciation for life and the opportunity to serve others. And it was very clear her medical situation had great impact upon her feelings. I shared with Suzanne the thoughts and feelings of a man I worked with several years ago. Marty presented for an assessment because he was experiencing a good deal of depression and wanted to understand its origin, as well as learn how to manage it. Well, in the midst of the assessment I stopped everything, looked at Marty and asked, “What is it that’s really gnawing at you?” Marty survived a ruptured aortic aneurysm earlier in the year. Of course, he knew he really ought to be dead. And that was the problem. He wasn’t. And he couldn’t understand why he didn’t feel a deep sense of gratitude for his good fortune. Marty couldn’t experience what he expected to be a true sense of wonder and purpose upon awakening each and every morning; the very joy Suzanne experiences. And his dilemma was wearing him down. So here are two people alike in their immediate life experience, yet vastly different in the take away. One finds a zest for life, and the other is frustrated he can’t. I believe this contrast is a call to action for each of us to ponder what this thing called life truly means. What’s really the point? And I’m thinking a good place to start is to consider how we’d respond were we in Suzanne’s and Marty’s shoes. Hmmm.  Yes, I’m glad Suzanne and I hooked-up today…

Anxiety disorders can be extremely distressing for anyone who experiences them, and this is particularly true when anxiety strikes children and adolescents. Children and adolescents with anxiety disorders will commonly experience any number of specific symptoms, but they often have difficulty explaining the way they feel to their parents, teachers and other caregivers.  Irrational fear and worry is the chief intrinsic symptom, but without any explainable basis for this fear, children may be reluctant to voice their discomfort.  Fortunately, there are outward signs that adult caregivers can look for which may indicate the onset of a panic and anxiety disorder and signal the need for treatment.  Among these symptoms are:

Studies show that 1 out of every 10 children and teens will experience some form of problem anxiety.  These disorders, however, are not all the same.  Among the several different types of anxiety disorders are:

Relieving anxiety disorder in children can be a long and arduous task, but there is help available.  Besides prescription medication which can significantly help reduce the severity of symptoms, all of the following treatment steps can also be looked into:

If left untreated, children with panic and anxiety disorder will often have a difficult time expressing themselves and may even feel guilty for the trouble they are causing.  They feel “different” and will often shy away from interactions with their peers and adults alike.  What they need most of all is someone who will listen to them without judgment and assure them that everything will soon be okay.

There are many factors affecting the occurrence of anxiety disorder. Some people have a high tendency to have it because some members of their family already have it or their genes have it. For some people the disorder is a result of traumatic experiences and stressful events in their lives. Whatever the reason for the occurrence of this disorder, it is important to find a way to relieve anxiety attacks and live normally.People with anxiety disorder are experiencing intense fear with no logical reason. The fear is so intense that may result to trembling, dizziness, sweating, chest pain, difficulty breathing and the sense of losing grip of reality. These symptoms when experienced will make them more anxious and the anticipation of anxiety attacks makes them even more worried. If they cannot find a way to break this cycle and relieve anxiety attacks, it could torment their lives for years.Fear is a good thing when it makes us aware of the existing dangers and keeps us alert to do the right thing to save ourselves. But too much fear over something that does not exist is disabling and may prevent you from enjoying life. If you are living in constant fear and having anxiety disorder, you have to break free from it and learn how to relieve anxiety attacks. Here are some tips to relieve anxiety attacks: Relaxation and deep breathing. This is a good self-help to relieve anxiety attacks. Deep breathing using your diaphragm has a calming effect which helps relieve stress and anxiety. You can do it while sitting straight or standing. You can close your eyes if you want to and take your mind off from your worries. Inhale or breathe in through your nose with chest in abdomen out. Let your abdomen expand while you inhale and then exhale slowly. You will feel that your muscles are tensing up and you will be more relaxed. Surround yourself with calm and positive people. It will help to forget about your anxiousness if you can talk to people who are positive and calm. It is easier to get rid of your negative intrusive thoughts when there are people who can convince you that there is nothing to worry and nothing bad is going to happen. Take care of your health. Stress and poor health are some of the reasons for anxiety attacks. You should get enough sleep, eat healthy and exercise to relieve anxiety attacks. A well rested and nourished body and mind will make you more balanced and in control. Seek professional help. If you cannot handle your anxiety disorder on your own do not hesitate to seek help. It is a treatable disorder and you can be cured with the proper treatment that will work for you. There are different treatments to help relieve anxiety attacks. The most important thing is to find a treatment that will work for you. Did you know that panic attacks can be cured using simple mental strategies? To find out how visit Cure Anxiety and Panic DisorderTo know more about health remedies visit Great Discovery-Health and Beauty