| If the '20's were known as "Roaring," the | | | | dry that are now flapping in the breeze, it |
| '60's were about "Flower Power," and the | | | | will send a message to the amygdala to "stand |
| '80's were the "Me Generation," then the | | | | down." The only problem with the system is |
| 2000's will go down as the "Age of Anxiety." | | | | that the Fear switch is much easier to turn |
| Even the June 10, 2002 cover of TIME Magazine | | | | on than it is to turn off. In fact, what |
| is entitled: "Understanding Anxiety: Now more | | | | scientists are beginning to learn is that |
| than ever, we are worrying ourselves sick!" | | | | some people have switches that are stuck in |
| It's true! About a third of my practice deals | | | | the "on" position (namely chronic sufferers |
| with what I am required by Texas State Law to | | | | from anxiety disorders, like panic attacks, |
| refer to as "habitual worry." (The term | | | | generalized anxiety, phobias, and |
| "anxiety" is reserved for the medical | | | | obsessive-compulsive disorder to name a few.) |
| profession... or preachers or lawyers!?) | | | | |
| | | | So what can you do if you're one of those |
| The TIME article goes on to state: (1) We | | | | people who suffer from "excessive fear and |
| live in a particularly anxious age. (2) Eight | | | | worry?" First, if you're reading this |
| months after the 9/11 crisis nearly | | | | magazine, you're probably not interested in a |
| two-thirds of Americans still think about the | | | | pharmaceutical approach. At best, |
| attack several times per week. (3) Nineteen | | | | anti-anxiety medications can help you |
| million Americans are affected by anxiety | | | | temporarily while you rebuild your adrenals |
| disorders, but less than 25 percent ever seek | | | | and the rest of your coping mechanism. If you |
| treatment. My own theory about why so few | | | | do decide to try pharmaceuticals, be sure to |
| seek help stems from the comments I hear from | | | | ask your physician lots of questions, and I |
| those who do show up, like "Oh, thank God! | | | | recommend reading the drug section of The |
| (when I tell them they are not alone) "I | | | | Anxiety and Phobia Workbook, by Edmund J. |
| thought I was going crazy!" Why are we as a | | | | Bourne, Ph.D. Many of these drugs have |
| nation so scared? And what can we do about | | | | serious side effects and some are highly |
| it? | | | | addictive. |
| | | | |
| First things, first. I believe a number of | | | | From what I've seen, what works best for each |
| factors play into the "excessive worry" | | | | person is highly individualized. So, I |
| epidemic. We are literally overloaded, | | | | usually suggest a multiple-prong approach: |
| bombarded, with information daily. This | | | | (1) Essential oils like lavender can have |
| "information crush" has the effect of short | | | | fairly instantaneous calming effects. A few |
| circuiting our own electrical systems. Then, | | | | drops in the bath or a foot soak or dabbed |
| too, people in general have less quiet time | | | | behind the ears work wonders. (2) Borrowing |
| and very few understand how to get it. | | | | from the Behaviorists, one of the best |
| Solitude acts as a safety valve to let off | | | | treatments "fearful" people can give |
| "excess information" steam. Exercise, | | | | themselves is usually the hardest for them to |
| especially meditative types like Yoga, Tai | | | | follow. To reduce anxiety and worry, remove |
| Chi, and Pilates, and solitary pursuits like | | | | as much disturbing stimuli as you can from |
| walking or running alone, can serve the same | | | | the environment. Change jobs or take a |
| purpose. | | | | vacation. Cut back on the amount of |
| | | | activities you try to cram into a week and |
| Processed foods-- really little more than | | | | get more sleep. Delegate. Ask for help. (3) |
| conglomerations of chemicals with refined | | | | Spend more time exercising. Exercise produces |
| sugar added-- also overload the central | | | | endorphins, nature's antidepressants. (4) |
| nervous system. (Review research at And, any | | | | Breathe--deeply. Oxygen is the #1 ingredient |
| toxins, including food additives, overload | | | | your body needs to survive and thrive. (5) |
| the liver and make it work harder to keep the | | | | Try the cognitive approach. Practice becoming |
| body functioning properly. More heavy demands | | | | aware of negative self talk and transforming |
| are made on the body by stress, which | | | | it to positives. According to Dr. Bourne, |
| overload the adrenal glands. Eventually the | | | | worriers tend to imagine the worst possible |
| body just wears out and the coping mechanisms | | | | scenarios all the time. |
| break down, sometimes completely. The body | | | | |
| processes "fear" in a two-phase approach. | | | | One of the best ways to change negative self |
| When fearful stimuli are perceived, one | | | | talk is at the subconscious level. My primary |
| circuit goes through the amygdala, otherwise | | | | tool is hypnosis. After all, all habits, |
| known as "fear central." The amygdala is the | | | | including the habit of being afraid, are |
| tiny almond shaped portion of the brain that | | | | stored in the subconscious mind. The |
| doesn't take time to discriminate or reason | | | | particular hypnotic techniques I use in |
| things out. It just sends out messages to the | | | | working with "excessive worriers" include: |
| "fight-or-flight" mechanism that say "Hey, | | | | releasing root causes; parts therapy |
| get us out of here!!" | | | | (negotiating with the fearful part and |
| | | | getting it to agree to relax); |
| And the body responds blindly. Digestion and | | | | desensitization to the fear producing |
| reasoning are shut down as blood is moved | | | | stimuli; anchoring a "safe feeling" button; |
| away from the brain and stomach and toward | | | | providing post hypnotic suggestions that work |
| the arms and legs so we can "run like crazy" | | | | automatically to keep the person calm; and |
| or stand up and fight. A second, slower route | | | | translogic, which helps move the anxious |
| is through the cerebral cortex. This portion | | | | thinking from the emotional right-brain to |
| of the brain takes time to analyze the | | | | the logical left brain. Once the person can |
| situation and come up with a game plan. If it | | | | begin to see the problem logically, they can |
| decides, for example, that the "ghost" was | | | | begin to take the actions to heal themselves. |
| only some sheets "Grandma" hung outside to | | | | |