Tune Your Nervous System and Lower Anxiety

Anxiety shivers are a common symptom of anxiety. Although not a formal clinical term, anxiety shivers refers to the experience of anxiety that might cause someone to shiver, shake, tremble, feel like they have the chills, or feel it is hard to regulate their body temperature. Anxiety shivers can be alarming, but are not dangerous, and go away on their own as your anxiety dissipates.

When you enter an unfamiliar social setting, does your heart start to pound and your palms begin to sweat? Are you worried about saying the wrong thing and embarrassing yourself?. Are you more focused on whether others are judging you than on the actual conversation? Do you try to make...

When we optimize our efforts to develop ourselves personally and in our relationships with others, we can feel a sense of being whole. When we are let down by people we trust, we may consider our feelings of anxiety, disappointment, and sadness as signs that we are broken. The artist...

CALGARY, Alberta — Too much screen time increases the risk of behavioral problems in kids such as ADHD, aggression, anxiety and depression, according to new research. Children are choosing electronic media over reading, playing and interacting with family and peers. Scientists at the University of Calgary say it is impacting their social development – leading to “internalizing” or “externalizing” behaviors.

For those with social anxiety disorder, everyday social interactions can cause significant impairment, fear, and self-consciousness. Signs include fear of being judged and avoiding social situations that may cause embarrassment. Clinical research has redefined social phobia as a form of paranoia. Feeling nervous in social situations is something we all...

Though helpful for cleaning and disinfecting, Lysol contains a number of harmful chemicals that can irritate your eyes, skin, and respiratory system.

Walking at a brisk pace for just 75 minutes every week could cut your risk of depression, a new study finds. The World Health Organization recommends everyone should exercise for at least two-and-a-half hours every seven days. But researchers at Cambridge University, England, found adults who got half as much...

MILLIONS of Brits have been urged to take up a rapid test to see if they have bowel cancer. The Health Secretary has called on men over 60 to make sure they have the life-saving checkups. It couldn't be easier - with a home testing kit on offer, or use...

Tragic events like wars, famines, earthquakes, and accidents create fearful memories in our brain. These memories continue to haunt us even after the actual event has passed. Luckily, researchers from Tokyo University of Science (TUS) have recently been able to understand the hidden biochemical mechanisms involved in the selective suppression of fearful memories, which is called fear extinction. The researchers, who had previously demonstrated fear extinction in mice using the chemically synthesized compound "KNT-127," have now identified the underlying mechanism of this compound's action. Their findings have been published recently in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Contrary to popular opinion, OCD is not a “behavioral quirk,” and is indeed a recognized disorder by the DSM-5. Though I am a former mental health professional with training in Psychology, I am not a doctor and I offer no medical advice or diagnosis herein. Please contact a currently practicing medical or mental health professional foranypotential issue related to this article that requires attention. Sources for this article include Wikipedia.org, TheGuardian.com, and The University of North Carolina’s Health Science Library.

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic disease of unknown origin, which is characterized by chronic pain and often accompanied by symptoms of depression. It mainly affects women, and there is no cure, but various treatments can help relieve the symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral psychological therapy has proven to be a useful tool in this...

We all hold three conscious and subconscious narratives, or stories, about ourselves that govern our interactions. Reflection on these stories gives you an opportunity for an honest assessment of your true self. Personal transformation requires introspection and the building of skills necessary to take action on the stories you uncover.

Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant drug that can cause serious health consequences. Long-term meth use can cause memory loss, aggression, drug-induced episodes, and severe dental problems. In the United States, the law classifies meth as a Schedule II drug, and about 2.6 million people reported using it in 2019. Meth...

If you have a niacin deficiency, depression is a possible side effect. But there’s no proof that taking niacin supplements can treat all types of depression. Different medical and life circumstances can cause depression — including not getting enough of the B vitamin niacin. But depression is a complex beast that can’t just be pinned on a niacin deficiency.

In a small study of healthy adults aged 55 and older, 5 mg of melatonin increased total sleep time compared to a placebo. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital conducted the study in 24 healthy, older adults to evaluate whether a high-dose or a low-dose melatonin supplement could improve sleep. The team found that the higher dose had a significant impact, increasing total sleep time compared to placebo by more than 15 minutes for nighttime sleep and by half an hour for daytime sleep. Results are published in the Journal of Pineal Research.

The fear of the experience of fear can bring about the very panic the person is seeking to avoid. Not everyone who has panic attacks has panic disorder. To help, a clinician must employ a series of interventions that can redirect the person's conscious attention during the feared situations. The...

Many people will be familiar with the dry mouth, intrusive thoughts, and fluttering heart and stomach that are the hallmarks of anxiety. Often a temporary, and completely natural reaction to threat, these responses can be helpful in certain situations, sharpening the mind and sending blood to where it is needed faster.

Complex relational trauma experiences closely resemble PTSD but are different in other ways, too. Complex relational trauma happens in the context of close attachment relationships, usually when there is an imbalance of power. Although the effects of these experiences can be significant, they can also be overcome. What is complex...

If you have ADHD, you may have trouble sitting still, but there are ways to harness fidgeting behaviors to help improve your focus. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can make it hard to focus and sit still. While doctors often diagnose ADHD in childhood, it can affect people of any age.

Social anxiety is one of the most common anxiety disorders. While your anxious brain tells you the only way to not feel anxious is to do things perfectly or not at all, it's important to take risks. It's OK to take baby steps, to take breaks to regroup, and to...