Anxiety is a complex combination of the feeling of fear, apprehension and worry often accompanied by physical sensations such as palpitations, chest pain and/or shortness of breath. It may exist as a primary disorder or may be associated with other medical problems including other psychiatric disorders.

A chronically recurring case of anxiety that has a serious affect on your life may be clinically diagnosed as an anxiety disorder. The most common are Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, phobias, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Overview

The acute symptoms of anxiety are often controlled with sedatives such as the benzodiazepines. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) have been successfully used to treat patients with chronic anxiety. Howevere there are concerns about sedetaives’side effects, especially if they are taken for a long period of time. Behavioral and cognitive therapy are the most popular and most effective forms of psychotherapy used to treat anxiety. Exercise and other physical activities are thought to relieve stress and anxiety as well.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Practitioners of homeopathy recommend different remedies depending on what triggers the depression. Ayurvedics believe that hurt feelings are physically stored in the body, thus teach a method to release those feelings that create depression. Nutritionists recommend foods that raise serotonin levels in your brain, mimicking certain pharmaceuticals. Qinese medicine uses a combination of acupuncture and herbs to lift the spirit. Follow the links to find out more.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

According to Traditional Chnese medicine, an imbalance of Qi in a particular meridian or organ (zang/fu) can cause physical, mental, and emotional symptoms.

When emotions are held over long periods of time, or when they result from a particularly stressful or traumatic event, they can become causes of illness. Emotions also can result from an imbalanced flow of Qi. Thus, emotions can be the cause or the symptom of a disorder.

For example, prolonged anger may damage the energetic sphere of the liver, the organ with which it is associated with. On the other hand, an imbalance in the energetic sphere of the liver may result in your feeling either constant anger or the inability to feel anger. This is because each emotion affects the flow of Qi in a different way. When you are angry, the Qi rises to the neck and shoulders. When you are fearful, the Qi descends to the feet. We experience a sinking feeling when we are afraid. When we are angry, our neck and shoulders tightens.

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs are very effective therapies for the treatment of anxiety disorders. For example acupuncture redirects your Qi into a more balanced flow. It provides support to the underlying energetic spheres affected by your anxiety, helping to resolve the cause or effects of your stress.

Chinese Herbs fortify the spleen and supplement the heart, nourishes the blood and quiet the spirit. However, a therapy and treatment principles can be chosen only according to the very specific condition of the pacient.

Bibliography

http://health.discovery.com/centers/althealth/anxietydepression.html#chin
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic35.htm
http://holisticonline.com/Remedies/Anxiety/anx_home.htm