Tag Archives: Stress And Anxiety

addiction

Group therapy direct benefits

July 16, 2016
Group therapy direct benefits

Group therapy direct benefits are very essential and gives hope to the patients

Group therapy direct benefits: What can group therapy help with?

When complications resulting from substance abuse sets in, life can sometimes become unbearable to the affected individual. There are several therapies that can be applied as means of treatment for such patients a group therapy is just one of them. Doctor Dalal Akoury who is an addiction expert and has been offering lasting addiction solutions to many people across the globe for over two decades now registers that group therapy can technically be applied to a variety of approaches and a variety of concerns, there are certain areas that group therapy direct benefits may  be quite ideal. Like for instance, the following are some of the fields, where group therapy direct benefits can actually be realized:

  • Substance abuse and addiction
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Eating disorders
  • Schizophrenia and Obsessive compulsive disorders
  • Self-harm and Relationship difficulties

Group therapy direct benefits: Substance abuse and addiction

This is one of the situation where group therapy direct benefits counts the most. Keeping a strong support network is very fundamental when it comes to the elimination of addiction. Getting to know the experiences of other people in the same situation is very effective in helping victims of addiction cope with their conditions. Besides group therapy also enables victims to learn new skills and uncovering how their behaviors can impact other people. All these are very helpful tools in your journey to overcoming addiction.

Anxiety and depression

For people suffering with anxiety, getting out and interacting with those who understand can be helpful. Knowing you aren’t alone in your feelings and hearing how others manage their anxiety can be very helpful in social skill development. Besides that, those dealing with depression may find themselves feeling vulnerable and isolated. Getting out of the house and talking to others is always useful and in a group therapy session it can be even more so.

Eating disorders

For some people, the support network created by group therapy can aid recovery from an eating disorder. For others however, it can be counterproductive. If you find that you are comparing yourself to others in the group (for example their weight or size) it may be worth seeking individual therapy instead.

Group therapy direct benefits: Schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder

Being alone with your own thoughts during times of anxiety can trigger symptoms when you suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder. Speaking to others who understand your feelings and behaviors can help you understand your condition better. Group therapy direct benefits for those with schizophrenia will depending on the severity of the condition. It can be helpful to reach out to others who experience similar symptoms to yourself, and learning more about the disorder can help you understand your own thoughts better.

Self-harm and relationship difficulties

If you find it difficult to forge and maintain relationships, attending group therapy could help. Remember that being around other people on a regular basis help you to develop interpersonal and social skills which you can practice outside of your sessions. Hearing how others cope with their problems, including practical tips you may not have thought of, can also be incredibly helpful. His list may not be exhaustive and therefore you can always schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury for more professional assistance.

Group therapy direct benefits: What can group therapy help with?

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Understanding anxiety disorders

July 11, 2016
Understanding anxiety disorders

Understanding anxiety disorders and for sure it will never be business as usual when severe anxiety sets in an individual’s life.

Understanding anxiety disorders: The ever increasing rise of anxiety

It will never be business as usual when severe anxiety sets in an individual’s life. According to the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, MD anxiety disorders is a serious health risk that ranges from feelings of discomfort to devastating sessions of terror. This can further be complicated if the individual is using alcohol or drugs. Available statistics according to Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) up to 40 million adults in America alone are either affected directly or indirectly by anxiety. Just for you to take preventive measures, it will interest you to not that when you spend most of your time for the last six months worrying excessively about your daily activities or problems, then you could be harboring anxiety.

Because of what anxiety can do in your life, doctor Akoury advices that when offering treatment for anxiety disorders, it must be wholesome to address all the conditions that come along with other disorders like depression, eating disorders, substance abuse and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). That is why when you visit us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we professionally offer an all-inclusive treatment program to help you not only with your anxiety disorders but also other co-occurring issues symptoms by addressing all the underlying challenges like trauma and develop healthy coping skills. With that said it is important that you are well informed of some of the symptoms of this problem.

Understanding anxiety disorders: Signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders

It’s normal for people to experience occasional anxiety due to life circumstances or stressors, but prolonged, intensive episodes of anxiety are indicative of a problem that needs professional medical and behavioral attention. Symptoms of anxiety disorders may vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder, but generally include the following:

  • Continuous self-doubt and questioning every action or decision made
  • Difficulty in staying focused
  • Problem with swallowing
  • Digestive complications similar to irritable bowel syndrome
  • Excessive nervousness or obsessing over one’s performance in social situations or when speaking or performing in public, both before and after the event
  • Excessive worry that interferes with everyday life
  • Feeling out of breath without physical exertion
  • Headaches
  • Hot flashes
  • Inability to alleviate concerns even with knowledge that the situation does not call for the intense level of anxiety
  • Inability to relax
  • Insomnia and/or difficulty staying asleep
  • Irrational fears or phobias
  • Bad temper
  • Muscle tension, aches, trembling or twitching
  • Vomiting
  • Panic attacks
  • Sweating

Understanding anxiety disorders: Anxiety disorder treatment

Finally doctor Akoury agrees that, professionally in understanding anxiety disorders, it is important that treatment should be tailored to each patient’s specific type of anxiety problem, their individual physical and psychological make-up and situation, and any co-occurring disorders and underlying issues such as trauma. At our health facility, we have established that the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders include cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback to control muscle tension. Besides that upon evaluation of your situation, we will also where necessary apply anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and antidepressants which can also be very helpful for your speedy healing. If therefore you’re struggling with anxiety, you can call us today and we will professionally address your problem effectively.

Understanding anxiety disorders: The ever increasing rise of anxiety

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The dangers of stress and anxiety in addiction

June 24, 2015

The dangers of stress and anxiety in addiction: Why this association must be discouraged

The dangers of stress and anxiety in addiction

The dangers of stress and anxiety in addiction are real and not to be taken lightly

For a couple of times we have been discussing the effects of stress, depression and anxiety in relation to substance abuse and we were able to look at certain health conditions including, cancer, heart diseases, stroke and the effect of these problems on immunity. From the study, it was very evident that stress is a very long bridge that connects the body to various illnesses. Without leaving any stone unturned, we want to progress on that discussion sighting the dangers of stress and anxiety in addiction. Our focus is going to be on the following health conditions:

  • Gastrointestinal Problems
  • Eating and Stress
  • Diabetes
  • Pain
  • Sleep Disturbances
  • Sexual and Reproductive Dysfunction
  • Memory, Concentration, and Learning

These are not conditions that anyone would wish to associate with more so when the individual is also struggling with drug addiction of any level. I know that a lot is being done to salvage the situation and the prevalence of addiction, but even as those efforts are being made, what is you individual contribution to those efforts? If you put substance abuse aside for a while you realize that these listed health conditions are not friendly to humanity yet they are much more resonated by stress, depression, anxiety and drug addiction. On our part as professionals from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, we are working with like minded people in this fight against the scourge of addiction. We would wish that if we are to win this fight, then we all need to pool together and join forces to deliver the much needed victory to ourselves, families and the society. Therefore if you are struggling with any of the conditions named, you may want to start the journey by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery.

The dangers of stress and anxiety in addiction: Gastrointestinal Problems

The brain and intestines are closely related, and are controlled by many of the same hormones and parts of the nervous system. Indeed, some research suggests that the gut itself has features of a primitive brain. It is not surprising then that prolonged stress can disrupt the digestive system, irritating the large intestine and causing diarrhea, constipation, cramping, and bloating. Excessive production of digestive acids in the stomach may cause a painful burning.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Irritable bowel syndrome (or spastic colon) is strongly related to stress. With this condition, the large intestine becomes irritated, and its muscular contractions are spastic rather than smooth and wave-like. The abdomen is bloated, and the patient experiences cramping and alternating periods of constipation and diarrhea. Sleep disturbances due to stress can make irritable bowel syndrome even worse.

Peptic Ulcers – It is now well established that most peptic ulcers are caused by H. pylori bacteria or the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications (such as aspirin and ibuprofen). Nevertheless, studies still suggest that stress may predispose a person with H. pylori to ulcers.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Although stress is not a cause of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), there are reports of an association between stress and symptom flare-ups.

The dangers of stress and anxiety in addiction: Eating and Stress

Stress can have varying effects on eating problems and weight like for example:

Weight Gain – Often stress is related to weight gain and obesity. Many people develop cravings for salt, fat, and sugar to counteract tension. As a result, they gain weight. Weight gain can occur even with a healthy diet, however, in some people who are exposed to stress. In addition, the weight gained is often abdominal fat, which increases the risk of diabetes and heart problems.

The release of cortisol, a major stress hormone, appears to boost abdominal fat and may be the primary connection between stress and weight gain. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid. These hormones, along with insulin, appear to be responsible for stress-related food cravings. Evidence suggests that hormonally induced cravings for “comfort foods” may have a biological benefit for managing stress. Eating comfort foods appears to reduce the negative hormonal and behavioral changes associated with stress, which might lessen the impact of stress on an individual. Carbohydrates in particular may increase levels of tryptophan and large neutral amino acids. This leads to more production of the chemical messenger serotonin, which might improve mood and performance under stress.

There may be a “reward-based stress eating” model. In this theory, stress and tasty, high-calorie foods cause the brain to make chemicals called endogenous opioids. These neurotransmitters help protect against the harmful effects of stress by slowing activity of a brain process called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, thus weakening the stress response. Repeated stimulation of the reward pathways through stress-induced HPA stimulation, eating tasty food, or both, may lead to changes in the brain that cause compulsive overeating.

Research findings indicate that overeating may be triggered by different stressors in men and women. However women tend to put on extra pounds when dealing with financial and work problems, as well as strained family relationships. Men gain more weight from lack of decision authority at work and difficulty in learning new skills on the job.

Eating Disorders – Chronically elevated levels of stress chemicals have been observed in patients with anorexia and bulimia. Some studies, however, have not found any strong link between stress and eating disorders. More research is needed to determine whether changes in stress hormones are a cause or a result of eating disorders.

The dangers of stress and anxiety in addiction: Diabetes

Stress can exacerbate existing diabetes by impairing the patient’s ability to manage the disease effectively. Therefore when stress management is becoming a problem to you, then you stand a greater risk of contracting some of these health conditions we have discussed and even those that we are yet to discuss. I don’t know what you may be going through but if this article is describing your situation then you need not to lose hope because help is right before you. The formation of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center was intended for you. Take this opportunity and call 843 213 1480 doctor Akoury today for professional advice on all that you may be going through in relation to the dangers of stress and anxiety in addiction and she will be able to help you in the most professional way to have your life and comfort back.

The dangers of stress and anxiety in addiction: Why this association must be discouraged

 

 

 

 

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Handling Anxiety and Fear by Cancer Patients

April 30, 2015

Handling Anxiety and Fear by Cancer Patients: Panic attacks and cancer

Handling Anxiety and Fear by Cancer Patients

Handling Anxiety and Fear by Cancer Patients will go along way in offering lasting solutions to cancer treatment

Every time we are faced with any life threatening situation, we become depressed, fearful and our anxiety level goes up. This is common with people because it is inbuilt. The problem often becomes more complicated when we fail to be calm and panic in the process. Like for instance, the news about cancer infection can be very lethal on the part of the patient especially when they were not prepared of the possibilities of being cancerous. The luck of preparedness is the major cause of the greatest portion of fear and anxiety. Besides this, the fear of treatment, frequent visit to the doctor’s clinic and tests might also cause apprehension. Because of the impact attributed to these feelings, we want to discuss the best ways of handling anxiety and fear by cancer patients in the present generation.

According the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury’s care, it’s normal to feel afraid and scared when you’re sick. Like for instance people may be afraid of hysterical pain, dying, or the aftermath of death, including what might happen to loved ones. These same feelings may be experienced by family members and friends as well. It is therefore very important that we are aware of what signs that will indicate the presence of such fears and anxieties. The following are some of the signs and symptoms of fear and anxiety

  • Portraying anxious facial expression
  • Hysterical worry
  • Difficulties in solving problems and focusing thoughts
  • Muscle tension
  • Quivering or trembling
  • Restlessness, may feel keyed up or on edge
  • Dehydrated mouth
  • Irritability or angry outbursts

Doctor Akoury recommends that when an individual is showing majority of these signs daily, and they are causing interference with their lives, then at this point a mental health evaluation could be helpful. Under these circumstances you can be very instrumental in advising the patients by observing the following.

Handling Anxiety and Fear by Cancer Patients: What to do

  • Polite encouragement to share the experience.
  • Share feelings and fears that you or the anxious person may be having.
  • Listen carefully to each other’s feelings. Offer support, but don’t deny or discount feelings.
  • Remember that it’s OK to feel sad and frustrated.
  • Get help through counseling and from support groups.
  • Use meditation, prayer, or other types of spiritual support if it helps.
  • Embrace deep breathing and relaxation exercises. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, focus on each body part and relax it, start with your toes and work up to your head. When relaxed try to think of a pleasant place such as a beach in the morning or a sunny field on a spring day.
  • Talk with a doctor about using anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medicines.

Handling Anxiety and Fear by Cancer Patients: Do not

  • Make effort to argue with a person whose fears and anxieties are severe instead consult with a doctor on the kind of medications to help.
  • Keep feelings inside.
  • Persuade one who is not willing to open up and talk to do so.
  • Blame yourself or another person for feeling fearful or anxious.

Handling Anxiety and Fear by Cancer Patients: Panic attacks

Panic attacks can be an alarming symptom of anxiety. Panic attacks happen very suddenly and often reach their worst in just about 10 minutes. The victim may seem fine between the attacks but is usually very afraid that they will happen again. The following are some of the symptoms of panic attack.

Handling Anxiety and Fear by Cancer Patients: Symptoms of a panic attack
  • Shortness of breath or a feeling of being smothered
  • Running heart
  • Feelings of dizziness, unstable, lightheaded, or faint
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Feeling as if they’re choking
  • Quivering or trembling
  • Sweating
  • Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
  • An urge to escape
  • Impassiveness or tingling sensations
  • Feeling “unreal” or “detached” from themselves
  • Chills (shaking or shivering) or hot flashes (may involve sweating or facial reddening)

If a person is having any of the first 5 symptoms or any five for that matter, it can mean an urgent or life-threatening condition. In this case the presence of a doctor would be required right away to attend to the patient if someone unexpectedly has any of these. It is also very important to note that these symptoms can be signs of other, more serious problems such as shock, heart attack, blood chemistry imbalance, collapsed lung, allergic reaction and many other chronic conditions. Therefore it’s not safe to make an assumption that they are panic-related until are diagnosed and confirmed by a doctor.

Handling Anxiety and Fear by Cancer Patients: What to do
  • Check with the doctor to be sure that the symptoms are caused by panic and not another medical problem.
  • Stay calm and speak softly during a panic attack.
  • Sit with the person during panic attacks until he or she is feeling better.
  • Call for help if needed.
  • After the panic attack is over, encourage the person to get treatment for the panic attacks.
  • Provide transportation to treatment if needed. The person may be afraid that a panic attack will happen while driving.
  • The ideas listed under “What to do” in the section “Anxiety and Fear” may also be helpful.

Handling Anxiety and Fear by Cancer Patients: Do not

  • Minimize or make light of the person’s terror or fear.
  • Judge the person for feeling scared and acting strangely.
  • Try to talk the person out of their fear or other feelings.
  • Hesitate to call the doctor if you have questions about what’s happening.

Finally for us to win the good health back, we must ensure that we change our attitude towards anxiety and fear more so when it comes to handling cancer patients. Everything we do will matter a lot in the healing process of the cancer patients. Therefore seeking for treatment in good time and from experience and qualified doctors will be the best you can do for yourself. Doctor Dalal Akoury is one of such professionals you can contact for any health conditions you have that is cancerous. Make the best decision today and schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury for a life changing treatment that will give you your life back enjoying it to the fullest.

Handling Anxiety and Fear by Cancer Patients: Panic attacks and cancer

 

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Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life!

December 6, 2012

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life!

Stress and anxiety are common feelings experienced around the holidays.  The holidays can be a time of joy and celebration, but are also a potential source of stress. You may feel there is too much to do in too little time. Overspending or not being able to spend what you would like will also cause stress. Stress and anxiety can affect your health by causing you to overeat. The AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center team recommend that you avoid constant stress by meditating and avoid excess caffeine to help hold back anxiety. Do a little planning and have a positive mindset. Learn to cope and manage your stressors and live a longer, healthy life.

Dr. Dalal Akoury suggests some ways to reduce your stress is through meditation, exercise and diet. Learn to meditate through yoga. Take a deep breath and listen to soothing music. Exercise and take a walk. Stretch your muscles and help them relax. Watch your diet. Don’t over eat those high-fat and high-

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life!

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life!

sugar foods. Eat a heart-healthy diet to help you to manage your stress.

 

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life! Stress is normal. It is a person’s physiological and psychological response to events when threatened. Your body reacts with a rapid, automatic process known as the stress response or “fight or flight”. “This is the way your body reacts to protect itself by helping you to be focused and alert” Dr. Dalal Akoury explains from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. In everyday life or emergencies, the stress response helps you to meet challenges or can save your life. Your body’s stress-response system is self-regulating and allows your body to return to normal once the perceived threat has passed.

However, stress can cause major damage to your health if it is constant. Chronic stress is caused by excessive worry, poor decisions and procrastination affecting stress hormone adrenaline and cortisol production. It can cause affect your mood, your productivity, your relationships and your overall health. It can cause addictions, depression, obesity, diabetes, hypertension,

heart disease, pain and sleep disorders. You need to be able to reduce your stress to save your health.

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life! Your body releases a flood of adrenaline, cortisone and other stress hormones that induce physiologic changes. Your blood races to your brain and heart and causes your heart to pound faster and your blood pressure to rise, which can cause hypertension when in excess. You start to breathe more rapidly and your blood sugar level rises.  Since your blood races to your brain and heart, it moves away from your kidneys, liver, stomach and skin and decreases the production of white blood cells which is needed to fight virus-infected cells, foreign cells and cancer cells if it remains constant. As your blood sugar rises, so do the amounts of fats and bad cholesterol, which can cause diabetes and heart disease if it remains high. Stress causes system-wide changes in your body and will alter your immune system if it is not under control explains Dr. Dalal Akoury .

 Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life! Take control. As adrenaline and cortisol levels drop, so does your heart rate and blood pressure. Your body returns to its normal state and all your body’s systems resume their regular activities.

Stress is not meant to be continuous. It has to be minimal. But if stressors in your life are always present and you are constantly feeling stressed, your body will not be able to function as it should, therefore, causing health issues.

You can reverse the stress cycle through relaxation. This positive reaction will lower your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate and blood sugar levels. There are a number of stress reduction techniques like taking a bubble bath, a walk or meditation. It is important to learn healthy ways to cope with the stressors in your life.

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life!

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life!

 

Reduce Your Stress 

and Live a Long Healthy Life by the team of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center!

Exercise is an excellent way to deal with stress. It can be walking, meditation, yoga stretching, etc. Exercise at least three to four times a week for at least 30 minutes.  Any activity that raises your heart rate and makes your sweat will improve your mood, increase your energy, improve your focus and relax your mind and body.

Dr. Dalal Akoury  explains that Yoga and meditation not only increases your flexibility and improves your muscle tone, it also increases your concentration and lessens stress. Meditation helps you to focus your mind and feel relaxed. Deep breathing increases your blood flood throughout your body with extra oxygen and an improved sense of well-being.

Learn to cope with the stressors in your life in a positive way and have self-control. Find time for yourself.  Continue to exercise and make good choices about other important health related behaviors such as sleep and nutrition.

Eat a healthy diet to maintain an even level of blood sugar so you won’t over eat. Low blood sugar can make you feel anxious and irritable and cause you to eat the first thing you see. High blood sugar will make you feel tired and lazy and less focused. This swing in blood sugar will affect your mood and cause your stress. Eat small and frequent healthy foods throughout the day to maintain an even level of blood sugar and avoid those swings in your mood.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and the Omega-3’s, fish oils. Fish oil helps stabilize your mood and reduces your stress.

Dr. Dalal Akoury  recommends that you get plenty of rest to Reduce Your Stress. Having uncontrollable stress in your life can cause insomnia and lower your immune system leaving you vulnerable to illnesses. When you are well rested, your mind is alert, you have more control and your body’s immune system is stronger to cope with stress.

Managing stress is a peace of mind and a longer, healthier life at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life!

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