I like to talk about health benefits a lot. This is because I am a big believer that when your body and mind are healthy, it can help mental health disorders. Mental health is very dear and near to my heart as it is something I, myself struggle with. Within this society, it is not widely talked about, and therefore more often than not extremely misunderstood.
Two of the most common mental health disorders are anxiety and depression. Focusing on anxiety, it is a normal sensation many people feel but it can turn into something much more. Mayoclinic.org well explains this experience
“Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).
These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. You may avoid places or situations to prevent these feelings. Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood.”
The causes of anxiety disorders are hard to explain in some instances and automatically hard to understand in others. The most common reasons for panic attacks and intense anxiety have been scientifically proven to be from traumatic events which may trigger those anxiety disorders or panics in people who “are already prone to anxiety”.
Effects of Panic Attacks
When experiencing a panic attack, your heart rate will start to escalate causing the body to trigger your fight or flight response mechanism. This then can cause all kinds of unwanted stress on the body. One technique that has consistently proved helpful, is that of diaphragmatic breathing. Commonly overlooked, it aids in the production of lowering your heart rate, decreasing your breathing so you do not hyperventilate, and using less effort and energy to breathe.
Clevelandclinic.org shows ways that you can practice this exercise to help strengthen the diaphragm and give your body a sense of peace over time. Be patient with yourself and give yourself time to heal and breathe. Giving yourself a difficult time will only make you feel as though you are not being successful or doing enough. No matter what you will always be good enough. A Happy You is a Healthy You.
