Posted by Pamela Lynn on November 26, 2001, at 8:30:13
In reply to Re: What is Anxiety?, posted by petey on November 26, 2001, at 5:39:13
Dear Petey,
THANK YOU so very much for that advice. I will not only use it for my anxiety attacks, but for nights when I can't sleep and have to take a pill...the milk should work well then, I would think.
Thanks again, Petey.
P.L.
> > Holy Moly!!! Are you a doctor??? Wow, what an explanation!
> >
> > I don't know about other people out there, but my anxiety (panic) attacks can come CLEAR out of the blue-in fact they usually always do. I can be just like, sitting and watching a comedy on the tube and WAM I start to get an attack. My shrink told me it had something to do with the dopemine levels in my body, etc....(she started getting overly technical and I don't 'do' technical too well! LOL). I do remember the word dopemine though, in her technical answer to me.
> >
> > I-to date-have yet to come down from an anxiety attack on my own. I NEED my Xanax to help get me through, not alot of it mind you, just one little pill. I also do my breathing techniques that my awesome shrink has taught me to do.
> >
> > I don't have nearly as many of these attacks as I used to, but they are very, very 'unsettling' at best when they happen...and i'll be honest here, NO text book answers as to the 'why' of them happening makes me feel any better about them. I KNOW something happens to my body, that is obvious. I just want to get the heck over the attack as quick as possible, and pray that the next one will be further appart then the previous one was. I have to say, the anxiety happens first off, then the panic sets in...that is what happens to me. I think all people are different in so many ways and that we all deal differently with these 'attacks'. I envy the people who are tough enough to ride them out, so-to-speak, without taking a sedative, or something along those lines, to calm down!! Hopefully someday I will be anxiety attack free!
> >
> > P.L.
> >
> > > What you feel as anxiety is the body's fight or flight response to external stimuli as perceived by your thought. This is very important, and is anxiety is not a bad thing. Anxiety makes you more perceptive to your threat, more focused, and more physically able to respond to a threat. Anxiety and rage cause the same physiological response, increases in cortisol and adrenalin. Actually, increases in cortisol potentiate the release of adrenalin. This physiological responds directly to thought. When something that is going on around you causes you to think you are afraid or threatened, anxiety is the result. Adrenalin increases your metabolism providing more energy for muscular activity, allowing greater strength and endurance, as well as allowing cortisol to repair and mitigate bodily damage. Adrenalin also causes more directed focus, and minimizes external distractions so you can focus on that which threatens you. In man, this anxiety response takes on even more importance. Our increased cognitive function means that our survival instinct is not just animalistic, so the stress response gives you greater focus so you can focus on intellectual activities.
> > >
> > > However, there is a problem. Some people have higher than normal cortisol levels, so they have "mild" anxiety all the time. This higher baseline means the person's normal state of existance is more anxious than the average person. This has some benefits, it makes it less necessary for an initiation of the fight/flight response, so you get the added cognitive benefits of greater focus all the time. Until recently, this was a big bonus, and there was little time to relax and be calm. Life used the be hard. Females may also have higher than normal cortisol as this would provide greater vigilance in child rearing. Human females are often much more hypervigilant for their children than other mammals.
> > >
> > > It is the increase in adrenalin that causes the jitters associated with anxiety, and adrenalin increases in response to cortisol increases. Cortisol levels rise in response to lessened GABA-1 receptor activation. gamma-aminobutyric acid is the endogenous substance that binds to these receptors. Drugs, like valium are GABA-1 agonists, that is they bind to that receptor and activate its designed function. Antagonists bind to the receptor, but prevent other drugs or endogenous ones from binding to the site. Alcohol also binds to GABA receptor cites, but more of them, particular ones involved with thought which is why alcohol impairs cognition so much more.
> > >
> > > Gamma-aminobutyric acid rises in response to mu-1 opiod receptor agonists. Endorphins are endogenous opiod peptides created by the hypothalamus that are involved with pain/pleasure and thought. Other endorphins bind with other opiod receptors to mediate respiration and bowel movement, and other basic functions. The hypothalamus is the "primitive" part of the brain, located at the tip of the brain stem, and all mammals have one and are proportionately the same size. This is why it is involved with basic function, and mediate basic desire for food and sex. Sexual orgasm releases pleasure inducing endorphins, as well as strenuous physical activity, pain, eating, or happy thoughts. Opium, Morphine, heroin, and other derivatives work because they bind with the same receptors, thus the name opioid receptors. Morphine and the like actually bind indiscriminately to all receptors. Endorphins were so named by combining endogenous and morphine. Opiods in use today are not mu-1 site specific, so they cause respiratory suppression and relaxed bowel movement. In addition to being powerful anti-anxiety agents, they are effective for treating coughs and diaharea. As a drawback, overdoses can cause your respiration to cease causing death, and regular use will cause constipation.
> > >
> > > Amphetamines work in calming people because they are structurally similar to adrenalin, and bind to the same adrenal recepter sites. This tricks the whole stress response system, by making your body think there is enough adrenalin in you already and no more is necessary.
> > >
> > > All neuroreceptors become hyposensitive with continued exposure to agonists, meaning more will be required to exert the same effect. There is some evidence that continued exposure of large doses of neuroreceptor agonists cause the brain to reduce the number of receptor sites. After a prolonged period of agonist activity, neuroreceptors become hypersensitive when the agonist is removed, or an antagonist is introduced. An antagonist binds to the receptor but does not activate them and prevent agonists from binding to the site.
> > >
> > > So what does this mean for you? The easiest and safest thing to do is induce endogenous opiod release. The healthiest way to do this is to work out on a daily basis, doing anarobic activity like weight lifting. Eating heavily is a popular alternative, but can be detrimental to your health. Frequent sex can help a lot too. Many people feel sad after ending a sexual relationship because of reducing opiod levels.
> > >
> > > If those options are not effective, the drugs mentioned above can be prescribed or you can buy liquor. Valium and other benzodiazapines are very effective for anxiety, by blocking the increase in cortisol in response to stress. Anti-cortisol drugs are also in the works, and will be out sooner rather than later. If you live outside the United States, over the counter codeine products available from your pharmacist are pretty effective too. Codeine is an opiod, and is metabolized by your liver into morphine. If you are in the U.S., it is unlikely opiods will be an option, unless you buy them on the black market. Of all these, excessive eating or alcohol consumption are the most dangerous and will affect your health to your detriment. Pharmaceutical grade benzodiazapines and opiods are safe at recommended dosage.
> > >
> > > > The doctor today said I have a lot of anxiety and I didn't have the time to ask him.
> > > >
> > > > What exactly is anxiety and what are symptoms? and can someone give descriptions of what it feels like? I deal with quite a bit of mind torture. Every day is painful to be alive and it's a bit hard to sleep now. I am always worrying about my ex-fiance and things.
>
> Pamela Lynn,
> I used to have panic attacks come over me out of the blue, also. They are truley horrible! I haven't had one in over a year now. ( Thank God! ) But what I wanted to tell you is, when I was in the hospital, I had the worst panic attack ever. They had just given me my sleeping pill, so they didn't want to give me a tranqulizer on top of it. To get the med. to work faster, the nurse warmed me up some milk. She said that it would calm me down and that the warm milk would help to dissolve the pill faster so the attack would go away faster! It really worked! Within just a few minutes, I could feel myself starting to calm down! I just wanted to let you know so that next time you have an attack, maybe this will help you.Take care and God bless!
> Petey
poster:Pamela Lynn
thread:84880
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011123/msgs/85182.html