A myriad of people suffer from anxiety on a daily basis.

This demon lurks in the shadows waiting to pounce on its unsuspecting victims. The experience is different for everyone. Usually the anxiety manifests from depression.

Many of us are depressed and not even aware of it until this culprit has its way with us. The bottom line is ‘not to feed the fear’. Once you have had one of these experiences, the racing heart, sweaty palms and other various symptoms, waiting for the next scary, horrible feeling to revisit is enough cause for anxiety.

The ailments anxiety can cause can be endless; ulcers, TMJ disorder, chronic dizziness, headaches, muscle tension. Anxiety can cause many other related conditions and phobias, such as panic disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive compulsive disorder and other specific phobias. Don't let it take over your life. Take the necessary steps to ensure a healthy state of mind.

Telling yourself to be strong and not be fearful is easier said than done. Coping with this sometimes debilitating condition is a learned behavior. It takes time; therapy works over time for most people depending on the cause.

Relaxation techniques can be helpful such as meditation and yoga or massage therapy. Herbal remedies are available to ease symptoms. Nerval tonic tea and other herbs such as Valerian root, St. John’s Wort, Kava Kava. I’ve heard St. John’s Wort to be the most helpful. If you are going to use any herbal remedy, do some investigating first; certain foods can clash with these aids. There are many helpful books on the market, a great one I read is called 'Feeling Good Handbook' by David Burns. This book focuses on depression and anxiety. He gives many tips on how to change your way of thinking. There are self-help quizzes and an enormous amount of helpful information. You can also obtain books in audio cassette form, if you prefer not to do the reading. The helpful aids listed above are really just band-aids for the real problem. Generally, the problem is underlying in the mind. May be caused by a hormonal imbalance, mental or physical trauma.

It is admirable to try to fix anxiety disorder with these so-called 'band-aids.' It may work for some people, but the majority requires therapy and medication. Many people seem to avoid getting help until it is to late and they have ailments caused by anxiety.

The best way to get a grip on this culprit we call anxiety is to talk to your doctor. He or she will prescribe an anti-depressant. Once you find a drug best suited for your chemistry you will feel like a new person. It usually takes a few weeks for it to work and the side effects to subside, if any at all. You may find that you have to try a few different types of anti-depressants before you find the one right for you. It depends on your chemistry and certainly the dosage. Generally, physicians will start you with a low dosage to see how you react, then proceed with a regular maintenance dose.

Positive things have been said about the new drug called 'Paxil'. Apparently the side effects are minimal and it works quickly. If you feel that your anxiety is caused from a previous mental trauma, such as abuse definitely seek therapy. Anxiety is our body responding to a 'flight or fight reaction' and therapy can help us figure out what we are running from if it is an underlying problem. Always remember there is 'light at the end of the tunnel' A professionally trained therapist can assist you in dealing with this demon and help you feel whole again.