Satit Limpongpan, chairman of the selection committee tasked with choosing the new board chairman of the Bank of Thailand, has confirmed the position will not have any influence on the central bank's monetary policy.

There are several evidence-backed ways of calming an anxious mind – from eating specific foods to adding certain exercises to your routine

What anxiety actually is has puzzled scientists for decades. Now we are starting to figure out how it may arise from miscommunication between the body and the brain

Surrounding ourselves with greenery can do wonders for our physical and mental wellbeing. Kathy Willis reveals just what kinds of plants are best for our brains and bodies, and why

Title: Soothe Back-to-School Anxiety, Teach Kids to Relax
Category: Health News
Created: 8/23/2009 8:10:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/24/2009 12:00:00 AM

Title: Anxiety Linked to a Need for More Personal Space
Category: Health News
Created: 8/29/2013 2:35:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 8/30/2013 12:00:00 AM

BackgroundIncident benzodiazepine prescriptions in primary care for anxiety decreased between 2003 and 2018. However, from 2008, incident prescribing of benzodiazepines for anxiety increased among those aged 18–34 years. There are increasing concerns around prescribing of benzodiazepines. Further, although guidelines state benzodiazepines should only be prescribed short term, in 2017, 44% of incident prescriptions were prescribed for longer than the recommended duration of 2–4 weeks.AimTo understand when and why GPs prescribe benzodiazepines for anxiety in young adults.Design and settingA qualitative study was undertaken using in-depth interviews with 17 GPs from 10 general practices in South West England.MethodInterviews were conducted by telephone or videocall. A topic guide was used to ensure consistency across interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and data analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsGPs described caution in prescribing benzodiazepines for anxiety in young adults, but thought they had an important role in acute situations. GPs described caution in prescribing duration, but some thought longer-term prescriptions could be appropriate. In light of these views, some GPs questioned whether primary care needs to revisit how clinicians are using benzodiazepines. GPs perceived that some young adults requested benzodiazepines and suggested this might be because they wanted quick symptom relief. GPs noted that refusing to prescribe felt uncomfortable and that the number of young adults presenting to general practice, already dependent on benzodiazepines, had increased.ConclusionPatient-driven factors for prescribing benzodiazepines suggest there are current unmet treatment needs among young adults with anxiety. Given increases in prescribing in this age group, it may be timely to revisit the role of benzodiazepines in the management of people with anxiety in primary care.

BackgroundBetween 2003 and 2018, incident prescriptions of beta-blockers for anxiety increased substantially, particularly for young adults. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance for anxiety does not recommend beta-blockers, probably due to a lack of evidence to support such use. Recent reports have highlighted the potential risks of beta-blockers.AimTo understand when and why GPs prescribe beta-blockers for people with anxiety.Design and settingIn-depth interviews with 17 GPs in Bristol and the surrounding areas.MethodInterviews were held by telephone or video call. A topic guide was used to ensure consistency across interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically.ResultsMany GPs viewed beta-blockers as ‘low risk’, particularly for young adults. Some GPs viewed beta-blockers as an alternative to benzodiazepines, acting quickly and not leading to dependence. GPs reflected that some patients appeared to want an ‘immediate fix’ to their symptoms, which GPs thought beta-blockers could potentially offer. This is salient in light of substantial waiting lists for talking therapies and delays in antidepressants taking effect. GPs described how some patients seemed more willing to try beta-blockers than antidepressants, as patients did not perceive them as ‘mental health drugs’ and therefore viewed them as potentially more acceptable and less stigmatising. Further, GPs viewed beta-blockers as ‘patient-led’, with patients managing their own dose and frequency, without GP input.ConclusionMany GPs believe that beta-blockers have a role to play in the management of anxiety. Given recent increases in the prescribing of these drugs in primary care, there is a need to assess their safety and effectiveness as a treatment for people with anxiety disorders.

Surrounding ourselves with greenery can do wonders for our physical and mental wellbeing. Kathy Willis reveals just what kinds of plants are best for our brains and bodies, and why

The Puerto Rican singer covers the latest issue of 'Out' magazine.

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Discover the calming power of a worry stone! Learn how this ancient tool relieves stress, boosts mindfulness, and promotes emotional balance through touch.

Lahore, Pakistan (AFP) Nov 13, 2024
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Scientific American staff and sleep experts share advice on how to get better sleep in the stressful days leading up to the U.S. presidential election—and those that come after

People are really stressed about the U.S. presidential election. A psychiatrist offers several self-help methods to reduce feelings of despair

Wearable devices like smart watches and health trackers can adversely affect health and increase medlinkanxiety/medlink among patients with irregular heart rhythm.

The present conceptualization of issues related to dental care-related fear and anxiety and its measurement across the lifespan is explored and presented

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Scientists have made a major breakthrough in neuroscience, developing a novel RNA-based nasal spray, COG-201, that has shown remarkable promise in improving

Remote video consultations with medlinkmental health/medlink specialists lead to a small yet meaningful improvement in symptoms of depression and anxiety (!--ref1--).

Mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, autism, and schizophrenia, are significant global health concerns. Researchers at Universite de

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Learn how educating type 1 diabetic adults about hypoglycemia may help to achieve better health through physical activity.

First Validated iPhone Medical Application for Depression and Anxiety

Discover effective, natural ways to manage stress and anxiety from the comfort of your home. 

Over 1,061 tonnes of the 22,000 tonnes harvested this season has been procured so far. Yet, the farmers have received no payments

During the pandemic, 23 million American households adopted a pet. But now that owners are leaving animals home alone to go to work, are pets stressing out? Veterinarian Dr. Molly McAllister draws insights from data collected from hospitals and pet visits in 2021 to determine just how our pets may be feeling once we leave our homes.

Anxiety, depression and social adjustment are challenges several students face in college. How can one resolve these issues?

Our weekly roundup of books that should be on your radar.

Teenagers who feel part of a school community and enjoy good relations with their parents and teachers are more likely to perform better academically and be happier with their lives, according to the first OECD PISA assessment of students’ well-being.

His compelling portrayal of a young man in an intense, awkward relationship is setting the screen alight in Normal People.

His compelling portrayal of a young man in an intense, awkward relationship is setting the screen alight in Normal People.

The journey of getting used to a new way of life -- without domestic help, without the necessity of dressing up to step out and just staying cooped up indoors -- has been out of the ordinary, equal parts good, bad and ugly.

A spike in texts and calls to crisis hotlines reflects Americans' growing anxiety about the coronavirus and its impact on their lives.; Credit: Richard Bailey/Getty Images

Normally, Laura Mayer helps the most acutely suicidal callers find the nearest hospital emergency room. But in a pandemic, that has become a crisis counselor's advice of last resort.

"It's a difficult decision because we do know that by sending them into an overburdened health care system, they may or may not get the treatment that they need," says Mayer, who is director of PRS CrisisLink in Oakton, Va., which also takes calls for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. "The resources may or may not be there, and we're exposing them to the illness."

So instead, counselors are devoting more time to each caller, offering ad hoc therapy and coaxing them to talk through their pain. These days, that pain often has many sources: lost jobs, severed relationships and sick family.

"The type of call and the seriousness of the call is very different this year than it was in previous years," Mayer says. "There's environmental issues, internal issues, family issues. ... It's never one thing."

America's crisis centers and hotlines are themselves in crisis. As people grapple with fear, loneliness and grief, on a grand scale, those stresses are showing up at crisis hotlines. Not only are the needs greater, but their clients' problems are more acute and complex and offer a window into the emotional struggles Americans face.

Across the board, hotlines of all kinds are reporting increases in volume.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration saw a fivefold increase at its National Helpline in March. The Crisis Text Line says its volumes are up 40% in the pandemic, to about 100,000 conversations a month.

Volunteer counselors and good Samaritans are responding by lining up to help.

But Mayer says the heaviness takes its toll. Those offering this kind of support end up needing support themselves.

"This illness is starting to impact each of our crisis workers and counselors themselves personally," she says. "So everyone is kind of a client right now, and that's been really challenging."

Nancy Lublin, CEO and co-founder of the Crisis Text Line, says she is bracing for sustained need. "This echo of the physical virus, the mental health echo, we fear it's going to last a very long time and that the intensity will remain," she says.

Over the last two months, the focal point of the emotional pain has shifted, she says. Initially, the spike in traffic was over anxiety about the virus itself. That shifted to complaints of isolation. Now, texters talk of depression and grief.

"So we've doubled the number of conversations that are about grief, and there the top two words that we see are 'grandma' and 'grandpa,' " she says.

And it's no longer just young people texting. Adults are complaining of loneliness, sexual abuse and eating disorders.

"As the quarantines go on and continue, we're seeing it's the people over the age of 35 who are increasing at a higher percentage of our volume," Lublin says. "For the first time, we're seeing people over the age of 60 texting us."

Texting is an ideal medium, she says, for those stuck at home with no personal space: "You don't have to find a quiet space where no one else can hear you."

And for some, that might be the only form of escape. The text line has seen a 74% increase in references to domestic violence. "We see words like 'trapped' [and] 'hurt,' " says Lublin.

Many shelters have shut down, and some of those in-person centers, including the Salvation Army in Philadelphia, now rely on their own hotlines instead.

Arielle Curry, director of the Salvation Army's anti-human trafficking program, says many of her clients can't afford cell phones and have lost touch; those who remain in contact are in dire straits, searching for a shorter supply of money or drugs, and are often suicidal. Curry says addressing those acute emotional needs by phone is frustrating; sometimes she doesn't even know where they are and can't send help to intervene.

"You can't ... comfort someone and look them in their eyes and support them face-to-face," she says. That makes it hard, Curry says, not to feel helpless and hopeless herself.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

People who are annoyed by environmental noise are also more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, a new, large-scale study from Germany suggests. The results do not prove that noise causes mental health issues but suggest a possible link, which the study’s authors are exploring further. Of all the types of noise considered in the study, aircraft noise was reported to be the most annoying.

Exercise has been proven to help those with anxiety issues.

In a new study, participants who paid attention to their physical and mental feelings showed small but meaningful reductions in anxiety, depression and pain.

"It's 'Just' Anxiety," a film by Susan Polis Schutz, shows how the mental health issue manifests itself in various people and how they treated it successfully.

These anxiety-fighting techniques may seem simple, but they can help keep that creeping sense of panic at bay.

This article provides information about anxiety during pregnancy and also gives the factors that may lead to rigorous stress during pregnancy. Here you can learn how to deal with the situation in a better way while pregnancy.

Anxiety Do you often find yourself stressed out because of certain misfortunes of the past or uncertainty of future? How frequently do you feel a pang of an unpleasant emotion in anticipation of some ill- defined calamity? If very often it is time for you to realize that you are suffering from some anxiety disorder that causes innumerable psychological and physical tribulations.

This article provides information about how to handle the performance anxiety. It also gives information about symptoms and treatments of anxiety.

A new paper in CRANIO Journal explains how the Sphenopalatine Ganglion is a common thread linking these disorders. Self-Administration of SPG Blocks and Neuromodulation on the Ganglion can dramtically improve patients quality of life.

There aren't many government SCUBA divers-turned-pop-artists-turned-film-composers who battled panic attacks, looked for audio to help quell the anxiety, and composed a stunning album in an abandoned mountain town in Greece as the solution.

Dr. Holstein is a Positive Psychologist/filmmaker and originator of a unique Selfie Film concept. She is accepting Selfie Films submissions from the public for the "Selfie Showcase".

Dr. Holstein is an award winning Selfie Filmmaker, Positive Psychologist and podcaster who helps young people overcome anxiety and alienation through multiple media channels.