AnxietyBusters.Com Blog

Stress depletes Serontonin levels. Serotonin is a regulating chemical manufactured by the body and affords us a sense of well being. It allows us to maintain good sleep, body temperature, sexual interest, feelings of ease with ourselves and the world, and even appetite.  
 
When stress depletes Serotonin one may experience:
 
Anxiety (sensitization) Panic Attacks
Depression
Depersonalization (fogginess and confusion)
OCD
Poor Memory
Weight Difficulties (sugar cravings)
Insomnia (sleep disorders)
Phobias
Chronic Fatigue
Low Self Esteem and Plummeting Self-Confidence
Body Aches, Pains and Temperature Changes
Stomach Problems, Gastric Distress
Headaches
Personality Changes
Sensitivity (over-reactive) Anger, Irritability, Negativity
Withdrawn (less talkative, introspective, unsociable)
Racing Thoughts (thinking becomes negative)
Lowered Emotions (sense of numbness emotionally…unsure of feelings)
Health Worries (Worse Case Scenario Thinking), Major illness fears.
Impulsive Decision Making
OCD Behaviors
Overwhelmed by small issues
All or Nothing Thinking (small scratch seems to be major illness: overreaction)
Enhanced Worries: Fear of being exposed to radon in the past, lead or mercury.
Carbohydrate Cravings (sweets, breads, cakes, pasta, candy, chips)
 
 
If you experience any or many of these symptoms, you may be experiencing LOW SEROTONIN LEVELS. This is not an indication or need for medication. Do not fall into this trap.  
 
You can simply boost serotonin levels by learning to eat the proper foods at the appropriate time. Some foods will work for you and others not. There is a definite way of aiding your body (by nutrition) and helping it manufacture and release serotonin levels.  
 
You will immediately notice a change in the way you think, feel and react. This is the time of year when many experience lower serotonin levels.  
 
Call us for the Nutrition Plan which BOOSTS Serotonin Levels instantly to eliminate these intrusive symptoms.  
 
If you have further questions or would like to schedule and appointment, CALL US!
 
Best wishes,  
 
Dr. Ronnie Freedman
 
Anxiety BUSTERS!
http://www.anxietybusters.com
The Mind-Body Connection for Peace of Mind
drfreedman@anxietybusters.com
Call Toll-Free: 1-800-670-HOPE  
WE WELCOME YOUR CALLS!
 
 

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The mind and body are so closely related that it is often difficult to decipher where one ends and the other begins. In fact, most of our strong emotions are experienced in the unconscious rather than the conscious mind.

TMS or Mind Body Syndrome means your brain is producing anxiety symptoms in an effort to distract you from unpleasant and stronger emotions, such as anger. These emotions remain in the unconscious and are so difficult to face, that the brain creates a DISTRACTION…AND IT WORKS. When you experience anxiety, depression or even depersonalization, there is little room left to think of ANYTHING ELSE.

 What does this mean and how does this relate to your anxiety, is essential to permanent recovery…especially if your anxiety symptoms follow a cycle or pattern. If you notice that one symptom reconciles itself only to have another jump in to take its place, you are most probably experiencing TMS.

 There is a distinct personality connected with this syndrome, as pointed out by Dr. John E. Sarno, who recognized this syndrome and through his strategies helped thousands overcome back pain naturally. He has stated that insomnia, anxiety and depression, along with IBS, and ulcers are TMS equivilants. In other words, they are all distractions for uncomfortable emotions that are stored in the unconscious.

The personality profile mirrors the anxiety personality practically trait for trait . We’re looking at a person who is:
   - Perfection Seeking
   - Sensitive to Criticism
   - Analytical in Nature
   - People Pleaser (a “good guy”)
   - Represses Feelings
   - Responsible and Conscientious
   - Would probably doubt their annoyance toward others.
   - Self-confidence issues.

Doubt is part of the syndrome, along with anxiety symptoms.

                 THERE IS HOPE!

The Strategy for FULL Recovery is Simple
   - Through complete understanding one is able to locate
      their true unconscious emotions. This acknowledgement
      alone is essential and paves the way for recovery.
   - Education towards using this information on a daily basis
      is the second step. It is simple to use and works 
      wonders.
   - One connects to their own Personality Profile and how it
      contributes to their symptoms. Knowledge is Power. 
   - One learns to stop defining his or herself as “ill” when 
      this is clearly not the case.

This along with Diet/Nutrition, Cognitive Behavioral Skills and Attitude Adjustment will change your life.

Recognizing the core of your difficulties ensures a happy, healthy and productive life.

Feel free to call for further information. I love to speak about this topic and welcome your calls.

Toll-Free 1-800-670-HOPE

Best wishes,

Dr. Ronnie Freedman
Anxiety BUSTERS!
http://www.anxietybusters.com
drfreedman@anxietybusters.com
The Mind Body Syndrome POWER Cure!

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When anxiety strikes one is often fooled into believing a crisis has occurred, when in reality the symptom or symptoms are merely an opportunity to take a closer look at one’s life.

Symptoms are signals supplied by our body, alerting us to examine how we are living and the choices we are making. If we are cognizant to these alerts, we will use them to our benefit. We will use this time to “regroup” and locate the source of our stress.

 We all live with stress and we always will. It’s when stresses are no longer challenged and reconciled that we get into trouble. We push them aside or decide we will deal with them at some later date….which rarely occurs.

 Stresses build and signals appear (nervousness, insomnia, awakenings, startle syndrome, irritability, depersonalization, fatigue, or anxiety in general). If we heed these signals, slow down, eat properly, cope, rest and reconcile problems, they will usually dissipate, but if we continue on at the same pace, add more stress to the brew and forego self-nurturing, our body will often create a stronger signal…often a panic attack. This grabs our attention and we are forced to take action.

 Before you run for the pill bottle, take a look at what has occurred. Once you understand that your body was merely sending you signals to slow down and take care of yourself, you will be able to unwind from this spiral. Use this “crisis” and turn it into the opportunity of a lifetime. This is your chance to change the way you’ve been living, reacting and dealing with problems. This is a golden opportunity to get back into sync and settle down.

If we learn from a crisis, it has not been a total loss. If we use it, even better. Learn to use adversity and build inner strength upon it. It is notification that you are out of balance, and must make changes. The crisis presents you with an opportunity. This is the defining moment…the fork in the road. You may choose to use this opportunity for all it’s worth or put off the inevitable. Eventually we have to look closely at our lives and make the necessary changes. When we do so, we grow and become stronger. The process of doing so is exhilarating, freeing and offers a growth experience that is often life changing…in the most positive sense. Never be afraid to take this opportunity when crisis presents itself. It can make the difference between surviving and truly living.

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Best wishes,

Dr. Ronnie Freedman
Anxiety Busters, Inc.
http://www.anxietybusters.com
drfreedman@anxietybusters.com
TOLL-FREE: 1-800-670-HOPE
Call for your FREE 10 Minute Initial Consultation!

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Sometimes it’s hard to tell which came first, the chicken or the egg.  It may be the time of year, less sunshine, less outdoor activity and less serotonin. Whatever the case, no one enjoys feeling depressed.

 If your depressed feelings are associated with the dark long days of winter, then the remedy relies upon:

1) More outdoor activity, regardless of the weather…yes, regardless. Bundle up, put on your boots and go outdoors. Even the grayest of days is enough to boost serotonin levels…also brighter and more effective than indoor lighting.

2) MOVE…Exercise is the greatest mood and depression remedy. It works and it works fast. The times you least feel like moving are the times it is most needed…and the times you notice the most results. Moderate walking will do the trick. Walk off your depression and prevent it from returning.

3) Music: Endorphins galore. Listen to music and dance for a double hit of depression elimination.

4) Repetitive Movement: Knitting, sewing, crocheting, even chewing gum, create more serotonin in the body.

5) Break with Routine: Don’t allow winter weather to keep you in hibernation. You may not feel the inclination to go places but you’ll feel better if you do. A change of scenery creates a break in thinking. It refreshes and rejuvenates.

6) Last but not least, if you are depressed due to your anxiety situation, you can chalk this up to FRUSTRATION. Don’t confuse the two. Once you begin to eliminate anxiety, this frustration/depression begins to lift. Through the ecplanation/understanding, behavioral modification, Neutralizing Diet, and lifestyle exercises, you will blast out this frustration and regain the contentment you seemed to misplace.

 Do not allow winter weather to isolate you from life. Introspection thrives on isolation. Moments alone to figure things out, to meditate and negotiate stressful situations are very helpful but you do not want to make a steady diet of isolation. Life is short. Choose to live it fully rather than feel safe and bored. You owe this to yourself. No one was put here to suffer. Take your life and make the most out of it.

 Learn to lighten up and live in the moment, and the moment will be yours.

Best wishes,

Dr. Ronnie Freedman
Anxiety Busters, Inc.
Toll-Free: 1-800-670-HOPE
drfreedman@anxietybusters.com
ANXIETY BUSTERS BOOT CAMP: One-On-One Basic Training for Anxiety-Free Living

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Someone asked me why depersonalization felt similar to the times they were home from school with the flu, as a child. Here is my answer and hopefully it will bust the myths about depersonalization and all the hogwash that has been spouted on the internet about it. 

Good observation. Depersonalization does feel similar to those feelings one experienced when home sick as a child.
I’ve been saying this for years. I have always compared feelings of depersonalization with the feeling you experienced as a youngster when home from school with the flu. This feeling is also magnified the first day you return to school after being in bed for so many days. You feel as if you’re an outsider, a step or two behind, and as if you are watching others from a distance. It’s as if you are watching your life through a camera…the anxiety head-cam.
 
Okay, here’s the science behind this phenomenon.  
 
When you are told or realize your ill with the flu or virus, you shift into a different mind set. Your body follows suit. Posture changes, facial muscles alter, and your mind goes off on “sick leave.” You unconsciously gave it permission to take a vacation. It’s as if, in a protective sense, your mind temporarily closes shop in order to heal. Go over to the mirror the next time you feel ill. Your eyes are partially closed, if not droopy, mouth open, posture slumped. Even your hair takes on that “sick” hair look!
 
This is a prime example of mind/body connection, and it’s strong. Your brain picks up on the “sick” message and the signal is received loud and clear. BUT YOU WONDER WHY YOU FELT BETTER AFTER A DAY OR TWO AT SCHOOL AND NOT NOW…..THAT”S THE BIG QUESTION……
 
More Logic…
 
The big difference is that you were NOT FRIGHTENED by this occurrence as a child. You didn’t think about it in terms of fear and “what if.” Not once did you say to yourself, “What if this doesn’t go away.” BUT YOU DO AS AN ADULT…and that fuels the feelings…and that tires the mind…and that perpetuates this sensation. Hey guys, it’s you who is doing it. There’s nothing out there, there’s no brain damage, there’s no illness. It’s your own thoughts, and you have the power to turn off this habit. You always have…
 
So that’s it. A habit is formed, a learned behavior. You’re not ill. You never have been.  
 
Thanks for the question. I enjoyed answering it. I love logic.  
 
Best wishes,  
 
Dr. Ronnie Freedman  
Anxiety Busters, Inc.  
http://www.anxietybusters.com
Toll-Free: 1-800-670-HOPE
drfreedman@anxietybusters.com

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Why are chemical solutions still prevalent when there are alternatives that lead to complete and permanent recovery of the anxiety condition?

Why aren’t more people fed up with the so-called “chemical solution?”

From my vantage point, I hear the other side of the coin. I hear from people who are struggling against side effects and withdrawal symptoms…people who have fallen “victim” to the pharmaceutical industry.

 My gripe is that there are so many options OTHER than medications, that WORK, and work quickly, that I question why one must resort to medications.  Why this is initially presented to the individual without information concerning other more viable choices.

The risk of personality changes, suicidal tendencies for those under the age of 18 (when many in their 20’s and 30’s are equal to their 18 year old counterparts), withdrawal syndrome, sexual dysfunctions, adverse reactions galore, and general malaise…not to mention the necessity to take a tranquilizer along with the antidepressants to ward off the anxiety they may create. Tranquilizers along with antidepressants create the risk of addiction within a short period of time. Your body becomes tolerant of these medications as you begin taking them. In order to receive the same “hit” you must eventually increase dosage.  
 
How often have I received a call from a high school or college student who recently suffered an upset when a relationship has been broken off. I am always shocked and appalled to hear they have been prescribed an antidepressant. Is this not overkill or what?
 
Ask yourself how many recent shootings  have been initiated by someone (school shootings in particular) taking antidepressants. This is much more than mere coincidence.  
 
The idea that you’re feeling worse on medication might be a gift in disguise. The cortisol surge these medications create often mimic panic attacks. You might be grateful this occurred. The risks of taking these meds greatly outweigh the positives. Check out studies by Dr. David Healy.  
 
Remember, I’m the person who receives the calls, emails and office visits FROM those who are not doing well on these medications. They feel trapped by the reactions and yet have a difficult time stopping. It’s not an enviable position to be in. and it’s very sad to witness. These people are victims of pharmaceutical hype. They should have been told the full story before being prescribed these medications.

 I’m interested in YOUR comments and thoughts on this topic. Feel free to add your feelings and experiences. Someone else may benefit from your experience. 

There is a proper time and place for these particular medications (antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications). Simple anxiety does not require this route. There are options and alternatives.

 IF you are now taking either of these medications and wish to discontinue use, CHECK WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN. NEVER stop COLD TURKEY. Work with your prescribing physician by exercising a plan that helps you SLOWLY withdraw. A definite protocol of withdrawal is required.
 
Best wishes,  
 
Dr. Ronnie Freedman  
Anxiety Busters, Inc.  
http://www.anxietybusters.com
drfreedman@anxietybusters.com

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 Have you had enough anxiety yet? If you have, read the following:

 You need to address the anxiety condition seriously. You’ve been dabbling in it for too long. You need to follow a plan which not only eliminates the symptoms but re-patterns your way of thinking. Therefore you must:
 
- CHANGE BEHAVIORS… this is a definite step-by-step process. This is retraining your brain. Productive skills replace negative ones. These skills become internalized and eventually second nature. This is not achieved by a couple of quick words or points. It is accomplished by following the steps outlined in our Anxiety Busters Program, practicing the concepts and a schedule of counseling sessions designed to arm you with life skills which eliminate anxiety and prevent its return. You will see immediate results but this is not a one shot deal. The process must be planned out and completed for permanent recovery. Self-tranquilization along with Self-desensitization will change your life.
 
- CHANGE YOUR DIET…and continue to follow through, which will protect and prevent over-reactions to stress. Use the Neutralizing Diet and boost serotonin levels. Use it and create a less reactive environment.
 
- ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT- You must give up the notion that you are ill, if your physician has assured you this is not physical. I will repeat, if your physician has assurred you this is not physical in nature, LET GO OF IT AND LIVE YOUR LIFE. Searching out “maybe” illnesses is not worth the effort and believe me it takes a great deal of effort…effort you could be placing on permanent recovery, the right way.
 
- Minor Setbacks… If a new stress has slightly resensitized you, then TAKE ACTION NOW. Do NOT walk around feeling miserable all over again. You are too intelligent to fall back into negative thinking (the HALLMARK of the anxiety condition). Call me and schedule a maintenance program plan to break through the interruption/setback and work it out immediately. Don’t allow it to fester. Don’t walk around feeling anxious or complaining when you can do something proactive. Be smart and eliminate the barriers before they build.   
 
These are my suggestions and I hope you will take them seriously. It’s time to stop tip-toeing around the anxiety. Wake-up and look it square in the eye. This is the path, the only path to relief. Don’t waste your time hoping and wishing. JUST DO IT!
 
Best wishes,  
 
Dr. Ronnie Freedman
Anxiety Busters, Inc.  
http://www.anxietybusters.com
Toll-Free: 1-800-670-HOPE

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How many times have you ended a stressful encounter and walked away with: shallow breathing, tension and tightness in your back or diaphragm?

 How often have you begun to speak out for yourself when instead you experienced: shortness of breath, lightheadedness or inability to get the words out ?

How frequently have you felt a heaviness in your diaphragm or the “clenched claw” of anxiety in your stomach push breathing high into your chest?

 If you have answered ”YES” to any of these questions, you are probably experiencing anxiety symptoms due to improper breathing. The good news is you can turn this around, alleviate the symptoms and experience RELIEF!

Tension and anxiety are often experienced as a punch in the gut because this is the first place our muscles tighten when upset. Breathing is pushed into the upper chest resulting in a heavy sensation, lightheadedness and anxiety. The diaphragm locks and general discomfort results.

                   UNLOCKING THE DIAPHRAGM

When you experience tension tightening the muscles of your stomach and chest, resulting in shallow breathing, do the following:

- Immediately loosen your stomach muscles by releasing your tense grip. Let your stomach muscles sink, let them sag, and loosen all muscles in that general area.

- Breathe in slowly and smoothly as you let the air go way down to your stomach, hold it to the count of 4 and when you exhale allow your entire body to sag like a ragdoll.

- Unclench your jaw and bring down your shoulders on the exhale as well. Smooth out the tension areas between the eyes.

- Let go of all tensions, feaful thoughts, worries, and pressures of the day on this exhalation. Breathe them out and feel the relief. A lightness of mind and spirit will replace the heavy burden of pressure.

- Check in every now and again during your day. Be aware of your posture and your breathing when you do so. Release tension from your body by one or two smooth breaths as you exhale the tension.  

There are many areas of life we lack control, but we always have the power to change the way we react.

Don’t waste your time lamenting on what isn’t happening in your life. Instead, make it happen and and do it now.

 Have a good day!

 Best wishes,

 Dr. Ronnie

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This blog is set up to dispel myths and misconceptions about the anxiety condition. Many find themselves “stuck” in this condition basically because they have never been given the correct answers. Our goal is to inform you and offer alternative options and solutions to many of your preconceived ideas concerning this condition. In the long run it is up to you, but with the right information and guidance you will free yourself of ALL anxiety symptoms. You will find your own courage and it will astound you.

I don’t care how long you have been “stuck” with anxiety symptoms because that doesn’t matter now. With the proper information and attitude, you will regain the strength you’ve always had but didn’t know how to tap into…and you will create the life you have always wanted. Everything is readily available for full recovery. There are only two reasons why you may find yourself “stuck” in this condition.

- The first is because you have not yet approached a plan of anxiety elimination. In other words, you haven’t done anything about it.

- The second is because you have not received the correct information or motivation.

Now is the time to eliminate these roadblocks and begin experiencing your power. It’s time to stop “playing around” with this condition and do something about it, once and for all.

I hope you will join me as we begin this blog. It gives me great pleasure to share my thoughts, theories and concepts with you. As I’ve said before, I take anxiety very seriously. My approach is tough, no-nonsense and straight forward. This is why we are known for our One-On One Anxiety Busters Boot Camp Approach.

I hope to hear from you. Your comments and feedback is very important to us. I look forward to answering you as well.

Have a great day and I hope to hear from you soon.

Best wishes,

Dr. Ronnie

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