Medications Used for Anxiety That Help With Weight Loss

If you are a person plagued by anxiety and in need of medication to treat it, there are many options for you to discuss with your doctor. Anxiety patients concerned about the possibility of weight gain on such medications need not worry, considering the anxiety drugs available that can actually aid in weight loss.

Bupropion
Buproprion, or Wellbutrin, is an NDRI, or norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, that helps with anxiety by balancing the levels of these chemicals in the brain. One of bupropion's side effects happens to be appetite suppression, which almost always leads to weight loss. Bupropion lessens oral fixations in patients taking the drug, and can be prescribed to help smokers quit smoking due to this effect.

Sertraline
Sertraline, or Zoloft, is an SSRI, or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, used for the treatment of panic and depression disorders, along with social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Sertraline works by restoring the serotonin balance in the brain. Due to the side effects of appetite loss and nausea, anxiety patients on Zoloft have lost weight. Weight gain may be a side effect in some patients, too.

Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine, or Prozac, is another SSRI used by persons with depression, panic disorders, OCD and anxiety. Among Fluoxetine's known side effects reported by many patients is significant weight loss, though this is often due to nausea. It is also possible that some on this drug may actually gain weight.

Paroxetine
Paroxetine, or Paxil, is yet another SSRI that is used to not only treat depression, but also anxiety disorders, OCD and premenstrual dysmorphic disorder. On top of balancing the brain's serotonin levels as it is meant to do, Paroxetine has also been known to cause drowsiness, nausea, dizziness and weight loss in many patients taking the drug. Weight gain may be experienced by some.

Venlafaxine
Venlafaxine, or Effexor, is prescribed to patients plagued with anxiety disorders, major depressive disorders and panic disorders. Unlike the aforementioned medications, this drug is an SNRI, or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, that restores the balance of the brain's serotonin and norepinephrine levels in order to improve mood problems. Venlafaxine often causes decreased appetite in patients taking the drug, in turn resulting in weight loss. In some persons, weight gain may be a side effect as well.

Alprazolam
Alprazolam, or Xanax, is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines that slow down the movement of brain chemicals that have become unbalanced. Alprazolam is prescribed for patients with anxiety and panic disorders, as well as persons with anxiety caused by depression. Some of alprazolam's milder side effects are irritability, insomnia, nausea and weight loss due to changes in appetite.

Home Remedy for Bad Nerves and Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal occurrence that acts as a warning system for danger. Once the danger is gone, the anxiety subsides. For some of us, anxiety escalates and requires treatment before it goes away. Anxiety can be very disrupting, making it difficult for you to function normally. Fortunately, there many home remedies for treating bad nerves and anxiety. The benefits of home remedies for bad nerves and anxiety are no drug hangovers or expensive prescriptions.

Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety symptoms can be mild or very intense, but either way they are scary and often disruptive. Milder anxiety symptoms are flutters in the chest, adrenaline rushes, muscle tension or pressure, suddenly feeling frightened, a feeling of things being surreal, difficultly focusing, stomach distress, and in some cases diarrhea. The more intense symptoms include heart palpitations, hyperventilation, dry mouth, uncontrollable shaking, sweating, chest pain, and pressure. Many people who experience intense symptoms often believe they are having a heart attack and end up in the emergency room only to be told it was an anxiety attack.

Remedies for Bad Nerves and Anxiety
Herbs and supplements work well to bring relief from nerves or anxiety. There are many different natural herbs and supplements to choose from. Here are just a few.

DHEA is a hormone produced in the body. As we age, the level of DHEA decreases especially in people with health conditions or diseases and this can cause anxiety. DHEA gently calms anxiety with no side effects. It can also be used at bed time to assist with sleep difficulties. For faster relief during an intense anxiety or nerve attack, let a tablet dissolve under your tongue. Follow directions for use on the label.

GABA is an amino acid produced by your brain. Low GABA levels can bring on nervousness and anxiety. GABA supplements will soothe and calm nerves and eliminate anxiety by increasing GABA levels back to normal. Follow recommended usage found on the label.

Lavender is famous for its calming properties. Lavender essential oil can be used in two ways to treat bad nerves and anxiety. A few drops of lavender oil added to a large bowl filled with boiling water will create a therapeutic steam. Lean over the bowl with a towel covering your head and inhale the soothing steam. The second method is to add a few drops to a hot bath and have a relaxing soak.

Breathing Exercises
Anxiety, whether intense, mild, or anticipatory, can be calmed by learning and using simple breathing techniques. A simple quick breathing technique for when you don't have a lot of time is the 2 in, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 out method. Breathe in one, two, exhale one, two. Breathe in one, two, exhale four. Breathe in one, two, exhale six. Breathe in one, two, exhale eight. Breathe in one, two, exhale ten.

Laughter is the Best Medicine
According to "The Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques" by Margaret Wehrenberg, laughter is the best medicine. Distract yourself with laughter. Watch your favorite comedy. Put a DVD on that you know always makes you laugh. Read that funny book again. Look for ways to elevate your mood with laughter.

Find relaxation and fun in small simple ways. Go to a movie, or take a yoga class. (Yoga helps calm the anxious body.) Do something just for fun.

Stimulants
Be careful about what you put in your body. Stimulants like chocolate, sugar, or caffeine can increase anxiety attacks and intensity. Caffeine is a strong drug and must be eliminated from your diet slowly to avoid severe side effects like headaches and nausea.

Tips
Anxiety is a serious disorder that can take over your life if you let it. Many sufferers are unable to leave the house or stay home alone. It can be very debilitating. The most important home remedy for bad nerves and anxiety is to fight back and never give in to it. Try everything until you find what works for you. Even the smallest victories over anxiety add up. Fight back and reclaim your life.

Yoga Exercises to Increase Beta Waves

Some people practice yoga to achieve the relaxing states of alpha and theta brainwaves, not realizing that beta waves have advantages as well. Beta waves are the fastest of the main four brainwaves -- beta, alpha, theta and delta -- and make you feel more alert and engaged. Certain yoga poses, breathing techniques and meditations can increase your beta waves, alertness and focus.

Beta Waves
According to Ned Herrmann, an educator, brain activity model maker and contributor to "Scientific Atlanta," beta waves are the brain waves responsible for thought and heightened awareness. They emit electrical activity between 15 to 40 hertz per second -- the fastest of the brainwaves. They also relate to activities that require engagement such as conversation or work. Many healthy adults already function within the beta range often, since it’s the brainwave that corresponds most to being awake and alert. NueroHealth Associates says that the high beta range -- 18 to 40 hertz -- relates to mental activities like math or planning. So, increasing your beta wave activity can actually help you feel more awake, alert and focused, especially if you’re tired, whereas alpha and theta are slower waves that correspond to more relaxing states.

Poses and Movements
Dahn Yoga recommends poses that activate the energy meridian point -- called Jangshim -- in the palm of your hand to create more beta wave activity. According to its website, babies taught to perform the hand movement Jaem Jaem, which activates Jangshim increased their beta wave activity by 30 percent. Research published in the "Journal of Neurophysiology” corroborates this idea, since primates performing hand movements operated within the range of 20 to 40 hertz, which is within the beat range of 15 to 40 hertz. You can also use the Sleeping Tiger pose to activate Jangshim and increase beta waves. Lie on your back with your arms and legs raised. Straighten your arms with your palms up and bend your knees at a 90-degree angle.

Meditation
Meditation can increase beta brain waves, but it depends upon the meditation. For instance, according to a study published in the journal “Cognitive Processing,” participants who practiced two different types of meditations, activated two different brain waves. Participants practicing no thought meditation -- thinking of nothing -- activated beta waves, while those who practiced Qigong meditation -- a concentration-based meditation -- activated alpha waves.

Breathing Techniques
The breath of fire -- or ego-eradicator as it is sometimes called in Kundalini yoga -- is a fast-paced breathing technique that can quickly wake up your body and mind. Also recommended is the Jangshim energy breathing technique, which opens the Jangshim meridian point. Sit in a chair and place your hands with your palms down and parallel with the floor. Breathe in as you imagine energy coming in through your palms and moving up to the heart. Breathe out while imagining the energy leaving your heart. Pay attention to how you feel as you do the exercises. According to NueroHealth, the high beta waves -- 18 hertz and above -- can sometimes make you feel agitated.

How to Do a Rabbit Pose in Yoga

Moves and counter moves. So it goes for chess and yoga. Do a back bend and enhance the experience markedly by following it with a forward bend. Rabbit pose is considered an intense forward-bending posture that soothes the spine after performing the equally-intense back-bending Camel pose. The only challenge may be the length of your arms and the flexibility of your back. To reach behind you along the length of your body to grasp your heels requires one or the other; preferably both. You can work around this by using a yoga strap to lasso your feet until your back can round sufficiently.

Things You'll Need

• Yoga mat
• Yoga strap

Step by steps

1. Come onto your knees on a yoga mat. Slide your knees together and your feet together. Lay the tops of your feet on the mat so that your heels are pointing upward. Sit back on your heels.

2. Cup your heels with your hands and lay your thumbs along the outsides of your heels. Exhale and lower your chin to your chest. Follow this by rounding your back and lowering your head toward the floor. Lift your hips toward the ceiling and slide your head closer to your knees or inch your knees toward your head; whichever movement feels better for you. Breathe as naturally as possible and then release the pose after 20 to 30 seconds.

3. Add a yoga strap if you're not very bendy or if your arms are short. Wrap the middle of the strap around the backs of your heels and hold one end of the strap in each hand. Lift your hips, fold forward and touch your forehead to the floor. Pull gently on the ends of the strap and inch your hands along the strap to maneuver your body into the pose. Practice this pose often to increase the flexibility of your spine.

How to Regulate Your Emotions

"Emotional regulation" is a fancy way of saying that someone wants to be able to control her feelings and the physical responses that go with them. The regulation of emotions can be accomplished in a number of different ways, all of which lead to less stress, improved relationships and better mental health.

Deep Breathing
Breathing patterns can show when a person is upset, usually through faster and more shallow breaths. But this same process can also help individuals to regulate their central nervous system, used in fight or flight responses, according to research by Dr. Martin P. Paulus, published in “Depression and Anxiety” in 2013. By taking deep breaths, you are better able to calm your central nervous system -- and thus calm difficult emotions including anxiety and depression. You can do this in any situation, either alone or when interacting with others.

Mindfulness
Mindfulness training helps individuals reduce unwanted thoughts and regulate their emotions, suggests research published in the “Canadian Journal of Psychiatry” in 2012, in the study "The Mindful Brain and Emotion Regulation in Mood Disorders." Mindfulness involves looking at the situation and the emotions and accepting them without judgement. One example is taking a breath and visualizing the anger bubbling like a volcano and telling yourself that it is only a feeling, as opposed to throwing a frying pan at another person in response to the increased heart rate. Mindfulness, and the observation element that comes with it, allows you some space from your feelings and gives you time to learn how to regulate them more effectively.

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
Learning to regulate emotions when faced with things that rev one up is a critical part of calming down. Emotional Freedom Techniques, or EFT, may help increase regulation and decrease fears, asserts a study led by M.M. Salas, published in 2011 in “Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing.” Emotional Freedom Techniques in this research exposed individuals to the things they were afraid of, followed by a period of guided calming. At the end of the study, participants had less fear, were more able to approach their feared objects and showed better emotional regulation. Find a therapist who practices EFT to learn to handle your emotions more effectively.

Yoga
Yoga helps to regulate emotions by allowing individuals to integrate higher and lower level brain networks, according to research published in “Frontiers in Neuroscience” in 2014. Over time, and with practice, researchers note that the cooperation between these brain systems increases the ability to self regulate and allows individuals to get back into that calm state more easily in times of stress. While yoga may not be an option at a party or when talking to your boss, the ability of the brain to revert back to that state in any circumstance is a great reason to pull out the yoga mat.

How to Do a Yoga Turtle Pose

Kurmasana, Turtle pose, requires very flexible hip flexors, hamstrings and lower back and should only be attempted when you are thoroughly warmed up. It is an intense, introspective pose that withdraws the senses from outside stimulation, slows an agitated nervous system, calms the mind, tones the spine and the abdominal organs, and increases hip flexibility as it lengthens the spine. Learn it first under the guidance of a certified yoga teacher who can supply you with a safe warm-up sequence and correct your posture to prevent injury.

Things You'll Need
- Yoga mat

Step by steps

1. Sit on your yoga mat in Dandasana, or Staff pose, stretching your straight spine toward the ceiling and relaxing your legs in front of you, feet naturally flexed.

2. Spread your legs a little more than shoulder-width, so your heels are close to the edge of the mat.

3. Raise your tummy away from your hip bones so you are sitting tall as you fold your torso over your thighs, allowing your knees to bend slightly.

4. Slip your arms, palms down, under your knees and walk arms out to the sides as you deepen your forward bend.

5. Expand your chest, imagining a stretch that widens it from side to side, and release all tension in your shoulders so they relax toward the floor and away from your ears. Breathe evenly and slowly, allowing your muscles to relax at their own pace. Don't force anything.

6. Turn your legs so the knees and toes are pointing toward the ceiling but keep your palms flat on the floor. Walk your arms wider and toward your back to deepen the stretch, lower your back and elongate your torso. As you breathe in, bring your chin and upper chest forward. As you breathe out, lengthen your legs, sliding your heels along the floor.

7. Touch your forehead to the floor, if you can. Eventually, as you become more flexible, you may be able to lay your chin and chest on the floor without strain and move your arms back further behind you. Breathe evenly in Turtle pose for 15 to 30 seconds.

8. Bend your knees and lift your torso to slowly come out of the pose and return to Dandasana.

Yoga Techniques at Home

Hot yoga is usually practiced in a steamy studio, not a comfortable living room. But that doesn't mean you can't reap some of the benefits of hot yoga from the comfort of your own home. If you don't have a hot yoga studio nearby or can't afford the steep membership fees, try setting up a space in or around your home. While it might not be the exact same experience, you can still practice your technique and improve your flexibility without the studio.

Environment
The most important component of hot yoga is, of course, your environment. It's called "hot" because the studio is typically heated to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with a humidity level of around 40 percent. Depending on your current climate, you can mimic a similar environment by turning up your thermostat or bringing a space heater into a room to increase the temperature. Remember to check the temperature on a thermometer to ensure it's not too hot. If you live in a warm climate, you can practice hot yoga outdoors -- just find a shady spot so you're not practicing in the hot, direct sunlight.

Poses
If you follow Bikram yoga -- the original form of hot yoga as developed by yogi Bikram Choudhury -- the sequencing of yoga poses is always the same. You'll perform the same 26 postures in the same order, twice through. Being familiar with general Hatha yoga can help you in your hot yoga practice, since many of the postures are familiar to those who have practiced other types of yoga and fairly simple to replicate at home.

DVDs, CDs and Other Helps
If you're worried about your at-home hot yoga technique, borrowing hot yoga DVDs or CDs from the library or even investing in your own copies can help you stay on track. They'll walk you through the various poses and the right sequencing so you can focus on your posture and technique rather than trying to remember what comes next or checking a reference guide after each pose. You can find such CDs and DVDs online, at the library and even through some yoga studios.

Safety
When you practice hot yoga at home, you lose out on the benefit of having a trained professional watch your form and offer up safety suggestions to ensure a healthy session. Practicing in the extreme heat can lead to nausea, dizziness and other symptoms of heat exhaustion. Check your thermometer before you start and avoid practicing in conditions above 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Drink at least 16 ounces of water before you begin and keep a water bottle nearby during practice, suggests Yoga Journal. If you start to feel sick, dizzy or confused, stop and find somewhere cool until the symptoms cease.