Most people use sleeping pills as a drug to relieve stress and anxiety, muscle tension, and insomnia. A sleeping pill is a prescription medication that helps a person fall asleep or at least remain asleep. There are two categories of sleeping aids sold in the U.S today: prescription and over-the-counter sleeping pills. The prescription sleeping pills contains an active ingredient called Benzodiazepines and diazepam. Over-the-counter-sleeping pills can be bought without prescription and it contains antihistamines. Sleeping pills have been around for centuries. The earliest form of sleeping aids were the herbal potions and the opiate laudanum. Barbiturates were later introduced in the early 1900’s and this type of drug actually had 25,000 known compounds. However, barbiturates were eventually regulated due to its very addictive effects. Other sleeping pills being marketed today are known as sedatives, muscle relaxants, and nerve pills. These medications are often used for relief of depression, anxiety or those who have difficulties in sleeping. Difficulty in sleeping is caused by stress factors in life like the loss of a job, early retirement, the loss of loved ones, and financial problems. Listed below are some of the known side-effects of sleeping pills: drowsiness lack of concentration confusion irritability anxious headache nausea constipation blurred vision dry mouth and throat Other concerns related to the use of both over-the-counter and prescription sleeping pills also include: drug dependence drug tolerance interactions with other drugs rebound insomnia withdrawal symptoms Even if there have been advances in terms of the manufacturing of sleeping pills, misuse can still lead to cases of sleeping pill overdose. There are actually alternatives to the use of sleeping pills and tranquillizers. If you think that taking sleeping pills is not for you, these healthy and non-drug alternatives might just help you deal with your sleeping problems: Drink warm milk Take a hot water bath before you go to bed Make your bed more comfortable Avoid coffee, soft drinks and tea after 5 pm Don’t drink alcohol in the evening—it can keep you awake However, if you really must use prescription sleeping pills, please make sure to follow these safety guidelines: 1.Do not take the sleeping pills when you are stressed out or have certain anxieties. Don’t use it as an instant cure for your depression, loneliness, and other emotional problems. 2.Know your medication, how often you should take it , how long and if its safe to use it even if one is taking alcohol. 3.Do not keep on taking the medication if you find it that is not suitable for you. 4.Check with your doctor when you stop taking sleeping pills or tranquillizers. 5.Never share nor borrow medication. The main purpose of taking sleeping aids or medications that induce sleep is to provide you some temporary relief from insomnia. It is not the long-term solution to sleeping problems. The resolution of your anxieties and other problems is the best sleep inducer you can take.
Tag-Archive for ◊ Stress and anxiety ◊
Being independent is something every young adult looks forward to. It is a time when they become free to do the things they’ve always wanted to do. Leaving home may have a certain emotional tug but the desire to become independent elicits a certain high that outweighs whatever feelings they have about staying home. However, as soon as they move out of their homes is the realization that independence involves not just freedom but many new responsiblities. Alongside those responsibilities are problems that would probably cause stress and anxiety. Such a period of transition may have a cruel twist to their emotional and psychological well-being and could even result in mental illness, specifically personality and depressive disorders. The first appearance of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other major depressive disorders tend occur in the late teens and early 20s. According to research, people are predisposed to acquire these medical conditions upon birth or during childhood. However, symptoms are may not surface until they hit a particular phase of development and/or certain stressors. Usually, men tend to develop schizophrenia between the ages of 18 and 25 while it appears in women about five years later. Bipolar disorder usually begins in early adulthood, although children and adolescents may also develop it. An increase in the incidence of major depressive disorder occurs after the age when puberty is reached. There are many cases when stressors precipitate the onset of mental illness in people who are predisposed to these conditions. Some of these stressors include death in the family, the loss of a job, or even positive events such as getting married or getting a promotion. The stress of going to college, getting independent from home and being responsible for oneself may become a trigger to anxiety disorder that leads to mental illness. Alcoho’ and drugs could also trigger a bout of mental illness. Young people with psychiatric illnesses try to cope with their symptoms by using substances like alcohol, marijuana and cocaine which make them feel better when they experience a sense of being “high” and intoxicated which only complicates the problem. They are less likely to take medication properly and their symptoms are harder to control. They are at greater risk of exhibiting violent behavior and might need to be hospitalized more often Schizophrenia may be recognized when a person loses his ability to function. An adolescent who used to be doing very well in school and socially may show signs of regression. A marked changed in social or family functioning or their ability to get good grades or do well at work should be a concern. Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations happens when certain pathways in their brains are being activated when they shouldn’t be. Another symptoms of schizophrenia is paranoia or being suspicious of others. They exhibit inability to express themselves verbally, when they used to have no trouble organizing their thoughts. Other early problems may include sleep disorders such as insomia, depressed mood or anxiety. A bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive disorder. It is a brain disorder that causes unexpected changes in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. These are not the same as the normal ups and downs every person usually experience. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe which may result in ruined relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. However, bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives. Other symptoms include a decreased need for sleep, and an increased energy level. They also have an increase in risky behavior, such as excessive shopping or gambling, or being sexually promiscuous. A depressive episode involves a change in one’s mood to sadness or irritability that lasts for at least two weeks and includes changes in sleep and appetite, and low energy. It’s important for parents to keep in touch with their teens when they are away in boarding schools. Always keep the communication open. Always give them reassurance, affirmation and comfort in times of difficulties. Always encouraged these young adolescents to seek medical support when they are becoming extremely depressed, experiencing severe anxiety attack, or when they feel like they are hearing voices. Adolescents or young adults who have already been diagnosed with a mental illness should make sure that they are in regular contact with a mental health provider. Hospitalization may be necessary for those who experience their first episodes for proper diagnosis, treatment and safety.
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With the drop in temperature comes a certain dawning, the formation of a certain mood. Most people tend to associate the Holidays with drops in temperature and colder weather, but this is the general comfortable cold and not the frigid chill of deep winter. It is also during these days that normally sane and stable people can end up going into a bit of a panic, with all the last-minute shopping and the “I can’t think of a gift” relatives. For the most part, all this stress and borderline insanity is pretty much worth it once the dust settles. The Holidays, with all the reunions and homecomings that come with them, can be a source of some truly unexpected amounts of stress and anxiety, usually from the same general sources. Students coming home from their first year in college tend to cause quite a bit of pressure and stress on the parents who are going to receive them. There’s quite a bit of getting used to, for one thing. Teenagers coming home from college for the first time have also been away from home for the first time. Having gotten used to living without parental interference, they can often cause a lot of tension when they behave like the independents they perceive themselves to be while the parents would rather still have them under their control. Parents making themselves seem unable to really accept that their child is not the same person that left their home the year before can often end up fighting short bouts of depression, though anger is also a common response. However, defiance of parental authority is not the only aspect of a family relationship that can get stretched during the season. Stress and anxiety also come into play in the preceding days, particularly the period where preparations and gift shopping enter the “critical zone.” There are expectations to be fulfilled and images to maintain, which some Eastern peoples might associate with the concept of “face.” The drive to make sure each and every little detail fits a certain image or projects a certain image that the decorator wants it to can become a major source of stress in some communities. This can be compounded further if the decorator is intent on making things perfect for visiting family members, such as kids who have been off to college or close friends who have been working overseas. All this pressure and over-extending stress is clearly a negative thing. The effects generally pass once the Holidays are over, but certain situations can take time to really sink into the average person. The Holidays are the times when people come home after a prolonged absence and hope to find everything untouched and unchanged from when they left. Yet, they come to realize that they’re not the same people as when they left and little things they missed, like the way their room was decorated or where their favorite little trinket from childhood was placed, have changed. The adjustments can take time because both parties don’t inform each other of these changes, which may seem insignificant to one side, but can have impact on the emotional health of the other.
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Social anxiety is an ever-increasing problem, especially with Internet technology making it easier and easier to talk to someone that you’ll likely never, ever see face-to-face. This has resulted in people that are better adjusted to social situations where they will not be hindered by their social anxiety. While social anxiety is a major problem, particularly because quite a bit of professional success in today’s world requires a bit of social adaptation, most people don’t really worry about social anxiety as long as it doesn’t give the family status anxiety. The Japanese, probably due to cultural differences, tend to draw their social anxiety inwards. This is best exemplified by the otaku and hikikomori phenomenon there, though these “conditions” have started to manifest in societies outside of the Far East. This can be interpreted to mean that more and more people are withdrawing socially, as society and modern civilization puts more and more pressure on them. After all, even if they are engaging in socially deviant behavior, they’re not really harming anyone but themselves. For most people, as long as those with social anxiety are not capable of doing any harm to anyone, then they can either just be ignored or be bullied by their social “superiors.” However, what happens when that social anxiety builds, the stress compounds, and it has no other place to go but out? In theory, social anxiety alone is not going to result in someone lashing out violently, but it can play a major role in such an event. Take the Columbine School Shooting, as perpetrated by Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris. The two of them were reported to have been socially ostracized and made fun of by their more sociable peers. While certainly not the only factor that served as motivation for their bloody assault on their fellow students, the fact that they intended to target their social tormentors is a telling sign of just how big a factor their social status in the school was. The sheer violence of their act has sometimes been interpreted as a reaction to the unfair treatment that they received in comparison to the “jocks” of the school. The fact that their lack of athletic ability, their introverted personalities, and their attempts to seek help from school administrators to stop the bullying were ignored likely just aggravated them. In fact, despite the incident, there are reports that the same bullies who pushed Klebold and Harris over the edge are still continuing their bullying ways, with school authorities turning a blind eye to the infractions of their “star players.” Stress and anxiety can also play a factor when someone lashes out violently against the people around them. Dealing with bureaucracy in the workplace, problems at home, or even just a really bad day at work can cause someone to snap, find the nearest available weapon, and start trying to kill the people around him. This can be made worse by social anxiety, as this condition prevents him from truly connecting to people and forming meaningful relationships, which can help alleviate a person’s stress and worries. Without any means of alleviating their stress and anxiety, disgruntled employees can just show up one day with a submachine gun in hand and start killing the people that they work with each day. Some say this lethal concoction of factors led to Patrick Sherrill to shoot several co-workers in the US Postal Service before shooting himself back in 1986. No one is safe from the dangers of someone whose mind can no longer take the pressure and lashes out violently. There are some jobs and cultures where such acts are less likely to occur, but there will always be that small chance. There is no definite formula to see if a particular employee will snap or if a certain company is more likely to experience such violence. The fact is, the very specific and “snap” nature of such events can make it nearly impossible to detect the people likely to do this. For school shootings, the events have a tendency to be planned ahead by the perpetrators, but there is no such “warning sign” for the office environment. Often, the stress and anxiety just builds to a level where the only way to relieve it, in the person’s mind, is to commit extreme violence.
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During the ’80s, many men and women were attracted by the advertising campaign launched by Philip Morris. Filmed in the beautiful outdoors, the television advertisements showed the hardy cowboy lighting a cigarrette, relaxing in front of a camp fire after a hard day’s work. The chilly, mountain night scene blended well with the lights and shadows created by the camp fire. Any thought of cold temperature was extinguished by the warmth of the fire, and the lit cigarrette. Other versions of the commercial showed cowboys on horseback traversing wild, white rivers and galloping across grazing lands of the West. The images are made more powerful by the music composed by Elmer Bernstein which was originally used for the ’60s Western film entitled Magnificent Seven. The score was used extensively in Marlboro commercials prior to the implementation of the cigarrette advertisement ban. At the center of this commercial was the quintessential Marlboro Man — rugged, tough, manly, and a smoker. The commercial ends with an appealing invitation to, “Come to where the flavor is…” Wayne McLaren and David McLean both played the iconic Marlboro Man in those series of commercials. Both men died of lung cancer and other medical complications related to smoking. McLaren posed for some promotional posters of Marlboro in 1976 He was a professional rodeo rider and appeared in some television series during the ’70s. He smoked a one pack and half every single day. By age 49, he was already diagnosed with lung cancer. He underwent chemotherapy that led to the removal of one of his lungs. However, when he began the treatments, the cancer cells had already spread to his brain and eventually killed him. David McLean started smoking at the tender age of 12 and continued his habit until he was diagnosed with emphysema in 1985. By 1993, doctors had to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung. Two years later, he died due to the spread of cancer cells to his brain and spine. Before they died, both former “cigarrette models” launched anti-smoking campaigns to warn the public about the very harmful effects of smoking. Smoking is more than just a habit, it is very similar to drug abuse. Research upon research has substantiated claims about the highly addictive content called nicotine. At least one milligram of nicotine is found in an average cigarrette and acts as a stimulant. The nicotine in the cigarrette causes glucose to be released from the liver and the production of epinephrine — both of which result to stimulation. It also activates the so-called reward pathways in the brain which are responsible for the production of feelings of euphoria. The average smoker will easily say that cigarrette smoking helps reduce stress and anxiety. Others smoke right after eating a large meal or during stressful situations. Others see the cigarrette as an importance prop or ingredient to their overall lifestyle. This reasoning should not come as a surprise especially if it comes from smokers who were born during the ’30s to the ’50s. Television programs were usually interspersed with cigarrette commercial during those eras. In fact, during the ’60s, it was very common to see t.v. and screen heroes smoking in reel and real life. Those who became addicted to cigarrettes, whether they knew it or not, were really on a path to self-destruction. To this day, many are still hooked on tobacco despite the cigarrette commercial ban and the aggressive anti-smoking campaign by government health agencies. Indeed, smoking cigarrettes is not an adventure as once portrayed in commercials. Tobacco addiction is, in truth, a habit that quite literally leads to the grave. Fortunately, for those who want to kick the deadly habit, “cold turkey” methods and anti-smoking medications are now available to help them stop puffing their lives away.
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One of the main causes of being stressed out in the office is lack of time for other important things outside work. Being so career-driven, an busy worker can even lose his touch with time…losing the ability to distinguish between sunrise and sunset. You are too busy even to have a social life and recreational activities. Eventually, this situation leads to stress and anxiety…and even burn out. It is important to know that you have control over time and that you can maximize to achieve your daily tasks, and still leave behind precious time for yourself and your family. Stress Management and Time Management Principles: KNOWING THE TIME WASTERS – recognize which activities that waste your time. Don’t concentrate anymore on what is unimportant and and irrelevant. FOCUS ON PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY- check your schedule, you may get clues as to where as you’re losing more precious time. It could be unclear assignments or poor scheduling. LOOK TO THE PRESENT, NOT STAY IN THE PAST- yesterday is gone. It is now part of history. You can’t bring it back anymore. Life is meant to be lived in the present. The “Now” that we are so capable of changing. The present on you can make vital choices that affects your future. WRITE IT DOWN- a written daily schedule will aid you on how to budget your time. Write down your activities and include activities for your family and friends. Set a significant time for leisure like biking, watching a movie or reading a good book. a well written schedule is the way for you to have a more balanced life. PRIORITIZE- write a list of things to do. Each task should be properly labeled in order of difficulty which is the toughest job first than the easier ones. Don’t let others dictate your schedule. Always be on charge. Don’t allow intrusions like a cellphone or telephone call. Schedule your appointments and create boundaries. Turned your life around. Trying to do everything or being a workaholic so you can just be able to reach the top is not what success is all transformation will begin the moment you decide to change and make an intense personal commitment. Time Management affects your relationships, your physical needs, your attitude and your work life. Make every minute counts. Make break apart your day into 10 minutes blocks of time to make quick re-evaluation and put it into practice, into action and not just visualizing. Time is the essence. Make it count and not in pursuit of things that gives you too much stress that may even give you anxiety panic attacks. The hurdle to change is the first step—but taking action is another. After that, anything is possible. So manage your time so you can set achievable goals, strive for excellence, break bad habits, use money wisely, control your fears and anxieties, be more enthusiastic and gain more personal growth. Life is a continuous process of learning something new. There are times that maybe even twenty four hours is not enough because if you look more closely in the bigger picture is like putting together a piece of the puzzle. That life is what we make. Working too hard and not spending quality time for others will determine if you have really been a success. Failure starts the moment that you made unnecessary pursuits and next thing you’ll know how you wished you can turn back time.