Unfortunately for most of us, stress is a part of everyday life. Some stress can be good for us, that little burst of adrenaline that keeps us on top of things mentally. At other times, stress can become a severe problem that causes physical symptoms, emotional turmoil and even anxiety attacks.

At first, anxiety attacks may occur suddenly and seem like a normal part of being stressed out. If they are not recognized and dealt with, they may continue and worsen over time.

Recognizing the symptoms of an anxiety attack is an important first step to treatment. Though everyone reacts to stress differently some common indicators of unhealthy anxiety include difficulty concentrating, racing or uncontrollable thoughts, memory lapses, and feelings of confusion. In order to recognize the indicators for an anxiety attack, you have to understand the symptoms of stress first.

You’ll see some of those symptoms in anxiety attacks as well, but you’ll notice more of the physical symptoms when an attack is occurring. Some people experience shortness of breath, pounding heart rhythm, trembling or shakiness within the body, stomachaches and hot or cold flashes.

At the peak of the attack, you may feel as if you’re losing your grasp of reality and self control. At times, sufferers are unaware that they are experiencing an anxiety attack until it’s too late.

Often it is someone else who notices the symptoms of an anxiety attack. Once an anxiety attacks are suspected immediate medical attention should be sought. Anxiety attacks have similar symptoms to more serious, life threatening medical conditions.

Once your doctor has determined that you are healthy overall, anti-anxiety medication may be prescribed and referral to a counselor or licensed therapist may be recommended.

Counselors are individuals specially trained to help patients explore the motivations behind their feelings. This includes determining what factors contribute to stress and how to eliminate or reduce stress. A counselor will listen to a patient’s medical and biographical history to determine what influences are contributing to the overabundance of stress in their lives. Once these stressors are identified the counselor will create a treatment plan and teach the patient to manage their stress through the use of stress reduction techniques. The success of this treatment plans depends solely on the patient’s commitment to follow through with the suggestions outlined in it.

Several websites are available that describe different ways to relax under duress and breathe through your anxiety, improving oxygen levels and slowing your racing heartbeat.

As the stress in your day to day life increases, there are many strategies for coping. Getting assistance in learning how to manage your anxiety is the first step. Determining the major stressors in your life and developing an effective strategy to cope with them will increase your comfort level and bring hope back into your life.

Get Josh Murphy’s latest free report ‘Self-Care Boot Camp’ – jam-packed with more great stress relief information at StressReliefTipsWeekly.com. Check out the site for more great info on topis like stress medication as well as a free weekly newsletter that subscribers are raving about!

Did you wake up to the “alarming” sound of your alarm clock this morning? Why? Is it healthy to get jolted out of a good night’s sleep by a loud, obnoxious buzzing noise that makes your heart pound and gives you an adrenaline rush?  Music for therapy can start first thing upon waking.

The right sort of music has a definite beneficial effect on our health.  Think of a Mother’s bedside lullaby to her child.  This is a good example of how a soft melody can have a calming effect.  Now think of your favorite loud, blaring rock and roll tune that you are enthusiastically screaming along with while driving your car.  Although enjoyable, the latter is not exactly restful and relaxing.

Music Therapy is an established healthcare profession.  Wikipedia describes it as “an interpersonal process in which the therapist uses music and all of its facets – physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic and spiritual – to help clients to improve or maintain their health”.  We’ve heard that prenatal stimulation through the music heard regularly while in the womb might provide some babies with a sense of comfort.  Progressive Doctors know that music has a soothing effect on their patients who are under stress or dealing with pain.  Modern day Dentists also know that while they are drilling around at high speed in their patient’s mouths that the patient can be distracted from the work while his attention is drawn to the background music.

While our Doctors and Dentists use music to calm us, many of us don’t think of using music for therapy in our day to day lives.  If you are not fortunate, as I am, in having musical family members who love to sing and play their musical instrument and music daily, then do yourself a favor and listen for everyday wonderful, soothing sounds such as birds singing outside your window.  Why not attend local choir concerts where children or adults are singing.  Regularly treat yourself to a musical theatre production.  Play your favorite musical tunes in your car to help calm you while stuck in traffic.  If you are stressed try humming a tune yourself.

Music does not need a prescription.  Put yourself in charge of your health and remember music for therapy when you need to:

– Manage Pain
– Lift your mood
– Reduce your dependence on sedatives
– Relieve anxiety
– Ease depression
– Enhance relationships and creativity
– Promote feelings of confidence and well-being
– Relax and enjoy your life

Believe in the power of music for therapy.  Music therapy combined with laughter therapy is the best kind of medicine with no prescription required.