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Stress Relief Terms You Need to Know

We've gathered together many of the terms used throughout the stress relief industry.  You may find it useful to know these as well.

 

ADHD

This stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  People suffering from this disorder may be unable to sit still, plan ahead, finish tasks, or be fully aware of what's going on around them.  This disorder affects as many as 2 million American children.  This is a common cause for stress, both in the person suffering from ADHD and in the family members who deal with it.

 

Alienation

This is a common result of stress or anxiety.  A person can feel alienated, or estranged, from their family, community, society, or world.

 

Anger

Anger is a completely normal human emotion.  However it can sometimes get out of control and turn destructive.  This can lead to problems at work in personal relationships, and a person's overall quality of life.  People suffering from high levels of stress are often quick to anger.

 

Anxiety

Anxiety is a state of apprehension, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the anticipation of a real or imagined threatening event or situation.  This often impairs physical and psychological functioning.  People suffering from stress often suffer from anxiety as well.

 

Appetite Loss

Loss of appetite is a common side effect for people suffering from stress and anxiety.  They often skip meals and eat unhealthy snacks instead.

 

Depression

Depression is a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, feelings of extreme sadness and helplessness.  When suffering from depression, many people exhibit symptoms such as insomnia, loss of appetite, anhedonia, guilt, hopelessness, and thoughts of death.

 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

This is a specific clinically-defined disorder.  Among other things, it is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry; inability to control the worry; restlessness; fatigue; difficulty concentrating; irritability; muscle tension, and sleep disturbance.  

 

Helplessness

This can be defined as "inability to help oneself; powerless or incompetent".  When suffering under stress,  a person often has feelings of helplessness and lack of control.

 

Insomnia

This is the chronic inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate length of time.  Many people suffering fro stress also suffer from some type of sleeplessness.

 

Low Self Esteem

Low self-esteem is characterized by a lack of pride in oneself; or a lack of respect.  People suffering from stress and depression often have a low self-esteem as well.  

 

Meaninglessness

People suffering from stress or depression often feel like their opinion and sometimes very existence has no meaning or significance.

 

Mood Swings

People suffering from stress or depression can sometimes have mood swings; alternation of a person's emotional state between periods of happiness and depression.

 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

This is a psychoneurotic disorder in which a person is beset with obsessions or compulsions, or both; and suffers extreme anxiety or depression through failure to think or perform compelling acts.

 

Panic Attacks

These are characterized by the sudden onset of intense anxiety; feelings of intense fear and apprehension; and accompanied by palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, and trembling.  Also referred to as an anxiety attack.

 

Paranoia

This is a psychotic disorder characterized by delusions of persecution with or without grandeur; often strenuously defended with apparent logic and reason.  It is exhibited by an extreme, irrational distrust of others.

 

Prescription Antidepressants

These include a wide variety of drugs that are prescribed by doctors to treat depression.  The most popular of these drugs are classified under the acronym SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors).  Recently, prescription antidepressants have generated a lot of controversy - the side effects associated with them have been put under the spotlight.  To find out more information on SSRI's, please visit our Information section.

 

Shyness

People who suffer from shyness are easily startled or timid; they are distrustful and wary of strangers.  People suffering from high levels of stress and anxiety can become extremely shy.

 

Sleeplessness

This is the chronic inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate length of time.  Also referred to as insomnia.

 

Social Anxiety Disorder

People suffering from social anxiety disorder often get very nervous around other people.  They feel like everyone is watching and judging them.  Over 16 million Americans suffer from social anxiety disorder; it can happen to anyone.  It's a real medical condition that often starts in the mid-teen years.

 

SSRI

SSRI's, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, are a class of prescription medications used primarily to fight depression.  You've probably heard of the most popular forms of these drugs, such as Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, Luvox, Paxil, and others.  Many side effects are attributed to SSRI's, including the following:

 

- Disturbed sleep / lack of sleep

  - Weight gain
  - Lack of compassion or feelings
  - Nausea
  - Loss of sex drive
  - Restlessness
  - Low energy
  - Fatigue
  - Negative, sometimes suicidal thoughts

Natural solutions, such as those reviewed on this site, have no known side effects.

 

Stress

There are many definitions of stress.  Perhaps the most contemporary is the feeling a person gets when the demands that are placed upon them outweigh their ability to meet those demands.  Stress can lead to a variety of issues affecting self, family, and career.  For more information on stress, visit our Information section.

 

Worry

Worry can be defined as feeling uneasy or concerned about something.  May people suffering from stress worry uncontrollably.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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