Acupuncture has diverse mechanisms of action Animal and human studies suggest that the beneficial effects of acupuncture on health including mental and emotional functioning are related to different mechanism of action including changes in neurotransmitters involved in emotional regulation such as serotonin, … Continue reading
Several mechanisms are involved Abnormal low heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with both medical and psychiatric disorders. HRV biofeedback is a recently developed technique that aims to modulate HRV in ways that have beneficial effects on mental and emotional functioning. The … Continue reading
Psychological and physiological mechanisms are involved The relationship between physical activity and anxiety is multi-factorial. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain the anxiety reducing benefits of regular exercise. Psychological theories include distraction, enhanced self-efficacy, mastery and psychological benefits of … Continue reading
In this post I review the benefits and limitations of conventional treatments of anxiety disorders. Future posts in this series will discuss complementary and alternative approaches used to treat different anxiety disorders. Conventional treatments of anxiety Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), supportive … Continue reading
L-theanine increases brain levels of several neurotransmitters The amino acid l-theanine found in green tea is widely used in China, Japan, and other Asian countries to treat anxiety and depressed mood. Animal studies confirm that l-theanine increases brain levels of … Continue reading
Meditation practices are widely employed to reduce anxiety and to maintain optimal psychological and spiritual health. Meditation has been extensively studied as a treatment of anxiety. Beneficial physiological effects of meditation include decreased oxygen consumption, respiratory rate and blood pressure, … Continue reading
Anxiety: overview Generalized anxiety is a chronic condition characterized by both psychological or physical symptoms such as feelings of tension, excessive worrying, and heightened arousal that significantly interfere with work, going to school, being in a relationship or functioning in … Continue reading
