Social Anxiety Test: Do You Have The Symptoms Of Social Phobia?

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful situations in life but, for some, anxiety can become a huge burden. If anxiety is changing the way you live your life, then you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Social anxiety (or social phobia) is the name for anxiety that occurs during social situations. Although there is no simple social anxiety test, there are a number of recognizable symptoms and feelings that can help you to work out what you’re dealing with.

Physical Social Anxiety Symptoms

Perhaps the easiest social anxiety test is to check for physical symptoms. Those with social anxiety may experience some of the following in social situations:

* Shaking,
* Blushing,
* Sweating,
* High blood pressure,
* Dry mouth,
* Nausea,
* Upset stomach,
* Palpitations,
* Tension in the muscles.

The trouble with these symptoms is that they could also represent a number of other conditions. This is why it’s important to think about what you’re doing when you get them, and how you are feeling emotionally.

Emotional Symptoms of Social Anxiety

As a social anxiety test, doctors may ask questions about your emotions and perceptions of yourself. Many people with social phobia claim that they fear being the centre of attention, are worried that they will look stupid or say something stupid, that they can’t keep up a conversation with others or that people will see the physical symptoms as a sign of weakness. In short, these emotional symptoms can lead to extreme difficulty during social situations, and increase the desire to avoid people.

Social Anxiety Vs. Shyness

Some people believe that social anxiety and shyness are the same thing, but this isn’t necessarily true. You’ll usually find that those with the condition are excessively shy to the point where it greatly interferes with social relationships with others. Many sufferers cannot shake off the negative feeling, and end up avoiding people as a result. Being shy, however, does not necessarily indicate social anxiety. Shyness can be a normal part of your personality, and doesn’t mean you will end up with social anxiety one day.

When to Seek Help

The fact that there is no certain social anxiety test may put some people off asking for help, for fear that they will be told there is nothing medically wrong with them. However, mental health issues such as social anxiety are gaining more and more recognition every day, and there are treatments available to you. It’s important that you talk to your doctor about what can be done to help both the physical and mental symptoms. You can be sure of one thing – there is help available for social anxiety.

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Snoring Causes: 7 Of The Most Common

Snoring is an extremely common problem that may not necessarily affect those who do it, but can have a very negative effect on partners who are woken during the night. Snoring doesn't usually represent a serious health problem, and there are a wide variety of snoring causes. In general, the sound we hear from snoring comes about when air does not move freely through the air passages, causing the back of the mouth to vibrate. Here's a quick guide to the most common causes of this problem.

1) Being Overweight

One of the most common snoring causes is being overweight. This increases the chances that you'll snore due to extra fat around the neck and throat. Relaxed muscle tone in the area stops the air from flowing through the passages freely. This is more common for men than women, due to the way a man's body stores fat.

2) Alcohol and Medication

When you drink alcohol or take certain medicines, such as sleeping pills, the muscles in your body will relax. This includes the throat, mouth and nose, blocking the air passages and making them more likely to vibrate. Avoiding alcohol at least four hours before you go to bed can help ease the problem.

3) Smoking

Smoking irritates the nasal cavity and throat linings, causing swelling and congestion. In turn this decreases airflow and makes it difficult to breathe through your nose. The more you smoke, the more congested you will become.

4) Your Sleeping Position

Another of the most common snoring causes is down to sleeping position. Some people may snore when they lie on their back, and not when they lie on their side. This position causes your tongue to fall backwards, blocking the airways.

5) Allergies

Allergies are becoming increasingly common and cause a number of symptoms such as nasal congestion (which leads to snoring). There are various treatments available depending on the specific allergies you may suffer from.

6) Breathing Through The Mouth

If you breathe through your mouth when you're asleep then you're far more likely to snore, due to the way the air enters and hits the back of the mouth. There are ways to train yourself to breathe through your nose, including specialist devices.

7) A Mixture Of Causes

Many people find a mixture of factors behind their snoring. It may be a combination of the above causes, or other less common factors could be at work.

Snoring treatment always starts with understanding the reason why you do it in the first place. In most cases treatment can begin at home once you've determined your snoring causes. If the problem won't go away then it's important to visit a doctor for advice.

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Natural Cosmetic Products: Things To Consider When You're Out Shopping

Horror stories in the media about the toxic ingredients contained in many of our beauty products may lead you to want to stop buying cosmetics altogether! However, if you put a little effort into becoming more aware of what you're buying, you can help to protect your health with natural cosmetic products.
 
Unfortunately it can be hard to know just what is and what isn't good for you, but try to bear these simple steps in mind and you will be well on the way.
 
Never Trust Claims on the Packaging: Unfortunately packaging can be very deceptive, which is why you should do your best never to trust claims such as 'natural', 'organic' (unless it comes with the organic seal) or 'dermatologist tested'. True, in some cases these might mean something and they really will be natural cosmetic products, but in most cases they are there just to get you to buy and don't truly represent the ingredients.
 
Always Check the Ingredients: Checking the ingredients is the only real way to know what's in the product. This can be difficult at first, as the chances are that you won't have heard of many of the substances listed, but you'll slowly learn with time. Look out for any poison symbols and warnings, as these are a very good sign that chemicals are involved!

Minimize the Use of Fragrances: The word 'fragrance' is found on so much packaging, but what does this really mean? Fragrances are often made of toxic chemicals, but the problem is that we don't know exactly which chemicals they will include. There are more than 5,000 different fragrances used in beauty and cosmetic products, and not all of the chemicals will be listed on the label. Since fragrances are massive culprits for allergic reactions, and may also contain other harmful ingredients known as Phthalates, it's best to go for fragrance-free products wherever possible.
 
Think Simpler: Once you start to learn more about the ingredients contained in cosmetic products it'll probably become a lot easier to simplify your beauty regime. You may have many different products that all claim to do similar things - why not cut down? Once you start getting used to natural cosmetic products and beauty practices, you'll also find that simple household ingredients can do a great job, and you may even feel as though you can go without some of your beauty products altogether.
 
Regulations to Protect Our Health: Some authorities are starting to clamp down on the ingredients cosmetic manufacturers can or cannot use. Whilst you can never rely on regulations to protect you completely, it is useful to know how they are coming into place. Check the laws and regulations in your country, or on your local government website, for more information.

It isn't easy when you're first getting started with natural cosmetic products, and there is a lot to learn. Just take it one step at a time and learn about new ingredients as you come across them. You'll soon remember which products to avoid, and which won't harm your health.

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Learning How Not To Worry: Breaking The Habit

Learning how not to worry is something many of us wish we could do. The truth is, we can. Although worry is inevitable in some situations, most of us worry far more than we need to. Worry has simply become a habit and, like all habits, it can be broken!

Understand Whether Worrying Can Be Productive

There are two types of worry. The first is the kind of worry that's good for us, that makes sure we take care of things we need to. The second kind of worry is just a waste of time and leads to mental exhaustion - this is the kind of worry over things that we have no control over.

Think carefully about what you're worrying about. Learning how not to worry means learning how to differentiate between the two types of worry. If it IS something you can do something about, make sure you take steps to do that. If you sit there doing nothing you'll only keep worrying. If you know you've done all that you can, and there's nothing more you can do, keep telling that to yourself to put it out of your mind.

Set Aside Dedicated Worry Time

If you find that you've got a lot of things on your mind, and they are legitimate things to worry about, try setting aside dedicated time every day to do the worrying. This could mean waiting until your partner is home from work so you can discuss productive solutions together, or it could simply mean taking half an hour to worry each day so that you'll feel a little better ignoring your worries later on.

Catch Yourself When You're Worrying

Learning how not to worry isn't always easy - many of us get carried away with worrying without even noticing! Sometimes we can be doing one thing and suddenly find our thoughts wandering, or we start looking up things on the internet related to our worry. Unless this is going to do something to solve a problem, it's a waste of time.

But how do you catch yourself? It is going to take practice. If you find yourself worrying at work, put a post-it on your computer or your desk. It doesn't have to say "stop worrying" - it could be as simple as a picture of a smiley face to remind you to take control of your thoughts again. You also need to be actively looking for worrying thoughts. You won't always catch worry out quickly, but you'll gradually catch yourself sooner and sooner.

Remember, learning how not to worry takes practice. At first you might not think that these strategies are working, but with practice you'll find that taking your mind away from your worries is easier and easier.

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Ginkgo Biloba and Tinnitus: A Possible Cure?

Talk to any doctor about tinnitus - ringing in the ears - and you're likely to hear those fateful words: "there is no cure". There's nothing you can do for your tinnitus except learn to manage and cope with it - learn to tune it out. Why, then, are companies marketing specific herbal remedies for this common condition? What is the link between ginkgo biloba and tinnitus?

What Is Ginkgo Biloba?

Ginkgo biloba herbal remedies are taken from the tree of the same name. This extract has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, and is commonly used in the Western world to enhance blood flow through the body. As such, it is used to treat or prevent a number of conditions related to the brain, including memory loss, Alzheimer's and dementia. It's also commonly used by tinnitus sufferers.

Has The Link Between Ginkgo Biloba And Tinnitus Been Proven?

As with many herbal treatments, more studies are needed to prove the link between ginkgo biloba and tinnitus. There have been some studies into its effects, however, which seem to suggest that it works no better than a placebo. The British Tinnitus Association (BTA), for example, found no noticeable effects on a study of 2000 tinnitus sufferers.

Should You Take It?

Despite the fact that studies suggest that ginkgo as ineffective as a treatment for tinnitus, it's not quite that simple. For one, many people swear by the remedy in helping to improve the symptoms. The BTA also claim that it has helped to improve general wellbeing in a number of patients which, in turn, has left them in a better state to manage and deal with their tinnitus psychologically.

Keeping yourself well, both in body and mind, it essential to fighting tinnitus. The more run down you get, the more likely it is that you'll focus on the ringing and the detrimental effect it has on your life. Staying healthy, through the use of safe natural supplements such as ginkgo biloba, is useful for keeping your tinnitus under control.

You should always check with a doctor before using any form of herbal supplement, as even natural treatments come with side effects and may interact with other medicine. That said, the main drawback of ginkgo biloba is the cost. Most tinnitus organizations recommend you try it if you can afford it; if you find it helps in any way, then keep using it to manage your tinnitus.

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Free Weight Loss Tips: What You'll Need To Get Started On Your Goal

When it comes to free weight loss tips, it's not the "magic cures" that you should pay attention to, it's the real, solid advice that will set you on a healthy track for the rest of your life. And when you're starting a new weight loss goal, anything that'll make things easier on yourself is worth trying. With that in mind, here are 5 steps you should take at the start of your weight loss journey.

1) Buy A Scale: This is the first of the free weight loss tips and it's a very important one. You'll need to keep a scale not only to keep track of your weight, but also scales for the kitchen to weigh out proper portions of food. Many of us overeat when we don't strictly measure our portions!

2) Find Support: If you can find an exercise and/ or dieting buddy then you'll have support to continue even when things are at their most difficult. Studies show that dieting alongside someone else makes it a lot easier to meet your targets and set up healthy new habits. If there really isn't anyone who wants to join you, one of the best free weight loss tips is to at least confide in others and share specific goals that will keep yourself accountable.

3) Get A Notepad: You need a notepad to note down the foods you're eating, and even the exercises you're doing if that helps. Although it can be tedious, knowing exactly what goes into your body helps you to improve things little by little. You can also use your notepad as a place to vent if you're feeling frustrated, and to reinforce your goals to help motivate you to continue.

4) Go Through Your Cabinets: If you're going to be dieting then you don't want to have temptation all around you in your home. So go through all your cabinets and get rid of food that will lead you astray and won't serve you well. Then go shopping and buy plenty of healthy snacks, like fruit, that you can have on hand whenever you're feeling peckish.

5) Choose An Exercise Program: Now that you've got everything else sorted, it's time to work out the kind of exercise you want to do. Although you'll have to make sacrifices and sometimes do things you won't enjoy, you can cater your exercise to what feels best for you. This could mean starting by walking every day, or running x amount of miles on the treadmill. Whatever you do, make sure you put it into a solid plan!

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First Trimester Pregnancy Health Tips: What To Do About All Those Symptoms

First trimester pregnancy health tips are always so varied thanks to the fact that everyone experiences pregnancy differently, both physically and emotionally. One thing's for sure, though: just because your bump may not be visible to anyone else, it's certainly making a noticeable impact on your life even in the earliest stages!

Dealing With Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is one of the most commonly reported symptoms during a first trimester pregnancy, probably due to the fact that your body is going through so many hormonal changes. It can actually last all day, and can be very bad for some women. To help improve things you should drink plenty of water, and avoid fatty foods. It goes without saying that you'll want to avoid anything that makes you feel sick by simply thinking about it or smelling it! You can also try candied ginger or ginger tablets to help you feel better. If you can't keep anything down, including liquids, then it's vital that you consult a doctor.

Tender Breasts

One of the earliest first trimester pregnancy symptoms, even before missing a period, can be a feeling of tenderness in the breasts. They're simply preparing to produce milk for your baby, but this can be quite uncomfortable for you. Try wearing a supportive bra to ease discomfort.

Increased Urination

As the uterus starts to press on your bladder you may find that you need to urinate more often. This could be inconvenient, or even make it difficult to sleep as you wake up to urinate during the night. To help prevent this, drink less in the evenings and try to reduce your caffeine intake. Always go when you feel the need, however, as this will help prevent a urinary tract infection.

Mood Swings

Most women will find their emotions fluctuating when they’re pregnant. This is a combination of factors, from changing hormones to the increased responsibility and financial pressures to come. If you're anxious about something in particular, such as labor, then get informed and ask questions. If you're generally feeling low, then try sleeping longer, eating healthier foods, taking a walk or simply talking it through with your partner.

Other Symptoms During The First Trimester And Beyond

Pregnancy symptoms aren't limited to those listed above - far from it! Other common symptoms include heartburn, a sore back, difficulty sleeping and headaches. Every woman is different and you may experience very few symptoms, or less well-known symptoms such as bleeding gums, carpal tunnel, leg cramps, varicose veins and hemorrhoids. It isn't easy being pregnant!

Visiting Your Health Care Provider

When you first discover that you're pregnant, it's important to visit your health care provider. They will go through a number of areas with you to help assess your health and to work out whether any current medication could harm the baby. They will also give you some tips on watching your health, and schedule regular appointments with you throughout the pregnancy. You should let them know if you're concerned about any of your first trimester pregnancy symptoms.

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The Top 5 Causes Of Insomnia

Although we all have trouble drifting off to sleep from time to time, it can cause more stress for some than others. Insomnia occurs when you regularly have a problem either getting to sleep, or staying asleep long enough to feel refreshed when you wake up in the morning.

Although you might assume insomnia is just an unlucky condition in itself, it's usually a symptom of something else. This is why it's vital you understand the causes of insomnia and visit a doctor to rule out something more serious.

1) Stress

We've all probably experienced short term stress-related insomnia at some point in our lives. You just can't get to sleep as you have a thousand thoughts and worries running through your mind. For some, however, the insomnia stays even when the stress has gone. Some people learn to associate their bed or trying to get to sleep with being stressed or feeling “awake”.

2) Anxiety And Other Mental Health Issues

Anxiety disorders will often leave people staying awake at night, either due to physical or mental symptoms. Other causes of insomnia include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and others. Treatment of the underlying condition will often help with the insomnia.

3) Medication

Believe it or not, even sleep medication can be one of the causes of insomnia once we become dependent on using it. However, there are a whole range of other prescription medications that can make a difference - from antidepressants to hormone treatments and high blood pressure medication. It's always a good idea to discuss any medication with your doctor to make sure it's not the cause of your sleepless nights.

4) Underlying Conditions

There are a whole host of physical conditions known to be causes of insomnia. This is why you shouldn't just assume it's in your head and that you can treat yourself. It could be a sign of something more serious, so take the time out to visit your doctor to rule other problems out.

5) Drugs

Lastly, we all know that stimulants such as caffeine can keep us awake. But you may not realize that alcohol also negatively effects sleep, despite the fact that we initially feel sleepy and relaxed when we drink it. You should try to avoid these drinks before bedtime if you want to have the best sleep possible.

Remember, although you may recognize one of these causes of insomnia instantly, it's still vital that you talk to your doctor before diagnosing yourself.

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Antibacterial Cleaners: Can They Do More Harm Than Good?

The chances are that you probably own antibacterial cleaners, whether they are in the form of hand soap or cleaners for your kitchen and bathroom. But are these cleaners actually doing more harm than good?

Why Do We Need to Kill Bacteria?

It’s true that some bacteria can cause disease, illness and food poisoning. Many antibacterial cleaners promise to kill around 99% of bacteria, which helps to explain why they are so popular. After all, we all want to protect ourselves and our family from getting ill.

So Why Are Antibacterial Cleaners Bad for Our Health?

Unfortunately, antibacterial cleaners aren’t as good for us as they may seem. In the short term, their ingredients are known to irritate the skin (this is more of a problem with those that have been developed for cleaning purposes).

The FDA is currently looking into one of the major ingredients of antibacterial soaps: triclosan. Although the evidence isn't yet clear, it suggests it may have a harmful effect on humans (especially children). In the past, the FDA has also stated that there are no extra health benefits to using antibacterial soaps over regular soap and water.

Another long term result of using antibacterial products is that they make bacteria more resistant. This means that, over time, these antibacterial products will no longer be able to kill the germs they set out to kill in the first place.

The truth is that you don’t need to make your home sterile to protect yourself and your family. Bacteria is all around us, and being exposed to small amounts of it is what our body needs in order to build up its defenses against stronger bacteria. Studies have shown that sterile environments in childhood can actually lead to more allergies and other problems later in life.

The American Medical Associated (AMA) has warned against extensive use of such antibacterial cleaners for these reasons. When it comes to killing germs, simple measures like washing your hands often (with traditional rather than antibacterial soap) are a good way to protect against germs.

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5 Relaxation Techniques For Anxiety

If you regularly feel anxious or stressed it can manifest itself in many different ways, including muscle tension, headaches, chest pain and more. This is why relaxation techniques for anxiety are such an important way to relieve the tension and help your mind to feel more calm. Here are five top relaxation ideas.

1) Diaphragmatic Breathing: When we feel anxious we may start to hyperventilate, taking very shallow breaths. This is why one of the best relaxation techniques for anxiety is to breathe using the full capacity of your lungs. To do this, imagine that you're breathing into your stomach instead of your chest. Your stomach should rise and fall each time you breathe in and out.

2) Visualization: Visualization is a good way of taking your mind away from whatever it is that's making you feel anxious, and training it to feel more relaxed even during situations where you wouldn't normally feel relaxed. Visualize, in detail, sights, sounds, smells and feelings that you would feel if you were in a location that made you feel relaxed and comfortable, like when you're on vacation.

3) Hypnosis: There are a number of hypnosis relaxation guides available in MP3 form. These will help to guide your mind away from thoughts that leave you feeling stressed or anxious, and can help take you through certain methods to help your body relax, such as progressive muscle relaxation. You can find many of these for free or low cost on the internet or as an app for your smartphone. Make sure you choose one related to your specific issue. For example, there are hypnosis MP3s available for social phobia if your anxiety comes up during social situations, or you could choose hypnosis designed to help you sleep better if your anxiety is increased due to a lack of sleep.

4) Timed Breathing: If you're stressed and try to breathe deeply you may find it difficult and actually start to hyperventilate. Instead of trying to breathe deeply, for quick relaxation before or during anxious moments you can try timing your breathing. For example, try breathing in for a count of five, and out for a count of 7. Extending your out-breath is shown to help relax your body's nervous system, and the counting gives you something else to focus your mind on.

5) Improve Your Sleep: Although it's not a relaxation technique in the same sense as those above, getting enough sleep is important for keeping you feeling physically and mentally relaxed. When you don't get enough sleep you may start to feel anxious, and vice versa. Some tips include writing down any worries on a piece of paper before you go to sleep to help get them out of your mind. You should also avoid caffeine, and take exercise early on in the day.

Establishing a routine helps to make sleep a lot easier. Make sure you go to bed at roughly the same time each day, don't perform activities such as watching TV or using your laptop in bed, and try to wake up at the same time each day. These tips, in conjunction with practicing the relaxation techniques for anxiety mentioned above, will help to ensure you're feeling calm and relaxed throughout the day.

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