[FleetingSanity]

Did you know that exercise is one of the most effective measures in lowering cholesterol? Lowering your LDL (the 'bad' cholesterol) and raising your HDL (the 'good' cholesterol) AND lowering your triglycerides, too!

Did you also know that a few minutes of exercise can stop a panic attack dead in its tracks? Reduce anxiety? Decrease and even eliminate depression? Exercise does more than boost your mood and energy level, it also has a long-lasting calming effect. You don't need elaborate equipment or gyms. The best equipment you have is your own body. Studies show that people feel less anxious while they are exercising and then for the next several hours. You don't need to do an hour of heavy aerobics. A review of dozens of studies determined that you need to exercise for only 20 minutes for this natural tranquilizer to kick in. It's a known fact that the best exercise is walking -- even a twenty minute walk a day. The important thing is "consistency." So, if you do 20 minutes of exercise even three times a week, it can be instrumental in establishing optimal health

Brown Bagging It! how to handle anxiety/panic,
Increased anxiety, hyperventilating. Sure, there are herbs, vitamins, tranquilizers, antidepressants and the exercise mentioned above. However, also recommends brown bagging it, especially in emergency situations. You ask, "What is brown bagging it?"

Get yourself a small paper bag. Squish (yes, squish) the top together as though you were going to POP IT! Take the gathered top part of the bag and place it tightly over your nose and mouth, preventing outside air from getting in. Now, inhale deeply! When you feel you can't inhale anymore, inhale just a little... bit ... more. Next, slowly... exhale ... and when you feel there's no breath left ... exhale just a little ... bit ... more. Do this for no longer than 30 seconds and see how you feel. Should you feel light-headed, don't continue. However, most people have no problems and can do this exercise for one minute. The idea behind this is that by breathing into the paper bag, you're inhaling carbon dioxide, which serves as a relaxant to your body's organs, rather than oxygen which acts as a stimulant. Therefore, this exercise can be excellent for palpitations, anxiety, hyperventilation and general stress. Carry a brown bag in your purse. Stick one in your car's glove compartment. You'll be amazed at how simple and effective this procedure is!

Speaking of palpitations, should they hit, try taking 500 mg. of magnesium. They say, "If it spasms, give it magnesium." The same holds true for migraines. If you feel a migraine coming on, try 500 mg. magnesium

Become more aware of nutrition

Avoid processed foods, nicotine, caffeine, artificial sweetners and "junk" food

Some things help some people and somethings don't this doesn't help me. It made me worse, I can't have things over my face or on my face that includes touching a bag to my face.

What helps me is doing relaxation visualizations for example. I love warm summer weather so I close my eyes and imagine sitting or laying out in the sun and that the sun is warming my body from head to toe and at the same time I put my hand on my belly and breath so that my belly moves not my chest. To breath like that you have to breath slow and deep which of course stops the hyperventilating and the visualixation of the warn son calms and stops the panic.

My therapist and I also do relaxation visualizations during sessions and we record them so that I can do them on my own too.

As for high cholestorol and so on. since I have an eating disorder and health problems I can't just follow any exercise and diet programs. The best thing for me is to follow my physicians plans. If I took the magnesium you are suggesting it would throw off my blood and nutricianal counts. My doctor says no to even echinasea and vitimins unless my blood counts say I need them. otherwise I could end up storing to much iron magnesuim and so on and that leads to even more health problems.

Great ideas though for those that can mess around with diet plans, exercise plans and suppliments.

I would also like to suggest that before anyone messes with their programs and so on that they consult their family physician so that they know what plans are right for them. that way they won't be adding magnesuim when their magnesuim count is already where it belongs and so on.

[FleetingSanity]

Myself,

True indeed .. this is not for everyone and it is very important to check with your doctor before making changes in your plans and programs.