Could yogurt really be the answer to your anxiety problems?

A new study out this week showed that this is true for mice  and could be true for humans in the future.

Mice fed a probiotic broth were, in fact,  calmer than mice not given the probiotic broth.

The probiotic fed mice not only appeared calmer but their levels of stress hormone was also measurably lower.

This is important because it’s a well-known fact that there is a connection between your gut and brain that can affect your overall health.

In this regard, if you have problems with anxiety and depression then chances are that you might also have issues with diarrhea, ulcers, heartburn, or some other stomach ailment.

Researchers from Ireland’s University College Cork published a study that links a specific kind of bacteria, called Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1, to lower levels of stress and anxiety in mice.

Researcher John Cryan said that ”Without overstating things, this does open up the concept that we could develop therapies that can treat psychiatric disorders by targeting the gut,” Cryan added. “You could take a yogurt with a probiotic in it instead of an antidepressant” (Choi, 2011).

Good news right? Well, not so fast. This research is in its early stages and still has to translate into similar results in humans, which at this point is not guaranteed to happen.

All that notwithstanding, this is still exciting. The bottom-line is that there maybe yet another natural way to overcome anxiety and I’m all for that.

What do you think? Too good to be true? Comment below.

NPR Interviews John Cryan Below

 References

Choi, C. (2011). Probiotic Bacteria May Help Treat Depression. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/15822-embargoed-probiotic-bacteria-treat-depression.html

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/30/news/la-heb-gut-bacteria-depression-stress-20110830

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/02/140146780/probiotic-bacteria-chill-out-anxious-mice

Time magazine says that “It’s no secret that eating something tasty and having sex are pleasurable, anxiety-reducing activities. But researchers studying stress responses in rats found that sex and food could reduce anxiety even over the long term, for up to 7 days.”

Read more at Time.com:

Don’t forget to vote below!

It’s time for a change and I need your help to make it happen.

Not too long ago I took a poll to see if people found this site helpful, and based on the response the answer was a big — yes! But, instead of making me just feel fuzzy inside, it also focused my mind and made me examine how I could make this site even more awesome.

Actually, I’ve already gotten started on this expansion project and have been working on the redesign of this site for the past month or so.

I wanted to quickly point out some of the major additions I’m currently working on.

1. Newsletter: This is an email based system that’s designed to send you news, tutorials, podcasts, and other information that won’t be made available anywhere else.

2. Article Submission: This feature will allow readers to submit their own blog entries, so they can share tips and information to help those in the AG community. I’ve always thought that we all have valuable knowledge to share, and this is a chance for you to do that on a bigger scale. Of course, I’ll be editing and sorting entries, so only the very best will be published.

3. Podcast: I have a series of new podcasts that will deal with issues that I haven’t touched on in the past.

Over time I plan to add more features and hope to turn AG into the best resource it can possibly be for you and all those in similar situations.

Now, the sucky part.

Unfortunately, and to my total surprise, I got ripped off. Yeah I know, I’m so PO’ed about the whole situation. I hired a designer to handle the whole project for $400 bucks, but after I paid things went south.

At first he seemed great, then he stopped answering emails, and well, a month later only half the work was done. So, given that he did at least some work, I will try to recover some of my money, but there isn’t any telling how long that could take or if it’s even possible (I promise I’ll give it a 100% though).

I guess I was naive and thought that because I give off good karma that I would get a little of that mojo back and complete my project without any drama, but things didn’t turn out like I thought they would.

Now I’m in a position where I really want to — and will — continue to finish what I started, but I need your help to get it done.

I’ve had to hire a new designer and pay him nearly as much as the first guy, but this time no money is changing hands until the work is done!

Last year you guys guaranteed the continued existence of the AG podcast (The Anxiety Guru Show) with your generous donations.

This year I need to ramp up that effort to cover the cost of AG’s improvements and maintenance, especially because of the ripoff. As many of you know I am I one man show with no outside funding. And the little I make from ads and donations only helps me to break even, but in this case breaking even is the goal.

It makes me happy to help you, but the reality is that this stuff isn’t cheap. Between hosting for the site, podcasts, and designer fees, I’m about to be in it for several hundred dollars.

Last year I was able to raise $200 and I appreciate every single penny, but this year I’ll need to raise even more.

The challenge I face is raising $400.

Even with this amount of support, I’ll still be down a few hundred bucks, but that’s OK with me. I’m just trying to avoid shouldering the entire load.

Some might say, well why even do this if you’re losing money? That’s easy, because for every person I help, I save. I save them from fear, anxiety, hopelessness, and depression. That to me is worth every single dime that I’ve ever spent here. This is my life’s work. To help you. How do you put a dollar amount on that? I simply can’t, and I won’t.

So, to continue those efforts, I need you more than ever. I’ve been asked for money myself many times in the past, so  I know how the apathetic among you  feel, but this is a worthy cause.

See, even though I already feel better, since I’m “healed” as it were, I keep working because I want everyone that finds me to feel at peace the way that I do now.

Alright, now it’s action time. You can donate buy clicking on either PayPal button. It’s a safe way to donate without having to fret about privacy issues.

Also, remember that you can donate by buying a copy of my special report. This $10 purchase will give you a great resource and also provide AG with a much needed donation.

Your gift — whatever it’s size — will help make AG better.

I’ll be keeping a tally over the next two weeks on this page of all donations made as a thank you to those that participate in this fundraiser.

Please join me in making Anxiety Guru into a better resource for all and not letting a ripoff artist disrupt the good work that’s being done here.

– Paul Dooley

P.S.

If you can’t see the donation button from your email or reader then please visit Anxietyguru.net.

A few weeks ago I asked for feedback about whether or not I should expand this website and the response was great. That kind of response tells me that people are being helped by this site and that what I do is having an impact. Now, I’d like to ask you about a few specifics, because I’d like to get an idea of what would help the most.

Design – Right now my web design is not bad, I guess. But, the next change will have to last for some time so I want to make sure that everything is optimized. I have three basic design concepts in mind and I’d like for you to give me your opinion about which one you would prefer and why.

1. Simple: Like all designs the “simple” look has its good and bad points. Take a look at an example of a simple site here.

2. Semi-Simple: This is a balance between simple and busy. How about this layout here?

3. Busy: This style is closer to a news site, but has the feel of a larger resource too. You can see an example here.

Alright, so there are the three basic layouts. Your favorite?

Content – The most important element to all this is, of course, content. Here are a few things I’m thinking of adding.

1. Article submission: I’d like to add a feature that would allow readers to easily submit articles to the site. So, would you be interested in what other readers have to say?

2. More content: As of right now I don’t write or podcast as much as I would like, but I’m also unsure about how often you would like to see new content – once per week? 2-3 per week? Let me know.

3. Style: And what about the direction of the site. Right now it’s geared more toward teaching versus being about me, this will stay the same  but, having said that, would you like to know more about me?

4. Video: Are you interested in video content? Or is a podcast plenty?

5. Podcast: Do you enjoy the current format of the Anxiety Guru Show? Or would you like to see more interviews? Different topics perhaps?

OK, so I don’t want you to fall asleep on me. I just need some insight from the people that matter the most when it comes to this site. Anxiety Guru has always been about you and I value your opinion.

A few of you came out of your shell a couple weeks ago to tell me your views on the value of this site, and I’d like to thank each and everyone that commented or voted. Now, I need you all to come out of your shell. I consider what I do here to be serious biz, and I want to get this re-launch right. Your feedback is vital. Please help me make Anxiety Guru Dot Net all it can be. Comment below!

Side-note:

On a very important side note I’d also like to invite 1-2 people to help me edit this site. I’ve had a few readers help out every now and then in the past but then kind of fade away, so I’m asking for 1-2 serious people to inquire.

What does an editor do? An editor at Anxiety Guru will research and create content using text, sound, pictures, video or other mediums.

At first this would be a volunteer position, as the main focus is and shall always be to help people first. However, this could turn into a paid position down the line.

If you’re interested, send me an email at info@anxietyguru.net with a little history about you and a writing sample about an anxiety related issue – your pick!

What am I looking for in an editor? A few things:

1. You must be able to write. I know that I”m no Hemingway, but you have to have a handle on the English language and know how to convey it effectively.

2. You need to care. You must have an altruistic drive for it’s own sake. This sight is not about making money, it’s about helping people cope with anxiety and depression. That is the mission.

3. Spare time. The time commitment would be approximately 2-5 hours per week. Not much, but you’d be surprised how easily people get distracted.

If you’re interested – and serious – I will give you more details via email. Can’t wait to hear from you.

Today’s post is brought to us by Betty Doyle of Depressionpills.net.

College of Montpellier analysts indicate us how depressive disorder is related to cholesterol levels and gender.

Do you know the Institute of Medical and Health Research (INSERM) and University of Montpellier financed professionals indicated that regulating ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol levels may help avoid mood problems among aging seniors?

In a recently available issue of the publication Biological Psychiatry  published in July 2010, leading researcher Dr. Marie-Laure Ancelin of INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale http://www.inserm.fr) said that gender specific regulation of levels of cholesterol may help stop depressive disorders in the elderly.

French analysts followed a significant group of women and men aged sixty-five and older for 7 years.

They noticed that depression in women was connected with lower levels of “good” high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which puts them at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart stroke.

On the other hand, depressive disorder in men was related to low levels of “bad” low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This association was strongest in men with a genetic vulnerability to depression related to a serotonin transporter gene.

Therefore, proper regulation of HDL-C and LDL-C levels can help stop depressive disorder in the aging adults, the study concluded.

The study got published in the July 15 issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry (Reference: http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(10)00393-8/abstract).

Major nutritional sources of cholesterol include dairy products, egg yolks, beef, pork, chicken, and shrimp. Plant products such as flax seeds and peanuts have cholesterol-like compounds known as phytosterols.

Total cholesterol is defined as the sum of HDL (High-density lipoprotein), LDL (Low-density lipoprotein), and VLDL (Very-low-density lipoprotein). Usually, only the total, HDL, and triglycerides are tested.

It is strongly recommended to have cholesterol tested more often than five years if someone has total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or higher, or if a man over age 45 or a woman over age 50 has HDL (good) cholesterol under 40 mg/dL, or exist other risk components for heart problems and stroke.

So…exactly what can you do to rise your HDL (good) and decrease your LDL (bad) levels?
1. Exercising can substantially increase HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL cholesterol.
2. Smoking has been shown to lower HDL while raising LDL cholesterol.
3. Highly processed, trans fats at the same time raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol.
4. Monounsaturated fats such as those found in essential olive oil and avocados raise HDL and reduce LDL.
5. Fatty fish like salmon and sardines contain omega-3 fats that raise HDL and lower LDL.
6. Whole, intact cereals contain dietary fiber and niacin, both of which raise HDL and may lower LDL.

Now it’s all to you…

About me – Betty Doyle contributes articles for http://www.depressionpills.net an anti – depression pills blog. It’s a nonprofit site dedicated to her personal depression journey. The blog is targeted on offering energy and hope to any person who is suffering from depressive disorder and supports those people to find the energy to fight against the effects of depression. This way she wants to help alleviate some of the stigma mental illness depression can cause and help the public perception of mood difficulties.

Today marks the second anniversary of Anxietyguru.net. Since May 2008 I have been writing, podcasting, emailing readers, and doing all I can to spread my message.

My message has always been simple. Anxiety is hard to live with but, it is manageable and does not have to stop you from living how you want to live.

I’ve always preached that the path toward a less anxious life may or may not require meds, therapy, fish oil or whatever other means you can imagine. My motto is “whatever it takes, as long as it is safe and effective.”

Last year after the sites first anniversary, I had mentioned that I had about 90 regular readers. Now, I have over 200. And although that is a minuscule number of people, I’m so happy that I could help even this small fraction of humanity.

Also, since starting Anxietyguru.net, I’ve written an ebook, talked to hundreds of people from around the world, and have also been educated and enriched by your experiences.

This website is a complete labor of love and passion. If I could have it my way, this would be my full time job. But, despite the dream, I’m still happy to help the few that find me somehow on the vast landscape called the internet.

I’ve never had a plan per se for this site. The goal was only to spread my message and nothing more.

In terms of the future, I think that in the coming year I will be focusing more on producing podcast and other multimedia, possibly even videos, although I’m not sure about the latter yet.

I’d like to thank all of my readers for your comments, emails, advice, generosity, and support. I couldn’t see myself doing this for over two years if I wasn’t sure that it was helping people, and I know that it does. So, at least for the foreseeable future, I will continue to offer you the very  best I can in information and resources aimed at making you a better version of yourself.

From the bottom of heart, thank you.

According to a new study in the Journal Depression and Anxiety the answer is no. Massage is not better than deep breathing or other commonly used techniques to reduce anxiety. But my question is: Is that really a surprise?

When feeling anxious the last thing I want is a rub down. Massages usually require close contact with a stranger and stillness – and I have both in very short supply when I’m jazzed on anxiety.

Theoretically, I could see why getting a massage would seem soothing – and it could be – but I think that it’s more likely to make me uncomfortable and suspicious of arousing even more anxiety.

The other issue is cost. Even on the cheap massages are not really cheap. When you think about it, cheap massage is an oxymoron, like oil water. At a local mall for example, we have these guys that post up at a kiosk and offer 30 minute massages for $15. Now, that doesn’t sound like a ton of money, but what if you get anxious several times a week and the massage is really doing it for you? Expensive indeed.

The point is you don’t need to spend loads of money to reduce anxiety. Mediation, exercise, sleeping and so on, are all free. And nowadays free sounds just right.

It seems that video is killing the waiting room. In an effort to shorten wait times, child psychologist are turning to videoconferencing to expand services and reach more patients via “telemental health services.”

But is this a good idea for the rest of us? Can anxiety disorders and other mental health issues be addressed effectively by videoconferencing?

For anyone familiar with psychotherapy, you know the experience is fraught with undesirable details. For example, after making the difficult phone call to seek help, you then have to walk into an office and wait to be seen.

These little rooms are usually nicely furnished and have jittery people in them – all wondering why the person next to them is in there too. Are they suicidal? Are they depressed?

Then, there is the magazines, like the Readers Digest and National Geographic laying all over the place. Then, finally, someone comes to fetch you and calls out your name, usually very loudly. Kind of stressful.

Introducing videoconferencing. For those of you stuck in the stone age, videoconferencing involves you looking into a computer screen where you can see and hear another person in real time.

I like the idea. Not just because it allows you to bypass the waiting room, but also because it allows you to seek help from the comfort of your own home. And when it comes to anxiety disorders feeling safe matters.

Plus, when you go and see a therapist, it’s not like the doc is there to hug you and so on. They are there to diagnose, inform, and hopefully heal. All of these things can be done effectively through a computer screen.

It’s also much better than a phone call because it is still a face to face conversation.

It also might make a patient more willing to engage in therapy, because the distance that the videoconferencing provides could inject you with a bit of courage.

This is also good from a practical perspective. This would allow for less travel, fewer scheduling conflicts, and overall convenience that can’t be obtained from a trek to some far off office building.

And what of anonymity? Of course the doctor can see you, but you can skip the people near the office, the office staff, and everybody else that is not directly involved in your care.

I think this is a good trend that may even encourage people to seek help when they may have otherwise avoided it.

What do you think about videoconference therapy? Comment below.

Is there something inherently wrong with the DSM? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is the therapist’s guide for diagnosing mental ailments – it’s a useful, but bloated mental problems directory.

Some people think that mental disorders don’t exist, and that some people are just misunderstood. Well, I don’t buy that line of thought.

The reality is that some people do have mental problems, and they are different, but not because they’re a little kookie or  eccentric. They have serious underlying genetic, or other issues, that keep them the way they are.

The DSM’s job is to help therapists classify the various kinds of mental problems, so practicioners know how to treat different problems.

That sounds great, but has the DSM gone overboard? I’d say just a tad. Have you ever heard of Temper Dysregulation Disorder? Yeah, me either.

And come to think of it, what of all the various anxiety disorders? There is social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, OCD, agoraphobia, and general anxiety disorder. But what happened to good ole  Neurotic?

Granted, some people do display different symptoms, or at least lean more toward a certain set of symptoms, than others in the same group. However, I think people are being over diagnosed and being labeled with too many tags.

One argument is that this is done to sell more drugs. This is because if a new disorder is identified, then it’s thought that drug companies can market old drugs for “new” conditions.

And there is also the fact that many of the drugs used to treat the plethora of anxiety disorders and other mental ailments are helped or corrected by the same drugs – like antidepressants for example. What does that say?

And let’s not forget that by creating more conditions “they” are also putting more people into the pool. More sick people could mean more sales.

But, again, something like the DSM is necessary. After-all, a codified diagnostics manual is a must in any self-respecting, scientifically based profession of healing.

Maybe psychiatry is trying too hard to create new diagnoses and not hard enough trying to find solutions for the old ones.

In the next incarnation of the DSM – the DSM-V – they have proposed new diagnoses like Negativistic (passive aggressive) personality disorder, Relational disorder, and you’ll love this one, Sluggish Cognitive Tempo.

If you can make up a diagnosis like passive aggressive disorder then we have a problem. Seriously, some people are just jerks and not necessarily disordered.

I admit that with anxiety disorders many of the sub-disorders are unique and real, even if they are all treated the same. But this whole business of going off and creating new disorders from thin air is somewhat disturbing.

What do you think?

In celebration of my soon to be released Special Report How to Stop Anxious Thinking I’ve decided to run a competition.

To enter the competition all you have to do is submit a short story describing your most memorable triumph over anxiety. Whether it was overcoming panic, public speaking, or extreme nervousness in any number of situations. Be creative.

In one week I will select the winner and give that person a free copy of How to Stop Anxious Thinking and publish their entry on Anxietyguru.net.

Here are a few quick guidelines:

• The story should be true.
• The entry must be at least 250 words long, but no more than 800.
• The story should also be written to convey a lesson or moral about living with anxiety.
• All entries should be sent to info@anxietyguru.net.

You’ve got until 02/28/2010 to send your entry. The winner will be announced by 03/01/2010.

I’m looking forward to reading your stories. In sending an entry you’re not only entering a competition – but you’ll also help people in the Anxiety Guru community. Reading the experiences of others I think helps us all see that we’re not alone.

Let the games begin!

Update:

After reviewing the entries over the last week I have selected a winner for the Special Report Competition.

I’ve also decided to publish both the winner’s entry and the runner up’s. I thought both stories were compelling and I could really empathize with both.

Runner up: Sue Mackenzie

Sue MacKenzie wrote:
My son graduated from high school this past summer, and would you believe I
started worrying about attending his grad 6 months before?

I am somewhat claustrophobic, so the thought of being in a hot, crowded auditorium scared me
silly. I was so afraid I wouldn’t summon up the courage to take part in this
very important occasion in our lives. I told myself many times that if I
couldn’t deal with it, I could just leave the room for a short break, and who
would even notice me. When we arrived, I asked my ever patient husband if we
could sit high up near the back, and he was prepared with his long telephoto
lens – good thinking!

I was able to find an open area near the top, where I
could see just fine, and was relaxed enough to enjoy the ceremony. I sometimes
think I was a failure because I didn’t sit right down near the front and be
closer to the action, but then I remember, I did attend, and I found a way to
make it more comfortable and enjoyable for myself and my family.

Winner of the Special Report Competition: Sarah

Sarah wrote:
My problems with anxiety and panic started in 1998, which lead into severe
agoraphobia and monophobia.

My biggest accomplishment is easy. I was roombound in my house for 18 months.
Couldn’t go upstairs at all. I only have one bathroom in my house and that is
upstairs!!! I basically lived in my front room, getting over the threshold to
the kitchen was hell, even though it was only a matter of inches away.

My ex partner would have to work (he worked ONE minute away), but i would panic
all day, i would call him 20 – 30 times begging him to come home, sometimes it
was just so he could help me upstairs to use the toilet.

(I was the mother of a 9 month old baby at this time too)

Fast forward to now. I’ve got to the point where i can now go anyway with my
mother (safe person) and i can walk about a mile on my own around the estate
near my house. I live alone and i’m a single mother.

From being room bound, to be able to walk A MILE doesn’t seem much to the
“normal” person, but going from NOT being able to be on my own….and not being
able to leave my front room – is MASSIVE!!!

Sarah will receive a free copy of my Special Report How to Stop Anxious Thinking as her prize.

I thought all the entries were great, but Sue’s desire to overcome her anxiety for the sake of someone else was really courageous and selfless. Hats off to sue.

And congratulations to Sarah, not just for winning the competition, but for winning her battle with agoraphobia. Granted, she might have some way to go, but considering where she started, this was a great accomplishment.

I’d also like to thank everyone else that participated in the Special Report competition.

I hope that in some small way this shows you that although anxiety can be difficult to overcome, it’s not impossible. You can do it.