Yoga may be efficient in treating anxiety

I've been suffering from generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks for 12 years. Tried everything there is, no meds really help, or I can't take them due to side effects. Antidepressants somehow just make me more depressed, and I don't like the general feeling I have while taking them, so I also stopped. Just came accross an article yesterday, that says Yoga may help relieving anxiety and depression, by increasing the GABA (a neurotransmitter) levels in the brain. Apparently low GABA levels are responsible for anxiety and depression. Finally, a proof that we're not "crazy", and this is an organic disease like any other. We're not responsible for it, we are not "weak" people or weak-witted, and it's time for skepticals to ackowledge that.

So anyway, it has been proven scientifically that the GABA levels of those practicing Yoga knew a boost. It's finally scientifically measurable that some natural practice may help with a chemical imbalance. The results of the study have been published in the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine". The study has been conducted rigurously and its results are very credible... and encouraging!

So, even though I haven't gone to the gym in my entire life and walking half a mile is already heavy exercise for me, I decided to give Yoga a shot. Been wondering if any of you tried it, or heard about it, or has any kind of experience with it.

I don't know if I can cope with prolonged Yoga sessions (one efficient session is 60 minutes), as I'm so out of shape, but I'm very willing to try.

Am I getting too carried away here, you think?

Even though there were contestants of the research, I still very much believe in it, because it used quantifiable indicators to prove its point, and medical imagery combined with Yoga gives Yoga more credibility, I think.

The article I found is here, for anybody who wants to read it: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/ fullstory_50610.html

Did you try Yoga by now? how did it work for you?

If you're still looking for more info, you can try asking in the Alternative Therapy section.

thanks for the article!

Alon

http://www.yogasite.com/panicattack.htm