|
...then you've experienced firsthand some of the possible
symptoms of a panic or anxiety attack. If you are reading this
page because a loved one suffers from these symptoms and you are
trying to understand or help, it's hard to appreciate what they
go through.
Just
try to imagine what it feels like to experience one, if you can.
Here
is a typical example:
Standing in a supermarket queue, it’s been a long wait but only
one customer to go before you make it to the cashier. Wait, what
was that sensation? An unpleasant feeling forms in your throat,
your chest feels tighter, now a sudden shortness of breath, and
what do you know—your heart skips a beat. “Please, God, not
here.”
A
quick scan of the territory—is it threatening? Four unfriendly
faces queue behind, one person in front. Pins and needles seem
to prick you through your left arm, you feel slightly dizzy, and
then the explosion of fear as you dread the worst. You are about
to have a panic attack.
There
is no doubt in your mind now that this is going to be a big one.
Okay, focus: Remember what you have been taught, and it is time
now to apply the coping techniques. Begin the deep breathing
exercise your doctor recommended. In through the nose, out
through the mouth.
Think
relaxing thoughts, and again, while breathing in, think “Relax,”
and then breathe out. But it doesn’t seem to be having any
positive effect; in fact, just concentrating on breathing is
making you feel self-conscious and more uptight.
Okay,
coping technique 2:
Gradual muscle relaxation. Tense both shoulders, hold for 10
seconds, then release. Try it again. No; still no difference.
The anxiety is getting worse and the very fact that you are out
of coping techniques worsens your panic. If only you were
surrounded by your family, or a close friend were beside you so
you could feel more confident in dealing with this situation.
Now,
the adrenaline is really pumping through your system, your body
is tingling with uncomfortable sensations, and now the dreaded
feeling of losing complete control engulfs your emotions. No one
around you has any idea of the sheer terror you are
experiencing. For them, it’s just a regular day and another
frustratingly slow queue in the supermarket.
You
are out of options. Time for Plan C.
The
most basic coping skill of all is “fleeing.” Excuse yourself
from the queue; you are slightly embarrassed as it is now that
it is your turn to pay. The cashier is looking bewildered as you
leave your shopping behind and stroll towards the door. There is
no time for excuses—you need to be alone. You leave the
supermarket and get into your car to ride it out alone. Could
this be the big one? The one you fear will push you over the
edge mentally and physically. Ten minutes later the panic
subsides.
It’s
10:30 a.m. How are you going to make it through the rest of the
day?
If you
suffer from panic or anxiety attacks, the above scenerio
probably sounds very familiar. It may have even induced feelings
of anxiety and panic just reading it. The particular situations
that trigger your panic and anxiety may differ; maybe the bodily
sensations are a little different. Or maybe it happened to you
for the first time on a plane, in the dentist chair, or even at
home, while doing nothing in particular.
If you
have ever had what has become known as a “panic attack,” take
comfort in the fact that you are by no means alone.
A
panic attack always comes with the acute sense of impending
doom. You feel you are either about to lose your mind or one of
your vital bodily functions is about to cease functioning and
you will end your days right there among the canned goods and
frozen food.
You
are by no means alone; you’re not even one in a million. In
America, it is estimated that almost 5% of the population suffer
from some form of anxiety disorder. For some, it may be the
infrequent panic attacks that only crop up in particular
situations-like when having to speak in front of others, while,
for other people, it can be so frequent and recurring that it
inhibits them from leaving their home. Frequent panic attacks
often develop into what medical physicians refer to as an
“anxiety disorder.”
One of
the first steps to regaining control of your life is getting
helpful information. This site will give you that, and more.
The
beginning of your recovery starts here. What you will learn is
that there is a very good chance you are about to end the cycle
of panic attacks in your life. You will learn not only to regain
the carefree life you remember once having, but will also gain
new confidence in living. Your answer to living free from
“panic” or “anxiety attacks” is at hand.
This
site demonstrates that the panic and anxiety that you have
experienced will be the very key to your courage and success.
Begin
the road to recovery by browsing through the site. While many of
you may have read almost everything you can possibly read
relating to panic and anxiety I assure you this site offers
something very effective.
Did
you know...?
The
key difference between someone who is cured of panic attacks and
those who are not is really very simple. The people who are
cured no longer fear panic attacks. I’ll try to show you how to
be one of these people as well.
What
if I told you the trick to ending panic and anxiety attacks is
to want to have one. That sounds strange, even contradictory,
but let me explain.
The
trick to panic attacks is wanting to have one-the wanting pushes
it away. Can you have a panic attack in this very second? No!
You
know the saying that "what you resist, persists." Well that
saying applies perfectly to fear. If you resist a situation out
of fear, the fear around that issue will persist. How do you
stop resisting–you move directly into it, into the path of the
anxiety, and by doing so it cannot persist.
In
essence what this means is that if you daily voluntarily seek to
have a panic attack, you cannot have one. Try in this very
moment to have a panic attack and I will guarantee you cannot.
You may not realize it but you have always decided to panic. You
make the choice by saying this is beyond my control.
Another way to appreciate this is to imagine having a panic
attack as like standing on a cliff's edge. The anxiety seemingly
pushes you closer to falling over the edge.
To be
rid of the fear you must metaphorically jump. You must jump off
the cliff edge and into the anxiety and fear and all the things
that you fear most.
How do
you jump? You jump by wanting to have a panic attack. You go
about your day asking for anxiety and panic attacks to appear.
Your
real safety is the fact that a panic attack will never harm you.
That is medical fact. You are safe, the sensations are wild but
no harm will come to you. Your heart is racing but no harm will
come to you. The jump becomes nothing more than a two foot drop!
Perfectly safe.
Learn
more:
http://www.panicportal.com
Joe Barry
is an international panic disorder coach. His informative site
on all issues related to panic and anxiety attacks can be found
here:
http://www.panicportal.com
This article is copywritten material (Reprinted
with permission)
|
