Comments on: How to Deal With Anxiety and Panic Attacks http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-and-panic-attacks/ Strategies for Positive Change Thu, 24 May 2012 01:09:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Clare http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-and-panic-attacks/#comment-42513 Clare Thu, 17 May 2012 17:41:26 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=1225#comment-42513 I had a severe panic attack in the middle of the night 5 months ago (for which I am still recovering). Just a thank you for this article. I had no idea what was happening but googled panic just in case and read this article over and over during the worst moments. It helped a lot. Thanks I had a severe panic attack in the middle of the night 5 months ago (for which I am still recovering). Just a thank you for this article. I had no idea what was happening but googled panic just in case and read this article over and over during the worst moments. It helped a lot.
Thanks

]]> By: Jon Marsh http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-and-panic-attacks/#comment-42097 Jon Marsh Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:19:24 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=1225#comment-42097 This thing sure is confusing when you see it happen to some one for the first time . Thanks for all the useful information im sure it will help me to deal with it better next time. This thing sure is confusing when you see it happen to some one for the first time . Thanks for all the useful information im sure it will help me to deal with it better next time.

]]> By: Ronald Rose http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-and-panic-attacks/#comment-40525 Ronald Rose Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:26:28 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=1225#comment-40525 I have to commend you for writing this article. Sad to say, but I am typing this comment from a standing position, too fearful to sit down in my chair. I too have suffered with extreme anxiety. It tarnished over a decade of my life then through counselling and medication therapy it gradually subsided. I lived for more than six years without a trace of panic. That all changed very recently. About four years ago my younger sister took her own life. I have never recovered from the loss and feel my re-emergent bouts with panic are due to my mind just now coming to terms with her being gone. Since her death I have been hospitalized four times within the last two years. Twice for bleeding ulcers and the last two due to heart problems. I look at life as a bothersome trial with no good and no purpose. I constantly fight an urge to cry (it just comes on suddenly and without merit). I feel very emotional and volatile. It scares me sometimes. I would never commit suicide (I very much want to live), I just don't feel as connected or vital in the world as I once did. To further exacerbate the problem I quit my job of 3 years and eventually found a new, lower paying job 7 months later. Unhappiness with my work situation combined with a sore decrease in my savings from the months I was unemployed only adds to my dilemma. What intrigued me about the article and compelled me to read further, other than the fact I was desperate to know the reasons for these inexplicable feelings of illness and danger, were the passages pertaining to the fear of suffocation and fear of the body's inability to regulate respiration without direct involvement. I noticed, to my chagrin (and relief!), that I indeed was trying to work my body's natural processes manually and that the over-awareness of my breathing was the primary trigger for my panic attacks. Whew! I must say at this point that I am now seated comfortably in a chair as I finish typing the remainder of this comment.Thankfully, there are individuals, such as yourself, who take time to map out such unattractive, unpleasant experiences from their own lives in hopes of helping others fighting a similar struggle. God bless you! I have to commend you for writing this article. Sad to say, but I am typing this comment from a standing position, too fearful to sit down in my chair. I too have suffered with extreme anxiety. It tarnished over a decade of my life then through counselling and medication therapy it gradually subsided. I lived for more than six years without a trace of panic. That all changed very recently. About four years ago my younger sister took her own life. I have never recovered from the loss and feel my re-emergent bouts with panic are due to my mind just now coming to terms with her being gone. Since her death I have been hospitalized four times within the last two years. Twice for bleeding ulcers and the last two due to heart problems. I look at life as a bothersome trial with no good and no purpose. I constantly fight an urge to cry (it just comes on suddenly and without merit). I feel very emotional and volatile. It scares me sometimes. I would never commit suicide (I very much want to live), I just don’t feel as connected or vital in the world as I once did. To further exacerbate the problem I quit my job of 3 years and eventually found a new, lower paying job 7 months later. Unhappiness with my work situation combined with a sore decrease in my savings from the months I was unemployed only adds to my dilemma. What intrigued me about the article and compelled me to read further, other than the fact I was desperate to know the reasons for these inexplicable feelings of illness and danger, were the passages pertaining to the fear of suffocation and fear of the body’s inability to regulate respiration without direct involvement. I noticed, to my chagrin (and relief!), that I indeed was trying to work my body’s natural processes manually and that the over-awareness of my breathing was the primary trigger for my panic attacks. Whew! I must say at this point that I am now seated comfortably in a chair as I finish typing the remainder of this comment.Thankfully, there are individuals, such as yourself, who take time to map out such unattractive, unpleasant experiences from their own lives in hopes of helping others fighting a similar struggle. God bless you!

]]> By: David http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-and-panic-attacks/#comment-38709 David Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:25:27 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=1225#comment-38709 Hi, Jonathan. I just wanted to remark that using meds does not necessarily mean depression or suicide, which I guess many people (specially anxious people) would understand from your words. The picture is not so dark. This said, I prefer not to take any meds because I don't think we need them. I am sure there is a solution for anxiety which may differ from person to person. All we, anxious people, need to do is to take action. Change the way we think and behave, because that's the root of our anxiety. Find a good psicologist and let him work. Time will make the whole difference, but only if we face fear. And my advice for anxious people, do not run away from fear. When it appears, if you cannot stand still, then stand back. But do it one step at a time while feeling it... getting used to it. But don't run away. Don't try to control it. Feel the fear... It's part of our nature. We are alive and that's why we feel anxiety. It's good, even though it may take to some time to realize it. There is nothing wrong with fear or anxiety, it is only that we think there is something wrong with its symptoms. The worse you feel, the better the moment to prove yourself and face the fear. Nevermind if you fail, do it again, try to reach one step further and stay there until the anxiety goes down. Then take one more step. While you may suceed in your first attempt, chances are that you need to try and try until you suceed. Nevermind if you feel bad because you are already feeling bad. You can only win. The only way to stop feeling bad all the time is walking towards your fear asking for more. Prove yourself and you will win. We are ALL designed to do it. Cheers, David Hi, Jonathan.

I just wanted to remark that using meds does not necessarily mean depression or suicide, which I guess many people (specially anxious people) would understand from your words. The picture is not so dark. This said, I prefer not to take any meds because I don’t think we need them.

I am sure there is a solution for anxiety which may differ from person to person. All we, anxious people, need to do is to take action. Change the way we think and behave, because that’s the root of our anxiety. Find a good psicologist and let him work. Time will make the whole difference, but only if we face fear.

And my advice for anxious people, do not run away from fear. When it appears, if you cannot stand still, then stand back. But do it one step at a time while feeling it… getting used to it. But don’t run away. Don’t try to control it. Feel the fear… It’s part of our nature. We are alive and that’s why we feel anxiety. It’s good, even though it may take to some time to realize it.

There is nothing wrong with fear or anxiety, it is only that we think there is something wrong with its symptoms. The worse you feel, the better the moment to prove yourself and face the fear. Nevermind if you fail, do it again, try to reach one step further and stay there until the anxiety goes down. Then take one more step.

While you may suceed in your first attempt, chances are that you need to try and try until you suceed. Nevermind if you feel bad because you are already feeling bad. You can only win.

The only way to stop feeling bad all the time is walking towards your fear asking for more. Prove yourself and you will win. We are ALL designed to do it.

Cheers,
David

]]> By: Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-and-panic-attacks/#comment-38706 Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:52:02 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=1225#comment-38706 Hi David, clearly, the causes for anxiety and each persons response to medication differ greatly. Statistically, so many people who use anti-anxiety and anti-depression drugs are experiencing adverse effects that they are considering mandatory warnings about the increase of suicidal tendencies and depression (already listed as possible side effects with some of these drugs). The latest studies show that a persons chance of becoming bipolar doubles after five years on these meds. I can't say how any individual will respond to to these medications over time. Each person has to weigh the pros and cons for themselves. My point is this (and this is only my opinion, nothing more), if there is a natural, drug free way to overcome anxiety, why would anyone risk the drug side effects, especially when you consider the fact that all they do is manage (mask) the symptoms? Hi David, clearly, the causes for anxiety and each persons response to medication differ greatly. Statistically, so many people who use anti-anxiety and anti-depression drugs are experiencing adverse effects that they are considering mandatory warnings about the increase of suicidal tendencies and depression (already listed as possible side effects with some of these drugs). The latest studies show that a persons chance of becoming bipolar doubles after five years on these meds. I can’t say how any individual will respond to to these medications over time. Each person has to weigh the pros and cons for themselves. My point is this (and this is only my opinion, nothing more), if there is a natural, drug free way to overcome anxiety, why would anyone risk the drug side effects, especially when you consider the fact that all they do is manage (mask) the symptoms?

]]> By: David http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-and-panic-attacks/#comment-38695 David Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:12:46 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=1225#comment-38695 Hi Jonathan. From your words, one might think that medicating a person with anxiety, most probably, will cause depression and suicide in the long run. Is that what you mean or do you mean that 'in some cases, it may lead to depression and suicide'? Could you please clarify? Thanks in advance. Cheers Hi Jonathan.

From your words, one might think that medicating a person with anxiety, most probably, will cause depression and suicide in the long run. Is that what you mean or do you mean that ‘in some cases, it may lead to depression and suicide’?

Could you please clarify? Thanks in advance.

Cheers

]]> By: Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-and-panic-attacks/#comment-16384 Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills Wed, 16 Feb 2011 04:28:50 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=1225#comment-16384 Hi Nea, that's probably a good idea! Hi Nea, that’s probably a good idea!

]]> By: Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-anxiety-and-panic-attacks/#comment-16383 Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills Wed, 16 Feb 2011 04:28:13 +0000 http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/?p=1225#comment-16383 Hey Marvin, indeed, one of the side effects is depression and another is suicide. Hey Marvin, indeed, one of the side effects is depression and another is suicide.

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