July 15th, 2010
For those of us who suffer with anxiety attacks, we distinguish what it feels like. Our heart pounds. We get butterflies in our stomach. We agonize and fret over everything and anything. We have hot and cold sweats. Our throats go dry and we have difficulty swallowing, just to name a few.
If you are experiencing any of the above, then you may well be suffering with anxiety attacks.
Anxiety attacks can occur out of the blue. I have spoken with loads of people who have said “my life is great; I don’t understand why I am suddenly suffering with anxiety attacks”. That’s the nature of the beast. There is no selected format for anxiety attacks. They can occur to people whose lives are going really well, as well, as those who lives are not going so well.
This is why anxiety attacks are so difficult to diagnose. It’s not like having a cold or some other illness, where there symptoms are typical and simple to make out and diagnose.
Understanding what anxiety attacks are will help you to have more control. It’s usual to worry and feel tense or anxious when under pressure or facing a demanding situation. Anxiety is the body’s natural response to danger, an automatic alarm that goes off when we feel threatened.
From my personal knowledge off living with anxiety attacks, I am alert of the fact that the more you think about the anxiety the deeper ingrained the symptoms become. The more powerful the symptoms, the more powerful the anxiety attacks become. Then you’re in the realms of a viscous circle. This is when it becomes really hard to over come your anxiety attacks.
It’s not till you really become aware of the fact that your thoughts have shaped your anxiety, so it stands to reason that if you have manifested the anxiety attack then surely you can UN-create the anxiety attacks. This part is really hard for people to understand. And I know exactly how they feel! When I was told this, I rejected it. Why would I want to do this to myself? It did not make sense.
But at the end of the day no matter how much I tried to pay no heed to that fact, it was correct, my thoughts where the origin of my anxiety. I experimented with it. The more I focused my energy on the anxiety the stronger my anxiety attack became. So with the help of a therapist, I was able to work on my thoughts and defeat my anxiety.
I am not anxiety free, but I am able to stop my anxiety before it becomes a full blown anxiety attack.
An added thing to bear in mind, is that anxiety may be unpleasant, but it isn’t always a unpleasant thing. In fact, anxiety can help us stay attentive and focused, spur us to action, and motivate us to solve problems. But when anxiety is relentless or overwhelming, when it interferes with our relationships and activities-that’s when you’ve crossed the line from normal anxiety into the territory of anxiety disorders.
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Posted in Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Update Anxiety, depression, and judgments about the probability of future negative and positive events in children…
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A&E, although probably the right choice for breathing problems as you could get checked out and made 'safe”, is not the best place for a diagnosis. The Drs there are often quite junior.
Do you get anxious? Because if you do some anxiety management therapy might be beneficial. I imagine it would take about 6 months to come through on the NHS so get your gp to get your name down now (It might not be 6 months though, our psychology service has recently got their waiting list down a a month)
I'm right in assuming you have an appointment with a specialist? When is it?
Dans last blog post..The Midnight Movie Club
Awww yay
There's too many psychological studies out that prove conclusively that movement, sunlight, exercise, keeping busy are all ways to combat depression. In many cases, people dropped off the Prozac completely once they started exercising every time they felt gloomy. This technique also works with anxiety attacks.I.just.have.to.make.myself…..DO IT!
Anxiety disorder is considered to be one of the worst mental conditions that affect human beings by making them prone to baseless and groundless worries but with the arrival of anti-anxiety medications like xanax in the pharmaceutical market, successful treatment of anxiety related disorders has become an instant possibility. But, instead of straightway moving ahead to use Xanax and other medicines to treat anxiety such as Buspar and Tenormin, you can log in to and get hold of fundamental tidbits on these medicines first.
Yep, I saw that, uh, thing!
thank you
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Great deal on Amazon: 'The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques: Understan…' by Margaret Wehrenberg (Paperb…
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Biofeedback has reemerged as a legitimate treatment option for those suffering with anxiety and chronic pain. In the 1960s, the term represented laboratory procedures used to train a person to control his or her bodily functions, with the ultimate goal of being able to control brain waves. This in turn would make a person more creative, pleasant, etc. Today, biofeedback is more realistically used to help people with several disorders including anxiety, incontinence and ADHD.
My story idea is a feature on biofeedback’s growing popularity among University of Florida students as a means to control stress and anxiety. The therapy involves measuring a patient’s blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, skin temperature and other bodily processes and relaying this information give a patient more consciousness about his or her own physiology. The reporter should talk to Dr. Dinah Welch, who practices biofeedback therapy at the University of Florida Student Health Care Center. She should be asked to detail the biofeedback process and what it entails for the patient.
About how many students currently receive biofeedback therapy at the center? How effective is biofeedback in managing anxiety? Does it work better for some than others? Is a referral from another doctor necessary in order to receive this kind of treatment? Can biofeedback replace more traditional drug therapies? How much does it cost?
The reporter should also talk to students suffering from stress or anxiety, which shouldn’t be hard given the start of a new semester. Ask them if they have ever considered a nontraditional therapy like biofeedback. More importantly, the reporter should talk to someone who has experienced biofeedback. Will the student continue his or her treatment? Was it worthwhile?
While biofeedback is offered to cancer patients at the Shands Cancer Center for the treatment of pain, any information about this should appear in a later graph as the article’s focus will be on students and anxiety management. This is also true for other disorders including ADHD and incontinence.
The story should be about 15 inches and can include a mug of Welch as well as a sidebar about the bodily processes commonly measured and what each means.
Treat Anxiety Through Exercise
RT rel=”nofollow” Dr. Oz has a horse on! Horses used to ‘treat’ anxiety, depression.
HSP- Thank you for your reply. I have read many many books…so many, I know all the ins and outs on anxiety/panic disorder. I have also tried CBT many times and with 4-5 differnent doctors and/or counselors, yoga therapy and home education programs (Lucinda Bassett's program). I have book shelves full of self-help…but nothing has helped! I will not even try an anti-psychotic medication….I've heard of the ones you have mentioned….I will not go there. I absolutely believe that this disorder is 90% how I think….that is what needs to be changed. That is easier said then done…though not impossible I suppose. I absolutely agree that I have secondary depression because of the primary anxiety/panic disorder. It is heriditary, envirnomental and learned behavior. I got all three. The depression levels differ; they are either right there or lying low. I think the first step I need to take it to talk with my doctor and try the conversion over to Valium and then taper off of that (I had read that in the Ashton report and elsewhere) and I have to stay in “the day”. I must stop worrying about tommorrow, I must live in the day. That is a major symptom on anxiety disorder…not living in the present. I will work on that. I wanted you to know that I read your 100 things list and I can relate to 90% of them. Yes I have a tattoo also, one for now, the second to come after the holidays. From one HSP to another, thank you for taking the time to write. I know I am not alone and that I can do it….I must keep patient and keep trying.
Silvana
Oh, my!
Our experiences are even more similar than I thought! I just couldn't tell how much reading/therapy you'd done from your last comment.
So, then. Wow. I, too, have done Lucinda Bassett's Anxiety and Depression program. Twice actually. When I bought it in 1995, it helped a little. I bought it last year again to see if I could gain any new perspectives. No, nothing new the second time. Too bad. I spent close to $500.00 on the program and it's just sitting here!
It's curious just how many people there are like us who have read and read and gone to every kind of therapy possible — and we still panic. Logically, we know a panic attack isn't going to hurt us, kill us, make us crazy, but we still avoid them at all cost.
So, I must with all my heart suggest that you but two more books. The first is “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Anxiety Disorders” by George Eifert and John P. Forsyth. The second, “Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life” by Steven C. Hayes.
This theory, I believe with all my heart, is the KEY to our freedom.
I didn't suggest them earlier because, since CBT works for so many (especially if people are exposed to it very early in the disorder), I thought it may be all you needed. But, since you're more like me than I realized, CBT and one book about “what is panic” won't do the trick.
Here is a description about the book:
This work is based on emerging basic and applied research suggesting that the core of human suffering has much to do with excessive thought and emotion regulation applied where it does not work and where it is largely unnecessary. This research base is showing that excessive emotion regulation, or experiential avoidance, is a core process that turns normal fear and anxiety (including other forms of psychological and emotional pain) into life shattering clinical problems.
The book teaches therapists working with anxious persons how to foster acceptance and change as vital alternatives to anxiety management and control. It teaches skills designed to help clients learn to drop the rope in their tug of war with anxiety and fear, unpleasant thoughts, worries, etc. and to do what they truly care about. Instead of feeling better before living better, the ACT approach helps clients get on with living better. When they do, we think they will feel and think better too.
The alternative is to learn to be with thoughts as thoughts, feelings and feelings, memories as memories, and to take them with you in directions you want to go.
Basically, while CBT teaches us to change the thoughts and get rid of the symptoms (i.e., not have them), ACT teaches us have the thoughts — so what — a do what you want to do anyway. The goal of this therapy is not symptom reduction, it's start LIVING life! Then, as a wonderful consequence of getting out into our lives again, the symptoms disappear anyway!! Since I started reading about ACT, my attitude about the agoraphobia has really changed. I can see a lot of improvement!
Also, they have a ACT Yahoo Group. Here's the group's description:
The prevailing view among both therapists and clients is that a more vital life can be attained by overcoming negative thoughts and feelings. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a unique behavior change approach based on modern learning theory and Relational Frame Theory (RFT) that emphasizes instead the role of mindfulenss and commitment strategies, including acceptance, defusion, contact with the present moment, a transcendent sense of self, values, and creating larger patterns of committed action. ACT appears to apply not just to the clinic, but to a wide range of issues faced by human beings. This list serves as a forum for non-professionals to discuss ACT.
Didn't you just mention us needing to stay in the moment?
I am so serious, Silvana, when I say that ACT seems to be the key to our freedom.
Now, back to the Valium conversion: great idea!
It worked for me (well, converting from Xanax to Valium). I tapered off the Klonopin by dry cutting (that sucked!!) My two doctors gave me no grief about crossing over to Valium, but I hear some doctors get nervous about prescribing Valium. Stand tall and insist on a Valium crossover. Talk about the long half-life. Let your doctor know a Valium crossover is the best method scientifically speaking.
Also, what I did, I brought in the crossover and water taper schedule (the slow taper) from the Benzo Withdrawal Support Group (link in sidebar). I showed them how precise the process was. I had a six-month or so plan in front of me. I think this convinced them, even though they both swore benzo withdrawal IF it happens only lasts a couple of WEEKS!
Gosh, and you're an HSP, too? Are you my twin sister?
Please, keep me posted, Silvana!
you are so beautifuull i love you..
I hate anxiety attacks – although mine have all been fairly mild. I also hate that pre-anxious feeling, when you are on the verge of having an attack, but still think that maybe, just maybe, it can be prevented. And how it's all made worse when people around you question it all. “Just relax, you'll be OK.”
On a side note, I've watched episode 1 of “Offspring.” Did you hear Petey?
Stop Anxiety Attacks now! FREE report will show you how.
Anxiety Attack Symptoms – <a rel="nofollow"
I converted to Christianity in my senior year in high school because I was going through a late teen-ager crisis and was reaching out for help. I thought it would change my life and I'd be successful, which would enable me to help others. Instead, I suffered anxiety attacks and depression and always feared hell. Once I left the church and the faith, my anxiety and depression have subsided. I no longer have anxiety attacks and bouts of depression are just that—bouts. It's no longer a chronic condition. The faith caused guilt and feelings of inadequacy. In the reality based world, I know I'm just a human schlump (if that's a word) like everyone else.
Oh, I love this. And I kind of feel like I could have written it, too, only not as beautifully as you did. I completely, totally and entirely get exactly what you're saying.
(P. S. I recently started an AD to treat anxiety. I thought about you when I went to talk to my doctor about it, and I still think about you sometimes when I take my pill each night. I hope it doesn't creep you out that you're my reference for this, but that's how deeply what you've written on the subject touches me. And you know what? When that pill actually started to work it was as if I'd experienced an epiphany. Thank you for your part in that.)
Anxiety & Panic Attacks Solution | Panic Anxiety Treatment
There's too many psychological studies out that prove conclusively that movement, sunlight, exercise, keeping busy are all ways to combat depression. In many cases, people dropped off the Prozac completely once they started exercising every time they felt gloomy. This technique also works with anxiety attacks.I.just.have.to.make.myself…..DO IT!
Anxiety Stress Management
In regards to the parent involvement nights, I applaud the Title 1 professionals, they do an awesome job. I am curious as to what is the mission/goal of Parent Involvement for Title 1 is? I agree with Katy we need to be demonstrating/teaching parents how they can have good wholesome fun with their children. I would hope that because of our many parent involvement nights and activities we do have more families spending more time reading books, playing games, and soing positive activities that are healthy and appropriate with their children because these activities are rolemodeling in and of themselves. I like what our Title 1 Staff are doing for parent involvement, for many of our families and children these nights provide an opportunity to be involved with their children in positive and supportive activities. Food for thought, I would really like to see a way to possibly include more parenting skills, anger management, anxiety management information in an edifiable way to our parents on these nights. I know in one blog it was stated Jefferson does more parent involvement nights than other school, I don't think we can afford to compare ourselves to others especially if that comparison lowers our level of professionalism. Jefferson in my opinion is a unique elementary school in North Platte due to demographics. The students and families we serve I believe need encouragement and support. … it’s not about being paid …… and it’s not about conforming to arbitrary standards…it's about putting students and families first. I understand the comment about we need to have time for our families, when I attend the parent involvement nights I include and bring along my family members so far they have enjoyed every activity and I am appreciative of the fact that I have the opportunity to include them, which was available even before my daughter attended Jefferson as a student.
hahah, ms. Huxley!. . . she is one bad ass pyshedelic queen. . .
this is bullshit! they have no scientific studies that this does what they say it does. next time your “doctor” says you need this mind altering drug, just ask him to PROVE IT
<a class="watch-comment-atlink" nahhh im good i can handle myself. i just started like 6 months ago and only smoke from time to time in that 6 months i prolly only smoked 15 times
Druggy!
never underestimate the power of speaking bluntly.
Panic Away -End Anxiety and Panic Attacks – <a rel="nofollow"
Cure Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks Fast – <a rel="nofollow"
what ever, pill head.
Reading 'How to Treat Anxiety Attack Through Natural Treatments' here:
Selma – On the money you may be. I have been thinking about the times I felt healthy and what has changed from those times – trying to identify my anxiety triggers. Let's see what the next step is.
Nat – Self help books are good for one thing only – filling space on a shelf. Am now doing the waiting game for another specialist appointment.
Penelope – you are a love. Have appointment with GP first week of August the day after PCOS treatment plan appointment. Is a while to wait but this is what I get for having the best GP in the area!
Dan – The rational part of my brain knows you are right and is nodding sagely at your advice. There is quite a large part which is having a grumble whinge at the NHS. I honestly don't know what I was expecting. I think I've been watching too much hospital drama TV.
My next specialist appointment is with the gynae dept in August for PCOS. I have to wait for a referral letter to go to my GP from A&E and then she can make an appointment with the specialists at the hospital. As soon as that it through I shall be skipping with excitement at the next step forward. Thanks for the advice re the anxiety management therapy though – I will mention that at my next appointment.
blondefabulous – oh I have had worse… not as bad as the NY Psych thing though – jeez! Had a quick googling of Celiac Disease and can I just say – ooo, you poor thing!
Avitable – Knew I could rely on you for the quick fix answer – is starting to eat into my work day though!
Carly – I have tried meditation in the past and it worked wonders. Am going to make sure I find the time and space to take it up again. Am looking into Yoga classes in the area; hypnotherapy, however, scares the living bejeezus out of me! But thanks for the advice and for the longest post title I have seen in quite some time – Cordelia in Angel, right?
This correctly describes a real problem, but offers extremely bad advice. “Managing anxiety” is a poor solution. Short-term anxiety management can often be helpful, sometimes necessary. But when it moves into being the long-term solution it usually creates more problems than it solves. Much better is to deal with the source (usually a who) of the stress.
Anxiety disorder is considered to be one of the worst mental conditions that affect human beings by making them prone to baseless and groundless worries but with the arrival of anti-anxiety medications like xanax in the pharmaceutical market, successful treatment of anxiety related disorders has become an instant possibility. But, instead of straightway moving ahead to use Xanax and other medicines to treat anxiety such as Buspar and Tenormin, you can log in to and get hold of fundamental tidbits on these medicines first.
Is Atarax (used to treat anxiety) in the same class of drugs as Xanax and Valium?
How To Treat Anxiety – free videos here: #video #videos #free #how #howto #mentalhealth #anxiety #stress #depression
Panic Attack Relief?Four Helpful Tips <a rel="nofollow"
Reading: 10 best-ever anxiety management techniques. Includes a very nice discussion of how the different neurotransmitters interact with particular areas of the brain.
Planning: My triumphant return to work after a very rough medical leave.
Wearing: Jeans and a polo shirt
Creating: My computer died, so I get to make a new computer! Configuring a new computer is 1000x better than ice cream.
Anxiety in Children – Can Children Have Panic Attacks?
That's a mighty fine chocolate stash
I've never seen those plain choc drops before!
I hope dragging you all the way down to the Quayside didn't hurt your feet and make you even more exhausted! I honestly wouldn't have minded waiting at the station…obviously I was so grateful for your company and the day really perked me up, but not at the expense of your tootsies and health! I knew you'd had a tough week but I had no idea that things had been so incredibly difficult right from Monday onwards. Talk about a series of unfortunate events! I like my exclamation marks if you can't tell
I couldn't watch This is England 86 myself, so I reckon you're incredibly brave for sitting through it and then being subjected to a lengthy conversation about it by your flatmate. Definitely indicative of progress in terms of anxiety management but so horribly tough on you…I cringed just reading about it
Anyway, huge thanks for a lovely day. You really are a pleasure to spend time with and that's coming from a misanthropist with social anxiety disorder, so I really mean it!
I have messaged on FB but I'll bug you more by asking for the password here as well hehe.
*hugs and hope you're feeling better now*
~Jess~
xxxxxxxxx
<a class="watch-comment-atlink" Glad you watched
girl i hate milk too!! and i dont really like meat that much either..
This is a wonderful list of affirmations. Thanks for sharing it.
I have to confess, I used to scoff at those who used affirmations… but I kept hearing such good results from people that used them, I finally decided to try affirmations myself. I can no longer scoff; affirmations have helped me successfully deal with my anxiety/panic attacks and obsessive negative thinking. I'm a convert!
<a class="watch-comment-atlink" – This show seemed to be geared towards women, however – I can't help but point out that guys have hormones that need to be balanced also. (i.e. testosterone). Low testosterone has been linked to anxiety in men.
Hope it goes well.
Researchers at Universite Laval, Canada, found that using prescription drugs to treat insomnia and anxiety increases one's mortality r…
Generic Xanax Alprazolam drug without prescription is used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Alprazolam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. Generic Valium Diazepam drug is used to relieve anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures and to control agitation caused by alcohol withdrawal. Valium brand medication.Generic Ativan Lorazepam is used to treat anxiety. This drug may also be used for seizures, alcohol withdrawal, prevention of nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, tension headache, and for sleeping trouble (insomnia).Klonopin Clonazepam drug is used to control seizures. It is also used to relieve anxiety. Klonipin brand medicine is a benzodiazepine used to treat seizures and panic disorder. Generic Prozac FLUOXETINE drug is a Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) that helps patients with depression by increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain. Scientists believe serotonin affects many types of activity in the brain, including the regulation of mood.Generic Zoloft SERTRALINE drug is a selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression, panic disorder, obsessive – compulsive disorders (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, and a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder – PMDD).Generic Paxil Paroxetine drug is a newer class of antidepressant medication known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).
Causes and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks