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My name is Simon, and I suffer from Panic Attacks. That sounds like I’m at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. But in some ways there are similarities, people who suffer from panic attacks are often trapped by the condition, just as alcoholics are trapped by their addiction.
I’ve suffered with what I now know as ‘panic attacks’ for about a decade. These panic attacks changed my life. They caused the loss of a 6-figure blue-chip media career; relationship issues and family problems. They’ve significantly reduced my quality of life.
Take a look at the video below for a great description of what a Panic Attack is.
At one point, about five years ago, I was largely ‘cured’, and lead a pretty normal life. I was running a company, managing many staff, travelling internationally and doing well. How I got to that ‘cure’ was complicated, long winded, expensive and not a process I’d like to repeat.
In the last couple of years panic attacks have returned to me, and with the help of my therapist and medical doctors I’m trying to find the ‘cure’ once more.
The internet is a huge resource of information, and I came across at site that promised to cure the problem in one step. I was intrigued, and interested. What was this technique I wondered?
I bought the course and all was revealed. It wasn’t as simple as one step really, there was one step in there, a very powerful technique for managing the panic attacks. And one I’ve been successfully employing.
The course was quite long, and contained lots of information, and lots of practical things to do to help with anxiety generally. Don’t expect to be able to take the information in in five minutes and be ‘cured’. As I know from my past experiences, beating panic attacks is a difficult process, and one that requires hard work and determination. But it’s something that *can* be done. I know, I’ve done it before!
I’m confident that the tools I’ve learnt in this course will form a big part of my practical tools and techniques that one needs to develop in order to be in control of the panic again.
Take a look at the Panic Away course and see for yourself, I recommend it highly. Click here to learn more about the Panic Away course.
If you have any questions for me, feel free to contact me. I get a lot of email, and cannot promise to answer them all, but I do read everything that comes to me, and appreciate hearing from you.
Take care of yourselves, and, take action, you’ve got to put your hook in the water to catch some fish.
Simon
Panic attacks can surface anytime. It can attack at the middle of your office meeting, while you are driving, or even in the wee hours of the night. For me, night is the worst time to experience this condition. Night panic attacks are just plain dreadful. It can actually make the episode worse because there is the haunting thought of not being able to sleep well and having to deal with work tomorrow.
There are no stable warning signs that would tell when an attack would take place. The only thing we could depend on is the preventive measures we have, and the treatments that we could immediately apply to counter act panic attacks. Hence, you should be ready at all times because we can’t predict the schedule of your panic attack.
Despite the anonymous timetable of panic attacks, that does not mean that you no longer have control over your condition. You can always do preventive measures to help you cope with night panic attacks. Try to tweak your diet, and change your inactive life style. By doing this, you may lower down the factors that would lead to an episode.
If you are used to having cups of coffee every morning or anytime within the day, have an apple or decaffeinated coffee. Do drastic yet gradual changes as this would be good for your case. Also, if you are fond of having sugary treats, tone it down. Have nuts, fruits, or crackers instead when you feel hungry. Stress due to work can sometimes forces you to resort into unhealthy snacks. As I have mentioned, do prepare.
The next tip is what I usually do when I am bombarded with the stress from office. Sometimes, if I need to beat a deadline the next day, I can’t seem to get a good night sleep. Consequently, anxiety develops and a panic attack takes place. You can actually prevent this from happening. I take a relaxing bath and breathing exercises before I go to bed.
Also, I have to let go of negative thoughts. I try to convince myself that things will be alright the next day. I try not to get stress on things that I don’t have any control with. For me, this has been the most difficult part because I tend to have irrational fears. Letting go of control is one of the best learning I had during my journey to treating my panic disorder.
Now, this is what you should do at the time of the panic. Recognize your episode. That is how you can manage your attack and avoid being controlled by your condition. If you allow the symptoms to get the best of you, it would be much more difficult to fight off. By the time that I have recognized my panic, I already know the next best thing to do. It is to observe the effects on my body. I check my pulse, breathing, and if I am trembling.
The first thing that I should attend to is my breathing. By controlling my breathing, I can also manage my other symptoms. If I am hyperventilating, I also have problems with breathing. So, I do a breathing exercise that we usually see on television, the “brown paper bag technique”. I simply grab a bag and breathe. I use it to cover my mouth and nose and execute an inhale-exhale routine. My body’s carbon dioxide has extremely decreased that’s why I am having difficulty breathing. Hence, I have to regain what I have lost. By enclosing my breathing space, the carbon dioxide wouldn’t diffuse in the air.
Another breathing tactic that I have learned is the inhale-hold-exhale exercise. I inhale while silently counting 3 counts. I do mental counts here. I try to inhale air as much as I could, until I feel that my lungs are full. Then, I hold my breath for seven counts. After which, I exhale for 8 counts. I continually do this for six cycles. After a batch, I check my breathing and pulse. I repeat until I reach the desired result.
There, I hope the preventive tips and immediate measures can help you with the night panic attacks. Don’t be afraid, I too have undergone the same predicament and was able to overcome it.
There are different ways for you to counteract the symptoms of panic attack. You may immediately do a breathing exercise, consult a doctor, or take a medicine. You may rid of the symptoms in an instant, but how about saying goodbye to your condition forever? If you are currently taking a treatment for you panic attack, you must be familiar with the list of therapies and remedies that I will be discussing.
Before we proceed to the treatment, let me tell you a little bit about panic attack. Its symptoms usually concerns palpitation, sweating profusely, difficulty with breathing, dizziness, nausea, and jittery feeling. These surfaces after an individual encounter a trigger. For some, their episode is activated when they are about to speak or perform in front of the public. Other people would have the attack when they come across a thing or situation that they fear of, like an enclosed place or a spider.
There are different triggers of the attack, but that does not mean that the therapy has to be different due to the cause. Mostly, the success depends on the patient. If the patient is ready to make a change in his or her life, it would be easier for them to overcome this condition. Hence, it is not all about the therapy, you also need to exert some effort and allot some time for your recovery.
First on the list is cognitive-behavior therapy. This is a kind of treatment that needs the guidance of a professional therapist. From the name itself, you already have an idea that the cognitive and behaviour aspects would be the centre of the remedy. You will be guided as you reflect about the way you think and feel about your irrational fears and negative thoughts. The purpose is for you to eventually change your perception towards your fears.
Next in line is exposure therapy. With this antidote you will be guided to confront your fears. It would be done in a safe and controlled environment. So, you have nothing to worry about. The idea is, through repeated exposure, may it be for real or through your imagination, your anxiety will steadily diminish. Again, in this treatment there should be a professional therapist that will facilitate the activity as you get over your fear.
It is almost every year that medicines for anxiety disorder are introduced. These are remedies that balance the hormones within the body, and will eventually result into a positive change in your condition. The best way to accommodate these medicines would be to partner it with cognitive-behaviour therapy or an exposure therapy. According to a study made, it was found out that a partnership of medicine and therapy brings better results compared to medicine or therapy alone.
The usual concern with medicines would be its side effects. Taking medicinal drugs could be habit forming. Also, it tends to condition the body to be dependent with its effects. Moreover, once you have decided to get rid of the drugs, the body might have some withdrawal symptoms. This is another hump that you have to deal with. So, consult your doctor to know the effects of the drugs and its withdrawal tendencies.
Aside from all the treatments I have mentioned, there are other ways for you to prevent and treat your condition. Observe a healthy diet. Avoid eating too many sweets because sugar can provide unnecessary energy. This is also true with drinking coffee, due its caffeine content. Then, exercise regularly. Have at least 30 minutes of active work out every day. This will help you cardiovascular to improve and your sleeping patterns to normalize.
Therefore, do not feel saddened if you have learned about your panic disorder. There are various ways of treatment for your panic attacks. So, take it easy and think that you can!
Feelings of loss and loneliness are usual happenings in our lives. We laugh and celebrate when we are happy, while we mourn during sadness. These are two important opposing poles that make life very much interesting. But, how does it feel to be stuck in one pole? Is there a way out to it? Join me as we explore the overlapping world of depression and anxiety, and let’s discover the proper treatment to this combination.
People who are depressed also experience feelings of anxiety. Most of the patients who suffer from this disorder have more than one condition. They often worry too much, that their concerns have elevated to fear. They are constantly bothered by their predicament that it becomes obsessive thoughts. Episodes of panic are also prevalent due to worrying. Sleepless nights, palpitation, and cold sweaty hands are some of the episodes that depressed patients with anxiety cases have to deal with.
These two conditions are somewhat overlapping. Same with people who have depression, patients with anxiety disorders also have a feeling of depression. There is a feeling that they can no longer be freed from the painful effects of their anxiety disorder. Aside from the symptoms of anxiety, they also feel an intense kind of sadness, hopelessness, and discouragement. Their daily lives are hampered by these factors. As a result, their relationships are put into risk, they perform poorly in school or in work, and their health is put in danger.
The usual conflict in this scenario would be which condition you should treat first. Maybe we should try to hit two birds with one stone. One of the best changes I did to fight my anxiety was adapting a healthy lifestyle. In this pursue, I need to alter my diet and live an active life. I began to wary of my fat, sugar, and caffeine intake. These 3 are the usual culprits that could affect my heart and circulation. During panic attacks, palpitations can take place. Hence, I would like to lower down my risk in that department.
I also felt a little depressed when I learned of my condition. It seems like I can no longer live the life I had before due to my anxiety attacks. But, I was wrong. I have learned that exercise is a natural depression-buster. When I work out, I feel very good afterwards. A scientific reason for this would be the serotonin or the feel-good chemical that the brain releases when a human being gets active. This is instant mood uplift and it also improves my cardiovascular performance.
There is more to life than taking a medicine. A person needs to be diagnosed by an expert before one can take an anti-depressant. If the depression is not merely the case, the anti-depressant might counteract the manic condition of the patient. There should be a different treatment for people with bipolar disorder. Also, the medicines have after effects that might negatively affect the body in the long run.
Apart from exercise, I also do breathing exercises. If you are interested with yoga you may also try it. Yoga is known for its relaxing effect to the mind and body. It’s like doing an exercise while you improve your breathing. However, it is still important that you know at least one breathing technique. When I experience a panic attack, which is another symptom of my anxiety, I usually do the “brown paper bag breathing”. I cover my mouth and nose with a paper bag, and I inhale and exhale through it. When I have a panic attack, I tend to over breath. It is the decrease of the carbon dioxide inside the body that causes the problem. Breathing though a bag allows me to regain the carbon dioxide I need.
Just because depression and anxiety tends to work hand in hand, you should not be afraid of this combination. There is always a treat to these cases. All you have to do is to believe that you can actually get out of this situation, and you have the power to treat yourself.
We are very much aware of stress and how it can be physically and mentally draining. There are people who manage stress well, while other have difficulties. Stress, if not dealt properly with could actually transform into anxiety. There are people who feels stressed when they are in an open space, about to give a speech, or other irrational fears. I would like to help my fellow people deal with this predicament. So, allow me to talk about anxiety management during stress.
There is a huge similarity with anxiety and panic attacks. Most of the time, they even overlap. The difference is with the duration. Anxiety lingers, and it takes time before it subsides. On the other hand, panic attack comes in with a speed but it easily wears down. Both of these episodes can affect your breathing, sleeping, and other daily activities.
You probably experience stress during work. You have to beat the deadline. Hence, you work until the wee hours of the night. You are working to pay the bills, please your boss, and enjoy a better quality of life. However, something’s got to give, and it’s your health. Now, how can you deal with all of this? You need to manage your anxiety. You have to do some alterations with your lifestyle to beat stress.
Ten percent of the population suffer or will suffer from anxiety attack. There are people who resort to medicines, therapy, or alternative treatments. Managing anxiety does not have to be financially demanding. You may resort to natural medications that would not add to your monetary problems. This is by applying proper diet, exercise, proper sleep, and breathing exercises into your routine.
Try to check your usual diet. Since you are stressed out, you probably reach out for foods that are sweet or high in sugar. You may just pop a candy for a fix or open a bar of chocolate. If you need to be up until two in the morning, the best thing to wake you up would be a dose of caffeine. An extra shot of espresso in your iced latte can give you the jitters and later anxiety. A diet that is high in sugar and caffeine puts you in the risk of developing anxiety. Most of all, you may have a hard time sleeping at night due to these ingredients.
Cut out on sugar and caffeine. Do this gradually so your body can adjust well. Abrupt change might just give your body more stress. When you are anxious, your body naturally feels jittery, you can’t sleep and you may even have palpitations. Caffeine and sugar are just the add-ons that could heighten these symptoms of anxiety attack, so manage what you eat and drink. Instead of caffeine, have an apple. This is the best alternative to coffee. You may have some nuts and crackers to chew on when you have hunger pangs. This will help you cut out on sugar.
You need to have exercise, at least 20-30 minutes every day. This will bring much needed oxygen into your body, and it improves your heart too. This will help your mind divert from work or other concerns that you are thinking off. You may join a gym near your place to meet some people, or you may jog around your neighbourhood. It can also improve your sleeping pattern. A good exercise provides a good night sleep.
Last in our list of anxiety management during stress is the breathing exercise. This can be of help during the anxiety attack, or it can be a practice to help you prevent an incoming one. Do an inhale-exhale exercise before you sleep, or the first thing during morning. Inhale while you count mentally to four. Bring in the fresh air into your lungs. For 7 counts, hold your breath. Afterwards, exhale for 8 counts. This practice helps your breathing to normalize, and rid of the stress within you.
For people who have experienced panic attacks, the mere idea of recalling the events could be a trigger for another episode. There are different situations that prompt the attack to surface. It could be something you are aware of, or something you are just about to discover. In this article, I would like to share with you the proper coping mechanism during an attack.
There aren’t right or wrong answers when you ask “Which is the right technique?” Each individual is different. Therefore, one tip may work for you while others would not. That does not mean that if other techniques do not work for you, it is entirely untrue. If one tactic does not work, go and try another. We do not have to resort to medicine at all times. Simple activities can actually give us a fix.
Like in my case, I was told to listen to some music during my attack. The rationale behind this is my mind would be distracted ,and I could avoid making things worse by worrying too much. It did work for me. However, when I shared the tactic to my friend, he said that it did not work for him. Instead, he tried to read a magazine or newspaper. The result, his mind focused on the story and images. In his case, this is the proper coping mechanism.
One thing that I have noticed during my episode is the tendency of my panic attack to elevate once I start to worry. The increase in the intensity is worsened when I began to rush for a medicine and water. Just imagine how my thoughts could actually double the amount of panic I feel. So, I began to practice breathing exercises and activities that would let my mind divert its attention away from the panic attack.
The first breathing technique that I learned was the “breathing on brown paper bag” tactic. In the course of the attack, hyperventilation is one of the problematic symptoms. When we are ventilating, we tend to over-breath. The over-breathing tends to lower down the CO2 or carbon dioxide inside our body, giving us a hard time to breath. The brown paper bag technique stops the CO2 we released from diffusing into the air. By breathing it in, we can recuperate the carbon dioxide we lost.
To do this, get a clean brown paper bag. The size does not matter, as long as it covers your mouth and nose, and it does not allow the air you breathe out to escape. Do not rush when doing this. Count one thousand, two thousand, three thousand, and so forth. Do the breath in and breath our alternately. Try to do it for six times and check if your breathing has improved.
The next panic attack coping mechanism is the four-seven-eight breath. Sit and make sure that your back is straight. Rest your hands on your lap. Close your eyes and try to listen to your breathing. While you are doing this, your tongue should be at top of your mouth just behind your teeth. When you inhale it should be through your nose. On the other hand, exhalations are done through the mouth.
Inhale while you mentally count to 4. Make sure that you fill your lungs with air. Afterwards, hold your breath for 7 mental counts. Then, slowly exhale for 8 counts. When you exhale, let out all the stress and anxiety you fell inside you. Do these until you feel relaxed. This is the type of technique that could help your body during panic attacks. It’s easy and you can do it practically anywhere.
One thing I’ve noticed with Prozac is that any changes in dose causes side effects.
Whether you are going from Zero to 20mg, or 20mg to 40mg, or 40mg to 20mg, any changes are probably going to cause side effects.
For me the biggest side effect was dizziness. Recently I’ve reduced dose from 40mg to 20mg and I’ve been dizzy for a week. I’ve actually decided to stay at 40mg afterall!
How can you manage this? Well, it is said that one should make any changes gradually. So you might go from 40 to 20 by taking 40 5 days a week and 20 just two, and then each week increase the days on 20 by one and reduce the days on 40 by one.
You can see how you can work with this to make any changes as smooth as possible.
One final thing, make sure the change is appropriate. Don’t go changing the dose up or down unless both you and your doctor agree on this course of action.
“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved”, this is a line from the late Mother Teresa. For people with clinical depression, loneliness is not the only enemy. There are other things apart from the sadness that they feel. In this article, I will be discussing the nature of clinical depression, and how it can affect an individual’s life.
One of the earliest lessons we have would be that of loneliness. As a child, we have experienced petty-kind of sadness, we cried, but after awhile, we move on. As we grow up, we encounter predicaments, and the problem gets severe as we age. Some of us have difficulties in getting over their concerns. In this kind of situation, a depression often exists.
Major depressive disorder, major depression, unipolar depression, and unipolar disorder, are another terms for this case. This is a form of metal disorder. Its signs include severe low mood with low self-esteem. Also, the patient loss his or her pleasure and interests. The sadness and low energy of the person is very noticeable.
It is the American Psychiatric Association that coined the term “Major Depressive Disorder”. It is designated on the cluster of mood disorder on DSM or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This has been the term utilized in the medical field since then. The word depression can be used as a general term to characterize other types of psychological disorder. The need to be very specific is only required in the field of medicine and research.
This disorder can be debilitating, as it can greatly affect ones’ relationship, work, school life, diet, and sleep. In America, there are 3.4% cases of major depression with suicide attempts. Actually, 60 percent of people who attempted suicide are clinically depressed, or they have a mood disorder. Depression can be really dangerous, as it can be emotionally and physically painful for the patient.
To tell if a person has a depression, the expert makes use of the self reported experiences, noticeable behaviour (by family, friends or colleagues), and mental status exam. There are no laboratory tests for this case, like blood samples or cat scans. However, some physicians might actually ask for a physical exam just to check other disease, or the health status, that might cause some complications.
It is at the age range of 30-40 where depression usually sets in. Then, on ages of 50 to 60, it may peak. Depression usually affects women rather than men. Also, there is a higher rate of attempted suicides amongst females, compared to males. However, there is a higher risk for men on completing suicides.
The usual treatment for depression is an antidepressant medication. It is paired with counselling or psychotherapy. There could be recommendation of hospitalization if a patient harms himself / herself, or there is self-neglect that is taking place. Another option is ECT or Electroconvulsive Therapy. This treatment is given with a short-acting anaesthesia.
Some cases could last for a lifetime. Hence, they have recurrent major depressive episodes. Other cases would last for a few months, and would not recur. According to a study, people who are depressed have shorter life expectancies. This is due to greater vulnerability to illnesses and suicide.
Today, people are more enlightened on what clinical depression really is. People are now aware that a prolonged sadness, is not merely loneliness, but it is a health concern. However, there are still current discussions that must be done in order to give light to this case. Research is still done in order to explain its genetic, evolutionary, and biological factors.
Life is a roller coaster ride. Sometimes, we are up, and sometimes we are down. This is a similar scenario with people who suffer manic depression. However, the downward and upward spikes that they encounter are much steeper. A week they will be “Oh, so happy”. Then, after a week, they will experience a very intense sadness or depression. This article aims to inform people about the nature of this bipolar disorder.
It is also known as manic depressive disorder or bipolar affective disorder. This type of mood disorder is characterized by an abnormal elated mood or mania, and its milder form which is hypomania. People who undergo mania commonly experience episodes and symptoms of depression. There are even situations when both of these extreme moods are present, which is known as mixed episodes.
The episodes of mania and depression are sometimes separated by normal moods. Hence, there are times that the patient is actually in his or her normal state. However, this episode should not fool you, as one of the moods might surface some other day. If the normal moods are not present, mania and depression would alternate, this situation is known as rapid cycling. This mood episode is subdivided into different levels: bipolar I, bipolar II and, cyclothymia. The divisions are based on the severity and intensity of the episodes experienced.
According to a study conducted in United States shows a variation regarding lifetime prevalence: a rate of 1 percent for Bipolar I, and .5% to 1% for Bipolar II or cyclomythia. The full symptoms of bipolar mostly surface during young or late adulthood. Bases of the diagnosis are: patient’s self-reported experiences, and observed behaviour. Distress, disruption and attempted suicides, are just few of the episodes that are associated with this abnormality. There are patients who have devastatingly long-lasting bipolar disorder. On the other hand, there are episodes that are associated with achievements, striving goals, and creativity.
The root of this case is usually detected on the genetic arena. This is the factor that greatly contributes to a person’s risk of developing bipolar disorder. Of course, there are also studies that claim the implications of environmental factors. Usual treatments are medications or other psychiatric drugs. There are also therapies available as treatments, such as psychotherapy, which provides a recovery of stability for the patients. If the case is severe, wherein the patient harms oneself or other people, involuntary commitment is recommended.
Cases that call for an institution or asylum are those that involve sever manic episodes, hand in hand with dangerous behaviours, and suicidal attempts. Another issue that these patients encounter would be the stereotypes, prejudice, and social stigma that are associated with their disorder. In addition, their case can be misdiagnosed as another serious mental illness like schizophrenia.
The relationship that exists between mania and melancholia has long been a topic amongst the people of medical field. The first formal study, that started it all, was from a team of French psychiatrists back in 1850s. It was a German psychiatrist named Emil Kraeplin who coined the term manic-depressive illness or psychosis. The name that was given is used to characterize any kind of mood disorder back then. It was in year 1957, when the episodes are classified properly by Karl Leonhard, a German psychiatrist. The terms that he gave birth to are unipolar disorder – major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder.
Too much of something can be dangerous. This saying applies to your emotions and feelings too. Just like these cases of mania and melancholy, or manic depression. A little of those two in our lives are just normal. However, if they are too intense, that it halts our regular activities to push through, then an expert’s advice must be taken.
Agoraphobia is serious yet treatable. According to experts, it is caused by a combination of different factors, such as biological and environmental effects. In this article I will be discussing a possible treatment for agoraphobia. It might not be an overnight solution, but the effects would be long-term freedom.
Majority of individuals with agoraphobia can be treated by utilizing self-help techniques. Of course, the success would greatly depend upon the treatment chosen, and the patient. The duration of therapies vary from one person to another. Some would take more than a year to be freed from the disorder, while others would just take a few months.
The treatment could extend to more than a year because some patients have a number of phobias to deal with. Hence, it makes the treatment more complicated. For instance, the complications are true with people who are clinically depressed or addicted to a substance, and they also have agoraphobia.
Since one case of agoraphobia can be different from another sufferer of the same disorder, the treatment is individualized. Meaning, it is tailored to the specific needs of the patient. Mostly, therapists would make use of more than one treatment, or a combination.
These are the different treatments available to people who have agoraphobia
Behavior therapy’s purpose is to rid of the unwanted behaviour. To do this the individual is coached by the therapist to be able to modify this behaviour and control it on his or her own. There are different coping strategies that would be presented by the therapist, to help the patient go through difficult situations. The drawback for this treatment is it can get uncomfortable at times. Hence, it is one of the least utilized treatments, or it usually partnered with another one.
The next one is Cognitive therapy. The main goal of this treatment is to alter the unproductive or harmful thoughts of the patients. To do this, the individual is guided by the therapist to reflect and examine his feelings. Then, learn how to distinguish between realistic and unrealistic thoughts. On this treatment, the patient is greatly active in his or her own healing.
The third one is an example of a combination. This treatment makes use of cognitive and behaviour therapy at once. It is called cognitive-behaviour therapy or CBT. Similarly, the goal of this method is to help the patient develop his or her recovery skills. This kind of self-help cure has been proven to be of help to patients on long-term basis.
The fourth one concentrates on relaxation tactics. There are cases when the panic attack is triggered by stress. This kind of technique helps people relax in times of stress, and stops the agoraphobia from surfacing. Of course, it includes breathing exercises that could lessen the severity of physical symptoms.
Hypnotherapy taps the subconscious part of the human mind. The goal is to reprogram the aspects of the subconscious that are responsible for Agoraphobia. As the name suggests, there are tactics utilized here that are similar to hypnosis. Patients tend to stay away from this treatment, because the idea that some is in control of you is quite scary for some. Also, there are a lot of critics to this method.
NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming tends to focus more on how a patient creates his or her reality. The assumption is that people are the one who built the constructs that triggers or made the agoraphobia. In the sessions, the so-called constructs would be distinguished and changed. In effect, the episodes of panic are extinguished or at least minimized.
The last treatment for agoraphobia that I will be discussing would be the newest discovery, Energy Psychology. This is usually compared to acupuncture. However, there are no needles involved. It is more of an emotional acupuncture. The treatment is believed to be safe, effective, and long-lasting Most of all, cure can be reached in just a short span of time.
It is actually easy to get confused about panic disorder and agoraphobia. Actually, the difference between the two is quite a task to determine. In agoraphobia’s case, its symptoms include the same symptoms as that of panic disorder, plus some more. Hence, this article will try to put a line in between this two.
There are people who get pangs of panic or anxiety in a crowded place. The reason for this would be the idea that they will have a panic attack in front of many people. Hand in hand with fear and anxiety, people with Agoraphobia would rather stay at home, where they feel safe.
It is not correct to conclude that Agoraphobia is a fear of huge spaces. It is more of being afraid by embarrassment. Moreover, the fear of not being able to escape a crowded area is another trigger for the attack. Since their anxiety attacks are quite severe, an agoraphobic would not like to be stuck in a place where he or she could not get help or treatment immediately. The mere thought of that can produce an attack.
For a case to be called agoraphobia, it is important to take note of the past six months. Try to plot your episodes, take note of the intensity, and the symptoms. This would definitely be of help once you consult with an expert. You may also look at your family tree, and find ancestors or relatives who have the same case.
Now, let us go to the case of panic disorder. Before a certain case is validated as a disorder, the episodes should be re-current, intense, and it can cease the pursuant of an individual’s daily routine. The usual symptoms for panic are: difficulty of breathing, palpitations, profuse sweating, and dizziness. Sometimes, there are people who feel that they are going crazy or depersonalization.
For the panic disorder, there can be different triggers for this episode to surface. It does not necessarily mean that they are afraid of crowded spaces, or an area where it would be difficult to escape. For some, public speaking is a huge deal, and nervousness usually sets in before they talk in front of the audience. Some maybe caused by fear of spider, this one is called arachnophobia.
Hence, Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia is not vice versa. It does not necessarily mean that if you have panic disorder, that you automatically have agoraphobia. On the other hand, agoraphobics may have panic disorder. There are some patients who actually develop panic disorder due to agoraphobia.
For these two, the treatments are quite similar. I will be giving some simple tips that could actually lessen the cycle of your episodes. First, let’s go to your diet. If you are consuming too much sugar and caffeine, you are attracting another panic attack. These ingredients are uppers, making you vulnerable to anxiety. Consequently, cut out the sodas, sweets, chocolates, and coffee. You may also do substitutions. Like replacing your sugar with sweeteners, sweets with fruits, and decaffeinated coffee in replacement for your usual espresso.
Another substance that you have to avoid would be nicotine. So, if you are smoking you have to kick the habit. This, like sugar and caffeine, is also an upper. What we are doing here, is to lessen the triggers of your attack. As of now, experts haven’t found of an overnight solution for panic attacks. The treatment is in sessions, and would take a lot of time and effort from your end.
During the attack, there is simple breathing exercise you could do. According to doctors, people tend to lose oxygen and gain carbon dioxide during an attack. Hence, you must extend out breathe to release the carbon dioxide. To do this, you may simple hum or count, then inhale.
Also, you may distract yourself because concentrating on your agoraphobia and panic disorder would only make things worse. You may open the television or pop in your favourite cd, anything that would remove your focus on your symptoms.
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