Exploring Agoraphobia

Posted on 07 October 2009 by simon

Concerts and parties are situations that most of us attend to in order to de-stress. We dance, sing and laugh to be away from the pressure in our everyday lives. However, a number of people can’t stand this kind of crowded place. These are people who suffer from the pains of Agoraphobia.

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that is triggered by a crowded or small space. People who have this condition experiences panic when they thing of the idea that they don’t have an escape. Most of the time, the panic starts with a difficulty of breathing then it escalates to trembling, nausea, dizziness or palpitations. The effect can sometimes be too intense that the victim has to be sent to the hospital to receive medication.

Similar to other anxiety disorder, Agoraphobia can be battled by proper diet and exercise. In the aspect of diet, it’s best to avoid food and drinks that are rich with caffeine and sugar. These ingredients tend to heighten one’s energy. Instead of having a rich brew, a person who suffers with Agoraphobia should have decaffeinated beverage instead. Moreover, instead of having sweets, fruits can be a perfect alternative.

Smoking should also be avoided. Nicotine also provides unnecessary energy that can make the body very vulnerable to panic attacks. On the other hand, exercise should be regularly observed, moving around and sweating makes use of your excess energy. This practice can also improve your breathing.

For a quick relief, the old tactic of breath-in breath-out is very effective. It’s best to use a small brown paper bag to control the air that you are inhaling. Simply breathe through this until you feel that the difficulty of breathing has subsided. If there is no paper bag in sight, you may use your cupped hands to block excess air, which will only make breathing more difficult.

There is no overnight solution for Agoraphobia. It’s a long battle but there is a huge chance of success.

Order During Panic Disorder

Posted on 18 September 2009 by simon

Nervousness is a normal feeling. It’s a nature for us humans to feel nervous when there is danger or an upcoming disaster is coming. We can say that we are wired with a detector that can foresee a danger to our safety. However, frequent feelings of nervousness can be unhealthy. As the old saying says, “Too much of something is bad”. Constant episodes of this, can actually called a panic disorder.

You might be wondering, when shall we say that the panic attack is already a disorder? According to Diagnostic Statistical Manual for Mental Disorder or DSM, recurring episodes of sever panic attack or anxiety attack is classified as Panic Disorder. Here some symptoms that characterize panic attack: palpitation, difficulty of breathing, dizziness, nausea and trembling. Some people experience the one at a time while others suffer in combination.

A panic attack is very stimulating and painful. Hence, victims of Panic Disorder often experience an episode by merely anticipating for the attack. Actually, there are different triggers for the attacks. Some say that speaking in public elicits their panic to surface, while others would blame it from their fear of arachnids or reptiles.

Its cause might be varied but the way to battle Panic Attack and Panic Disorder is similar to all people. Here are a few tips to help you get through your episode. Initially, check and deal with your breathing. If you experience shortness of breath, try to breathe through a brown paper bag or your cupped hands. This method can help you control the amount of air you breathe.

Another important tip to do during panic attack is allowing your symptoms to get through. Rushing in order to rid of your attacks would only elevate your energy. Try to avoid rush since it will only elevate your adrenaline. We don’t want your episode’s intensity to increase.

When Butterflies In Your Stomach Get Serious…

Posted on 18 September 2009 by simon

At times, it can start with a mere butterfly inside the stomach. As you watch the clock strike each second, the butterfly seems to flutter faster, more intense, making you feel uncomfortable. Then, you begin to feel difficulty in breathing, palpitations, and profuse sweating. This is the usual combination an individual experiences during a panic attack. This episode is triggered by different events, most of which are situations that make a person feel nervous. Say, a job interview, speech in front of a crowd or merely anticipating for the next panic attack. There is no specific event that pushes this episode to surface. The only thing science knows is its connection to nerve-wracking incidents which can vary from one person to another.

Panic attack symptoms are not limited to those that are mentioned above. According to the Diagnostic Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders of DSM IV, feeling of choking, nausea, chills, hot flushes, numbing, derealisation, and depersonalization are considerable signs of Panic Attack. If the episode has happened for a number of times, the case can be considered as serious which demands for a professional’s attention. There are different suggested treatments for panic attacks; some can be as simple as breathing exercise while other cases require medications.

Situations can get serious due to panic attack symptoms that can affect an individual’s everyday activity. There are some cases where a person has to let go of a job due to a severe case of panic attack. Also, this panicky feeling can elevate to phobia which has more serious intensity. This usually transforms to phobia when panic attacks are left untreated. This case shouldn’t be ignored for it can be debilitating. Socially, a person with a serious panic syndrome might have a problem in a crowd since its syndrome can be embarrassing.

Episode can surface as early as young adulthood. Teens are going through a lot and they are mostly vulnerable to feelings of nervousness. A change in their environment or activities that affect their confidence can sometimes elicit a feeling of nervousness. It’s always important to talk with your kids and learn if they usually feel a butterfly inside their stomach.

As parents, teachers or employers, it’s very important to be observant. People with this case might not be aware of their problem. It would be very helpful to take notice of the Panic Attacks symptoms in order to address the case and treat it.

Panic Causes Stress Or Vice Versa?

Posted on 18 September 2009 by simon

We have always heard of anxiety attack’s syndrome such as palpitation, difficulty breathing and trembling. However, we can’t seem to point out what really causes this attack. It’s a common notion that giving a speech in front of a huge audience has always been a strong contender amongst all the panic causes, but is it true for everybody? Some people simply feel nervous for quite a while but they don’t experience the overwhelming symptoms of anxiety attacks. So, this leaves us with the old age question: What’s the cause of panic attacks?

Even the experts can’t seem to give a definite answer to this question since different people have different causes for their attack. According to studies, attacks can be rooted from the genetic make-up of an individual, an imbalance in one’s biochemical nature, and the person’s environment.

Say, your father had experienced panic attacks, most likely you are one of your siblings is vulnerable to have this same episode. This kind of situation shows the effect of genes on panic attacks. You might want to check your family’s history to be informed of your current health.  You might be surprised to find out that your great grandparents must have been a victim of anxiety attacks too.

In the realm of biochemical nature, panic can is caused by the elevated activity in the hippocampus and locus coerules. These are the portions of our brain that’s in charge of internal and external stimuli.  Also, there is a study that points to the direction of our amygdala’s involvement in anxiety attack. The amygdala is the part of the brain that controls our emotion.  To appeal to this case psychiatrist give medications in order to bring back balance in our body’s chemistry.

The most popular amongst the causes, would be the environment. Most of us can actually attest to this. It can be our work, family, school or relationship. Any source of stress can actually be a candidate for panic attack’s cause.

These are just few amongst the studies and theories that are believed to cause panic attack. I hope in my little way I was able to help you learn more about you and your anxiety attacks.

Are Your Panic Attacks Driving You Crazy?

Posted on 18 September 2009 by simon

Road trip is one of the most enjoyable activities that you can have by yourself, with your friends or with your family. A long drive can give you a time to reflect about the future while you listen to your favourite playlist. Too bad, panic attacks would sometimes surface at the worst time… while you are driving. This kind of situation evokes much panic since a car is an enclosed place. Making you feel stuck, pushing your agoraphobia to take place. The perfect time where you can actually say that your panic attacks are driving you crazy.

People who experience panic attacks dread this kind of situation. However, we can’t avoid riding a car or even driving a car on our own. Life still goes on despite panic attacks. Here’s a help for you to avoid your panic attacks from getting in control of your life. At first, set the mood. The best way is to prepare a playlist that includes your favourite songs. The songs can reduce the stress you experience during driving. Also, we tend to sing to our favourite songs allowing a good outlet to release adrenaline and burn energy. Grab something to nibble on while you are driving. The best things to have with you during the drive are berries or sliced fruits.

Yes, it is enticing to smoke while you are driving but the nicotine will only increase the possibility of your panic attack. So, a huge no for smoking! Another tip, forget about the action that’s involved while driving the car. Enjoy the scenery. Breathe the good air. Don’t you ever start a silly race with a fellow driver for this will just entice adrenaline rush. Also, racing can be very dangerous. Lastly, take your mobile phone with you, this will provide you a sense of security. Cell phone allows you not to worry about help when you experience an panic attack.

Tips For Reducing Panic Attacks

Posted on 18 September 2009 by simon

Different situations trigger different reactions from an individual. Some may come out joyous, saddened, or frightened but some tend to experience panic. This kind of episode can be categorized as a panic attack, wherein a person feels difficulty of breathing, palpitations and hot flushes. Due to these sensations, people who have anxiety problems tend to feel more nervous. Hence, they are making their situations worse.

So not to elevate the attack’s intensity it’s best to be prepared and be in control of your body. Here are few simple tips that you can do to help yourself or help somebody else who is experiencing a panic attack. First, it’s best to normalize breathing.  The simple brown bag can be of help or merely breathing on your cupped hands can help you out. The bag encloses the air that you breathe, for you to avoid taking in too much oxygen which can make you feel giddy.

Second, don’t force yourself to be freed immediately from the attack.You don’t have to rush. Rushing can simply increase your adrenaline, increasing the intensity of your symptoms. You just have to allow the symptoms to get through for your anxiety to finally subside. Third, deviate your attention during an attack. Focusing can only highlight the discomfort that you are feeling. You may just listen to the radio or read a book until the symptoms subside.

The tips I have mentioned above are effective and immediate aids to reduce the panic attack. However, there are other ways that you can do in order to tone down the possibility of another attack. The most important one would be a change in your lifestyle. Cut down on sugars, caffeine and nicotine, these can heighten the possibility of a new attack. Lastly, don’t hold any grudges.  Free your mind and your heart for this will save you from another attack.

Can You Recover From Panic Attacks?

Posted on 03 September 2009 by simon

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.

Panic Away

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