Health Guidance

So often, my working relationship with a panic sufferer begins with an initial email of all-consuming pain, fear, bewilderment, and desperation. The writer has visited my website, identified with the content, felt a glimmer of possibility, saw my invitation to write, and did exactly that. But as this person wrote, just what were they really looking for? And what do they really need to receive at this most vulnerable, yet opportunistic, time? Those are hugely important questions because their answers hold the very keys to lifelong recovery and growth.

If you’ve been in the panic attack or panic disorder saddle, you know it’s a rough ride; especially when the symptoms first appear. I mean, seemingly out of nowhere you’re being pounded by sledge-hammers of panic, anxiety, agoraphobia, derealization, depersonalization, avoidance, phobias, depression, substance abuse, and crushed self-esteem and confidence. And you may not even know what some of these phenomena are, much less that you’re suffering from them. The one and only thing you know for sure is, “I want to be the way I used to be.” And you’re mentally, emotionally, and physically flailing wildly to establish that sense of identity and comfort.

Continue reading ‘Panic Attacks Acute Care: Gentle expressions of hope’ »

Mistake 1: I’m Just Naturally Worried, Anxious or Stressed
The truth is, no one is born naturally worried, anxious or stressed. In fact our bodies are marvelous things, created to operate at optimum performance and stress is part of it’s performance. The feeling we describe as stress is a natural feeling which is intended to lay dormant until some form of a threat presents itself to us. When this happens we are alerted to the danger by this uneasy feeling, worry, stress or anxiety, and hopefully we become more attentive to it and thus more capable to handle the threat.

Mistake 2: Expecting Stress To Go Away By Thinking ‘Positive Thoughts’
Stress is an emotion; and, as most therapists will tell you, ‘it is impossible to logic ones own way out of an emotion. Logic responds to logic; and, emotions respond to emotions. No one is capable to  ’just snap out of it’ or ‘be logical’ and know there is really very little to worry about. Continue reading ‘Worry And Stress? – Four Critical Mistakes When Trying To Control Worry And Stress’ »

When somebody uses the term “having a panic attack” in jest, the reaction is usually one of amusement from those in receipt of the comment. The reality is though, over 30 per cent of people will have an episode at some stage of their lives but it’s those who suffer from it on a daily basis, the chronic sufferers, who would find such a comment less than amusing.

You see, for a chronic sufferer, living in fear of an attack has repercussions such as social withdrawal and loss of control and for these people, it’s a daily grind living from one episode to another.

Continue reading ‘Why Panic Attack Medication May Not Be Your Only Alternative’ »

I read a marvelous article several days ago entitled, “Understanding the Anxious Mind.” Written by Robin Marantz Henig, it appeared in the September 29, 2009 edition of The New York Times Magazine. The article was so good I knew I’d have to spread the word moments after I began reading it. And you can be sure I’ll keep it handy for future reference.

Henig wrote about the longitudinal anxiety studies of Harvard psychology professor Jerome Kagan. Also featured was the work of Harvard psychiatrist Carl Schwartz who conducted follow up research on Kagan’s work.

Kagan’s studies focused upon the role of temperament in the predisposition for anxiety. His methodology consisted of establishing anxiety baselines in infants and tracking the unfolding of anxiety as the subjects progressed into adolescence and adulthood. The work brought to mind the temperament-based personality theory of Hans Eysenck, which I’ve written about in the past. Continue reading ‘Panic Attacks and Anxiety: Recap of a Great Article’ »