Sunday, December 13, 2009
Anxiety Attack Symptoms
An anxiety attack sometimes referred to‚ as a panic attack can be a very terrifying experience. The symptoms of anxiety attacks can be very confusing as usually the person has no idea as to why their body is reacting in the manner it is. If you have experienced some of these unusual symptoms (below) while experiencing anxiety let me help you to understand it better and try and put your mind at ease. Firstly anxiety attacks are very treatable.
It is very important that you speak with your doctor if you are experiencing these anxiety attack symptoms in order to receive an accurate diagnosis.
Getting your anxiety symptoms investigated after you first experience them will help reassure you that nothing more serious might be wrong. So what are the typical anxiety attack symptoms?
The most common symptoms of anxiety attacks are: Palpitations Pounding heart‚ or an accelerated heart rate Sweating Trembling or shaking Shortness of breath A choking sensation Chest pain or discomfort Nausea or stomach cramps A feeling of being dizzy Unsteadiness Lightheadedness or feeling faint Derealization (a feeling of unreality) Depersonalization (a feeling of being detached from oneself) Fear of losing control or going crazy Fear of dying Numbness or a tingling sensation Chills or hot flashes
(Source Source: American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-IV-TR) 2000 Washington, DC.)
These are some of the possible symptoms of a anxiety attack but what does it actually feel like to experience one?
Usually an anxiety attack begins with an unusual bodily sensation from the list above. The person then reacts with fear that the symptoms are indicators of a much more serious threat and in turn reacts with more fear which escalates into a state of heightened anxiety. A vicious cycle of anxiety and fear can begin.
Typical situations people report having an anxiety attack are:
Driving Airplanes Crowded areas At Night while sleeping Often anxiety attacks occur in a situation where the person feels they cannot exit easily from such as a meeting‚ or out socializing with others. Many can also experience an anxiety attack for no apparent reason while at home or in the middle of sleep.
People who first experience these symptoms feel a sense of foreboding and that there is something terribly wrong with their health. This is understandable as anyone who has experienced an anxiety attack can tell you how unusual the bodily sensations are. What initially may have been a once off ‘out of the blue’ anxiety attack‚ can develop into a perpetual cycle of fear and anxiety if not treated. This cycle can last from weeks to years depending on how much help the person receives. I want to point out that anxiety attacks are not a mental illness.
The great news is that this disorder is very treatable. You do not have to fear you will spend your life living with this condition.
More often than not‚ the symptoms of anxiety attacks cause people to worry that there is some larger problem lurking behind the unusual sensations. If you have experienced anxiety attack symptoms‚ do not convince yourself that you have a clinical illness. You do not. Experiencing anxiety attacks and their associated symptoms does not mean that you have a physical or mental illness. Your brain is fine; your body is fine.
You can return to a more relaxed level of living if you follow the steps and psychological techniques I am going to outline for on this site.
Learn to trust is your body. Yes it may be experiencing a wide range of strange anxiety attack symptoms but it is well able to handle this. During an anxiety attack‚ many of the symptoms are similar to those of a really good workout: Increased heartbeat rate Sweating Increased bodily sensations Rapid breathing You do not become fearful of these symptoms while exercising and therefore you should not fear them should they be present while experiencing anxiety. The fuel that really drives the anxiety symptoms is anxious thinking.
The “what if” thoughts that appear during an anxiety attack create the powerful drive that fuels the anxiety much longer than it would normally last. "What if I have a heart attack" "What if my mind loses control" "What if I do something crazy or faint" "What if I cannot get out of here" In order to extinguish the fuel that drives the anxiety attack we need to eliminate these anxious thoughts. Tackling anxious thinking effectively requires a two-pronged approach. To eliminate the negative thinking patterns‚ there needs to be a shift in attitude along with specific visualization tools.
More info about Anxiety Attack, see this site.
It is very important that you speak with your doctor if you are experiencing these anxiety attack symptoms in order to receive an accurate diagnosis.
Getting your anxiety symptoms investigated after you first experience them will help reassure you that nothing more serious might be wrong. So what are the typical anxiety attack symptoms?
The most common symptoms of anxiety attacks are: Palpitations Pounding heart‚ or an accelerated heart rate Sweating Trembling or shaking Shortness of breath A choking sensation Chest pain or discomfort Nausea or stomach cramps A feeling of being dizzy Unsteadiness Lightheadedness or feeling faint Derealization (a feeling of unreality) Depersonalization (a feeling of being detached from oneself) Fear of losing control or going crazy Fear of dying Numbness or a tingling sensation Chills or hot flashes
(Source Source: American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-IV-TR) 2000 Washington, DC.)
These are some of the possible symptoms of a anxiety attack but what does it actually feel like to experience one?
Usually an anxiety attack begins with an unusual bodily sensation from the list above. The person then reacts with fear that the symptoms are indicators of a much more serious threat and in turn reacts with more fear which escalates into a state of heightened anxiety. A vicious cycle of anxiety and fear can begin.
Typical situations people report having an anxiety attack are:
Driving Airplanes Crowded areas At Night while sleeping Often anxiety attacks occur in a situation where the person feels they cannot exit easily from such as a meeting‚ or out socializing with others. Many can also experience an anxiety attack for no apparent reason while at home or in the middle of sleep.
People who first experience these symptoms feel a sense of foreboding and that there is something terribly wrong with their health. This is understandable as anyone who has experienced an anxiety attack can tell you how unusual the bodily sensations are. What initially may have been a once off ‘out of the blue’ anxiety attack‚ can develop into a perpetual cycle of fear and anxiety if not treated. This cycle can last from weeks to years depending on how much help the person receives. I want to point out that anxiety attacks are not a mental illness.
The great news is that this disorder is very treatable. You do not have to fear you will spend your life living with this condition.
More often than not‚ the symptoms of anxiety attacks cause people to worry that there is some larger problem lurking behind the unusual sensations. If you have experienced anxiety attack symptoms‚ do not convince yourself that you have a clinical illness. You do not. Experiencing anxiety attacks and their associated symptoms does not mean that you have a physical or mental illness. Your brain is fine; your body is fine.
You can return to a more relaxed level of living if you follow the steps and psychological techniques I am going to outline for on this site.
Learn to trust is your body. Yes it may be experiencing a wide range of strange anxiety attack symptoms but it is well able to handle this. During an anxiety attack‚ many of the symptoms are similar to those of a really good workout: Increased heartbeat rate Sweating Increased bodily sensations Rapid breathing You do not become fearful of these symptoms while exercising and therefore you should not fear them should they be present while experiencing anxiety. The fuel that really drives the anxiety symptoms is anxious thinking.
The “what if” thoughts that appear during an anxiety attack create the powerful drive that fuels the anxiety much longer than it would normally last. "What if I have a heart attack" "What if my mind loses control" "What if I do something crazy or faint" "What if I cannot get out of here" In order to extinguish the fuel that drives the anxiety attack we need to eliminate these anxious thoughts. Tackling anxious thinking effectively requires a two-pronged approach. To eliminate the negative thinking patterns‚ there needs to be a shift in attitude along with specific visualization tools.
More info about Anxiety Attack, see this site.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
3 Simple Strategies to Overcome Anxiety
Overcoming anxiety can be very difficult. In many cases the anxiety and panic attacks are so potent that the person has no other choice but to take medication and try to relax themselves every day. These cases are very extreme and very difficult to deal with especially.
On the other hand, many less severe cases of anxiety can be treated with 3 simple strategies:
1. Relaxation and breathing methods
When a panic attack strikes, you probably don't notice it until it is in its full blown stage. At this point you are probably hyperventilating so you should try to use the paper bag method or breath out as far as you can and then start inhaling again. At this stage of the panic attack you are probably worried about the chest pains and the dizziness. This strategy should help make these symptoms go away.
2. Exercise and lifestyle change
Your brain, nerves, and body need many very specific amounts of certain nutrients in order to function properly. If you don't have enough of a nutrient you might not notice, but I'm sure your body will function at less than full capacity. By cutting out caffeine and nicotine, you will protect your body from the gittery feelings. Adding more fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts helps include every important vitamin to your diet.
3. Learning more
Learning more about anxiety and yourself is the best way to overcome the disorder. This is the only way you can know for sure what you need to do. In order to understand what needs to be done you have to figure out what triggers your anxiety and what you can do about it.
If you're suffering from anxiety and panic attacks you need to learn about stopping anxiety attacks before your anxiety gets out of control. The Anxiety Control System is a revolutionary program that teaches you how to overcome your anxiety from 3 different angles using a mixture of cognitive behavioral therapy, reverse therapy, lifestyle change, relaxation methods and more.
Visit: AnxietyControlSystem for more information. Over 20,000 people have successful overcome their anxiety and now its your turn. The approach in the book is unique and has been proven to reduce anxiety and panic attacks through real trials.
You can finally relax and be yourself again, all you have to do is try the Anxiety Control System, risk free for 60 days. It's time for you to put an end to your anxiety and the Anxiety Control System is here to help
Cure Anxiety Permanently?
Most experts will agree that you can treat anxiety disorder, but it is impossible to cure anxiety. Everybody, even children have to deal with anxiety so to say that someone can cure anxiety would be a mistake. If you suffer from panic attacks on the other hand you deal with anxiety on a higher level. You have to deal with an over sensitive state where seemingly normal situations scare you half to death. The key to curing panic attacks is not by wanting to stop anxiety, but by learning healthy coping methods for stress, learning to relax, and eating a proper diet.
Coping with Stress
This is a very often ignored method of reducing panic attacks because most people don't want to deal with their problems. People with anxiety tend to excuse problems in their lives or just ignore them altogether. Your body knows this is going on and knows that you need to confront problems now because they do exist.
Learning to Relax
People with anxiety tend to be so anxious that they can never be relaxed. You have to find time for yourself and relax. You should take walks around the parka and focus on the trees and the beauty of your surroundings. Getting back to nature is a very healthy way to manage stress and relax.
Eating a Proper Diet
Eating healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and nuts can be a very important step to curing panic attacks and anxiety disorder. Some experts believe that diet is an important factor for the imbalance of chemicals in the brain so eating a balanced diet every day can help boost and stabilize mood, relax your body, and keep you feeling healthy.
Coping with Stress
This is a very often ignored method of reducing panic attacks because most people don't want to deal with their problems. People with anxiety tend to excuse problems in their lives or just ignore them altogether. Your body knows this is going on and knows that you need to confront problems now because they do exist.
Learning to Relax
People with anxiety tend to be so anxious that they can never be relaxed. You have to find time for yourself and relax. You should take walks around the parka and focus on the trees and the beauty of your surroundings. Getting back to nature is a very healthy way to manage stress and relax.
Eating a Proper Diet
Eating healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and nuts can be a very important step to curing panic attacks and anxiety disorder. Some experts believe that diet is an important factor for the imbalance of chemicals in the brain so eating a balanced diet every day can help boost and stabilize mood, relax your body, and keep you feeling healthy.
Testimonials From Doctor of Chiropractic in San Antonio
"I'm a holistic health care practitioner and doctor of chiropractic in San Antonio, Texas. I've been in private practice since 1992, and over the course of my practice, I have come to recognize the importance of emotions in a person's overall health.
The Linden Method is by far the most complete of the self-help programs I have come across that is specifically intended for eliminating panic attacks, anxiety attacks, panic disorder, and phobias.
In addition to providing an overall understanding of panic attacks, anxiety, phobias, and similar conditions, the Linden Method provides a step-by-step plan for eliminating panic attacks and anxiety and getting off of whatever anti-anxiety medications someone might be taking.
One big bonus that the Linden Method includes that none of the other programs reviewed do is that purchasers are given 1 year of unlimited email and telephone support with counselling professionals who are experts in using the Linden Method techniques. So, you're not just "on your own" to figure out how to make the system work for you. If you're having trouble, they have experts on hand to help you through any sticking points you may encounter. This bonus provides a tremendous value over the other products reviewed.
Finally, the Linden Method comes with a very impressive 1 YEAR money back guarantee.
Most reputable products come with a guarantee, and all of the products reviewed here give you a pretty good opportunity to try the product and return it for a refund if you aren't satisfied with it. But it's rare to see any health-related product that gives you a full year to get a refund.
Other than that minor issue, I believe the Linden Method is an outstanding natural approach to eliminating anxiety and panic attacks and it is a tremendous value for the price, especially since it includes unlimited access to professional assistance and comes with a full 1 year money-back guarantee."
Dr. George Best
Anxiety Attacks
Anxiety attacks are the most extreme example of an anxiety reaction. When anxiety reaches a level at which the symptoms cause the sufferer to experience symptoms which exceed those normally experienced during an appropriate anxiety reaction, an anxiety attack is formed.
If anxiety is appropriate when a 'real' threat is present, Adrenalin is 'used up' effectively by either fleeing from or fighting the threat. When Adrenalin is not used up during an anxiety reaction when no real threat is present, it causes the body to experience and maintain a much higher level of symptoms which then escalates into an anxiety attack.
What are the symptoms of anxiety attacks?
Common anxiety attack symptoms include:
Although anxiety attack symptoms seem threatening, because no 'real' threat is present, these symptoms occur inappropriately and therefore do not represent 'true fear'. Anxiety attacks are not the response to an actual threat but make the sufferer 'feel threatened'; because the sufferer interprets anxiety attack symptoms as the response to a real threat, credibility is given to the symptoms and more fear is created, this produces more symptoms and an anxiety cycle is created.
How do anxiety attacks form?
Anxiety reactions are formed in the subconscious mind by a small organ called the Amygdala. This organ behaves like a thermostat, regulating the anxiety response. It is this organ, which perpetuates the anxiety response, which causes anxiety attacks. Under normal circumstances, the Amygdala only reacts when 'real' threats are present but when it becomes re-set at a higher-than-normal level of anxiety because of repeated anxiety during times of stress, for example, anxiety attacks, phobias and other anxiety disorder symptoms are formed.
What can you do to eliminate anxiety attacks?
Anxiety attacks can be eliminated very simply. Because anxiety attacks and high anxiety are the result of a learning process in the subconscious mind which causes the amygdala to react inappropriately, it can be 'un-learned' in the same way. This must be done in a structured way with ongoing support when required.
In order to effectively reverse the formation of anxiety attacks it is vital that the subconscious mind is taught to react to anxiety in a more appropriate way so that the 'benchmark' anxiety level is lowered; this will prevent sufferers from experiencing the symptoms, thoughts and sensations they tolerate every day such as anxiety attacks, panic attacks, OCD and phobias.
Through careful research and testing we have developed the solution which leads anxiety attacks sufferers down the path that every ex-anxiety attacks sufferer has followed to make a full recovery.
Our Method avoids all of the pitfalls and dead-ends that most anxiety attack sufferers travel along during their journey meaning that you can follow the most direct route to a full and permanent recovery.
Anxiety attacks are unnecessary and simple to eliminate.
If anxiety is appropriate when a 'real' threat is present, Adrenalin is 'used up' effectively by either fleeing from or fighting the threat. When Adrenalin is not used up during an anxiety reaction when no real threat is present, it causes the body to experience and maintain a much higher level of symptoms which then escalates into an anxiety attack.
What are the symptoms of anxiety attacks?
Common anxiety attack symptoms include:
- Breathlessness
- Racing' heart
- Shaking
- Dizziness
- Stomach symptoms
- Blurred vision
- 'Pins and needles' sensations in limbs
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest pains
- and many others.
Although anxiety attack symptoms seem threatening, because no 'real' threat is present, these symptoms occur inappropriately and therefore do not represent 'true fear'. Anxiety attacks are not the response to an actual threat but make the sufferer 'feel threatened'; because the sufferer interprets anxiety attack symptoms as the response to a real threat, credibility is given to the symptoms and more fear is created, this produces more symptoms and an anxiety cycle is created.
How do anxiety attacks form?
Anxiety reactions are formed in the subconscious mind by a small organ called the Amygdala. This organ behaves like a thermostat, regulating the anxiety response. It is this organ, which perpetuates the anxiety response, which causes anxiety attacks. Under normal circumstances, the Amygdala only reacts when 'real' threats are present but when it becomes re-set at a higher-than-normal level of anxiety because of repeated anxiety during times of stress, for example, anxiety attacks, phobias and other anxiety disorder symptoms are formed.
What can you do to eliminate anxiety attacks?
Anxiety attacks can be eliminated very simply. Because anxiety attacks and high anxiety are the result of a learning process in the subconscious mind which causes the amygdala to react inappropriately, it can be 'un-learned' in the same way. This must be done in a structured way with ongoing support when required.
In order to effectively reverse the formation of anxiety attacks it is vital that the subconscious mind is taught to react to anxiety in a more appropriate way so that the 'benchmark' anxiety level is lowered; this will prevent sufferers from experiencing the symptoms, thoughts and sensations they tolerate every day such as anxiety attacks, panic attacks, OCD and phobias.
Through careful research and testing we have developed the solution which leads anxiety attacks sufferers down the path that every ex-anxiety attacks sufferer has followed to make a full recovery.
Our Method avoids all of the pitfalls and dead-ends that most anxiety attack sufferers travel along during their journey meaning that you can follow the most direct route to a full and permanent recovery.
Anxiety attacks are unnecessary and simple to eliminate.
Testimonial
The Linden Method
An Appraisal by Dr Francis Teeney
Research Fellow Queen's University, Belfast
"Firstly, let me begin by acknowledging my gratitude to my close friend, colleague, mentor and stout staff Professor Roddy Cowie of Queen's University Belfast, in my opinion one of the greatest emotional psychologists in Europe today. I am sure he would appreciate my over simplification of the emotional processes described below given that it is written for the vulnerable and non psychological reader.
Over the years I have worked with many groups of people affected by what is commonly referred to as "their nerves" and as a consequence, I have used many tools to help to alleviate and overcome these issues; in most cases I have tried the techniques myself in an effort to ascertain whether it improved my own wellbeing. These tools ranged from relaxation methods of all descriptions, herbal remedies, self-improvement programmes, hypnosis, Yoga, keep fit and many more. Some of these tools worked better than others and sadly some made matters worse, or just cost a fortune with no results at all. This will all sound familiar to many of you and you should take comfort - often the belief is that no one has experienced what you are going through or recovered - WRONG.
As a psychologist, with an interest in human emotions, I believe that I have a thorough understanding of what is actually taking place inside the brains of anxious individuals. I also wish to state that I am working to set up a research consortium to investigate the cause and treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME. A major symptom in many CFS/ME cases is anxiety.
The reader will also be glad to hear that The Linden Method and Mickel Therapy are pooling resources with regards to the anxiety symptoms of CFS/ME - progress indeed.
The psychology of fear has been very well documented for almost 100 years, especially in the writings of William James, the famous American psychologist, whose findings now form an important part of the foundations on which modern emotional psychology is built.
I will not bore you with 'science talk', but suffice it to say that James believed the emotional centres of the brain were pivotal to health, mental stability and general wellbeing. Any greater elaboration of this would require me writing pages and would eventually arrive at the same conclusion.
Within our mid brain structures lies the emotional centre. Our emotions, such as anger, sadness, joy, fear and boredom, create levels of activity within the brain that ebb and flow. You can neither laugh nor cry forever - even though we sometimes feel as if we have done the latter. In times of high anxiety, in reality, your emotional stability is simply out of balance. Too much of anything will eventually leave you unsatisfied - including ice cream or your favourite past time. Imagine then what too much exposure to stressful situations will do - apart from the obvious increase in anxiety levels, they will definitely leave you unsatisfied.
Pressure at work, at home or in relationships, fast or slow lifestyles with little fulfillment, all lead to emotional instability. What we do know for certain, is that these excesses are likely to cause the over production of adrenalin; in other words, you will be on red alert for too long and places people and things that once did not bother you, all of a sudden, become things to avoid at all cost. And yet, your salvation lies not in avoiding these things but in a structured programme of anxiety recovery.
You would not run a marathon without training to increase your fitness levels, so why do you expect to succeed without training for rejoining the marathon of life. Building up new memories, positive memories, emotionally enjoyable memories, bit by bit is the key to anxiety free fulfillment.
Remember there are no bears or wolves in the local shop - William James alluded to this many years ago in his findings about how anxiety builds and manifests in the human body.
It is possible, without forcing the creation of more anxiety, to replace anxious reactions and memories with none anxious ones, very quickly.
My experience of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), is that it relies on manipulating the cognitive section of the brain. This approach can work successfully in some forms of mental illness, but due to its concentration on cognition it does not address the emotions, which is where it fails.
I detest sprouts and always have, (despite my mother telling me they were good for me); all the cognitive refocusing I can muster is never going to make me emotionally satisfied when I sit down to a plate of sprouts. If CBT has worked to change your circumstances, I am indeed very happy and wish you every success and happiness in the future. The same applies to hypnosis, drug therapy, Yoga, flooding, NLP and all the other therapies. If they work for you I am happy.
Some people do need a break from their daily stress and if their GP has proscribed them sedatives to use as a crutch in the short term, then I wholeheartedly agree that temporary relief in extreme anxiety can be far better than no relief at all. However, some day you will need to withdraw the sedatives, hopefully with the help, guidance and advice of your doctor, but by then, you will need to have implemented a technique that allows you to function without sedatives and to eliminate your anxiety completely.
I believe the Linden Method achieves just this.
Through my many conversations with Charles and my ongoing work with him, his Method and the research consortium, that includes Mickel Therapy, I have had the opportunity to evaluate Charles' unique programme. I have no doubt that The Linden Method works and clearly see how and why the structure creates recovery; it makes perfect psychological sense.
I have come to the conclusion that The Linden Method is soundly based in solid psychological understanding. It promotes emotional balance, the development of new memories of once feared situations, empowers the sufferer to step out with courage, to attempt new challenges and the programme is written in easily understandable language; it is also very easy to do.
The Linden Method has helped very many people and is an easy to understand programme with clear explanations of the processes taking place within your mind and body as anxiety disorder retreats. The Linden Method programme is backed up by a support network of qualified anxiety specialists, psychologists and counsellors, who can simply explain and reassure you about the thoughts, feelings and emotions you are experiencing.
The idea that anxiety disorder is simply "nerves" is no explanation at all and will never satisfy or settle your doubts or anxieties. Similarly, the idea that anxiety is something you have to 'learn to live with' or that it is a condition that you can never be free from is simply not true. The Linden Method provides a correct psychological explanation of your condition, reassurance and clear, structured guidance and is definitely a programme for recovery - one that will help you create new emotional memories to replace the anxious ones - and, in addition, The Linden Method provides a blueprint for leading an emotionally fulfilled life.
The Linden Method recognises and addresses the fact that there are no bears waiting to attack you, but rather only negative memories of fear that cause and perpetuate your anxiety condition.
The Linden Method shows you how to change those negative, anxious memories into happy and emotionally fulfilling ones.
I recommend the Linden Method wholeheartedly. It has worked for countless others and it can work for you as well.
Finally, there are many out there who would exploit those suffering from anxiety. I am glad to say that the Linden Method will give you your money back if you do not improve.
I believe that Charles is going a very long way to shutting down the exploitation of sufferers in this guarantee; his experiences at the hand of anxiety disorder for over 20 years, his 12 years of practice helping sufferers to recover, his qualified staff and his and his organisation's reputations are testament to the level of respect gained through constantly high results and many thousands of success stories. Lastly his willingness to join a consortium that will include academics and other therapies (such as those lead by Dr. David Mickel) displays an openness to have his Method ruthlessly tested and should be reassuring to those who doubt the efficiency of the Linden Method.
In other words you have nothing to lose by trying this psychologically supported recovery programme but you certainly have everything to gain. "
Dr. Francis Teeney
Research Fellow Queen's University, Belfast.
The Many Faces of Anxiety / Panic
If I were to spill my guts about my panic and anxiety history you might say it sounds like I was schitzophrenic. Actually I told somone a while ago just how bad I was and that is exactly what he said; "sounds like you were schitzophrenic". I even had frightening feelings of body dismorphia and could not sleep.
I want to tell everyone here somthing. I will NOT tell about how bad I was in gross detail because all it will do, ultimately, is freak you out and make you think "my god how terrifying" and that is the last thing you need right now. You do not need to read about my story and then translate it into your own personal fears at this very moment, though I understand how theraputic it can be. Many years ago I was all over the internet joining anxiety groups and shared everything, but little did I realize that was part of what was purpetuating the condition.
The Linden Method saved my life. Check out lindenmethod.com. Anxiety and panic are a NON ISSUE. Ill be honest with you all, I HATE sounding like a damn salesman but I really dont have a choice. I would not be so ardent about showing people this method if it hadnt literally saved my life. I thought I was cursed for life, seriously. I couldnt sleep, had terrifying feelings and sensations all over my body, had very macabre and distrubing thoughts, but THEY DO NOT MATTER ANYMORE. They simply do not exist and I will not get into the very gross and disturbing details of my anxiety/panic past. I just want to talk about my well and balanced PRESENT and tell you, honestly, that you can do it! Please believe me.
...
The Linden Method is like a step up from CBT, though it does use the same techniques on a fundamental level. The method I used doesn't allow you to "put it off" or get feelings like "Im too scared to do this, I give up". There are a lot of parts to the method but its overall methodology is very simple and scientific. It focuses mainly on the amygdala and Charles' discovery that this small organ in the brain is one of the main culprits in panic/anxiety conditions and once you completely "reprogram" this organ it is impossible to relapse. This taken with the many health and other tips in the pack make for a perfect arsenal. It took me ohhhhh... about 6 months to get to what I would call 90% well where I didnt need the method anymore. It was just hard wired into me and after about a year I was like "anxiety, what anxiety?". THis doesnt mean that I dont get scared anymore like if I have a nightmare or somthing haha. All the natural and built in safety aspects of anxiety are still there, just not the purpetual 24/7 switched on anxiety.
Another thing that really helped in the method was learning Qi Kung which is very gentle but effective exorsize. It really helps get the blood and oxygen flowing and makes you feel like a rock! I started working again and doing Qi Kung every morning made me feel like I could tackle any sort of physical work easily. It just makes you feel better all around.
Another thing I should mention about this great method is how quickly it begins to work. Within 3 days I was panic attack free. I remember my last panic attack and realizing "This will never happen again", and it didn't. This for me was one of the most amazing parts of the method. Once I commited myself to the CD called the "panic eliminator" I was panic free in about 6 hours. When you first listen to this CD you might think, like I did, "this is crazy, does he really want me to do this?" After a few days of letting the information sink in I decided to dive into the actual practice that it tells you to do and BOOM, done!
...
It is hard for people to understand when I say I cured myself from panic and anxiety completely using just one method. I think because it quite trully is too good to believe to be true. Like "there is just no way" hahaha. I was taken aback myself when I discovered the Linden Method at lindemethod.com and actually called the center and asked them "is this true? Has this method really cured over 80,000 people with anxiety and panic?". She said very simply "yes, we have an amazing success rate". Hell, I had nothing to lose! I have already spent thousands upon thousands of dollars on both conventional and unconventional therapies like Reiki and meditation, medical doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, ER visits, and many different kinds of prescription drugs. I was desperate and ready to try anything because NOTHING was working, at least not in a curing capacity.
I can tell you this, I am 100% anxiety and panic attack free. When I look at how I was it is hard to believe that THAT is where my life used to be. I, still to this day, find it miraculous that I cured myself from all the symptoms, sensations, disturbing thoughts, insomnia etc etc. I had just about every thing one could have "wrong" with them with these conditions but I do understand that we are all different. Some people get pain in their limbs while others dont, some people have scary sensations in their brain (like I did) and others dont but it doesnt mean that we are different.
There are many faces that anxiety and panic can take and some people I have found have cured themselves of anxiety and panic jsut by changing their diet, or even just changing their job! I can only tell you what worked for me and 80,000 other poeple, and Charles Linden states right at the beginning of his method that "you either decide to do this or not to do it" and it is as simple as that. I really didn't have a choice, I mean this is my life! If somone gives me the choice between the possibility of curing myself of this condition permanently or to continue living with it the rest of my life I'll gladly take the former. And guess what, I did it and so can you!
It is nothing short of miraculous what happened to me. I mean I could seriously write a book about it.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Diet to help Eliminate Anxiety
Anxiety Cures -A proper diet to help eliminate anxiety…
Water
There is no quicker way to reduce general anxiety than having good eating and drinking habits. One of the most easily implemented and effective additions to your diet is fresh water. Water is a great quencher of thirst — but more importantly here — It is a helpful tool as an anxiety cure.
Nearly every function of the body is monitored and pegged to the efficient flow of water through our system. Water transports hormones‚ chemical messengers‚ and nutrients to vital organs of the body. When we don’t keep our bodies well–hydrated‚ they may react with a variety of signals such as anxiety‚ which we would never think are related to our poor drinking habits.
Diet to Help Eliminate Anxiety : Water
Here are some interesting information about water:
Seventy–five percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
In 37% of Americans‚ the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%.
One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
Regular fresh drinking water is a vital ingredient to your diet when looking at anxiety cures. When we are dehydrated‚ our cells can feel this at a molecular level and communicate this to the subconscious as an underlying subtle anxiety. The key to rebalancing a deficit of fluids is to drink eight glasses of fresh water daily.
Have you noticed the effects of dehydration on your emotions before? If you have ever suffered from a serious hangover from a night out on the tiles‚ you will understand the feeling of dehydration all too well. Hangovers result from dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. I am sure many of you are familiar with the tendency to have what has become known as “the hangover fear”. This is a heightened sense of anxiety and jumpiness that results from the dehydration caused by a hangover. The surest way for someone who suffers from anxiety to experience a panic attack is to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and wait for the hangover to set in the following day. Water is a great cure for anxiety in this particular situation.
It is important to be aware that dehydration is a factor that contributes to anxiety and that a diet to help eliminate anxiety should contain ample amounts of fresh water. Personally‚ I have found that not only does regular intake of water ward off subtle feelings of anxiety thus greatly helping as a cure for anxiety‚ but it is also incredibly effective for building stamina and avoiding fatigue.
Diet to Help Eliminate Anxiety
Diet (Food)
On average‚ most people have a very acidic diet‚ which results in not just a lower resistance to stress but to a variety of serious health problems. Your diet is something you can immediately control and help you build your resources of anxiety cures. As you master your diet‚ not only are you improving your overall well–being but are also building up a positive mental attitude‚ which says‚ "I am in control of my body."
If our internal environment is too acidic‚ this can exaggerate any anxiety we may be experiencing. The body is in a greater state of health when it is balanced internally. What is
needed is to bring the body’s internal pH balance into acceptable parameters. The elimination of high anxiety is not easy unless you maintain an alkaline balance in the food you eat. If your food is too acidic or you indulge in excessive amounts of foods‚ your body cannot function at its best. It will have difficulty eliminating toxins from your body‚ and will have less of a buffer zone to stress‚ leaving you feeling vulnerable and shaken when anxiety strikes.
Food such as salt‚ sugar‚ and refined or processed products lower your body’s resistance‚ whereas food such as fruit and vegetables raise it. As you control your body’s needs‚ you empower yourself and gradually build a body that does not feel threatened by an onslaught of high anxiety.
Proteins‚ nuts‚ grains‚ and dairy products (except yoghurt) along with alcohol‚ sugar‚ and salt are acidic foods.
Fruit‚ vegetables‚ and juices‚ are alkaline.
Diet to help eliminate anxiety
For optimum balance you need an 80% alkaline diet. This means concentrating on fruits and raw vegetables using proteins in small quantities for when you need energy. A person with a good diet needs only 50 g of protein a day. This should consist of 7 ounces of animal protein (or a vegetarian equivalent) or 36 ounces of good yoghurt. The rest of your diet to help eliminate anxiety should be alkaline (should you have a very strenuous or physical occupation you may need more than 50 g of protein a day). Below is a more comprehensive list of alkaline foods that will help bring greater balance to your diet and help you cure your anxiety more easily.
Diet to Help Eliminate Anxiety
A diet to help eliminate anxiety should contain….
Minerals to help cure anxiety
Mineral stores in your body have a buffering action on acid and tend to alkalize the acidity in the internal environment. Low or deficient mineral stores can lead to acidic bodily pH. The buffering action of mineral stores keeps the pH toward the healthier and slightly alkaline side of the pH scale. This buffering system is delicately balanced and can get disrupted under mineral–deficient conditions. Both the acid and mineral residues are discarded through the urinary tract. Over time‚ this depletes the mineral stores if they are not replaced. This is the reason we should ensure to get adequate mineral levels in a proper diet to help eliminate anxiety. If we don’t get adequate levels through the fruits and vegetables we eat‚ then we need to use good quality supplement minerals to help aid our efforts to cure anxiety.
Nutrients that are paramount in helping the body cope with stress include B complex‚ raw adrenal concentrate‚ desiccated liver‚ flax seed oil‚ and colloidal minerals. A balanced B–complex vitamin supplement is essential in normal pituitary and adrenal function. Without B complex‚ these glands will not produce adequate hormone levels.
Minerals are absolutely essential in normal bodily functions including autonomic nervous system function. A good example of their importance is demonstrated by the role a mineral‚ such as magnesium‚ plays in bodily functioning. Magnesium is instrumental in over 270 biochemical reactions in the body. It also helps regulate the pH (acid–base balance) of the human physiology. The human body functions within a very narrow pH range. Sodium and potassium are essential in nervous system functioning. Without either one of them‚ our nervous system would be inoperable and we would die. These minerals are usually found naturally in the vegetable that we eat. However‚ the mineral content in vegetables has diminished over the years from the depletion of the soil. Therefore‚ it may be necessary to take mineral supplements as part of a diet to help eliminate anxiety.
The truth is that it can be very difficult to maintain composure and confidence in your ability to handle all that life throws your way if your body is malnourished or deficient in vital foodstuffs. Look after your body’s needs‚ and you will be strengthening your body’s ability to cure anxiety and panic attacks.
I am convinced over the next five to ten years‚ a definitive link will be made between diet and helping cure anxiety. There are some very interesting research currently being conducted in 2004 into the connection between improving schizophrenia dramatically using a gluten–free diet. Although schizophrenia has nothing to do with anxiety or panic attacks‚ it is an example of how science is now looking to foodstuffs and their connection to our mental health.
Water
There is no quicker way to reduce general anxiety than having good eating and drinking habits. One of the most easily implemented and effective additions to your diet is fresh water. Water is a great quencher of thirst — but more importantly here — It is a helpful tool as an anxiety cure.
Nearly every function of the body is monitored and pegged to the efficient flow of water through our system. Water transports hormones‚ chemical messengers‚ and nutrients to vital organs of the body. When we don’t keep our bodies well–hydrated‚ they may react with a variety of signals such as anxiety‚ which we would never think are related to our poor drinking habits.
Diet to Help Eliminate Anxiety : Water
Here are some interesting information about water:
Seventy–five percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
In 37% of Americans‚ the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%.
One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
Regular fresh drinking water is a vital ingredient to your diet when looking at anxiety cures. When we are dehydrated‚ our cells can feel this at a molecular level and communicate this to the subconscious as an underlying subtle anxiety. The key to rebalancing a deficit of fluids is to drink eight glasses of fresh water daily.
Have you noticed the effects of dehydration on your emotions before? If you have ever suffered from a serious hangover from a night out on the tiles‚ you will understand the feeling of dehydration all too well. Hangovers result from dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. I am sure many of you are familiar with the tendency to have what has become known as “the hangover fear”. This is a heightened sense of anxiety and jumpiness that results from the dehydration caused by a hangover. The surest way for someone who suffers from anxiety to experience a panic attack is to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and wait for the hangover to set in the following day. Water is a great cure for anxiety in this particular situation.
It is important to be aware that dehydration is a factor that contributes to anxiety and that a diet to help eliminate anxiety should contain ample amounts of fresh water. Personally‚ I have found that not only does regular intake of water ward off subtle feelings of anxiety thus greatly helping as a cure for anxiety‚ but it is also incredibly effective for building stamina and avoiding fatigue.
Diet to Help Eliminate Anxiety
Diet (Food)
On average‚ most people have a very acidic diet‚ which results in not just a lower resistance to stress but to a variety of serious health problems. Your diet is something you can immediately control and help you build your resources of anxiety cures. As you master your diet‚ not only are you improving your overall well–being but are also building up a positive mental attitude‚ which says‚ "I am in control of my body."
If our internal environment is too acidic‚ this can exaggerate any anxiety we may be experiencing. The body is in a greater state of health when it is balanced internally. What is
needed is to bring the body’s internal pH balance into acceptable parameters. The elimination of high anxiety is not easy unless you maintain an alkaline balance in the food you eat. If your food is too acidic or you indulge in excessive amounts of foods‚ your body cannot function at its best. It will have difficulty eliminating toxins from your body‚ and will have less of a buffer zone to stress‚ leaving you feeling vulnerable and shaken when anxiety strikes.Food such as salt‚ sugar‚ and refined or processed products lower your body’s resistance‚ whereas food such as fruit and vegetables raise it. As you control your body’s needs‚ you empower yourself and gradually build a body that does not feel threatened by an onslaught of high anxiety.
Proteins‚ nuts‚ grains‚ and dairy products (except yoghurt) along with alcohol‚ sugar‚ and salt are acidic foods.
Fruit‚ vegetables‚ and juices‚ are alkaline.
Diet to help eliminate anxiety
For optimum balance you need an 80% alkaline diet. This means concentrating on fruits and raw vegetables using proteins in small quantities for when you need energy. A person with a good diet needs only 50 g of protein a day. This should consist of 7 ounces of animal protein (or a vegetarian equivalent) or 36 ounces of good yoghurt. The rest of your diet to help eliminate anxiety should be alkaline (should you have a very strenuous or physical occupation you may need more than 50 g of protein a day). Below is a more comprehensive list of alkaline foods that will help bring greater balance to your diet and help you cure your anxiety more easily.
Diet to Help Eliminate Anxiety
A diet to help eliminate anxiety should contain….
- Parsnips,
- Rutabagas
- Cauliflower
- Mushrooms
- Green Beans
- Green Peas
- White Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Muskmelon
- Cantaloupe
- Limes
- Tangerines
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Oranges
- Grapes
- Apricots
- Blackberries
- Peaches
- Raspberries
- Pears
- Apples
- Beans‚ Dried
- Dried Figs
- Dried Dates
- Bananas
- Raisins
- Avocados
- Prunes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Watermelons
- Honeydew Melon
- Almonds
- Millet
- Molasse
- Beet Greens
- Celery
- Chard Leaves
- Watercress
- Sauerkraut
- Lettuce
- Green Limas
- Cucumbers
- Radishes
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Beets
- Brussel Sprouts
- Carrots
- Green Soybeans
- Raw Spinach
Minerals to help cure anxiety
Mineral stores in your body have a buffering action on acid and tend to alkalize the acidity in the internal environment. Low or deficient mineral stores can lead to acidic bodily pH. The buffering action of mineral stores keeps the pH toward the healthier and slightly alkaline side of the pH scale. This buffering system is delicately balanced and can get disrupted under mineral–deficient conditions. Both the acid and mineral residues are discarded through the urinary tract. Over time‚ this depletes the mineral stores if they are not replaced. This is the reason we should ensure to get adequate mineral levels in a proper diet to help eliminate anxiety. If we don’t get adequate levels through the fruits and vegetables we eat‚ then we need to use good quality supplement minerals to help aid our efforts to cure anxiety.
Nutrients that are paramount in helping the body cope with stress include B complex‚ raw adrenal concentrate‚ desiccated liver‚ flax seed oil‚ and colloidal minerals. A balanced B–complex vitamin supplement is essential in normal pituitary and adrenal function. Without B complex‚ these glands will not produce adequate hormone levels.
Minerals are absolutely essential in normal bodily functions including autonomic nervous system function. A good example of their importance is demonstrated by the role a mineral‚ such as magnesium‚ plays in bodily functioning. Magnesium is instrumental in over 270 biochemical reactions in the body. It also helps regulate the pH (acid–base balance) of the human physiology. The human body functions within a very narrow pH range. Sodium and potassium are essential in nervous system functioning. Without either one of them‚ our nervous system would be inoperable and we would die. These minerals are usually found naturally in the vegetable that we eat. However‚ the mineral content in vegetables has diminished over the years from the depletion of the soil. Therefore‚ it may be necessary to take mineral supplements as part of a diet to help eliminate anxiety.
The truth is that it can be very difficult to maintain composure and confidence in your ability to handle all that life throws your way if your body is malnourished or deficient in vital foodstuffs. Look after your body’s needs‚ and you will be strengthening your body’s ability to cure anxiety and panic attacks.
I am convinced over the next five to ten years‚ a definitive link will be made between diet and helping cure anxiety. There are some very interesting research currently being conducted in 2004 into the connection between improving schizophrenia dramatically using a gluten–free diet. Although schizophrenia has nothing to do with anxiety or panic attacks‚ it is an example of how science is now looking to foodstuffs and their connection to our mental health.
Anxiety and Panic Attack Tips
I want to share with you some powerful tips for dealing with your anxiety and panic attacks. These anxiety tips form some of the latest teachings used in modern methods for dealing with anxiety.
The tips are:
Read up on each of them as they will strengthen your resistance to anxiety and are very easily implemented into your daily routine.
The tips are:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Distraction
- Elimination anxious thoughts
- The following tips are divided into separate sections.
Read up on each of them as they will strengthen your resistance to anxiety and are very easily implemented into your daily routine.
- Diet
- Exercise
- Distraction
- Anxious thinking
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Causes of Panic Attack
What Are The Causes of Panic Attacks. The short and obvious answer: panic attacks are caused by high anxiety. But, what exactly is anxiety? Understanding how anxiety crops up will help you defeat panic attacks.
Anxiety is probably the most basic of all emotions. While anxiety, by its nature, is an unpleasant sensation, it is not by any means dangerous.
One of the biggest myths surrounding anxiety is that it is harmful and can lead to a number of various life-threatening conditions.
Definition of Anxiety
Anxiety is defined as a state of apprehension or fear resulting from the anticipation of a real or imagined threat, event, or situation. It is one of the most common human emotions experienced by people at some point in their lives.
However, most people who have never experienced a panic attack, or extreme anxiety, fail to realize the terrifying nature of the experience. Extreme dizziness, blurred vision, tingling and feelings of breathlessness—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
When these sensations occur and people do not understand why, they feel they have contracted an illness, or a serious mental condition. The threat of losing complete control seems very real and naturally very terrifying.
Fight/Flight Response: One of the root causes of panic attacks?
I am sure most of you have heard of the fight/flight response as an explanation for one of the root causes of panic attacks. Have you made the connection between this response and the unusual sensations you experience during and after a panic attack episode?
Anxiety is a response to a danger or threat. It is so named because all of its effects are aimed toward either fighting or fleeing from the danger. Thus, the sole purpose of anxiety is to protect the individual from harm. This may seem ironic given that you no doubt feel your anxiety is actually causing you great harm…perhaps the most significant of all the causes of panic attacks.
However, the anxiety that the fight/flight response created was vital in the daily survival of our ancient ancestors—when faced with some danger, an automatic response would take over that propelled them to take immediate action such as attack or run. Even in today’s hectic world, this is still a necessary mechanism. It comes in useful when you must respond to a real threat within a split second.
Anxiety is a built-in mechanism to protect us from danger. Interestingly, it is a mechanism that protects but does not harm—an important point that will be elaborated upon later.
What Are The Causes Of Panic Attacks? The Physical Manifestations of a Panic Attack: Other pieces of the puzzle to understand the causes of panic attacks.
Nervousness and Chemical Effects…
When confronted with danger, the brain sends signals to a section of the nervous system. It is this system that is responsible for gearing the body up for action and also calms the body down and restores equilibrium. To carry out these two vital functions, the autonomic nervous system has two subsections, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
Although I don’t want to become too "scientific," having a basic understanding of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system will help you understand the causes of panic attacks.
The sympathetic nervous system is the one we tend to know all too much about because it primes our body for action, readies us for the “fight or flight” response, while the parasympathetic nervous system is the one we love dearly as it serves as our restoring system, which returns the body to its normal state.
When either of these systems is activated, they stimulate the whole body, which has an “all or nothing” effect. This explains why when a panic attack occurs, the individual often feels a number of different sensations throughout the body.
The sympathetic system is responsible for releasing the adrenaline from the adrenal glands on the kidneys. These are small glands located just above the kidneys. Less known, however, is that the adrenal glands also release adrenaline, which functions as the body’s chemical messengers to keep the activity going. When a panic attack begins, it does not switch off as easily as it is turned on. There is always a period of what would seem increased or continued anxiety, as these messengers travel throughout the body. Think of them as one of the physiological causes of panic attacks, if you will.
After a period of time, the parasympathetic nervous system gets called into action. Its role is to return the body to normal functioning once the perceived danger is gone. The parasympathetic system is the system we all know and love, because it returns us to a calm relaxed state.
When we engage in a coping strategy that we have learned, for example, a relaxation technique, we are in fact willing the parasympathetic nervous system into action. A good thing to remember is that this system will be brought into action at some stage whether we will it or not. The body cannot continue in an ever-increasing spiral of anxiety. It reaches a point where it simply must kick in, relaxing the body. This is one of the many built-in protection systems our bodies have for survival.
You can do your best with worrying thoughts, keeping the sympathetic nervous system going, but eventually it stops. In time, it becomes a little smarter than us, and realizes that there really is no danger. Our bodies are incredibly intelligent—modern science is always discovering amazing patterns of intelligence that run throughout the cells of our body. Our body seems to have infinite ways of dealing with the most complicated array of functions we take for granted. Rest assured that your body’s primary goal is to keep you alive and well.
Not so convinced?
Try holding your breath for as long as you can. No matter how strong your mental will is, it can never override the will of the body. This is good news—no matter how hard you try to convince yourself that you are gong to die from a panic attack, you won’t. Your body will override that fear and search for a state of balance. There has never been a reported incident of someone dying from a panic attack.
Remember this next time you have a panic attack; he causes of panic attacks cannot do you any physical harm. Your mind may make the sensations continue longer than the body intended, but eventually everything will return to a state of balance. In fact, balance (homeostasis) is what our body continually strives for.
The interference for your body is nothing more than the sensations of doing rigorous exercise. Our body is not alarmed by these symptoms. Why should it be? It knows its own capability. It’s our thinking minds that panic, which overreact and scream in sheer terror! We tend to fear the worst and exaggerate our own sensations. A quickened heart beat becomes a heart attack. An overactive mind seems like a close shave with schizophrenia. Is it our fault? Not really—we are simply diagnosing from poor information.
Causes of Panic Attacks: Cardiovascular Effects
Activity in the sympathetic nervous system increases our heartbeat rate, speeds up the blood flow throughout the body, ensures all areas are well supplied with oxygen and that waste products are removed. This happens in order to prime the body for action.
A fascinating feature of the “fight or flight” mechanism is that blood (which is channelled from areas where it is currently not needed by a tightening of the blood vessels) is brought to areas where it is urgently needed.
For example, should there be a physical attack, blood drains from the skin, fingers, and toes so that less blood is lost, and is moved to “active areas” such as the thighs and biceps to help the body prepare for action.
This is why many feel numbness and tingling during a panic attack-often misinterpreted as some serious health risk-such as the precursor to a heart attack. Interestingly, most people who suffer from anxiety often feel they have heart problems. If you are really worried that such is the case with your situation, visit your doctor and have it checked out. At least then you can put your mind at rest.
Causes of Panic Attacks: Respiratory Effects
One of the scariest effects of a panic attack is the fear of suffocating or smothering. It is very common during a panic attack to feel tightness in the chest and throat. I’m sure everyone can relate to some fear of losing control of your breathing. From personal experience, anxiety grows from the fear that your breathing itself would cease and you would be unable to recover. Can a panic attack stop our breathing? No.
A panic attack is associated with an increase in the speed and depth of breathing. This has obvious importance for the defense of the body since the tissues need to get more oxygen to prepare for action. The feelings produced by this increase in breathing, however, can include breathlessness, hyperventilation, sensations of choking or smothering, and even pains or tightness in the chest. The real problem is that these sensations are alien to us, and they feel unnatural.
Having experienced extreme panic attacks myself, I remember that on many occasions, I would have this feeling that I couldn’t trust my body to do the breathing for me, so I would have to manually take over and tell myself when to breathe in and when to breathe out. Of course, this didn’t suit my body’s requirement of oxygen and so the sensations would intensify—along with the anxiety. It was only when I employed the technique I will describe for you later, did I let the body continue doing what it does best—running the whole show.
Importantly, a side-effect of increased breathing, (especially if no actual activity occurs) is that the blood supply to the head is actually decreased. While such a decrease is only a small amount and is not at all dangerous, it produces a variety of unpleasant but harmless symptoms that include dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, sense of unreality, and hot flushes.
Other Physical Effects of Panic Attacks:
Now that we’ve discussed some of the primary physiological causes of panic attacks, there are a number of other effects that are produced by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, none of which are in any way harmful.
For example, the pupils widen to let in more light, which may result in blurred vision, or “seeing” stars, etc. There is a decrease in salivation, resulting in dry mouth. There is decreased activity in the digestive system, which often produces nausea, a heavy feeling in the stomach, and even constipation. Finally, many of the muscle groups tense up in preparation for “fight or flight” and this results in subjective feelings of tension, sometimes extending to actual aches and pains, as well as trembling and shaking.
Overall, the fight/flight response results in a general activation of the whole bodily metabolism. Thus, one often feels hot and flushed and, because this process takes a lot of energy, the person generally feels tired and drained.
Causes of Panic Attacks
Mental Manifestations: Causes of Panic Attacks
Are the causes of panic attacks all in my head? is a question many people wonder to themselves.
The goal of the fight/flight response is making the individual aware of the potential danger that may be present. Therefore, when activated, the mental priority is placed upon searching the surroundings for potential threats. In this state one is highly-strung, so to speak. It is very difficult to concentrate on any one activity, as the mind has been trained to seek all potential threats and not to give up until the threat has been identified. As soon as the panic hits, many people look for the quick and easiest exit from their current surroundings, such as by simply leaving the bank queue and walking outside. Sometimes the anxiety can heighten, if we perceive that leaving will cause some sort of social embarrassment.
If you have a panic attack while at the workplace but feel you must press on with whatever task it is you are doing, it is quite understandable that you would find it very hard to concentrate. It is quite common to become agitated and generally restless in such a situation. Many individuals I have worked with who have suffered from panic attacks over the years indicated that artificial light—such as that which comes from computer monitors and televisions screens—can can be one of the causes of panic attacks by triggering them or worsen a panic attack, particularly if the person is feeling tired or run down.
This is worth bearing in mind if you work for long periods of time on a computer. Regular break reminders should be set up on your computer to remind you to get up from the desk and get some fresh air when possible.
In other situations, when during a panic attack an outside threat cannot normally be found, the mind turns inwards and begins to contemplate the possible illness the body or mind could be suffering from. This ranges from thinking it might have been something you ate at lunch, to the possibility of an oncoming cardiac arrest.
The burning question is: Why is the fight/flight response activated during a panic attack even when there is apparently nothing to be frightened of?
Upon closer examination of the causes of panic attacks, it would appear that what we are afraid of are the sensations themselves—we are afraid of the body losing control. These unexpected physical symptoms create the fear or panic that something is terribly wrong. Why do you experience the physical symptoms of the fight/flight response if you are not frightened to begin with? There are many ways these symptoms can manifest themselves, not just through fear.
For example, it may be that you have become generally stressed for some reason in your life, and this stress results in an increase in the production of adrenaline and other chemicals, which from time to time, would produce symptoms….and which you perceive as the causes of panic attacks.
This increased adrenaline can be maintained chemically in the body, even after the stress has long gone. Another possibility is diet, which directly affects our level of stress. Excess caffeine, alcohol, or sugar is known for causing stress in the body, and is believed to be one of the contributing factors of the causes of panic attacks (Chapter 5 gives a full discussion on diet and its importance).
Unresolved emotions are often pointed to as possible trigger of panic attacks, but it is important to point out that eliminating panic attacks from your life does not necessarily mean analyzing your psyche and digging into your subconscious. The “One Move” technique will teach you to deal with the present moment and defuse the attack along with removing the underlying anxiety that sparks the initial anxiety.
Anxiety is probably the most basic of all emotions. While anxiety, by its nature, is an unpleasant sensation, it is not by any means dangerous.
One of the biggest myths surrounding anxiety is that it is harmful and can lead to a number of various life-threatening conditions.
Definition of Anxiety
Anxiety is defined as a state of apprehension or fear resulting from the anticipation of a real or imagined threat, event, or situation. It is one of the most common human emotions experienced by people at some point in their lives.
However, most people who have never experienced a panic attack, or extreme anxiety, fail to realize the terrifying nature of the experience. Extreme dizziness, blurred vision, tingling and feelings of breathlessness—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
When these sensations occur and people do not understand why, they feel they have contracted an illness, or a serious mental condition. The threat of losing complete control seems very real and naturally very terrifying.
Fight/Flight Response: One of the root causes of panic attacks?
I am sure most of you have heard of the fight/flight response as an explanation for one of the root causes of panic attacks. Have you made the connection between this response and the unusual sensations you experience during and after a panic attack episode?
Anxiety is a response to a danger or threat. It is so named because all of its effects are aimed toward either fighting or fleeing from the danger. Thus, the sole purpose of anxiety is to protect the individual from harm. This may seem ironic given that you no doubt feel your anxiety is actually causing you great harm…perhaps the most significant of all the causes of panic attacks.
However, the anxiety that the fight/flight response created was vital in the daily survival of our ancient ancestors—when faced with some danger, an automatic response would take over that propelled them to take immediate action such as attack or run. Even in today’s hectic world, this is still a necessary mechanism. It comes in useful when you must respond to a real threat within a split second.
Anxiety is a built-in mechanism to protect us from danger. Interestingly, it is a mechanism that protects but does not harm—an important point that will be elaborated upon later.
What Are The Causes Of Panic Attacks? The Physical Manifestations of a Panic Attack: Other pieces of the puzzle to understand the causes of panic attacks.
Nervousness and Chemical Effects…
When confronted with danger, the brain sends signals to a section of the nervous system. It is this system that is responsible for gearing the body up for action and also calms the body down and restores equilibrium. To carry out these two vital functions, the autonomic nervous system has two subsections, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.
Although I don’t want to become too "scientific," having a basic understanding of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system will help you understand the causes of panic attacks.
The sympathetic nervous system is the one we tend to know all too much about because it primes our body for action, readies us for the “fight or flight” response, while the parasympathetic nervous system is the one we love dearly as it serves as our restoring system, which returns the body to its normal state.
When either of these systems is activated, they stimulate the whole body, which has an “all or nothing” effect. This explains why when a panic attack occurs, the individual often feels a number of different sensations throughout the body.
The sympathetic system is responsible for releasing the adrenaline from the adrenal glands on the kidneys. These are small glands located just above the kidneys. Less known, however, is that the adrenal glands also release adrenaline, which functions as the body’s chemical messengers to keep the activity going. When a panic attack begins, it does not switch off as easily as it is turned on. There is always a period of what would seem increased or continued anxiety, as these messengers travel throughout the body. Think of them as one of the physiological causes of panic attacks, if you will.
After a period of time, the parasympathetic nervous system gets called into action. Its role is to return the body to normal functioning once the perceived danger is gone. The parasympathetic system is the system we all know and love, because it returns us to a calm relaxed state.
When we engage in a coping strategy that we have learned, for example, a relaxation technique, we are in fact willing the parasympathetic nervous system into action. A good thing to remember is that this system will be brought into action at some stage whether we will it or not. The body cannot continue in an ever-increasing spiral of anxiety. It reaches a point where it simply must kick in, relaxing the body. This is one of the many built-in protection systems our bodies have for survival.
You can do your best with worrying thoughts, keeping the sympathetic nervous system going, but eventually it stops. In time, it becomes a little smarter than us, and realizes that there really is no danger. Our bodies are incredibly intelligent—modern science is always discovering amazing patterns of intelligence that run throughout the cells of our body. Our body seems to have infinite ways of dealing with the most complicated array of functions we take for granted. Rest assured that your body’s primary goal is to keep you alive and well.
Not so convinced?
Try holding your breath for as long as you can. No matter how strong your mental will is, it can never override the will of the body. This is good news—no matter how hard you try to convince yourself that you are gong to die from a panic attack, you won’t. Your body will override that fear and search for a state of balance. There has never been a reported incident of someone dying from a panic attack.
Remember this next time you have a panic attack; he causes of panic attacks cannot do you any physical harm. Your mind may make the sensations continue longer than the body intended, but eventually everything will return to a state of balance. In fact, balance (homeostasis) is what our body continually strives for.
The interference for your body is nothing more than the sensations of doing rigorous exercise. Our body is not alarmed by these symptoms. Why should it be? It knows its own capability. It’s our thinking minds that panic, which overreact and scream in sheer terror! We tend to fear the worst and exaggerate our own sensations. A quickened heart beat becomes a heart attack. An overactive mind seems like a close shave with schizophrenia. Is it our fault? Not really—we are simply diagnosing from poor information.
Causes of Panic Attacks: Cardiovascular Effects
Activity in the sympathetic nervous system increases our heartbeat rate, speeds up the blood flow throughout the body, ensures all areas are well supplied with oxygen and that waste products are removed. This happens in order to prime the body for action.
A fascinating feature of the “fight or flight” mechanism is that blood (which is channelled from areas where it is currently not needed by a tightening of the blood vessels) is brought to areas where it is urgently needed.
For example, should there be a physical attack, blood drains from the skin, fingers, and toes so that less blood is lost, and is moved to “active areas” such as the thighs and biceps to help the body prepare for action.
This is why many feel numbness and tingling during a panic attack-often misinterpreted as some serious health risk-such as the precursor to a heart attack. Interestingly, most people who suffer from anxiety often feel they have heart problems. If you are really worried that such is the case with your situation, visit your doctor and have it checked out. At least then you can put your mind at rest.
Causes of Panic Attacks: Respiratory Effects
One of the scariest effects of a panic attack is the fear of suffocating or smothering. It is very common during a panic attack to feel tightness in the chest and throat. I’m sure everyone can relate to some fear of losing control of your breathing. From personal experience, anxiety grows from the fear that your breathing itself would cease and you would be unable to recover. Can a panic attack stop our breathing? No.
A panic attack is associated with an increase in the speed and depth of breathing. This has obvious importance for the defense of the body since the tissues need to get more oxygen to prepare for action. The feelings produced by this increase in breathing, however, can include breathlessness, hyperventilation, sensations of choking or smothering, and even pains or tightness in the chest. The real problem is that these sensations are alien to us, and they feel unnatural.
Having experienced extreme panic attacks myself, I remember that on many occasions, I would have this feeling that I couldn’t trust my body to do the breathing for me, so I would have to manually take over and tell myself when to breathe in and when to breathe out. Of course, this didn’t suit my body’s requirement of oxygen and so the sensations would intensify—along with the anxiety. It was only when I employed the technique I will describe for you later, did I let the body continue doing what it does best—running the whole show.
Importantly, a side-effect of increased breathing, (especially if no actual activity occurs) is that the blood supply to the head is actually decreased. While such a decrease is only a small amount and is not at all dangerous, it produces a variety of unpleasant but harmless symptoms that include dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, sense of unreality, and hot flushes.
Other Physical Effects of Panic Attacks:
Now that we’ve discussed some of the primary physiological causes of panic attacks, there are a number of other effects that are produced by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, none of which are in any way harmful.
For example, the pupils widen to let in more light, which may result in blurred vision, or “seeing” stars, etc. There is a decrease in salivation, resulting in dry mouth. There is decreased activity in the digestive system, which often produces nausea, a heavy feeling in the stomach, and even constipation. Finally, many of the muscle groups tense up in preparation for “fight or flight” and this results in subjective feelings of tension, sometimes extending to actual aches and pains, as well as trembling and shaking.
Overall, the fight/flight response results in a general activation of the whole bodily metabolism. Thus, one often feels hot and flushed and, because this process takes a lot of energy, the person generally feels tired and drained.
Causes of Panic Attacks
Mental Manifestations: Causes of Panic Attacks
Are the causes of panic attacks all in my head? is a question many people wonder to themselves.
The goal of the fight/flight response is making the individual aware of the potential danger that may be present. Therefore, when activated, the mental priority is placed upon searching the surroundings for potential threats. In this state one is highly-strung, so to speak. It is very difficult to concentrate on any one activity, as the mind has been trained to seek all potential threats and not to give up until the threat has been identified. As soon as the panic hits, many people look for the quick and easiest exit from their current surroundings, such as by simply leaving the bank queue and walking outside. Sometimes the anxiety can heighten, if we perceive that leaving will cause some sort of social embarrassment.
If you have a panic attack while at the workplace but feel you must press on with whatever task it is you are doing, it is quite understandable that you would find it very hard to concentrate. It is quite common to become agitated and generally restless in such a situation. Many individuals I have worked with who have suffered from panic attacks over the years indicated that artificial light—such as that which comes from computer monitors and televisions screens—can can be one of the causes of panic attacks by triggering them or worsen a panic attack, particularly if the person is feeling tired or run down.
This is worth bearing in mind if you work for long periods of time on a computer. Regular break reminders should be set up on your computer to remind you to get up from the desk and get some fresh air when possible.
In other situations, when during a panic attack an outside threat cannot normally be found, the mind turns inwards and begins to contemplate the possible illness the body or mind could be suffering from. This ranges from thinking it might have been something you ate at lunch, to the possibility of an oncoming cardiac arrest.
The burning question is: Why is the fight/flight response activated during a panic attack even when there is apparently nothing to be frightened of?
Upon closer examination of the causes of panic attacks, it would appear that what we are afraid of are the sensations themselves—we are afraid of the body losing control. These unexpected physical symptoms create the fear or panic that something is terribly wrong. Why do you experience the physical symptoms of the fight/flight response if you are not frightened to begin with? There are many ways these symptoms can manifest themselves, not just through fear.
For example, it may be that you have become generally stressed for some reason in your life, and this stress results in an increase in the production of adrenaline and other chemicals, which from time to time, would produce symptoms….and which you perceive as the causes of panic attacks.
This increased adrenaline can be maintained chemically in the body, even after the stress has long gone. Another possibility is diet, which directly affects our level of stress. Excess caffeine, alcohol, or sugar is known for causing stress in the body, and is believed to be one of the contributing factors of the causes of panic attacks (Chapter 5 gives a full discussion on diet and its importance).
Unresolved emotions are often pointed to as possible trigger of panic attacks, but it is important to point out that eliminating panic attacks from your life does not necessarily mean analyzing your psyche and digging into your subconscious. The “One Move” technique will teach you to deal with the present moment and defuse the attack along with removing the underlying anxiety that sparks the initial anxiety.
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