Panic Attacks. Are They All In Your Head ?

If you suffer from panic attacks you have probably heard from at least one person that Panic Attacks Are All In Your Head. Well that might be true when you think about it literally, but when you break anxiety,stress and panic attacks down into there more basic levels, the all in your head argument doesn't  really make much sense at all

I bet some of you are thinking that this guy doesn't know what he's talking about! I've been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for many years now and I can guarantee that have a lived with panic and anxiety long enough to understand the subject very well. I'm not a doctor or a mental health professional but I do know from experience that panic attacks are definitely not all in your head.

Take for example the fact that many sufferers(me included) do much better when they modify there lifestyles, such as exercises and healthier eating habits. These things are not all in your head they are external factors that can be modified, and in many cases they are all that is needed to bring you out of there constant state of panic and anxiety.

I am well aware that this is not true in all cases, however in the majority of cases these lifestyle adjustments will help to lower levels of anxiety and panic significantly. For instance just reducing sugar and caffeine intake or cutting them out completely can help to lower anxiety levels and in turn reduce the severity and frequency of panic attacks

Eating more nutritious whole foods and less junk and processed foods will help to replenish the nutrients that we lack as a result of poor eating habits I honestly believe that the majority of panic attacks are a result of poor lifestyles that eventually catch up to us over time. If you disagree/agree or just have you own opinions about what I have written, leave a comment. I welcome all feedback good or bad..

Generized Anxiety Disorder(GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is one of the most common mental disorders and can effect anyone regardless of their financial and social backgrounds.A diagnoses of GAD is usually made when a persons anxieties go from being normal everyday worries and stresses to excessive and uncontrollable anxiety and worry lasting for long periods of time.(6 months or more)

People experiencing generalized anxiety disorder will often see disaster around every corner.They may be overly concerned about their health and the health of their loved ones,most often for no particular reason.People suffering from GAD may also worry more than usual about their jobs,money and what others think about them.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects millions of people globally.Women seem to be at greater risk of developing GAD than men.(about twice as likely)Generalized Anxiety  Disorder can play a hugh roll in the development of Panic Attacks,but at the same time this is not always the case.Many people suffering from GAD may never experience a panic attack.

The most common Symptoms of GAD are excessive and/or long periods of uncontrolllable anxiety and worry,restlessness,feelings of being on edge,an unrealistic view of everyday problems,irritability and/or moodiness,tiredness,headaches,muscle tension,sweating,difficulty concentrating,nausea,and difficulty with sleep.There are many other symptoms and not everyone will experience all of them.

As with most Mental disorders the causes are not fully understood but research has found that family history,environmental factors and brain chemistry are at least possible contributing factors in the development of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.Although the symptoms are very disturbing for those suffering from GAD the disorder is treatable.

There are many Effective Treatments available for Generalized Anxiety Disorder they include,relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing exercises,Cognitive Behavior Therapy,Progressive Muscle Relaxation,and even Physical Exercise can be extremely beneficial in helping to reduce the symptoms of GAD and many other Anxiety Disorders.

For more information on the treatments listed above click on the links provided in the post.These links are to older more in depth posts and other resources

Panic,Anxiety,Stress,Fears and ,Phobias-Your Experiences

In this post on my Anxiety and Panic Attacks Blog.I'm not going to be writing about anything specifically related to Panic and Anxiety Attacks.The main goal today is for me to invite everyone who is reading this post to tell their own story

It would be nice if your comments were related to some sort of experience with stress,anxiety,panic attacks,phobias or something of that nature but all comments and stories are welcome.

The stories and comments can be about any kind of experience at all.If you've never had a panic attack before but are afraid of snakes,heights,bugs,flying or anything really.I would be very interested in hearing about your experiences and the things that you do to cope,the ways that these experiences have effected your lives,and the steps you have taken to overcome your fears,phobias ect.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my blog.

What is The Difference Between a Panic and Anxiety Attacks(2)

I was browsing some of the many forums and Q&A sites that are related to the topic of mental health.I noticed that the same question is asked quite often.(The question is:) What is the difference between a panic attack and an Anxiety attack and are they the same thing?

I have an older post that talks about some of the differences between a panic attack and  anxiety attacks so I won't go into alot of details in this post,but i did want to address whether there is a difference between a panic attack and anxiety attacks.And as a suffer of both of these conditions I can say without a doubt that there definately is a difference and they are not the same at all.

Panic Attacks and Anxiety Attacks do share some of the same signs and symptoms and are very closely related disorders but the main difference between the two are that a Panic Attack is usually a short and sudden onset of extreme irrational fear most often brought on by stress and anxiety,and normally occurs out of the blue.

On the other hand  Anxiety Attacks usually happen very gradually,are less extreme,consist of symtoms like intense worry,nervousness,a general unease,and can last for hours,days and even weeks in more severe cases.

I hope this post has been helpful and clears up the question of whether there really is a difference between panic and anxiety attack.If you want more information check out my older post.There is a direct link to it in this post.

Anxiety and Stress-Examples of Management Techniques

Guided Imagery-is just one of many types of relaxation training.It is closely related to hypnosis and meditation.Guided imagery is a visualization technique and is a clinically proven, psychologist-recommended course of treatment for everything from depression, anxiety, weight-loss, pain, and many other conditions.The patient is tought to visualize images of a relaxing environment and to focus on positive images and emotions,when practiced regularly and done properly the body,will enter a relaxed state.And signifagintly reduces the symptoms of anxiety.

Deep breathing exercises-can help to bring more oxygen into the body and are thought to release excess tension in the diaphragm.An example of a deep breathing exercise that is very effective and worth considering is done by inhaling through the nose and slowly counting to five while you inhale. - exhale slowly through your mouth and count down from five while you exhale.Repeat this until your breathing is under control being careful not to hyperventilate.

Meditation-is one of the oldest self help technique that involves both relaxation and cognitive techniques such as some form of breathing exercise and visualization technique. Meditation helps to calm the mind, and the body relaxes naturally as a result.All you need to start using meditation is to choose a quiet place in your home, office,or even outdoors where you can relax without being interrupted.

Hyperventilation is basically the act of overbreathing which raises carbon dioxide levels and lowers oxygen and occurs quite often in people with anxiety and panic attacks.An examples of a commonly used hyperventilation control technique is paper bag breathing which can be dangerous if used improperly or for extended periods of time and should only be used once in a while and not as a permanent treatment for Hyperventilation.

To find more detailed examples of these relaxation techniques and more.Ask your health care provider,search the internet and read the many books that are available on the subject.

Panic-In Public

Have you ever had a Panic Attack?If you haven't you are very lucky,but for those of us that have,whether it's your first and only experience with Panic or if you have had hundreds of Panic Attacks over a period of many years you know that what I am going to say is true and very frightening,

Let say you are at the grocery store,your in the checkout line behind someone who is taking a very long time.There are a bunch of noisy kids running around,the confusion starts to make you anxious,you start to sweat,your finding it hard to breath,and your heart is beating so fast and hard that it feels like it could come flying out of your chest at any moment.

You start to feel light-headed,thoughts of fainting or maybe even dieing race through you mind You leave your groceries and run out of the store to the privacy of your car.The experience was so disturbing and embarrassing that you go to the emergency room,thinking that you were having  heart attack,but of course it was "JUST" a Panic Attack.

Well that harmless Panic Attack to everyone else was a life changing,terrifying event for you.The next time you even think about going to the grocery store you have all of the same symptoms that you had when you where actually at the store.

This is disturbing enough to make you avoid the grocery store whenever possible or you make sure you go when a trusted family member or friend can go with you..You then fear having a Panic Attack in other places so you avoid any place that requires you to stand in a line.It becomes a vicious cycle of avoidance.

Many people do not totally understand how frightening a Panic Attack can be.I suggest that if someone who has never suffered from a Panic Attack  would like to know a bit more about the feeling that they think about the things that frightens them most and try to do it no matter how hard it is.As long as it is safe to do so.

What is the difference between Panic and Anxiety attacks.

I am talking today about the difference between a Panic and anxiety attack.I bet when

most people think about panic attacks and anxiety attacks they wonder!what IS the difference?
Well I am going to attempt to explain the difference between a panic and anxiety attack,
atleast the differences that I have noticed as someone who suffers from both.To start with(in my opinion)
chronic panic attacks are mostly a result of the fear of having another attack.They also occur more
suddenly and ussually lasts for only a few minutes or up to about 1/2 hour or so.Panic attacks can come
in cycles that last for hours sometimes but they are normally made up of more than one attack.
On the other hand an anxiety attack is more of a drawn out event that can last for minutes,hours,or even days.Anxiety attacks are also more of a general feeling of unease,where as a panic attack is a sudden on set of extreme fear or dread,most often brought on by a build up of anxiety or stress.
Also,not everyone that has anxiety attacks has panic attacks,but often in the case panic attack sufferers
they always seem to have some form of anxiety and/or chronic stress that builds to the point of a full blown
panic attack.
Anxiety attacks seem to be easier to treat than panic attacks.Most likely because of the fact that panic attacks are ussually much more fightening and can limit the ability of a person to function in their daily lives more so sometimes than a generalized anxiety problem(but not in all cases).including but not limited to actively seeking some form of treatment for their condition.
I hope I have been helpful in clearing up some of the things that make panic attacks different than anxiety attacks.
For a list of some of the common symptoms and treatments of panic attacks(see my older posts)or click on the links.

Exercise Can Help You Cure Your Anxiety and Panic Attacks.Without Any Medication

I would like to talk today about something that I have been trying out for the past two months that has made me much more confident that I can Cure my Anxiety and Panic Attacks Without Any medication.

About two months ago I decided that even though my Panic Attacks were quite bad and i had a lot of Anxiety,and my doctor was insisting that it would be extremely diffcult for me to cure my anxiety and panic attacks without any medication.

 I thought that in my case there has to be a better way of overcoming this than to just mindlessly pop a pill everyday,so I started out on what i'm sure will be a very long road to recovery,with an Exercise Routine.I call it a routine only because I do it every single day.For now,until I am in better physical condiition my Exercises only consists of a 30-60 minute walk every morning and biking,throughout the day.I will of course add other activities to my routine as I become more comfortable with the exercises I am doing now.

If you plan to start an exercise routine its always a good idea to talk it over with your doctor to make sure you are fit enough to do the activities that you are planning to do.Once you have cleared it with your doctor,it is also a good idea to give some serious thought as to the type of activities you are interested in and what you can physically handle.If the exercise(s) that you choose are to hard or not something that you are interested in,its most likely not going to be something that you will stick with in the long term.

I choose walking because it is something that I knew I could handle and also something I could do at home(on a treadmill) if I didn't feel up to going outside for a walk.In my case I choose not to use my treadmill much,because the fact that I am going outside to walk is not only part of my physical Exercise,it is also part of my Mental Exercise as well,since I suffer from an extreme form of Anxiety Disorder called Agoraphobia.Which for now is limiting the distance that I can travel away from home,either by car or walking.The fact that I force myself to go out every morning and push myself to walk further each time has really help with my Anxiety throughout the day which has also help to eliminate alot(but not all)of the Panic Attacks I was having.

Having a condition like Agoraphobia makes it extremely difficult to normal  everyday activities,and Exercise is no exception,but I'm sure if I take it slow and build up my confidence,eventually I will learn to take control over my Panic and Anxiety.

I'm sure there are some of you who are very scepticle (like I was) about the fact that exercise can help to Cure Anxiety And Panic Attacks Without Any Medication,and I am not saying that exercise alone will cure anything,but daily exercise along with other lifestyle changes is a hugh step in the right direction.

If anyone has a comment or suggestion about this post or any others feel free to let me know.

Attack-Panic,Anxiety

Panic attacks are sudden, onset of intense anxiety, associated with a number of physical symptoms.Some of the more common symptoms include sudden intense anxiety or fear; sense of impending doom or disaster; sweating or trembling; pounding heart and chest tightness; shortness of breath.

A panic attack will normally last about ten minutes,Although,a panic attack can be as short as 1-5 minutes, more severe attacks may form a cyclic series of episodes, lasting much longer, sometimes hours.Panic attacks are a result of the "fight or flight" response, which is your body's way of letting you know that something is wrong.

In severe cases Panic attacks can lead to avoidance of situations that cause anxiety and result in an attack.This kind of avoidance can sometimes develop into an anxiety disorder called agoraphobia

                   

. Agoraphobia can come on suddenly or develop gradually.Agoraphobia is a disabling condition in which the person fears places that are dificult to escape from.In extreme cases, the person might never or rarely leave their home.Agoraphobia is usually treated in connection with panic disorder.

Medications sometimes used in the treatment of anxiety and panic attacks are called ssris they include citalopram (celexa), escitalopram (lexapro), fluoxetine (prozac, prozac weekly), paroxetine (paxil, paxil cr) and sertraline (zoloft). These medications are generally safe and have a low risk of serious side effects, ssris are normally recommended as the first choice in medication options to treat panic attacks.

Even though the risk of serious side effects from these medications are low in most people,depending on the medications prescribed and the patient,the side effects can be surprising and also quite disturing.Not to mention the fact that Ssris medications can be addictive.Some of the more common side effects include stomach upset, weight gain or loss, drowsiness, sexual dysfunction (such as impotence, decreased libido, and diminished orgasm), headache, jaw grinding, and apathy.A few of the more rare side effects are extreme agitation, impulsivity, tremors, and insomnia.

Because of some of the side effects that people experience while they are taking some of these medications.Many people are searching for alternative treatments,Most Panic attack treatments are very successful.Some of the more mainstream treatments include cognitive behavioural therapy (cbt) and exposure therapy.Cbt involves changing the way you think about the situations that trigger panic attacks,the goal of cbt is to help the person see their condition in a more realistic way.C.B.T also helps the person learn that nothing bad will really happen to them, when they are in situations where a panic attack occurs. Exposure therapy, on the other hand, puts the person into a safe and controlled situation that will most likely trigger a panic attack.The main goal of exposure therapy is to make the person less fearful of the situation with every exposure.
Some people have also turned to relaxation techniques like,mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, controlled breathing, and visualization. When practiced regularly.these relaxation techniques can be very helpfully in reducing the anxiety that can lead to a panic attack.

Exercise is also a great way to reduce stress and relieve anxiety,Research has shown that as little as 30 minutes of exercise three to five times a week can significantly relieve anxiety. To get the maximum benefit, try to include least an hour of aerobic exercise into you daily routine.

There are also some very interesting e-books and other types of information available online,with tips and techniques that may be worth looking in to.Just keep in mind that most of these types of information are not free and are like all other forms of treatment,(will not instantly cure your anxiety and panic attacks)It will take time, help and a lot of hard work to finally get through it.But it can definitely be done.

Anxiety,Panic Attack Help

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  Welcome to my blog.I decided to write about a problem that I've been dealing with for a long time now.Anxiety and Panic attacks.I'm sure alot of you are trying to deal with the same thing and thinking that its a hopeless battle.I'm right in the thick of dealing with Generalized Anxiety and Panic Disorder myself .I know its going to be a long road but I now believe that there is hope.I've been told for quite some time now that Medication is the only answer.I'm by no means saying thatmedication isn't helpful but,for me its not the way.I've been searching the Internet and asking my Doctor for natural ways of coping with my problem.               
  
  
  
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       I have found some very interesting options on the web, but I've yet to try any of them.As far asmydoctor is concerned.I'm to the point in my disorder that she believes that Medication is my only option.I don't believe that for a second.Thank God we have Meds but there has to be a better way.Popping a pill is not a magic bullet.It may help in the short term,but i believe that if the root of the problem is not dealt with and you just mask it with medication you'll never find the peace and relaxation that most of us with Anxiety and Panic Disorder are looking for.
  
  
  
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  I have been looking on the web for information that would be helpful to me.and there is definitely lots of info out there.I'm not going to talk much right now about any particular website or what they offer,that would take all day,but i will give you a list of websites that i have come across that I believe to be of some interest.Some are courses and some are just informational.They are only suggestions and I have only visited these sites at this point,so you will have to make up your own mind as to how useful this information is.