Panic Attacks And Extreme Anxiety

Panic attacks and extreme anxiety unfortunately go hand in hand. There are two kinds of panic attack - a situational one and a spontaneous one. Both produce extreme anxiety.

A situational panic attack can be brought on when, for example, someone is afraid of spiders and encounters a spider. They will very likely have a panic attack, which is understandable.

Though both kinds of panic attacks and extreme anxiety causing situations are incredibly difficult to face, overall, it is worse in the case of the spontaneous panic attack.

Spontaneous Panic Attacks Are Worse

With the situational panic attack, the reason for the anxiety is very clear. It is the spider that has caused extreme anxiety. The panic attack is not debilitating. It does not ruin your life.

A panic attack that comes out of the blue can lead to a panic disorder. This can also lead to agoraphobia. Together, it is extremely debilitating. You can end up with no quality of life.

A person going through this type of panic attack has no clue what's happening. They think it's something serious. They think they are dying or going crazy. This creates extreme anxiety.

Once you begin to fear having other spontaneous panic attacks, you may end up avoiding situations, places and people since the extreme anxiety it produces can be intolerable.

Agoraphobia Creeps In

You may associate a panic attack with a place and start to avoid that place. The list of situations and places tends to grow. You cope by avoiding. You now have agoraphobia.

Fortunately, panic attacks and agoraphobia can be overcome as they are treatable. There are several treatment options. You may have to find one that works for you. It will take time though.

Treatments That Can Help

Therapy and medication work very well. For some people who don't like using drugs, alternative options are also available. These include herbal remedies, hypnosis and other very effective programs that have been successful for thousands.

The thing to remember is not to wait too long. Never put off looking for help. It makes it harder to overcome. The quicker you deal with panic attacks and agoraphobia, the quicker you gain your life back. And it can be done.

An End to Panic: Breakthrough Techniques for Overcoming Panic Disorder In an effective, compassionate guide designed to help readers control panic attacks and to offer strategies for managing fear, Dr. Zuercher-White explains the physiology of panic attacks and helps sufferers master the skills to control them.

An End To Panic retails for US$19.95 but you can get it here for $13.52. It's an excellent book which helped me tremendously and I recommend it very highly.

Panic Attacks Workbook: A Guided Program for Breaking the Panic Cycle With methods and exercises based on the author's extensive clinical experience, Panic Attacks Workbook helps people understand the true nature of their panic attacks. It demonstrates the vicious cycle of habitual responses that lead to debilitating attacks, teaches how to halt this self-destructive process, and guides people along a proven path that promotes recovery.David Carbonell outlines such cognitive behavioral methods as diaphragmatic breathing, progressive exposure, desensitization, relaxation, keeping a panic diary, and much more. He shows how to cultivate a personal attitude that facilitates solutions rather than placing blame.He clearly explains how the very nature of panic leads people into a chronic cycle of anticipation, panic, and helplessness, and details how to overcome this pattern with innovative responses and an attitude of acceptance. Charts, worksheets, and program outlines help point the way through the workbook and on to recovery.

Triumph Over Fear: A Book of Help and Hope for People with Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and Phobias The National Institute of Mental Health calls anxiety disorders the most common mental health problem in America. They are also among the most treatable. Yet tens of millions of people struggle with hidden fears and restricted lives because they have not received proper diagnosis and treatment. Triumph Over Fear combines Jerilyn Ross's firsthand account of overcoming her own disabling phobia with inspiring case histories of recovery from other forms of anxiety, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder; an post-traumatic stress disorder. State-of-the-art information is combined with powerful self-help techniques, together with clear indications of when to seek additional professional help and/or medication. Also included is the latest research on anxiety disorders in children, plus advice for dealing with family members and employers.

Go to Panic Attack Chest Pain

Return from this Panic Attacks And Extreme Anxiety page to the Panic And Agoraphobia home page