Panic Attacks | Self Help Sanctum - Part 2

Setbacks Happen On The Road To Recovery

by Barry McDonagh

Have you ever wondered why people often experience setbacks when they begin to tackle their anxiety? Setbacks happen because, as you face your anxiety and the situations that make you feel uncomfortable, the avoidant/protective side of your personality becomes active.

When you decide to tackle your anxiety issue head on, the protective side of your personality would rather that you left well enough alone. Your protective side doesn’t like taking risks and feels better when you don’t put yourself in situations that make you feel anxious. Continue reading Setbacks Happen On The Road To Recovery

Gratitude Lifts The Weight of Anxiety

by Barry McDonagh

Let me tell you why the art of gratitude is such a great tool for ending anxious thoughts.

A lot of people write telling me how their anxiety makes them feel very cut off or removed from the world around them. This sensation can be distressing as people fear that they will never be able to feel normal again.

This feeling is common and in my experience is mainly fueled by a cycle of anxious thinking.

A person with a panic disorder or a generalized anxiety disorder will spend much of their day mentally “checking in”. Continue reading Gratitude Lifts The Weight of Anxiety

The 20 Second Countdown

by Barry McDonagh

Why everywhere you look are top psychologists and doctors still teaching outdated methods for treating general anxiety and panic attacks?

It seems every time I do a search online there is yet another anxiety “expert” rehashing the same old ideas. Brown Paper bags, think happy thoughts, do your breathing etc. I am sure you have come across them a million times before already.

How are people supposed to solve their anxiety issue if they are continuously exposed to these techniques and methods that only teach people to cope with anxiety. Just coping is not good enough. Real solutions are needed.

I want to share with you something that does work. It is a very simple way to help end the fear of a PANIC ATTACK. Continue reading The 20 Second Countdown

Do you fear the arrival of another panic attack?

by Barry McDonagh

People who have experienced panic attacks often go around with a grave sense of unease that at any moment, they will experience a major panic attack.

It’s a fear of the ultimate panic attack that would finally push them over the edge.

This leads people to make changes to their behavior in order not to do anything that might trigger a panic episode.

When people feel this way, simple daily tasks can become big challenges. Some people start to fear driving their car in traffic. Others fear leaving their safe zone or simply any situation where they have responsibilities to perform.

This state of apprehension keeps a person’s anxiety level high, leading to feelings of general anxiety. Continue reading Do you fear the arrival of another panic attack?

Panic Attacks and Anxiety

Part of the reason for the success of the human species is that we’re designed for survival. In pre-civilization days we held a healthy fear of our environment. This fear made us alert to potential predators, gave us an automatic reaction (the fight or flight response) to danger, and ultimately allowed our genes to be passed on and continually improved.

Though many former environmental dangers no longer exist, this inherent nervousness remains part of our basic design. Many people are able to keep this reaction under conscious control, but for a significant few its impact can negatively impact their quality of life, making even routine activities a waking nightmare. Continue reading Panic Attacks and Anxiety

Eliminate Anxiety and Panic Attacks For Good

by Barry McDonagh

If you suffer from…

Palpitations
a 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
Derealization (a feeling of unreality)
Fear of losing control or going crazy
Fear of dying Numbness or a tingling sensation
Chills or hot flashes

(Source: American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) 2000 Washington, DC.)

…then you’ve experienced firsthand some of the possible symptoms of a panic or anxiety attack. If you are reading this page because a loved one suffers from these symptoms and you are trying to understand or help, it’s hard to appreciate what they go through. Continue reading Eliminate Anxiety and Panic Attacks For Good

Causes of Panic Attacks

by Barry McDonagh

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.

One of the biggest myths surrounding anxiety is that it is harmful and can lead to a number of various life-threatening conditions. Continue reading Causes of Panic Attacks

Anxious Thoughts and Broken Records

by Barry McDonagh

Have you ever noticed that anxious thoughts are like a broken record?

I know with Ipods etc. it’s a bit outdated to be using a record analogy here but it works well to illustrate a key point about anxious thoughts.

Remember when a record got scratched it made a very unpleasant sound and caused the needle to get stuck on the same groove.

The same one line would play over and over again ad nauseam until you picked up the needle and moved it past the scratch.

Anxious thoughts are bit like this. You might be happily going about your day and then something triggers an anxious thought. Continue reading Anxious Thoughts and Broken Records

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