The first time I had a panic attack I thought I must have some sort of virus that made me nauseous and that gave me diarrhea. My face was flushed and I was convinced I had a fever.  I was at a Christmas party at the time and spent the majority of the evening in the powder room.  I felt just miserable all night. Its amazing how strong are The Astonishing Power of Emotions.   I didn’t understand then that the waves coming up over me through out the evening were actually panic.  It took me two days for my stomach to recover.   Social Anxiety can sneak up on you and without help the phobia keeps getting re enforced by your behavior. Read the rest of this entry »

Fear and Anxiety

Have you been affected by fear and anxiety?  For me it was like a domino effect with stress causing anxiety, then panic appears and finally you fear the panic happening again.  Stress over a long time was the trigger for me.

Fear and anxiety are a normal part of life and have evolved on the basis that you adapt in response to threat.  They are closely linked but quite different and you need to deal with them in different ways.  Anxiety is a vague unpleasant emotional state and it often appears to have no basis or direct threat.  Fear is similar except that it has a specific object. Read the rest of this entry »

This is a selection from a  poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

For me this poem is all about growing older, getting through the dark days, knowing sunny days are coming and to accept that our life is not perfect.  Being ‘blue’ is ok if you give it a time frame to experience it, then move on.

Overcoming depression

The way we react to bad stress is different for each person.  I know when I’m stressed, I race around, drink lots of coffee and talk at a hundred miles an hour.  My best friend though just retreats and finds comfort in food and a good red wine. You can see that we both handle stress very differently.

I probably fall into what is called a hyper personality when I’m stressed and I have found aromatherapy and Bach Flower Remedies work well for me.  When I realize my bad stress levels going up I then also watch what I am eating and cut down on the caffeine. I also slow my mind down with meditation.
Read the rest of this entry »

The majority of people experience anxiety and panic attacks at some time in their lives even if it is a minor experience. Some can find that this prevents them from concentrating, being social or continuing to work and study. There are  many ways to help cope with the condition though, and to relieve the panic attacks if they occur. What you need is an anxiety buster and breath control is your answer.

There are many forms of relaxation that are often recommended to prevent or reduce anxiety and panic attacks which may include meditation, yoga or breathing exercises but trying to relax while you are stressing is very difficult.  It is also not easy to control your heartbeat but the good news is that we are all capable of learning to control our breathing.

Read the rest of this entry »

Anxiety is an emotional state where you feel frightened and confused because of your reactions to a perceived or actual threat.

Most people will experience this in their lifetime and yet most people don’t know what is anxiety and why it happens. The reason for its increase in recent years includes a variety of causes, including living in a more stressful society, unhealthy diets, and the rise in substance abuse.

Peaceful and beautiful

Anxiety disorders occur when the anxiety system doesn’t work properly or when overwhelmed. It can make you feel you are losing control and even to the extreme where you think that you are going to die. It makes the body go into a ‘fight or flight’ response. Anxiety can stop you from living your life the way you want and that is when it is called a disorder.

Read the rest of this entry »

Moving on after panic | living a normal life

I really cant say that I am cured from, and that I have succeeded in overcoming panic attacks. If I let my anxiety levels rise then it is a possibility that I may have another panic attack. The difference is now that I don’t fear it. I know how to work through it.

dont panic

Overcoming panic attacks hasnt been a quick fix for me and I dont think too many people can say that it has been for them either. I worked on it, and as I have said in previous posts, I took one step at a time and now I feel I have succeeded.

Looking at life through positive eyes has been something that I have to work at but I am much better at it now than I was in the beginning. It’s like anything that has been a habit, it takes time to change. Life has opened up to me again and I am happy, which is probably a result of that positive outlook. Read the rest of this entry »

Now the “Don’t worry,  be happy” song had a simple message but can this simple philosophy be really achieved?  Worry is something you choose to do and you do have some control over it. You can accept it, limit it or reject it, it is your choice.

Life is full of stresses but by adapting ourselves to be resilient and positive is a way we can live our life being happy.  How we react to stress and problems in our lives will determine the outcome.  Being happy within ourselves and knowing how to increase it is a way to make our lives more fulfilled and also more healthy.  You have a choice so don’t worry, be happy as the song says.

Read the rest of this entry »

Driving to work or anywhere for that matter during peak periods can be a very stressful experience.  We seem to get all the red lights or they aren’t working, banked up traffic and construction zones.  There is also the noise and pollution associated with driving in the city.  The kids can get bored and restless and you arrive at your destination stressed.

Read the rest of this entry »

I suffer from anxiety attacks!  I don’t want to make that sound like a final statement because most of the time I don’t suffer from anxiety attacks and panic.  It is only when I have let myself get too stressed that I may have them now.

Drinking too much coffee, not getting enough sleep or eating properly or a combination of these can also contribute to my having an anxiety attack. These are my triggers and I have learned to recognize what they are and also how to eliminate or reduce the affects they have on my mental health.

Read the rest of this entry »