Mental & Emotional Health

I know what triggers my panic attacks, yet I still don’t avoid all of them. Don’t get me wrong, I do avoid most things, but some of my triggers are unavoidable (songs, smells, movies, people, etc). As much as I would like to, I can’t just live in a bubble all my life, and so I have had to learn to grow some thicker skin in order to keep my body from reacting like my mind often does.

For those who don’t know much about panic attacks, let me first say they are real.
There are the physical symptoms:
*chest pain or pressure
*racing, pounding or even skipping heartbeats
*problems catching your breath, difficulty breathing or even a choking feeling
*dizziness or lightheadedness
*excessive perspiration
*chills and/or hot flashes
*tingling in parts of your body
(all of those symptoms lead those who live with panic attacks to the ER thinking they’re having a heart attack)
*nausea, diarrhea, other stomach issues
*feeling out of control (which is different for everyone), unreal, or detached from you body
and the symptom that I felt most strongly during my very first panic attack is
*a fear of death or that you are going crazy

They can occur any time, any place, and under any circumstances (whether positive or negative) and will throw most people for a loop. I will say, again, panic attacks are real.

There are multiple different “therapies” for panic attacks and severe anxiety. According to The Health Center, there are 10 generally “accepted” homeopathic solvents for “emotional disorders.” I have linked each of these as I am not an expert in any of them. Please read all information before beginning any personal therapy and my best advice would be to contact your physician.

St. John’s Wort
Valerian Root
5-HTP
Rhodiola Rosea (Arctic Root)
SAM-e
Bacopa
Ginseng
B Vitamin
Zinc
Magnesium and
Kava Kava Root

There are also many cognitive behavior therapies that can be applied to your life in order to help panic attacks/disorders. I have found these to be the best solution for my panic and anxiety - actually changing my behavior to reorganize my thought process while I panic. On top of all of this, there are also great results to be found in talk therapy

The final thing that I take advantage of regarding therapies is what The Health Center calls “Literary Therapy.” There are hundreds, probably thousands, of books at your own local library that will walk and talk you through your panic issues. Here are a few that The Health Center recommends. I am a fan of workbooks and have enjoyed (yes, enjoyed) working through The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook (Fourth Edition) by Edmund J Bourne and plan on buying his second book Beyond Anxiety and Phobia: A Step-by-Step Guide to Lifetime Recovery. I found both books through Amazon and recommend using their “Customers who bought this item also bought:” feature as I’ve found many good books that way.

The one thing to remember is that these overwhelming feelings will end, they are real, and there are solutions for you. Keep your chin up and know that you aren’t alone.