|
|
|
Are you in a Panic? When my second son Timothy was just 2 years old he went missing at a riverside picnic we were enjoying. Suddenly everything changed! The river was tidal and the water was flowing very swiftly out to sea. Every second counted and if he had fallen in, time was against us. I panicked. I was overcome with fear, became totally distressed, ran frantically along the river, reeling with shock and dismay. I was in the grip of panic. Everything seemed out of my control and there was a sinking feeling that a tragedy had just occurred. We have all experienced states of panic brought about by sudden, unexpected, frightening and uncontrollable situations. We are left feeling helpless, alarmed and at times totally terrified. On an other occasion I had been speaking for about 20 minutes to an audience of some 500 people, when suddenly, out of the blue, I went into a state of panic. Up to that time I had felt quite relaxed and confident. There was no sudden change in my circumstances and no one in the audience was threatening me. I was having a "panic attack". I didn't know at the time that's what it was, but I can assure you I experienced the same feelings I had when my son Timothy went missing. Since then I have discovered that "panic attacks" occur to lots of people, at any age, status or education. They happen unexpectedly, without an obvious reason at the time. They make you feel afraid and can recur without warning. But you are not stuck with them. People experience different symptoms. Your heart may beat fast, as if it will explode. Your head may spin or your legs go like jelly. You may literally feel as if you are about to die. No one dies from a panic attack. You may feel you are going mad. But you are not mad. Panic attacks never make you insane. You may feel you will fall down and humiliate yourself. But you don't fall down. What usually happens is you develop a fear of having more panic attacks. People try all sorts of things to control panic attacks. Alcohol won't help, avoiding the places where you had your panic attacks or staying home won't help. Tranquilizers in the long term could create more problems. A "panic attack" occurs when a very small event or even no event, 'triggers' off what is commonly known as our "fight/flight" response. Something in your brain gives your body a 'red alert' signal, when no danger actually exists. But you experience in your body all the feelings of being under threat. Your heartbeat increases rapidly, adrenaline is pumped into your system, giving you feelings as if you have just had a bad fright. You get the urgent feeling to 'get out of there'. And in the meantime nothing has changed around you. No threat, no danger. Here are some tips to help you. Get accurate information on panic attacks. Learn to control your breathing - use a paper bag to breathe in an out of for a few times. Slow your breathing down. Remember panic does not lead to madness. Do relaxation exercises. Get good professional help. Keep taking chances. My son Timothy did not drown, he was OK and my panic attacks have stopped. I have never had to stop my speaking engagements, although on that particular day I thought I was never going to make it, but I did! It is normal to find ourselves 'in a panic' at times. It may appear not normal to have a "panic attack". However they are not unusual and are experienced by thousands of people. Do not be in a panic about panic attacks - they do pass.
Give your views here: An anonymous, quick to fill-in survey |
||||||||||
