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Trying to Find the Cause of Panic Attacks
Panic attacks affect many people in many different ways. It is estimated that nearly 5% of the population suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder. Panic attacks strike people from every walk of life and are non-discriminate. Panic attacks come in many forms; they range from fear of flying to fear of public speaking. As wide spread as the problem is; little is known about the cause of panic attacks. Many people go through many years of their life not even realizing they have a phobia. I personally never realized I was claustrophobic until several years ago. I had to undergo a medical procedure that required my taking an MRI. Before taking the MRI the doctor asked me if I was claustrophobic, and my reply was no. It took me about three minutes into the test that I suddenly realized I couldn't do this. They had to abort the test. |
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| In order to complete the test, they ended up prescribing me medication and that didn't work. They said I was just too nervous, scared and excited for it to be effective. They finally ended up blindfolding me, which amazingly got me through the test. It wasn't until that point that I realized I was claustrophobic. I have never felt such fear and anxiety before in my entire lifetime. I had truly just had my first panic attack. After the test was over, I told my doctor that I have been in confined spaces before and never had a problem in the past. Why now? He really could not give me an answer other than he thought I had some sort of panic attack. I finally had to ask what was the cause of panic attacks? He really didn't give me much of an answer and I never really followed up. It was obviously a one time occurrence and we didn't think I'd have another problem. |
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In my line of work I am required to travel six to eight times a year. Depending on where I have to travel, I either fly or drive. About 3 months after my initial claustrophobic occurrence I needed to take a trip that required me to fly. I have flown many times in the past and never had any type of incident. This particular time I started getting those same feelings. My chest started pounding and my throat seemed as if it was closing up, I had shortness of breath and I began sweating profusely. I actually ended up canceling my flight and going to the emergency room. I was scared to death I thought I was having a heart attack. After going through a battery of tests they said my heart was fine. It wasn't a heart attack, it was an anxiety attack over getting on that airplane. At that point I was determined to find out; what is the cause of panic attacks. |
| I have since undergone hours and hours of counseling which taught me all types of techniques to alleviate these attacks. The counseling also cost me lots and lots of money, and the techniques weren't working. Through this whole process I was constantly asking what was the "cause of panic attacks?" I never really ever could get a straight answer |
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Finally a friend of a friend showed me an article out of London that explained a theory that when people experience extreme anxiety or panic, the activity in their brain moves from the front of the brain to the mid brain. The front of the brain is where decision making and rationalization takes place. The mid brain is where survival mechanism such as fight or flight originates from. A panic attack is a flight or fight response to a perceived physical threat. What this is telling us is that during a panic attack mental activity is suddenly moving to the mid brain, resulting in a heighten state of panic. This could very well be the cause of panic attacks. |
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This same person also introduced me to the works of Barry Joe McDonagh. He has developed a three step process to break the cycle of anxiety and return to normal everyday living. I have utilized his system for over 18 months now and have not had a single claustiphobic incident. I have taken seven airplane trips without a hint of a problem. I highly suggest you take a look at his sight. I have literally spent thousands of dollars on counseling none of which helped me at all. For less than the cost of one office visit I appear to have my phobia behind me. I'm not 100% sure I have found the cause of panic attacks, but I'm sure I have my panic attacks well in hand. For more information On Mr. McDonagh's works Click Here |