PANIC ATTACKS
Panic attacks are a common feature these days among both--old as well as the young. Most people go through this at some point of time in life or the other.
I myself had suffered it at the age of 30 when I was working abroad . I had experienced mild and severe -- mostly severe panic attacks for about six to eight months and I know how very frightening the experience can be especially if you have never heard of it before and you think you are the first of your kind going through this weird and frightening experience as in my case. I never asked for help and suffered quietly because I was quite convinced that nobody would ever understand what I was going through let alone be able to help me !
While it is hard to pinpoint the real cause for the panic attack, it usually occurs in a state of worry, stress, anxiety and fear generally present deep inside the subconscious or the unconscious mind which the conscious mind is unable to detect hence leaving one bewildered and confused at the sudden panic attack. Severe panic attacks can sometimes result in a nervous breakdown too.
Many people think panic attacks occur when a person lives alone. This is not wholly correct.
Panic attacks can occur even while living amidst family and friends though a person does tend to think more when he lives alone and therefore quite a few people living alone tend to suffer panic attacks.
One reason (that few people are aware of ) as to why so many people--young and old alike are suffering panic attacks these days all of a sudden is because of our changing earth frequencies (read about the photon belt) lifting us and helping us adapt to the higher dimensional frequencies around us . It generally involves anxiety, thought and stress putting pressure on the pineal and the pituitary glands forcing them open which in turn triggers panic attacks in us.
Sometimes panic attacks make a person much stronger afterwards. For example, I have seen a couple of old people suddenly loose all fear of death after they suffered panic attacks for sometime. Likewise when I take my own example , I find that I am actually glad I had suffered the panic attacks coz they left me with a strength and confidence in myself that I had never known before. A strength that few people in this world are blessed with. Lots of fears related to life and survival or being alone in life as are commonly found in many of us have simply disappeared from me. So it is my personal opinion that people suffer panic attacks when it is time for them to move beyond some of their fears.
Many youngsters today suffer mild panic attacks as their frequencies shift from three dimensional to the five dimensional which is said to be the first of the dimensions of "freedom from fear". Many of our fears related to our survival are removed as we push into the higher dimensions and this sometimes involves panic attacks as we release and let go of the fear elements inside us.
The severity of the attack depends on the severity of your stress and anxiety. But this is a temporary / transient phase, which disappears soon enough as we begin to adapt to the new frequencies. But if these attacks are severe or remain for prolonged periods then it is a cause for concern more so especially if the person happens to be old.
Sudden heart palpitations leading to panic inside you can also occur when there is a severe deficiency of Magnesium and B vitamins in your body especially B9 and B6 . Magnesium is the most important mineral for the heart found in greens. When we give up on greens for a long time, magnesium deficiency arises in our body leading to weakening of the heart and onset of palpitations and panic attacks sometimes.
HOW CAN YOU HELP YOURSELVES IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PANIC ATTACKS ?
---Panic attacks generally occur during times of stress and anxiety and way too much thinking all by yourself. So go out and socialist a little or busy yourselves in something. Diversion is important. Panic attacks become more frequent and recurrent when we keep thinking and fearing about the next attack. So divert your mind from it.
---Know that you are not alone in whatever is happening to you. There are millions out there in this world who are going thru exactly the same as you are , and they have survived it too . Once you realize that you are not alone in this and this is not going to kill you no matter how terrifying it may be, you have already conquered half your panic attacks. You see......we tend to panic much more when we think we are the only one in this world who are experiencing strange problems.
---Know a little science behind the attack. Your perceived threat and your fear factor triggers your adrenal gland--your organ of fight or flight. This is nothing strange. Your adrenal gland triggers every time something excites you or threatens or frightens you. Only, in this case your threat is not real. It is perceived. It could be perceived deep in your subconscious or the unconscious mind which you may not be aware of , hence the confusion and bewilderment.
---Identify triggers. i.e. the situations wherein you feel uncomfortable. Simply avoid those situations unless your rational mind functions enough to analyse things logically.
---Learn slow deep breathing. We tend to hyperventilate during panic attacks. Slow deep breathing can also help prevent and control panic attacks by a large degree.
--- Occasionally a tranquilizer also helps in slowing down your worried racing mind. Learning to relax and controlling the thoughts controls the attacks.
---Eat plenty of green and take B vitamins.
---Eat plenty of green and take B vitamins.
HOW CAN YOU HELP ANOTHER PERSON EXPERIENCING PANIC ATTACKS ESPECIALLY IF THE PERSON HAPPENS TO BE OLD OR ELDERLY ?
What works for us , generally works for other too........so here's what you can do if you find a family member in your house suffering panic attacks.
---First of all you have to make sure that it is a panic attack and not a heart attack the person is experiencing. And for that it is best to take the person to a cardiologist immediately at least the first couple of times until it is quite clear that it is not a heart attack but a panic attack. Don't try to assume things all by yourself here coz this concerns another's life, not your own. Now, once it has become evident that these are panic attacks and not heart attacks the person is suffering, here is what you can do :
---First of all you have to make sure that it is a panic attack and not a heart attack the person is experiencing. And for that it is best to take the person to a cardiologist immediately at least the first couple of times until it is quite clear that it is not a heart attack but a panic attack. Don't try to assume things all by yourself here coz this concerns another's life, not your own. Now, once it has become evident that these are panic attacks and not heart attacks the person is suffering, here is what you can do :
--- Try to be around the person as much as you can and make sure the person is never left alone during day or night. Even though panic attacks do not necessarily have much to do with being alone, it is a great comfort to have someone around all the time in such stressful periods. Someone strong and dependable.
--- Encourage the person to talk everyday. Talk away whatever is on his mind. If you find any clues to an underlying anxiety or fear , try to allay it little by little everyday.
---Divert the person's mind from the panic attacks. If it is an elderly person suffering panic attacks, presence of a child around can be a great diversion as old people generally love having little children around them as long as they don't trouble them ! Diversion is important. Panic attacks become more frequent if one keeps thinking about it fearing the next occurrence all the time.
--- Try to identify triggers. For example the person may ask you to change the channel whenever you watch news on tv or a crime thrilller ......... or may not like to sit in a car with windows closed........... or may not like it quiet in the evenings or some may not feel comfortable in crowded places. Identify the times and situations when the person is most uncomfortable and likely to experience a panic attack and try to keep the person away from such situations.
---Most of the suffering ppl are simply bewildered as to whats happening to them and why. Quite a few mistake it for a heart attack too. And when ecg reports come clean , it adds to their confusion and panic. Make the person aware of panic attacks as opposed to heart attacks and let the person know that there are millions of others going thru exactly the same as him and also recovering soon as it is a passing phase in life. Nothing can give a person more strength and comfort like knowing that he is not the first of his kind who is going thru some problem in this world and that there's others who have been thru it. Let the person know it is a passing phase in life and not here to stay.
---During normal times ( i.e. when the person is fine ), teach him slow deep breathing. Teach him to relax taking deep breaths every day. People become anxious and hyperventilate just before a panic attack . This is one important symptom by which you can differentiate a panic attack from a heart attack. In a heart attack you dont hyperventilate .
---During the attack just be around the person and say soothing things to calm him down. When he calms down a bit, you can give him a tranquiliser. All he needs to do is stay calm and learn to relax and keep his thoughts and fears in check and not let them get the better of him.
---Give the person plenty of fresh cool air. Many people feel hot and sweaty during a panic attack.
---If the attacks are recurrent or severe, medication becomes necessary. The person may need tranquilisers and adrenalin blockers. Take him to a doctor.
---Give the person plenty of greens in his or her diet. And lots of folic acid. Magnesium and B vitamins strengthen the heart.
---And last but not the least , let the person know that there is nothing to feel bad or embarrassed about it. It will one day leave the person much more stronger in life than others.
Read more about panic attacks and panic disorders on this link.
http://anxietynetwork.com/
Read more about panic attacks and panic disorders on this link.
http://anxietynetwork.com/