|  THE
TRUTH ABOUT PANIC AND ANXIETY ATTACKS
By:
Dr. Keith Comeau, MD/Family Physician
Transformation Strategist
Peter was
a worrier…..he was also a successful small business
owner/operator. At 55 he had built a business that
his clients could depend upon. He worked hard and was
proud of his accomplishments. His employees enjoyed
their work, and liked working for him. He was financially
more stable than ever before in his life. He had family
and friends who loved him. However, he was beginning
to have problems with his health. He had developed
diabetes and blood pressure problems. This worried
him. He started having trouble sleeping. One day out
of the blue, he noticed a heaviness in his chest. His
heart was pounding. He began sweating and having trouble
breathing. He became very worried. His thoughts were
racing. He thought he was having a heart attack. He
thought he was going to die. He went to the local emergency
room. It was not a heart attack…. it was an “anxiety/panic
attack”.
A panic
attack is a sudden onset of feelings of fear or
terror, for no apparent reason. There are usually no
warning signs, it can come out of the blue and can leave
a person feeling hopeless/helpless. The feelings are
so intense and terrifying that people who experience
them often feel they are “out of control”, “going crazy”
or “dying”. The feelings and beliefs seem very real.
These intense feelings stimulate the brain to release
a cascade of biochemical hormones that eventually causes
the adrenal glands to release adrenaline and adrenaline
like hormones. These hormones “rev” up the body by
increasing the heart rate, blood pressure, respirations
and tightening up the muscles, etc preparing them to
“fight or flight” the situation. Experiencing these
emotional and physiological symptoms takes a great deal
of energy, and in the end the person is extremely fatigued,
sometimes teary and usually embarrassed.
An anxiety
attack is similar to a panic attack, however the
onset of symptoms is often more gradual. It usually
involves more anxiety symptoms, and less of a sense
of panic/terror. Symptoms of anxiety attack include
excessive worrying, difficulty controlling one’s thoughts,
chest pain, headaches, abdominal pain, irritable bowel,
hot flashes, rapid heart beat, difficulty breathing
and a fear that something bad will happen.
Anxiety/Panic
attacks are emotional and physical responses
to a stimulus (a situation that causes our response).
These stimuli are either external (caused from situations
outside oneself) or internal (caused from within one
self). External stimuli are caused by something real
that is occurring in our lives, e.g. divorce, separation,
loss of job, someone trying to hurt you, work/life “burn
out” etc.. Internal stimuli are the thoughts
and feelings generated by oneself about
the external stimuli/situation. It is the thoughts
that spiral out of control that cause an
anxiety/panic attack. Symptoms of a panic
attack include palpitations (pounding or rapid heartbeat),
sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of breath
(or sensation of smothering), chest pain, nausea, numbness
and tingling in various parts of the body, feelings
of choking, dizziness (feeling unsteady, light-headed),
fear of losing control, fear of going crazy, feelings
of disorientation, fear of dying, feelings of extreme
fear/terror for no apparent reason,
Four
of more of the above symptoms at one time,
with sudden onset may indicate an anxiety/panic
attack or panic disorder.
If you are
having these symptoms, you should see your physician
to ensure that there is not a medical problem causing
them. The good news and truth about anxiety/panic
attacks is that you will not go crazy…you will not
die… and anxiety/panic attacks can be prevented.
That is why Transform: A Personal Evolution” was
developed. This program was designed to enable
people who experience any levelof stress (as well as
anxiety/panic attacks and mild-moderate depression)
to transform/transcend their emotional state and
increase their personal power.
The following
is the testimonial that Peter gave after completing
"Transform: A Personal Evolution”.
“I have suffered
with stress, anxiety and panic attacks most of my life.
Many health issues that I suffer from, such as high
blood pressure and now diabetes are the direct result
of not handling stress properly. Since taking Dr. Comeau’s
Transform: A Personal Evolution, my life has changed dramatically.
I now understand the root of all my stress and anxiety,
and have the proper tools to deal with the stress before
it develops into anxiety and panic. I also have a more
positive attitude towards life, which has also enabled
me to better control my diabetes without medicine”.
Peter S.
Click the
link more information on Dr. Keith Comeau M.
D. and "Transform:
A Personal Evolution” or call the office
at 905-333-0116.
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