Panic & Anxiety

Overview

In my personal experience, panic and anxiety attacks are the most debilitating symptom of MVPS. They come on with no warning, many times for no apparent reason, and during one it feels like it will never go away. They bring with them a total "lack of control" feeling. You start to feel that your body is in control, and that your brain cannot regain it no matter how hard you try. You can sometimes feel as if you're about to die. Then you really start to worry, and that worry makes the panic and anxiety even worse. Then, as quickly as it came on, it can simply fade away.

One of the most important things to remember about panic and anxiety is that the domino effect plays a big role. Once a symptom shows itself, it can bring with it even more symptoms. The more you worry about them, the more new ones are likely to creep up too. Pretty soon you're entire life can be controlled by panic.

Commonalities

There are some common traits among those who suffer from more than the average amount of anxiety: Above average intelligence, highly creative (hence why our imaginations can play out such clear representations of what we think is about to happen to us), detail-oriented, and an analytical personality. Used in a negative way these traits can make us sick; used positively, they can make us highly successful.

Coping

Remember that what you focus on really and truly, over time, is what you are. Although symptoms start out as a physical thing, it's our state of mind that decides whether or not it will stay under control. If you break out of the pattern, such as trying to find something funny about the symptoms or situation, it can stop the dominos from falling any further. We create most of our body symptoms by the way our minds choose to react to things, This is not to say our symptoms are all in our heads and are not real -- what I'm saying is that we can make them much worse than they actually are.

Regaining control

It may seem impossible to someone with anxiety and panic to think it can be overcome, but I am living proof! And there are many more out there like me. The first step is to recognize that something needs to be done. After that, it's as simple as finding out how to go about doing it. For some it may require therapy and medications, and for others it may be able to be done all on their own. The only thing required is a commitment to follow through on the decision you make to take charge of your life.

There is no quick fix for curing anxiety and panic -- especially because for most of us it's brought on because of a physiological condition. However, dealing with it is an on-going process that gets easier over time, with lots of patience, and with lots and lots of practice.

Check out my bookstore for lots of great books on dealing with panic and anxiety. Take back your life! Don't be a slave to anxiety and panic.