Panic Attacks: Face Your Fear

I can still remember my first panic attack. I was at a local grocery store, in the checkout line when it came on, and it was the scariest experience of my life. I had all of the usual symptoms: an extreme sense of fear, racing heart and sweating. The attack was so profound that I simply left my groceries in the cart and bolted from the store. It was a horrible experience that I will never forget.

For months after that first incident occurred I avoided the supermarket like the plague. Just thinking about the experience made me uncomfortable, and I actually began to have more panic attacks every time I reflected on that experience. Although I didn't know it then, what I was experiencing was fairly common. Worries about having another panic attack were actually creating a stage for more panic to surface. This was a horrible cycle, one that took me way too much time and an unnecessary amount of misery to break.

According to experts, a large number of secondary panic attacks (any panic attack after the initial experience) are brought on by the fear that a panic attack will strike. In light of this data, it becomes extremely important that people deal swiftly with their fears. Avoiding certain people, places and events associated with a prior panic attack only perpetuates and intensifies this disorder. Facing the things that are causing you fear and uneasiness is the only way to combat this awful cycle.

I finally went back to that grocery store. At first I stayed only a few minutes, but eventually I was able to stay longer. It wasn't easy, but as time went on I gradually forgot all about the panic attack and why I had been so frightened in the first place.

If you feel like a prisoner to panic attacks, I urge you to take action and face your fears. It is, unfortunately, the only way to effectively deal with your symptoms. I know people promise relief from pills and other treatments, and although that can certainly be of some benefit, there is no substitute for healthy action on your part.

Is Klonopin an Effective Treatment for Anxiety?

When I was at the height of my battle with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, many of those close to me admonished me for taking the drug Klonopin or Clonazepam. At that time, however, I didn't want to hear it. They had no idea what I was going through and this was the ONLY thing that made me feel better. If you too are treating your anxiety in this manner, I certainly will not admonish you, but I will admit that my loved ones were correct--Klonopin was not the ideal treatment for me.

While Klonopin was part of my medication regimen I never missed a dose. There was never a time when I just forgot or even took it one minute late. There was a reason for this: I had become addicted and both my body and brain would scream out at least an hour before dose time, reminding me that I needed my "fix." I know that sounds awful, but that's how I felt.

Waking up in the morning was the worse. I did nothing--and I mean nothing--before I got that dose down my throat. I felt shaky and agitated and this would continue until the Klonopin finally entered my bloodstream. It was horrible, but I didn't know what to do. I couldn't be addicted, I told myself, I am only taking the amount the doctor prescribed. That didn't matter though. I had become dependent upon this narcotic, and without it, withdrawal was inevitable. This drug that was supposed to be helping me was just causing more problems

I never thought I would be free of Klonopin, in fact I never even planned to be. Any kind of life in the absence of Klonopin was not one I wanted to face. But one day, due to an unfortunate event--an event that I won't mention except to say it was a blessing in disguise--my Klonopin was discontinued. The next two weeks were absolute mental and physical torture. This wasn't anxiety I was feeling, but narcotic withdrawal, plain and simple.

After that two week period, however, the horrible symptoms began to subside. I couldn't believe the way I was feeling. The morning shakiness and the routine of rushing to the medicine cabinet were gone, and everything seemed brighter, clearer and much,more calmer. Two years later I am still Konopin free, and I vow never to be a prisoner in its grip again.

I am not faulting anyone else for their own particular medication regimen, nor am I trying to pass this off as medical advice. I am just relating what worked for me, and hoping my passion might help others facing similar circumstances. If you find yourself looking forward to "medication time," you may want to consider this testament and make some changes. (Under the advice of a doctor). The book shown in my sidebar "How to Get Off Klonopin Safely," is a good source.

Depression Make You Want to Stay in Bed? Get Up Anyway

I've posted something similar to this before, but it bears repeating. Depression is NOT just a condition affecting mental processes. It can attack you physically as well, draining you of the energy you need to function. Too many people succumb to this loss and opt to lie around in bed, hoping their energy level might become replenished somehow. This is the very opposite of strategies you should follow. I know it seems like an unbearable task, but you gotta Get Up.

If the body is taking clues from the brain, ie. brain is depressed so body is low on energy, isn't it fair to say that the mind may be taking signals from the body as well? When our bodies are low on energy due to inactivity, our minds are quick to pick up on this signal and it acts accordingly. Thankfully the opposite is also quite true. Your mind will respond favorably to exercise. Something as simple as getting out of bed and taking a shower is a good first step and will help your mood significantly.

So don't let your mind trick you into inactivity. Get up and get moving. This is a small battle you can win everyday.

Depression and Anhedonia

One of the most pervasive symptoms of depression is a general loss of pleasure with just about everything. Things you used to enjoy can seem like torture when depressed, which can in turn lead to isolation and withdrawl. The technical term for this loss of pleasure is anhedonia and is very common, almost universal, in those coping with depression.

In my personal journey with depression, anhedonia caused the greatest difficulty. Those close to me couldn't understand why I just didn't seem up to events and activities I previously enjoyed so much. My relationships suffered. As I withdrew from everybody and everything, the world naturally continued, and my inability to actively participate became frustrating and overwhelming.

For a while I forced myself to do things even though the desire was absent, but eventually I just sort of succombed to the anhedonia and isolated myself from everthing and everyone. If the world was a high school, I was a dropout, locked out of all the joy and opportunities associated with membership.


If you share these same types of feelings, take some comfort in knowing you are not alone. Be honest with your loved ones and tell them just how you are feeling and don't hesitate to seek out assistance from a medical professional. This condition will not last forever.