Secrets of Mind and Reality

The first time I ever had an anxiety panic attack, I was 15 years old and it caught me completely by surprise. Back then, I knew nothing about the symptoms of anxiety attack. All I knew at the time was that one minute I was stressed out about an exam, and the next minute my whole world seemed to be collapsing. The symptoms of anxiety attack can vary quite a bit from person to person. In my case, it started with tunnel vision. All of a sudden, I felt quite disconnected from my body. My hands were shaking, and my stomach was twisting around in knots. It was one of the worst things that I had ever felt, and an experience that I could not get over very quickly.

Of course, it was a long time before I actually sought out treatment. I was content to let it go, pretending it had never happened. I didn’t really know that the symptoms of anxiety attacks tend to recur. I thought that it was a one-time fluke incident, and that I would be able to forget it forever. Unfortunately, without treatment, I was bound to have another anxiety panic attack. This one happened when I was driving, and it almost killed me. The symptoms of anxiety attack include crippling terror, disorientation, and shaking – all dangerous things while you are on the road. Realizing how important it was to get some help, I finally went and saw a professional.

When I went into the psychiatrist’s office And described my symptoms, he knew exactly what I was facing. Any professional can spot the symptoms of an anxiety attack. The question is, how to treat it. I was fortunate, because I found a doctor who was willing to combine different anxiety treatments. He prescribed antianxiety medications, therapy, and participation in an anxiety support group. The Xanax that he prescribed was good for taking the edge off the anxiety while I was undergoing the early stages of treatment. The support group made me feel like I had a community of people to talk to. It took awhile, but soon the attacks abated.

The last time I had the symptoms of anxiety attack was about six years ago. I can’t say that I’m completely free of anxiety, but I have got it down to a manageable level through continual treatment. Treating anxiety disorders is a long and involved process, but fortunately it tends to stick. Once you learn how to cope with stress and anxiety, you don’t forget it.