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Conquering Panic and Anxiety Disorder
by Jenna Glatzer
Personal essays of overcoming panic and anxiety disorders
Gasping for breath, pain squeezes the chest like a boa constrictor famished after a forty day fast. Anxiety grips the throat and the world spins. Who needs a rollercoaster thrill when panic attacks, leave you topsy-turvy in a dizzying vertigo whirl?
Get a grip on yourself. Gotta be tough to struggle through this world of high-pressure madness with people packed together like cattle on their way to the slaughterhouse-after all it's just another day in the office.
Panic creeps up on a person like Chinaman Chan, ready to pounce at any moment. Fear paralyzes a person facing a dilemna, like a rabbit before the glittering eyes of a cobra. Nearly 19 million Americans suffer from panic disorders. You're not alone, although definitely shaking in your shoes. Fear can be a good thing, protecting us from unnecessary risks-but when fear dominates, it becomes a prison. Jenna Glatzer knows this. Determined to take the stage by seige, she was beseiged by panic attacks and retreated to her flat. Suffering from agoraphobia, she could not go beyond the safety of her rooms. Crazy? Absolutely not. Panic disorders cripple a person through insidious means of anxiety, projecting the dreaded What-If's and defeating a person's ability to act confidently. The mind focuses myopically on what might go wrong, rather than what might go right. What would you do if you actually succeeded? Could you handle that?
Panic attacks don't just go away with a spoonful of PeptoBismol on dyspeptic days. Like other illnesses, recovery requires time and medical strategy. Recent research indicates that panic attacks have physiological basis linked to chromosome 15 and a neurotransmitter, cholecystokinin, found in the brainstem regulating heartbeat and breathing and because of this, Anxiety Neurosis has been de-stigmatized to panic disorders. You're not neurotic. Kick Freudian psychology out the window. Conquering Panic presents 31 personal narratives of people who suffered and reclaimed their lives from various panic disorders. Dr. Paul Foxman contributes commentary on strategies and tips for handling problems. To overcome panic disorders requires long-term care which includes traditional and homeopathic medicine, social and psychological support for recovery and confidence.
It's tough to think of a blue sky above when you see the black pit yawning at your feet. Each of the narratives gives personal insight regarding how the victim recognized the problems in his life and overcame the terror of panic attacks. Each person panics uniquely; each recovers differently. For quick reference, topics discussed are outlined at the beginning of the book, including agoraphobia, depersonalization, body dysmorphic disorder, attention deficit disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and suicidal feelings.
Panic attacks are associated with child and sexual abuse and sudden trauma. Learning how to cope with panic disorders requires skills in stress management and relaxation techniques. Through the personal narratives, you'll find that you aren't alone, and with encouragement you'll be able to slay the Anxiety Dragon that haunts your secret life and keeps you awake when the wind blows through the chimney-pots.
Appended are resource lists for internet sites, professional organizations, bibliography and self-help for those afraid to reach out.
The greatest difficulty in overcoming panic and anxiety disorders is fear of ridicule. The world can be an ugly place and we're all insecure because of it. Unfortunately, unlike Linus, we can't drag our beloved security blankets to work. We learn coping methods for the anxiety inside. Conquering Panic and Anxiety Disorders offers insight and hope for victims. Inspirational, it opens a door into a new world of freedom and light. Hear the friendly voices, grab a guiding hand, take the next step. You won't regret it.
Title: Conquering Panic and Anxiety Disorder
Author: Jenna Glatzer
Publisher: Hunter House
ISBN: 0897833818
Review written by: pogo
Reviewer's Rating:9.5
Reader's Rating: 10.00
Reader's Votes: 1
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