Monday Mental Health Fact: Panic Disorder Does getting into an elevator, taking the driver’s seat, or going into a crowded room or place make your heart race? You may have Panic Disorder. SADAG was formed 20 years ago by Founder Zane Wilson after Panic attacks ultimately resulted in suicidal feelings due to no appropriate treatment. When she finally got the right treatment she was well within four weeks and was encouraged to start a small support group and the organisation ultimately grew into one of the most influential mental health NGO in Africa Panic attack symptoms are usually abrupt episodes of fear. Some of the most common are: • a need to escape • heart palpitations • lightheadedness • dizziness • sweating • wet palms • trembling • shortness of breath • fear of losing control or dying • fear of driving • eating in restaurants • getting into elevators • going into public or crowded areas However many symptoms are similar to real illnesses and often they should have basic checkups by their GP to clear out that they don’t have a heart or blood pressure problem. Anxiety is a normal part of living. It’s the body’s way of telling us something isn’t right. It keeps us from harm’s way and prepares us to act quickly in the face of danger. However, for some people, anxiety and fear are a persistent, irrational, and overwhelming feeling. It may get in the way of day-to-day activities such as going to a restaurant, going to the bank, grocery shopping etc. These may be signs of an anxiety disorder. Self Help tips on Coping with your Panic & Anxiety: 1. Breathe -properly. When we are stressed or anxious, we can learn to breathe differently. Inhaling slowly through your nose to a count of four, hold your breath for four counts and then slowly exhale through your mouth until there is no air left. Repeat. 2. Avoid caffeine. Substances like caffeine, and some weight loss medications can cause acute anxiety. Even a dentist’s numbing injection and some anti-malaria medications contain stimulants and can trigger an anxiety attack, so always check with your pharmacist before you take anything. 3. Get educated. Learn about what anxiety really is and coping skills on how to do deal with it and what can trigger it, what treatments are available, and how you can access help to become anxiety-free. 4. Stay connected to others. Social support is vital to managing stress. Talking with others can do a world of good. 5. Write it down. Make a simple list of the things that are causing you stress. Prioritise them and write down some solution options. Simply writing down the things that you are feeling stressed or anxious about can put life in perspective. 6. Accept your anxiety. If you really want to effectively manage your anxiety, the key is to accept it. Admitting that anxiety is part of life, that you have your own limits and triggers, is a giant step in coping with it. Over recent years CBT has proved to be very successful in helping people recover within 4 to 8 sessions. There is a simple description on the front page of our website sadag.org by Dr Colinda Linde, also a simple questionnaire to fill in to assess your levels of anxiety or panic. If you are needing help, visit our website sadag.org and thoughtsfirst for more information on Panic, coping tools, questionaires, articles and online videos. Or you can call SADAG’s helpline on 0800 21 22 23 for help.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 10:10:00 +0000
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