Travails and Triumphs of a Stress Panic Attack Sufferer

[Katherine Jackson]

Dana started getting them about three months ago, just after her
boyfriend married someone else. She had her first attack on the
underground when the train she was on board was delayed and remained
between stations for ten minutes. Her attack was so totally unexpected
and out of the blue that she was left dumb-founded and scared to
death.
Her friend Queenie also suffered from stress panic attack for a couple
of years. Having assisted Queenie during her attacks, Dana knew that
it won't cause her death.
Unfortunately what happened was, Dana became worried about
experiencing another attack, rather than the situation. As a result,
she began having them on overland trains, buses and slightly in cars
or any means of transportation.
She consulted a therapist and discussed about her stress panic attack
problem, and was told to think of positive or happy thoughts in order
to relax.
This technique worked for three weeks until she was exposed to a
traumatic time on the bus where a deranged passenger began attacking
people indiscriminately. The terrifying experience brought all her
stress panic symptoms back. She began worrying about commuting or
travelling to the point of not attending her job interview in France.
What worried her most was that even if she told herself that she was
fine, her stress panic attack symptoms would still recur.
Realizing that her condition seemed to be taking over a bit too much,
Dana grew more frustrated, upset, and stressed from worrying that it
will not go away.
Desperate, she visited a GP and was prescribed diazepam for
medication. Apparently, the GP did not completely understand Dana's
situation because he has booked Dana for a 6 month course of
antidepressants should the symptoms persist.
Finally, Dana found a good therapist who taught her relaxation
techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. This
energized her body's relaxation response, a state of calmness that is
the opposite of the stress response. Consequently her everyday stress
levels lessened and her feelings of gleefulness and tranquility
boosted. The exercises also reinforced her ability to stay calm and
collected under pressure.
Dana has overcome her panic attacks through stress management. She is
now in charge of her life. She changes a stressful situation when she
can, changes her reaction when she can't take care of herself and take
time out to rest and relax.