Most of us have experienced anxiety at some time in our lives. That tense feeling, being hesitant and fearful of an approaching exam, test or interview. These situations are normally short-term and can be useful; they may make you more alert in an exam. However, the feelings may overwhelm you making you unable to concentrate.
We have all heard of the “Fight or flight” reflex, this reflex was to protect us from danger, give us the extra energy to run away. For this to happen, the anxious feelings and the fear trigger the release of a hormone called adrenalin. Adrenalin makes your heart beat faster to carry your blood to the organs which most need it. Your breathing increases to obtain more oxygen, you will sweat to stop you overheating. There are many other changes that take place in your body to help you cope with the impending danger. Once the danger has passed other hormones are released to help you relax. The “Fight of flight” reflex is very useful to help you run away from danger, however, when you want to run away from things like exams, driving tests it is not so useful because your body will take much longer to relax and you will be in an agitated state for longer. If the anxiety stays at high levels for long periods of time, you may find life difficult to deal with. The longer this goes on for, the more powerless and out of control, you may feel. If this feeling of fear or anxiety begins to overwhelm you the next stage is “Panic attacks”
Panic attacks are the exaggerated response of the body to fear and stress. You often get palpitations in your heart, possibly feeling faint, nauseous, chest pains, difficulty breathing and many more. You may start to feel you are going to have a heart attack and die. Attacks come on quickly and last from five to twenty minutes, those suffering them for longer are experiencing several attacks one after the other.
Anxiety and panic attacks can be a combination of factors. Something distressing happening to you in the past (possibly in childhood) and you were unable to deal with the emotions at the time. If things happen to you now which trigger that distress the anxiety and the emotions which have not been dealt with, and possibly trigger a panic attack. Your parents may have been anxious people and therefore this has been learnt by you in your early life.
Unfortunately, anxiety has an effect on your body and mind making you fearful, on edge, and unable to relax or concentrate. To cope with these feeling you might smoke, drink or use drugs as relaxants.
To stop the anxiety and panic attacks, learning to meditate and relax the mind is very helpful. Meditation is not all about sitting cross-legged on the floor; it is about learning to relax and focusing on a soothing voice or music. In my groups I do guided meditation, you focus on my voice as I take you on a relaxing journey to relax you. Energy healing and integral core therapy, also benefits people suffering anxiety and panic attacks, we encourage you to go back to the fearful feelings and learn how you can deal with them.
If you would like advice or help please contact me.