amygdala

[evo1210]

my m8 jst spoke to me and said would'nt some thing like doing something totally nuts that would scare living hell out me like bungee jumping or something .. possibly reverse my panic attacks an fear tackle it in one punch to reset this amygdala thanks evo1210

[rouri]

don't know what to say but for sure it made me smile

not sure sure honey we need others opinion, it is very interesting question but could you imagine you have horrible panic attack doing bungee jumping? what would happen then is far too risky to try in my opinion. i have a problem with heights/flying so i will never be able to try even

[evo1210]

hi rouri huni glad it tickle u up lol not sure if it work tho .. i was totally fine before i had my first panic attack in work .... i could fly on planes on my own.. go to alton towers ride the oblivion.. go out partying till 3am in morning ...now i can't even go out the house or to the shop for fearing the panic .. and nasty feelings lots of people are saying to me just go an hit it in the face this fear of panic attacks an ill be fine they say you been before an you did'nt die did you so wot you worrying about ill be fine ... they are in a way right but don't like people seeing me freak out because it looks like i am some sort of druggy ive got my doctors appointment tomoz shitting myself all ready having the looks of the waiting room stare as i panic an freak out going in lol i know wot there thinking straight away .. hope some wizard fixes us all soon huni x

[hollow]

I've often wondered if I took my fear to the extreme would it reverse things. Let me know if you try and if it works

[Hidden]

What your friend recommends is known as "flooding", in other words, you flood your system with adrenalin by experiencing HUGE amounts of anxiety. Most therapists don't recommend that approach, seeing it as something that could potentially traumatise you further and set back your recovery. Instead, they recommend gradually exposing yourself to your fears and learning to "habituate" (get used to) your feelings.

Do you know WHY you are having panic attacks? For example, is it physical (caused by not eating regularly, too much caffeine and sugar, too much alcohol etc) or is it due to a specific phobia, a stressful job, etc? If it's physical you can change your habits, if it's stress, then you can be taught to spot your own triggers and deal differently with them.

In my opinion, one of the best things can be to gain as much knowledge as possible about anxiety and panic to "de-mystify" it. When you realise that although it is very scary and unpleasant, it is not actually dangerous and is caused by our suddenly experiencing adrenalin surges that give us the "Fight or Flight" response unnecessarily, you can explain away all your symptoms and say to yourself "This is just my body flipping into Red Alert Mode. BUT it's not to be feared and although I feel awful i will wait patiently for it to pass and it will soon be over".

As for worrying what others think of you, that may well be a significant thing for you to work on, because if we are worrying too much what others think, we not only add more stress, but if a panic attack happens, we are then giving ourself even more to worry about. The fact is, that most people are so caught up in their own lives that they are not paying attention to strangers half as much as we may think. Imagine if you were out and about and saw another person sitting on a bench, fanning themself, taking deep breaths, looking scared, you wouldn't think anything bad of them would you? You wouldn't think "what a nutter!", you would think (if you're a caring person) "Ah dear, they look like they're feeling unwell, I hope they'll be okay, I wonder if they need any help" and that is therefore what most decent people would think if they saw you having a panic attack.

I have been prone to panic attacks for many years and have NEVER had anyone be nasty or ridicule me when I had one, even strangers. Once I had one in a clothes shop and the assistant sat me on a chair in the stockroom, gave me a glass of water and called me a taxi home.........people are nicer than we think, so don't add to your worries by giving too much thought to how others perceive you.

All the best.