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For most – pregnancy is a time of heightened anxiety and stress. Some even feel that the two go hand in hand – the uncertainty of the future, the anticipation of labor, the enormity of the idea of being responsible for another human – are all common emotions and feelings associated with the experience. Anxiety in many ways – is part of the package of…

For people who suffer from panic attacks and anxiety – there’s perhaps no greater fear than the fear of passing along your worries and behaviors onto your children. You know the pain that panic attacks and anxiety cause in your life, and the last thing you want is for your children to share your fears. When you are a parent coping with behavioral health issues,…

Let’s begin this month’s blog by making a very succinct, direct point: No one likes moving. In fact, people hate moving more than almost every other thing on Planet Earth. Just how much do people hate moving? Well, a for-fun poll was done by Pew in 2015 that attempted to uncover the things we hate the most in this world and the only thing that…

Attending college is a fun and exciting time for students. For many it’s not only a time to learn about the things that interest you the most, but it’s also a time where you learn a lot about yourself. However, college students also must cope with a wide range of stresses and challenges – largely because so much in their lives is changing. Old relationships…

So imagine we told you this story about a guy who had a panic attack and then only a few months ago – decided to start seeking therapy. And then he wrote a piece on a pretty popular website about his experience and it became national news. Well that guy is Cleveland Cavalier Kevin Love. To some – simply talking about their having panic attacks…

Managing panic attacks is always a challenge. You may be finding that your physical symptoms of heart pounding, dizzy spells, and heat waves are especially difficult to manage while you’re at work. A common concern for many individuals who experience panic attacks on the job is the fear of coworkers recognizing your anxiety or that your secret will be revealed. The worry about having an…

The Fear of Fear What distinguishes panic attacks from other types of fears and phobias? In a specific phobia of dogs, heights or air travel, the feared stimulus is external. In a dog phobia, if you escape or avoid the dog, your fear subsides. The exact opposite is true in panic disorder. In this condition, the fear is inside your body. The fear is internal….

“I used medication to control my panic attacks for two years.  Now, I am planning a pregnancy and I want to be medication free during my pregnancy. I hope those awful panic attacks don’t come back into my life during my pregnancy.  What can I do to prevent a relapse? What If the panic attacks return with a vengeance when I go off my medication…

The Call from the Airport *Yesterday, I received a frantic call from one of my patients.  Dorothy was at the airport, waiting to board a flight to attend her sister’s wedding.  We had just started panicLINK training.  I had created a special audio program to help prepare her to take control of panic attacks on her flight to California. She said in a desperate tone,…

Home Alone Panic Attacks *Ever since the birth of her second child, Susan, a 34 year old married accountant, has been experiencing severe panic attacks “Out of the Blue.” Her first panic attack hit suddenly when she was home alone with her two children while her husband was away on a business trip.  Susan still remembers the sudden surge of weakness and lightheaded that swept…

How Many Medical Doctors Do I Have to See? *Karen, a 33 year old married school teacher and mother of 3 young children, had been feeling “constant” lightheadedness, weakness and nausea for several weeks on end? When her family Doctor could not find a medical cause for her complaints, he referred her to an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Specialist for a further medical investigation….

This educational information should be used in consultation with your doctor to confirm a diagnosis and to review available treatments for panic disorder. THE MIND-BODY CHECKLIST FOR PANIC ONLY Do You Fit The Panic Profile? Do you live in fear of panic symptoms? Do you wake up in the morning wondering “Will my heart pound today?” Worry about panic symptoms can trigger symptoms Sometimes can…

*Panic Disorder: The Fear of Normal Bodily Sensations For no apparent reason, “Out of the Blue”, an intense wave of physical sensations surge through your body. Heart pounding, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, heat waves, rubbery legs, a lump in your throat and numbness and tingling in your head and face overtake you.  Naturally, you think the worst is happening!  Terrifying thoughts of heart attack, stroke,…

The Psychological Basis of Panic Disorder What Does My Personality Style Have to Do with Panic Attacks? The People Pleasing Personality Are you an over accommodator? Do you bend over backwards to make others happy? Do you constantly fear that other people will be mad at you? Do you avoid conflict and confrontation? Are you “always there” for others? Do you over identify with the…

*Uncertainty about the Cause of Panic Attack Symptoms Initial panic attacks appear “Out of the Blue” for no apparent reason. Experiencing intense physical sensations with no explanation can be very disconcerting.  You immediately think “Why am I feeling this way? What could be causing me to feel such intense surges of physical sensations in my body?”  Uncertainty about the cause of intense physical sensations prompts…