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Ultra Low Dose Enzyme Activated
Immunotherapy (LDA)
Post Traumatic Environmental Stress Disorder
Peace of
Mind: Holistic Approaches to Anxiety and ADD
(on "New Life
Journal" Website)
Bipolar Disorder Can Be Treated With Medication
and Naturally
ALLERGY REDUCTION:
Improving Mood and Energy
Hidden Factors Behind Your
Persistent Illness
Adult
ADD:
To Medicate or Go Natural
Cancer
–
Finding Your Best Advisor
Overweight - The Risk and the Remedy
Loss
of Sexual Interest
Approaches in Helping Bipolar Sufferers
Help
for Panic and Anxiety Sufferer
Seasonal
Affective Disorder: The Winter Blues
Depression
Relief Speeds Health Recovery
Amino Acids
& Other Considerations in Depression Evaluation
Integrative
Medicine & Psychiatry
Blood
Pressure -
A Wake up Call
Addictions
- Breaking the Cycle
Spirituality:
The Core of
Healing in Integrative Psychiatry
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HELP
FOR PANIC &
ANXIETY SUFFERER
Barbara
a 30 year-old radiology technician, walking to her bus stop
after work, was startled by an unexpected, and overwhelming
feeling of terror and panic. She felt a weird sensation of
dizziness and lightheadedness. Her heart raced and pounded
in her chest. She became flushed and found it difficult to
breathe. Thoughts of dying, loosing control, or of going crazy,
flashed through her mind. With each wave of fear her heart
began to pound even louder. Her chest felt tight, and her
now sweaty hands felt numb and tingling. There was a sense
of unreality. A friend, noticing her distress, approached,
and helped her to a bench near the bus stop. Over the next
5 to 10 minutes the feelings gradually subsided. Feeling some
relief, but still shaky, her friend helped her to the nearby
hospital emergency room.
Barbara
had just suffered a panic attack.
Unfortunately panic attacks are not unique experience, but
typical of what health experts label as a major health problem
in our country, affecting as many as 20 percent of American's
at least once in their lifetime. Considered one of the most
distressing conditions that a person can experience, the early
recognition and proper treatment are important. At least 2
to 3 percent of our population, or 3 million people will have
recurrent attacks, called "Panic Disorder," with
at least 4 of the 12 symptoms reported by Barbara, and with
four or more attacks occurring within a four-week period.
Panic is different from fear and other type of anxiety, as
panic attacks are unexpected, unprovoked, appear suddenly
and increase in intensity over a 5 to 10 minute period, and
are generally disabling. One explanation for the cause of
panic disorder, is that, the bodies normal alarm system of
mental and physical responses to actual threat, begins to
trigger, and activate on its own, and unnecessarily. It sometimes
is increased in severity by hyperventilation or focusing on
catastrophic thoughts or fears.
The
disorder affects women more than men, often beginning in the
20's and 30's, and appears to be more common in some families.
Sometimes an initial episode might be related to some actual,
or transient medical problem, as a middle ear infection for
example, or some substance use, or abuse, in a predisposed
person, who is vulnerable to panic attacks. Life events involving
major stress, losses, threats of loss, or the feelings of
increase vulnerability may precede attacks. Panic disorder
once rooted, whatever the initial cause, can become recurrent
and chronically disabling.
If
the panic attack occurs in a specific setting, as in a store
or car, irrational fears or phobias about these situations,
may occur. The person, if he begins to avoid these situations,
can become house bound or unable to drive, and develop agoraphobia
in addition to the panic attacks. If the person doesn't receive
effective early treatment, major incapacitation may develop.
Panic
disorder mimics many other medical conditions, and it is not
unusual for the sufferer to be seen by a multitude of other
medical or health related services, before receiving appropriate
treatment. Often, at great cost, they will go through extensive
testing. The reassurance that "nothing is wrong that's
serious," or "it's all in your head," doesn't
help. Medical personnel, not familiar with the potential ravaging
effect and disability caused by the illness, often treat panic
disorder lightly. It is common to either be treated with reassurance
or a mild tranquilizer. Dr. Weissman and associates in the
November 2, 1989, New England Journal of Medicine, clearly
point out the need for concern, as untreated panic disorder,
compared with other psychiatric disorders, causes an increase
risk of suicidal ideation and attempts, with an almost three-fold
increase in actual suicide attempts, independent of coexistence
of major depression, alcohol or drug abuse, or agoraphobia.
What
treatment helps? Current research shows that at least 70 to
80 percent of panic attack suffers receiving appropriate treatment
will be able to prevent, or to substantially reduce the frequency
and severity of panic episodes. The treatment recommended
by authorities in the field, as Dr. David Barlow, is for specific
behavioral cognitive treatment, including intensive education
about the disorder, the physiology of body, and it's reaction
to stress and threat, desensitization to the various physical
sensations or triggers of panic, through actual exposure,
catastrophic thought reducing techniques, learning relaxation,
stress management, and proper breathing to prevent hyperventilation.
Any related problem, if present, as substance abuse, or depression,
would be addressed with other appropriate therapies.
Medication
can be valuable in more resistant or severe situations. Antidepressants
as Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Prozac, MAO-Inhibitors, and tranquilizers
as Buspar, Xanax, or Klonopin can be helpful, and sometimes
bring more immediate relief. However their long term use is
controversial, since withdrawal from them can be difficult,
and they may not have the same lasting effect as the retraining
and reconditioning that takes place with behavioral cognitive
treatment, and the use of natural alternatives. Evaluation,
treatment or elimination of environmental problems as allergies
or reactivity to chemical or toxins is an important consideration.
Use of natural alternative as herbal medicines, vitamins,
minerals, essential fatty acids, and hormones with proper
evaluation for deficiencies and with monitored treatment by
a qualified health care practitioner can be helpful.
For more information about programs, contact myself, or contact:
Anxiety Disorder Assoc. of America, 6000 Executive Blvd.,
Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852, or National Institute of Mental
Health, Panic Campaign, Room 15C-05, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville,
MD 20857.
Ronald R. Parks, M.P.H., M.D. is Board Certified in
Psychiatry, and has had full specialty training in Psychiatry,
Internal Medicine, and Preventive Medicine. He practices
Integrative Medicine and Psychiatry in Asheville, NC and is
Director of MacroHealth Medicine. For information call:
828-225-1812
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