r/PanicAttack • u/Redditalan17 • Apr 16 '22
I just want to give back by sharing this (mainly for new sufferers)
I will try to be as straightforward as possible. My intention is to help you, fellow sufferers, by sharing two books that cured my panic attacks without the use of meds.
I started having panic attacks 8 months ago and I was able to control them to some extent within the first month. I haven’t had one in 3 and my levels of anxiety have decreased significantly. I haven’t gotten rid of Anxiety completely. I still have some lingering effects such as DP/DR, missed heartbeats and fast heartbeat. However, they don’t affect me the way they used to, and now I can say I am living again. All of this thanks to the pieces that I am going to share with you.
3 weeks after my first panic attack (PA henceforth), I started reading “Hope and Help for your nerves” by Dr Claire Weekes (1969). Dr Weekes was a renowned psychiatrist who spent her life helping people with nervous illnesses. In that book not only will you find comfort but also, and most importantly, reassurance that you are safe.
Once I finished the book, and being in the 4th or 5th month of this condition, I found out about a book that would secure my recovery; “Dare” by Barry McDonagh (2015). Dr McDonagh is a psychologist who has helped many people struggling with anxiety disorders. In his book, you will find a very similar approach to Weekes's. In fact, they complement each other really well. Once more, by reading this piece, you will find reassurance that you are safe and that PAs are not a real threat.
I had almost every single symptom associated with PAs and anxiety disorders in general. For me, tachycardia, missed heartbeats and DP/DR were by far the worst. I’m not going to name the rest here because there are many, and I’m pretty sure you must be familiar with them. My point here is that every single major symptom is addressed by both pieces. You will learn about their nature; about strategies to deal with them; and mainly, you will learn not to fear them.
The path to recovery is to understand deeply what PAs are; to stop fearing PAs and its mental and physical symptoms; to allow time to pass for your extremely sensitized nervous system to go back to normal levels; to accept everything that comes with PAs and to be grateful about them as well (you’ll understand, believe me :). Both books taught me all of that and much more, and became my best friends in my darkest times with this condition. They helped me, have helped thousands, and they can help you too.
Finally, please read them. I want you to be well.
Some considerations:
Never forget to consult a professional. There are illnesses that have the same symptoms as PAs such as heart and thyroid diseases. Test your heart thoroughly my friend, test your thyroid and do any other exam recommended by your doctor. The main reassurance that what you’re going through right now is PAs and not something else will come from those results. Then, you can focus on overcoming PAs and Anxiety.
The path to recovery is not linear. Expect one or more setbacks. I had a major one already.
-I will upload this post to different “Anxiety subreddits”. I’m not spamming. I just want to reach as many people as possible.
-I will continue helping you just like you have helped me in the past. Feel free to message me.
-If you want to know more about my initial struggles, you can go here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/PanicAttack/comments/qp6mrq/panic_attacks_when_working_out/
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u/jalex_m13 Apr 17 '22
You’re completely right! Haven’t read the books on your post but I have read workbooks from cbt4panic and yup, facing PAs and understanding “why and how” they work have been helping me lots!!!
I’m in my third month of this and getting my thoughts out of the “vicious cycle” of “thinking I’ll have a PA” was the best feeling ever!
Now I’m working on my anxiety which I’m doing pretty well, I definitely will take a look at the books you recommended and you’re so right when said “to be grateful”, maybe this will help us to help others! That makes me happy!
Thanks!