I No Longer Ask - What Are Panic Disorders?

What are panic disorders? I didn't know. Life was great, but suddenly I wondered. Let me tell you my story...

Finally life was treating me well. I was able to take time out for myself, not work too hard, but still have the income. Had a personal trainer at the gym twice a week. I was fit and healthy. I wasn't aware of any underlying challenges and I took all I could get out of life. Nice car, good clothes, great social life. I think if you'd asked anyone they would have seen my life as pretty near perfect. No problem!

Then one morning it happened.

My first panic attack. I was out for a run in a beautiful park, on a beautiful morning. Right out of the blue!

My heart started racing and adrenalin poured through my body. Ever had a fright where you get a sudden rush of adrenalin? It was like that. I felt as if I was trapped in a box and I wanted to escape but I couldn't get out. I was sweating, I could hear my pulse beating in my ears, I was gasping for breath - I couldn't breathe. Then the fear kicked in. I'm going to choke! I'm going to die!

What came into my mind was absolute panic. It was a wave of horror and it lasted about 40 minutes.

Then finally it passed, and I went home and slept it off. When I woke up I thought it was pretty weird but I just put it down to doing too much and decided that everything was good again.

Looking back, that was the first warning sign and I should never have ignored it. I told no one, and I didn't even give it a second thought - I just blocked it out.

Everyone has fears and doubts and negativities to deal with. It was just part of life.

However the panic attacks started coming back. All of different intensities. Mostly they lasted a few minutes and then went away. But still I told no one and life went on.

Then I started getting bigger panic attacks again. I was overcome by a feeling of terrible despair. I was crying and stopping and I didn't understand why. I couldn't sleep. Everything was in a haze. I was looking in on myself from the outside and not understanding what was going on.

What are panic disorders? Well I now knew what they were!

Panic attacks affect people in different ways.

Every now and then I'd go a week without an attack and I'd make myself believe the nightmare had passed. But it always came back.

We hide things, don't let people see that it is anything more than the obvious physical symptoms

I told myself that I've got a good heart. I'm a good person. This is an illness. It will go away

Luckily not too many people noticed. Many of the things that happened were actually in my head. My personality changed. I stayed at home and chose not to socialize with friends and family. I became isolated. I lacked confidence.

I kept away from people least they find out the degree of symptoms I had. I thought this was a weakness. People close to me knew things weren't right, but I wouldn't share so they were not able to help me.

I went to doctors, they gave me medication. Some helped, others didn't. Overall it was pretty useless. Then there was therapy. Talking about "it". There was no obvious reason for these attacks. Again, nothing changed.

Then one day, whilst I was surfing the internet, looking for answers to what are panic disorders, yet again, I came across something that changed my life. I found something to do in the privacy of my own home.

I began to be able to say to myself: This will pass, you'll get through this, hang on to hope.

It's been two years now and I've never looked back. Life has moved on and I'm happy to be with my friends and family again. I'm a better person because of what I went through (not that I'd ever choose to go through it again!). And I meet people from time to time who I can help and share a little of what happened to me - helping them. If only I'd got help sooner!!


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Article by Peyton Prime. Peyton Prime suffered from severe panic attacks for a number of years, but has now conquered these by using the Linden Method. He now lives a happy full life. If you suffer from these horrible experiences - don't delay! Free yourself from experiencing panic attacks! Don't ask what are panic disorders any more! For more information visit - http://www.whatisananxietydisorder.com