The 20 Second Countdown
Why everywhere you look are top psychologists and doctors still teaching outdated methods for treating general anxiety and panic attacks?
It seems every time I do a search online there is yet another anxiety “expert” rehashing the same old ideas. Brown Paper bags, think happy thoughts, do your breathing etc. I am sure you have come across them a million times before already.
How are people supposed to solve their anxiety issue if they are continuously exposed to these techniques and methods that only teach people to cope with anxiety. Just coping is not good enough. Real solutions are needed.
I want to share with you something that does work. It is a very simple way to help end the fear of a PANIC ATTACK. (In later emails I will address feelings of general anxiety)
This is a very good exercise for people who want something practical to focus their attention on when they feel the pressure of a panic attack building.
Its very simple and easy to remember. Here goes…
The 20 Second Countdown
When you feel the sensations of a panic attack building do the following.
Tell the panic that it has 20 seconds to initiate the full panic attack. 20 seconds and no more. After the 20 seconds are complete it must stop making empty threats.
You are allowing 20 seconds for it to fully manifest but not a second more.
Whatever the bodily sensation is that you fear, it must happen within that 20 second time frame.
-If you heart is going to explode then it has 20 seconds to do so.
-If you are going to lose control, then your mind has 20 seconds to do so.
-If you are going to faint – 20 seconds! But absolutely no more time than that.
You get the picture.
By setting a specific time frame you establish boundaries of control. You turn it into a game where you call fear’s bluff. If it were a poker game, you are asking anxiety to show its hand.
This works because it establishes a sense of control within your mind and body.
You think to yourself “I am not prepared to spend my time worrying about this. I’ve had enough. I am going to be generous and give it 20 seconds but after 20 seconds and nothing has happened then the opportunity has officially passed and I am going to go back to what I was doing.”
Then start counting -but nice and slowly, don’t rattle it off as fast as you can. Really tease it out like you did when you were a child and you never wanted to reach zero. Teasing it out is the key because it allows you to feel generous and that you are giving anxiety every chance possible.
Deep down you know there is really nothing to fear.
To really help tease it out, break the last few numbers into fractions.
5…………………………..
4…………………………..
3……………………………
2…and three quarters…
2…and half………………
2…………………………..
1…and three quarters… (last chance anxiety)
1…and half……………… (I really cant wait any longer)
1…………………………..
0.
Sorry too late we’ve reached the end.
By not rushing through the countdown you will feel your confidence soar because you are demonstrating real control and authority over your anxious thoughts and bodily sensations. You are saying “look, I am really trying to give you all the time I can to unleash X,Y, and Z, I am being very generous here with this countdown.
Count your way to freedom. Count your way to confidence.
If you find this type of exercise useful then click here to learn more,
Keep an eye out for the next email… If it does not arrive check the spam folder -they tend to hide there sometimes times.
Barry Joe McDonagh
P.S. If you want to get started on the Panic Away course right now click here and you can download the course in the next 5 minutes. Join with me and let’s end the vicious cycle of anxiety and panic attacks today.
All material provided in these emails are for informational or educational purposes only. No content is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your symptoms or medical condition
Nagendra
It is simply astonishing
your unique service is admirable
Simona
Thank you so much for helping all of us. You are a gift for all of us who experience panic attacks. I’m so glad I discovered you!
Madeleine
Many thanks,
I’ll certainly give this a try whilst out on a drive….
Jim
It’s nice that you give some hands on examples that us panic sufferers can actually use. Thank you for caring.
Ellen
I can control the panic attacks I cannot control the dizziness I have all day from the anxiety. Do you know if anybody else feels this dizziness and outterspace feeling.
mark
Ellen,
ye i feel the same,some days don’t leave the house and have a terrible fear of having a panic attack when i go out because i have 1 every time i go out. i feel light headed and just weird all the time definitely taking everything on board. and i’m only 18 as well. thanks alot for all this advise appreciate it very much
Christian
I’m 18 as well, but my panic attacks started when I was 17. I had my first panic attack when as part of a treatment I got a paladar expander in my mouth which didn’t really let me move my toungue freely. I don’t know why did this caused me to feel panicked but by the time I didn’t know what I was feeling, it had never happened before. A couple of months later, one night I went to bed, I noticed I was thinking too much. When I tried to stop those thoughts, I really couldn’t, and as simple as that, it triggered a panic attack. From there on I started having fear of going to bed ’cause I would have one, and because of that fear I had some at night. It happened to be as soon as 2 or 3 nights ago, the night before I checked for help and found this site. Since then I haven’t had one, and I am very thrilled for these advices! If anyone can help me on discussing the causes of my panic attacks (because I find them odd) I’d be thankul.
Jenna
Hi Shellie
I have suffered from severe anxiety my entire life.I am not 25 years old with three kids and a great husband.I have been married 5 years now and when we were first married my panic seemed to taper off for about 2 years which was great.Since then a number of circumstances in life has bought them back with vengance.I myself dont feel the heart attack feeling but I instead end up sick and constantly feeling like I am going to lose it.I read your email and know exactly what I you are meaning by how you feel.I just wanted to suggest something.I myself am a work in progress but one thing I have found incredibly helpful is meeting and talking with other people who have the same experiences with anxiety and panic.It is so hard for anyone who has not suffered from it to understand and it also helped me realise other people have this not just me.It helped to take the ultimate dread off the panic attack.The other thing I am just starting to learn is to stop beating myselp up.I dont know about you but I have a tendancy to hate how I am, wonder why I was made this way and think that there was no hope.I first have realised that I am amazing no matter how much this sucks i have a lot to offer.Find what you feel you have to offer.Dont push yourself to much but start to do things that make you feel that there is more to you then what we define ourselves as, especially when we have panic attcks and anxiety.I for example love to sing and i love to make my kids feel great by singing to them or reading a book or writing letters of encouragement to people or baking for people.it helps to balance things out.I hope this helps in some way.God bless
Joe
Hello Jenna,
I want to share my experience with anyone who will read it. I’m now 47, in May 2007 my wife of 6 years took a trip to a comedy club out of town with some friends. For some reason that is still not understood (I know the reason) she collapsed and split her head open and have to have emergency brain surgery. I got a call at home from one of the friends, she told what had happened and where my wife was. She was about an hour and a half from home. I drove to her, not feeling panic or anxiety, just immense worry, this injury was life threatening. When I arrived at the hospital II found my way to her friends and waited while she was still in surgery. One of the ladies who was with her gave me her cell phone to hang on to and told me to read the text messages. I did and immediately went into shock, panic and the most extreme anxiety anyone could possibly imagine. The text messages on her phone were from that day, there were more than 20 of them from a guy she was cheating on me with. What I read was so shocking, humiliating, horrifying…just simply a nightmare. As I write this, 3 years later, I am going through the same sensations, my heart is in my throat, I can’t stop shaking my leg, I’m nausious, I’m sweating, dizzy, and extremely jumpy. I can barely write this. As the days and months went by I found out that everyone I knew in her circle knew about and they were so eager to explain in detail, the events, they sent e mails that the two of them had written back and forth…most of which I can’t post due to content. It turns out this had been going on for almost a year, how did I not know? This made me feel even more foolish, what did I do wrong? I panicked, panicked and panicked each time the thought crossed my mind which is every day, to this very moment. I got a confession from the guy and an apology…I replied to his last text by saying to the effect of how would his wife feel about all of this. His last text to her read “I love you more than life and I cannot wait until we are finally together, I love you, miss you and have a good night.” They saw each other earlier that day at the “hojo”.
Simple words, sights, sounds, events, smells and every other sense I have take me back to that moment, the moment that forever changed my life, my 3 kids and my overall self worth…and trigger the most intense panic/anxiety attack you can imagine. I have been to the ER severall times since, hospitalized for what they thought were strokes or heart attacks. My speech has been effected, my ability to focus, motivate myself, take initiative have been robbed from me. I’ve lost my job which I loved, I had been in the printing industry for 26 years. Needless to say I’ve been on medication ever since and I hate it, every time I take it I’m reminded of why…and then here we go again. Just a few days ago I found this site and for the first time it seems there may be some hope for me. Actually, as I’m about done writing this, I’ve done the 20 second exercise and it has helped. It has also helped just writing this out. I have not been to a phsyciatrist…this is as close as I’ve came to it.
Has anyone been through this type of experience that brought on the panic/anxiety? If so, please share your experience with me…if I sound like a freak or a basket case and there seems to be no relevance, I apologize. God Bless.
Andrea
Dear Joe,
I read your post today and I wanted to reassure you that what you’re going through is both extreme and familiar sounding. Though I couldn’t begin to diagnose your situation and feelings I can say that many of the symptoms you detailed are the same as how I felt during my worst panic attacks.
The worst one I ever had was almost two years ago and was extremely debilitating. I am not aware of any stress or pressure, anxiety or nervousness or otherwise that I might have been under. I was cleaning the house, walked upstairs to the loft to clean up after my cat..and felt so odd suddenly. I am always a bit grossed out to clean the cat litter so I thought “I’ll do this later, I suddenly don’t feel well”, then headed back downstairs. There are only about 12 short steps to our loft and by the time I was at the bottom I was on my knees. In less than two minutes I went from “normal” to hot and feeling like I would collapse. Heat and sweat took over my body. I felt a heaviness and pressure on my chest and by that poing was CRAWLING toward the entrance to my house. I became panicked and anxious because I was home alone. The heat and pressure continued to sweep over me and I thought “This is it. I am 27 years old and I’m having some kind of stroke or heart attack”. I became so hot that I lay there, now off the carpet where I had been crawling and laying on the wooden floor to the entrance because it was cool. I thought I must be going crazy. As the heat came over me, I thought I must cool down or I might have a seizure. I actually reached for my phone, called my brother and begged him to come be with me. He stayed on the phone with me for the entire time it took him to reach my house. My thinking was that if I was going to die, I wanted someone to know what had been happening to me. The things we tell ourselves! I then literally climbed into my refrigerator after crawling into the kitchen. I thought this must be the fastest way to cool down…and that my brother was going to find his sister dead in the fridge…
Skipping to the present, I now know that was my introduction to panic attacks. I survived that episode, I always have and reckon I will continue surviving them. I was prescribed medication at one point (that I never took) because I wanted to rest assured that my mind is stronger than this “condition”. I have read the book and participated in these posts and I have to say that although this path continues to be a struggle I have regained control. I have sought out the good things in this life and walked away from negative people and situations. I have strived to move foward with my career in more supportive environments and taken up yoga- which has been AMAZING for my anxiety.
You have been through a trauma and your body is reacting. RIGHTLY SO. Your body is attempting to eliminate all of that stress and hardship you are facing. Our bodies are designed to heal themselves. At some point on this path, I had to reconcile “If im going to die from this condition, I better be doing something great!” So with that, I have decided to live my still quite young life (28 years) pursuing anything and everything- especially if it scares me and confronting this anxiety as it comes.
The truth is that it is still scary when I feel an attack coming on. But, now, I am able to diffuse the attacks and take control back. You will be able to as well! I think it’s great that you’ve started on this path, found like minded people and taking baby steps by sharing. Celebrate the life you have ahead of you, relish your children, seek out the future- find something you LOVE to do and jumpstart your career again! You will get lost in the life you’re living that anxiety will have less and less of a place to creep into.
Gooooooooood luck!! You can do it!
Mary
Hi Joe,
I can really identify with all you are experiencing.
Out of the clear blue sky,at the awful age of 64 my husband of
41 years had an affair- not a short one or simple one night stand
but a two year deal complete with setting up a household for his
“friend”. The girl was not even as old as his daughter.
My whole world collapsed,I lost the will to live and since then am
a complete waste of a human being.My panic attacks now come
every afternoon when that lethal phone call came and get worse when
each end of month comes-the time I found out. I am a very private person.
I have told no one and now 6 years later I feel the same as I did on that awful day.
The only way I have found to ease the attacks is by taking a half a valium. I only take this when I
no longer can stand the panic. Please don,t think I am a valium junky. In the last 6 years
at most I have taken 12 tablets.
I am going to try all that is suggested because the only other way I can see to stop this is not to
wake up.
Terry
I had my first panic attack at 28 yrs. I truely thought that was it, I was having a heart attack and going to die. I’m 54 now and since March 07 have been to the emergency approx. 5 times with panic symptoms. I didn’t know what it was, but after having the EKG’S, blood work and being told I am fine, I go home until the next attack. In December the ER Dr. suggested panic attack so it got me reading more about the topic. Feb. 6, I had a severe panic attack out of the blue when in the grocery store. My husband had to drop everything so we could leave. I thought for sure that was it again. Ever since that day I have been going through HELL! Everyday anxiety symptoms, attacks our of nowhere. I’ve been to the Dr. and although not officially diagnosed, he is almost positive they are symptoms of anxiety. He sent me for another EKG, and is ordering an eco cardiogram and dopplers. I can’t rest until I know for sure it’s not my heart, or possibly my head. I am dizzy everyday, my chest feels nervous and tight all the time. It’s making me depressed and I find myself just crying for no reason. Two weeks ago I was painting my house, decorating and all happy, then boom, my life is turned upside down. I HATE IT!! I am going to try the count to 20 technique next time, because I’m pretty sure right now there will be a next time. I do aerobics 3 mornings a week and resistence 2 mornings and now I am having to stop that. Last night I got a headache which is very rare for me. My ears felt plugged and it felt like an elastic around my head. Has anybody else experienced that? I really think I am going to lose it. I am praying that Panic Away can help me, because this is driving me crazy. Good Luck to everybody out there suffering with the same stuff.
josie
Hi terry, l have been having the same syptoms as you dizzy all the time etc, l will try the 20 seconds next time hope it works for you.
take care
carol
I really think what you are saying makes alot of sense but as i’ve only just started i’m still finding it hard to believe in anything. Thankyou for caring enough to share these ideas……………i am suffering from real bad anxiety attacks which are worse when i awake in the morning. I am trying out all of the exercises & i will beat this one way or another. Yours has made more sense than anything else i have read so having read the success stories i am going to be positive about it and i WILL NOT LET IT BEAT ME! I can’t afford the book at the moment but the daily emails are proving invaluble Thankyou so much for this.
Brittany.
i absolutely know how you feeling when i am in the midst of a panic attack then that when the out of space feeling come and my mind starts spinning. its just a matter of you tell yourself that nothing is going to happen. this isn’t how yiur going to di. and you have been through this may many times and alwayas came out fine. simetimes you need someone else to tell you these things for you to actually believe them
Loretta
Reading everyone’s stories has really been helpful. I have had panic attacks on and off for over 10 years. I can go months even a year without an attack. Just over the past 3 weeks I started having them again. When I had the panic attack I was surprised and forgot all my techniques on how to deal with them. I drive for a living and was having a hard time driving. I made myself drive to let the fear know that I was in control. I was so scared at times and just wanted to stop and give in but I didn’t. I used the counting technique to calm myself down and it worked. I just read about asking a panic attack to start…I tried it and I was amazed nothing really happened, felt a little tingling in my arms but it went away. I hate the feeling of not being in control almost spacey feeling. About 12 years ago I went to therapy for my panic attacks and the dr had me come up with a statement that was comforting to me, we wrote it down on an index card and when I need comforting I would read it. I still carry that index card with me and got it out the other day and read it, it made me realize that I can control them I just need reminded. It is comforting to know that we are not going crazy. Best of luck to all of you who are just learning to deal with them there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks Barry for the daily emails it is very helpful.
Verity Pollard
Ellen, I also suffered the dizziness all the time. Sometimes when laying down, it would feel as though I was ‘dropping’ (like going down in an elevator). It was horible – like a constant form of vertigo. I’d be sitting at the table trying to eat a meal, so physically tense because I always felt like I was ‘ off balance ‘ or ‘ on a swing.’
It is all part of the anxiety and the physical tension. I was doing lots of relaxation, but still that frightening ‘off balance’ symptom remained until I really started getting the anxiety under control. I found it was because my neck muscles (along with everything else) were so constantly tense and in spasm. There was nothing wrong with my neck though – it was simply the result of a very tense and anxious body.
angele
I get the all day dizzyness as well! I am so happy i am not the only one, now i know its nothing serious!! wow what a releif, but yes its so annoying!
Waheeda
Yes dear, i feel this way, im firstly thanking for the help i can from this site. My panic attack began 2 years ago after a huge tension within family and i started getting breathless, it felt like heart attack. i was put on pills lexotanils which in the begining did not help much until i was diadnosed hypothyroid, and it showed it had really fallen. i was then put into the 50mcg roxine, and it started getting matter. but i still didnt gain the confidence of walking alone or minimize my lexotanil , i did alot of prayers which is still helpful, and i thank God ive learnt to minimise my tablets of anxiety, i tell myself to think the good things, and tell myself if the attack is coming let it come, … such thoughts, after one whole year, my mind began to get little better, my thinking little positive , and at times i can walk some distances all alone with less anxity tablets but i feel im dizzy and might fall, and when this thought comes to me, i start thinking of anything that makes me smile, as i walk to my job place( A special needs teacher). or say a prayer and tell myself dont fear youre not alone God is with you, until i finally reach the gate and when i see my coleagues it all goes better and with time i get busy and forget about it all. This month in my new job, my boss really understands my situation, and she encourages me to think positive about myself, my job(rewardin) as i serve the challenged children, she understands when im very tired and need some time off.. A good environment and people who understand you can also help improve this conditin, rather than ppl who fail to understand you can make this worse. ive experienced both the situattions.Though when im walking alone and feeling dizzy, i start massaging my forehead as im walking trying to ignore the fact of how im feeling.. coz the same dizziness disappears when i meet someone i know on my way.this shows its fully in our control we just have to learn how to do it.. im still practicing and will update on my experiences.:) pls feel free to exchange views.
maria
Just wanted to let you know how happy it makes me to receive your email each day, they are helping me already.
God Bless you.
Maria
Dee
Ellen, I can soooo relate to the dizziness; it is becoming very bothersome, and I fear something more serious maybe going on. I had a brain scan years ago, but this dizziness has been relentless now for a few weeks. Not really a “spinning” dizziness, but a feeling that I am “wobbling”, and at times feel I want to pass out? Good luck to you!
Ruby
Just knowing from what you have sent so far that medically nothing will happen if ‘panic’ decides to rear its ugly head, is the best news I’ve had! Lessened my feelings of anxiety already. Thanks for caring.
jason
Ellen I too can relate to the dizziness, brain fog, i get pressure in my head i had a ct scan and it said i had a blot clot, you can imagine the panic attacks i was having, i was praying and had other people praying for me the doctor said they would do an mri, the mri was done and just showed sinusitis, and my pyschiatrist said that my pressure in my head and dizziness was just due to anxiety and panic attacks,
Xavier
Dear J.B
At my panic came when I where just sitting on my chair then friends rush me to the hospital.
The Doctor said I just hyperventilated so he gave me Oxygen and a few minutes later I feel OK again.
After that I always fear that it will happen again. The 2nd attack is when I am reading and I feel the
burning sensation inside me and make me panic again then my parents rush me to the hospital
the doctors check my heart,blood and lungs but they found nothing but even I heard that I still cannot
calm myself I always have panic attacks.I was searching through the internet how to fight panic attacks
then I found your advice. Thank you J.B
Dee
WOW, Jason! You must have freaked? Did that have you in the hospital? Glad it all turned out GREAT on MRI… I am headed to the doc this afternoon regarding mine! I am sure I will get the same ole’ diagnosis of ANXIETY…. which is always reassuring, but I really would feel better with a CT or MRI! Good day to all!
Iris
Ellen, I also cannot control my panic attacks.Everytime i suffer my panic attacks my heart beats fasts and I think I’m gonna have a heart attack…my husband will gonna rush me into the hospital and the doctor will get me ecg and any kinds of laboratory but its all normal the doctors said to me that I am suffering an anxiety….
Just last week, i read how to deal panic attacks in Panic Away and i feel better and now i know how to deal with it when they will strike me.Just read panic away news letter! It will really help you. Have a nice day.
Martine
This is day three and already am I seeing results. I’ve been suffering from GAD for about 2.5 months and was stuck in a loop. This was affecting every aspect of my life. I wasn’t as active with the kids fearing that I’d get palpitations. I just wasnt interested in being intimate with my spouse and I was just overall not happy and everytime someone would talk to me I’d bring the anxiety and the symptomes in the conversation. I have a great support team but now with these email newsletters I’m getting the tools I need. I’d love to be able to afford the book being a stay at home mom money is the sacrifice I’m doing to be with my kids. These emails are the light I was searching for. Thank you
Danny
I have been dealing with my GAD for over 10 years now and it just seems to get worse and worse. This poses a problem for me that is this something that is really treatable and will it ever go away? I do have the Panic Away program and it has helped but the fact of the matter is you have to help yourself also. I was doing all the wrong things like drinking, smoking, burning the candle at both ends along with a very stressfull job that i currently have. Think of it like this you have a glass and the glass is already half full from the normal everyday life. Then you add the stress of your job, smoking, drinking, or any other habits you have or addictions this glass will over flow and result in panic attacks or GAD. If you take away all of those things that fill that glass and leave room for other things that will come up daily the glass rarely tends to over flow and cause the issues. I have been doing research and this is the best course I have came accross but you need to believe in yourslef and that things will get better and i am still working on that myself. I challenge you all to take a few things in your life that you can do without that fills your GLASS and let it go. Try it for a week and see how much better life is when you dont have everything on your plate at one time. It is a long term process for people like us but the great news is we can beat it and we will beat it.. over 40 million people suffer with some form of GAD!! Which means that is a ton of glasses that are FULL lol.. lets start to empty those glasses and make the right choices in life and see what happens. Panic Away is 100% worth its money in gold and would recommend it to anyone anytime. Thanks yall
Zola
Thenks , so much ! I just lost my job , and can’t afford the book. I ‘am so glad for people like you , who like healp us with panic attacks.
Nick
This works straight away!
I’m taking it slowly but am seeing results. I totally shut down an attack before it even had a chance!
The most powerful thing you can give someone with anxiety is control, its empowering!
I cant wait to be fully anxiety free.
We can all do this people!
heart
ive read your complete course…and now experiencing setbacks….im a hypertensive person…thats why im so worried everytime my nerves pumps up into my head…im afraid that this palpitation may lead to stroke or heart attack…but im only 30 and have a light weight…theres a time im alive but the next day im dizzy again…this is so tiring…
MARCEL
IVE BEEN HAVING PANIC ATTACKS FOR 6MONTHS KNOW I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THEY SAID I WAS HAVING PANIC ATTACKS.I THOUGH TI WAS GOING CRAZY JUST DEALINGH WITH THE ATTACKS ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS I FINALLY STARTED TAKING LORAZEPAM BUT NOTHING HELPS AS MUCH AS READING OTHER PEOPLE STORIES AND KNOWING IM NOT THE ONLY ONE ,KEEP POSTING BELIEVE ME THIS WILL HELP OTHER PEOPLE AS MUCH AS IT HAS HELPED ME
kristy
I have been suffering from anxiety/panic attacks for about 13 years now. Started in college! I was on a low dose of Paxil for 12 years and went off of it about a year ago. I did ok being off of it until this last month. I have been experiencing the most severe panic attacks I’ve had in years. my heart races, breathing gets funny, i panic while driving out of the blue. i have to constantly tell myself i’m ok. it drains me. I have numerous ones throughout the day & they take so much out of me to get through them! considering going back on meds. just started getting these emails and hope they help! any suggestions/commentsz??? sooo stressed over this : (
Jan
Feel Just like you. I am having investigations for an irregular heart beat at the moment and have got so anxious, this is why the panic attacks have happened i think, but when my heart starts racing I think its because something is getting worse or I’m having a heart attack. Been to hospital twice with them! like you nothing had changed on my ecg from what I was initially being investigated for. Am hoping that once I get results from tests I will be ok and the panic will stop, or at least I will know what they are and be able to cope now I’ve found this web site. Good luck hope you feel better very soon
Jan
Can’t afford to buy the whole course at the moment but the newsletters have become my life line. I’m hoping in the next few weeks, when I get medical test results through I will calm down and the attacks will stop but until then I’m depending so much on this website and the sharing with other people to get me though. Thank you so much
Corin
I have been experiencing panic attacks out of the blue for several weeks now that tend to last all day sometimes.I find it so tiring,get palpatations all the time but the worst thing of all is feeling as though i am going mad.My brain feels scatty and i feel forever in a dream.I am scared something is wrong with either my heart or my brain and i find myself not being able to concenrate so much on my children whereas before i was very active and full on. thankyou so much for your e-mails , they are my one saviour at the moment and the thing that keeps me going.My sincere best wishes go out to all the people in the same situation as me right now.
Isik
Thank you very much ! Your method really works God Bless you!!
nancy
OMG Corin it is like you are looking into my life the only different is I have been happen to me for almost three years now. I came off all the meds that they put me on since they dont really work you have to be on them for ever and ever. I have spent thousands and thousands behind my palpations and somethimes I may even get three attacks a day. They leav me feeling really out of it . For the past three weeks it has been the worst it has ever been. Like you I now feel like I am going mad and as my husband had to work out of state I had to move in with friends. I thank you for the time you took to send your little note just knowing that someone out there is going throught the same thing is helping. I will remember you in my pray and hope that this too shall pass and we would be able live our life as we did before.
Lou
I have had panic attacks for as far back as I can remember. This forum and the emails have helped me so much, I only came across it last week and it has been a lifeline especially reading that others have the same things going on. I have had an ecg done today because I’ve been getting palpitations and chest pain.
You are fantastic, the way you explain things is easy to understand and I am definitely going to invest in the full course. I think it will help me when I’m driving because I dread being stuck in traffic alone. I have to ring people on my mobile just to talk and shake the dreaded feeling of terror off.
Thank you and God bless everyone who reads this and is fighting their corner.
Elise
Pete, I understand exactly what you are going through. Reading your message is like what my life is like every day. I am so tired of this panic controling my life. I pray to God everyday to please help me over come this and I came to this website. I am thinking positive and I hope and pray that this program will help me gain control of my panic attacks. I am so tired of spending money on false hope products that do not work. The word of GOD SAYS THAT HE HAS NOT GIVING US A SPIRIT OF FEAR. BUT OF POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND.
Love and prayers
-Elise
April
Elsie,
thanks so much for your posting. I just found this site today and it really helps to know that others are going through this. The panic attacks just started a couple of months ago, but I just realized last week what they were. I’ve been so freightened and have too wanted my family members to take me to the emergency room. I just started taking meds and it really scares me. I don’t want to be on the meds forever. I want to find a way to get my life back. I’ve ALWAYS been a really strong person and had a very active life. I’ve been so confused about how all this started and it scares me that I might feel like this forever! I read about Panic Away and I am considering purchasing it. Today I read the email that says to only give the panic attack 20 seconds to come on and it has helped me. I feel like it just might give me the power to take control. I’ve been feeling like I’ve lost control and I think that’s what I fear the most. Since I saw that you stated a scripture in your posting, I assumed you’re a Christian, if you don’t mind, maybe we can keep each other in prayer. I know that God has the power to give us complete healing! I hope you’ll reply to this posting. Thanks! If anyone else wants to join in on this prayer chain, please let me know and we’ll keep praying together! God Bless!
Rob
Iam 31 yrs old and this has been a long road for me its been going on for alittle over 8 years but i found this website and finally going for some therpy.. im totally sick of the anxiety syptoms and i have all of them but the fatigue! from the “i cant breathe to choking sensation” all the time! several test later and im totally fine! im hoping i cotinue to gain knowledge from these news letters that have helped already just with three of them. i am a total fan and hope for total recovery.
thanks
Calculus Davis
I’ve jaz read the third newsletter…i couldn’t believe that i was actually laughing…laughin in a sense that, with your ways, i felt it through my heart that it is really that easy to lessen or even eliminate panic attacks permanently…i couldn’t wait more for the next issues…i really can’t express how much you move my life…thank you so much…
Sammi
I have only been getting panic attacks for just over a week now but since my 1st one i havent been able to get rid of this dizzy feeling i havent had 1 day where i feel even half myself i seem to be dizzy all day and get awoken all night every night with mini panic attacks. i would like to thank you though for giving me hope of being back to my normal self soon 🙂
tiffany
I have only got a newsletter 3 times now and yesterday i actually controlled an anxiety attack I went to a place that made me feel really uncomfortable and when my heart started pumping faster I just kept telling myself that it could not hurt me and it just went away. So, that helped me alot.
Melissa
I have been suffering from social anxiety which brings on horrible panic attacks all my life. For the past 3 years I had been taking Ativan to control it. I am now at the point in my life where I am ready to have a baby. You cannot be on Ativan when pregnant. So since the end of August I have been trying to stay off of it. I have been going through hell and back. I have been feeling like I cannot breath, tight stomach, dizzy, and feelings of a heart attack coming on. Luckily my manager at work could relate to this as she had the same issues in the past. She agreed, with my doctors approval, to allow me to work from home until I “felt” better. I am now suffering with huge anxiety about going back to the office!!! I feel like this is consuming my life. I am still not pregnant and and still working from home. I need to be able to get my life back to normal and just go to work in the office…but I keep reliving the fear of a panic attack when I do go back and it is terrifying to me : (
Sooraj
HI,
It simply superb. I will call your mission a teaching. Many thanks it is more than fruitful.
I reside in the pearl of Indian Ocean. – Mauritius. Not so many people are aware about your site. I shall make known over here.
Thanks again
elaine
My panic attacks returned two weeks ago after having been nearly panic free for around 5 years. It has left me terrified that I am at the beginning of a long road again. 5 years ago was awful….I thought that I was losing my mind… but I didn’t and it’s not going to happen this time either!!! I am re-evaluating my life and stress levels every day. I have asked family for help with collecting my child from after school club as I was so stressed rushing through the dark winter weather to get there on time. I would spend the afternoon at work feeling the panic rise about being late. I’ve also cut down on the few glasses of wine that I used to think helped to relax me……it doesn’t!
Supermarkets and shopping malls are so scary some days but my mum will come with me if I feel uncomfortable. Having support really is helping me to get through this. One good thing about the situation (every cloud has a silver lining) is that I am re-learning how to relax and stop feeling under pressure to do everything myself. Everything that happens in your life CAN make you stronger! By news letter 3 I have realised that accepting this is happening and challenging it is the way to regain control of my life. I am determined that this time I am in charge. Everyone stay brave and keep going…….there are wonderful things out there in the world waiting to happen for us all!
ylli
I am 61 years old.I have 3 years suffering from stress and panic attacks which cause me headache,muscle and joint pains as well as vogus nerv pain. After a lot of treatments by doctors I felt a little beat better but the stress and panic attacks still not got rid at all.As I didn’t feel better by using prescription and non-prescription drug then
I decided to overpass the stress,panic attacks as well as pains doing meditation,exercises as well as yoga 20 minutes thrice a day.Also I walk every day along the seashore 6 km and doing this I hope I’ll feel better. I stopped taking all prescription and non prescription drugs and I hope to have benefits by news letter 3 which I think will help me to regain control of my life.
Thank You
Ajay
This is very helpful, I was having this type of attacks. Just two days back I came across your website and things seem to be under control now. This is really working.
Thanks a lot.
Ajay
Nevenka
I was panic attack free for nearly 8 years now and it just happened again-to my horror- 3 wks ago while I was driving my husband from work. It was worse than ever, dry mouth,chocking sensations and an absolute loss of control -my thougths were beyond my control- I actually stopped the car in a middle of the road and ask my husband to drive as I thought I was dying. I was grassping for breath and almost forgot how to breath, could not feel my body and thought I was being paralised as I could not move my legs. I felt really embarassed and didn’t want my daughter to see me like this as I was talking nonsence, feeling really confused and almost had an out of body experience. It was by mistake that I found your website and felt imediatelly drawn to read more. Your words are so sincere and true and it makes sense coming from someone who’d experienced panic attacks and is now free, in contol and helping others. Your approach is totally different from everything I’ve read so far. Can’t wait to read another news letter. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and my sincere wishes for everything you do in the future.
elpitha
i dont even know what to say everytime ive felt my stomach ready to kick off (thats how my panic attacks start) i do the method from the first newsletter , i really dont know what to say this is excellent thank you so much !!!
Wes
I’m with you Ellen. I’m having more dizziness than anything else. Also, there’s a pressure in my ears and I’ve had tension headaches. Maybe you can relate to my story below. Best of luck and God Bless.
I will try to 20 second rule today. My first panic attack happened while I was running several months ago. The pressure began in my head and then scared my body (apparently resulting in a panic attack, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, going mad). Today, I mainly have a ringing of the ears and can really feel my head when exercising…making me think somethings going on with my head. Sometimes I get myself dizzy from talking. Then, I feel the shortness of breath, etc. Is this the case with anybody?
THANKS,
Wes
Alexandra
wow you have described my symtoms. I been having headaches, pressure in my ears and dizziness feeling of faint. I also had the panic attacks like 15 times in two months but it happens to me when im asleep I wake up out of nowhere and i feel my heart racing shortness of breathe tingling in my hands and legs and finally can not move. Just had one last night and i got scared manged to call 911 and remember to take long short breathes and my heart started to slow down then afterward i feel like im going to faint, and nauseous oh yea and cant stop burping. By the time im at the hospital all i feel is the dizziness and i get the nurses and docs mad at me for not taking the meds. I have a gut feeling meds is not the way to go. I was getting extremely worried I had somthing wrong with my head like tumor or i even read about parasites, even though i have had an MRI and CAT scan and came back normal. I just want to be sure it is Anxiety Attacks and not something else but after reading al these comments i feel better. I to felt i was not going to be able to take control over my life I have two little ones and I hate the feeling of not being able to take control.
Marcelle
Day 2… I am stuck to your emails like glue! Hope this works… I feel a bit better. I am hanging on to your words.. Trying to follow your concepts. Hold thumbs!
marcos
I used to experience almost eighteen years keep and coming back anxieties sometimes i could not sleep, eat, concentrate and others with reasons … big thanks for providing as great positive advised and guidance sir ..
claire
hi, i too can relate with everybody that has experienced the feeling of dizziness. i have had panic attacks since i was a child and i am now 30. i hate the dizzy feeling and i too can experience it when i am talking to someone. i have 3 children and it is restricting the things that i do with them, i so much want to do the things that normal mothers do with their children, but i feel asthough i have to gear myself up just to take them to school which is around the corner. i really thought i was on my own with this dizziness and i find it comforting that i am not the only one and i hope you do too, GOOD LUCK EVERYONE XXX I HOPE YOU ALL RELIEVE YOURSELFS FROM THIS AWFUL CONDITION XX
Marcelle
Wes, Claire, I also have the terrible dizziness!! Oh its just horrifying when it happens! It feels so comforting to know that what I experience is not THAT uncommon… actually not uncommon AT ALL!!! Look at how many people suffer from the same symptoms! Wow, I don’t feel alone anymore! Seeing others fighting against this STUPID anxiety disorder makes me hopeful! I do believe we can all overcome this! Good luck everyone!
ylli
Hi. Many thanks for your panicaway newsletter 3 which I do highly appreciate.Axcept your helpful advices I do every day at 4 o’clok PM exercises as well I walk every day evening 6 km on the sea shore.Really i’m feeling
better. Thank you ever so much.
Liza
Im happy with the email i received evryday. It helps me alot and hoping all this feelings will gone and I’ll be with what I am before. Thank you for your help. I appreciate your daily emails.
danah
reading your mails other people feel the dizzyness too it helps to hear this it has taken over my life . i will try your 20 second method please keep the mail coming i need this, there must be a way danah
Jan
Hello, dizziness is my main symptom, its gets so bad i have to hold on to a wall to get me home, i dont go anywhere on my own, the last time i tried on my own, about a year ago,i fell to the floor, cried like a baby and had to phone my husband for help. so i totally understand everybody who is suffering the same. I shall try the advise in this letter, heres hoping!!
danah
ellen and jason i also am dizzy all day i am taking a lot of zopiclon whichis ambien in the usa and also mirtazipine which is called remeron in the usa i will try bit by bit to lower but anytime anybody comes or leaves especially my husband i get panic. when i take something like a calming pill, oxzazepam, or the natural valerian i am calmer. i try lesson one labeling my fear, i think im afraid of people in general but only a few months ago i was doing everything. ive had some bad experinces in the far past and recently. i find it hard to trust myself because of the dizzyness and headaches. i am going for a brain scan wed.i will have to wait a week for the results. i totally understand this feeling of being dizzy all the time and am amazed that this could be me. i am trying the count to 20 method but being like this i dont always know when to count. i will hope and try. i dont want to take pills. thank you for writing you mail. i feel so alone sometimes and i live overseas. this gives me some connection . thanks danah
Debi
Wow it truly is so helpful just to hear you are not alone. Like many others I have had 2 MRI’s and many heart related tests. Thankfully they were all ok… but the symptoms of dizziness, feeling of doom, a wave of fear engulfing my entire body come and go. I suffer alot when I am driving my car and oddly enough in church. The more they happen the more I avoid being in those places. I am thankful for this web site and being able to connect with others who truly get it and understand. I am putting these methods in to place daily! Thank you
elisabeth
just joined the programm and am so grateful for it.
with me too the dizzyness is my main fear and obstacle to function as I would like to.
but maybe in this programm there is hope for all of us!
Elisabeth
JM
Wow, I just came across the website. I too, am very grateful for this newsletter. I cannot afford to buy the book right now but just hearing all of your stories is helping me cope. I had my first panic attack around 2 months ago. It happened while driving on the freeway. It was terrifying – there was road construction so there was no shoulder on the road to be able to pull over. Since then driving has been the hardest thing. I have had to alter my plans in life. Nothing in life seems the same right now.
I, like many others in this site, have what seem like more random panic attacks too. One of the older posts on here mentioned having them in church. I also have had that experience. I am dizzy most of the day everyday and for me the late afternoon-evening is when the worst sets in. Maybe that is because that is the time of day when my first attack happened.
I am not glad that many of you have the same symptoms (especially dizziness) but I am glad that I am not alone. I am sure many of you are reading the posts and they are mirror images of your own struggles. That is how I feel. I am going to try the 20 second thing too. I believe that there is hope for all of us. Although I go to bed and w but all I can do is take it 1 day or even 1 hour at a time. 🙂
Isabel
Hi everyone,I just came back from the emergency room because of a major panic attack. Vomiting, dizziness, heart palpatations, sweating, all of it. They gave me a shot and sent me on my way. They told me to follow up with my psychatrist but all he does is prescribe me medicines that don’t help. I have been reading your e-mails and already have hope. I am going to use this advise. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
stacey
Wow,, I thank the lord for finding this site on the internet,, i have being experiencing panic attacks and anxiety for so long now i can not even remember my first attack.
Two days of finding this site and already i feel better and more in control of my life,, something so simple and yet so rewarding,, Just being able to leave the house its amazing.
Thank you,thank you sooooo much!!!!
P.s my mother also suffers from anxiety,, so i will definately be passing this on to her.
Dannielle
I, too, have the dizziness more then the other symptoms. I found your website yesterday, bought the course (can’t really afford it, although it’s a very reasonable price, but can’t really afford NOT to buy it). I read half the book I downloaded and by the time I went to bed I was confident I could take on a panic attack. I was actually looking forward to one so I could take it on…and I woke up with a lil one in the middle of the night and stopped it in its tracks. I slept so good last night and felt good this morning. However, as the day went on, I did battle genearl anxiety, but did not have any panic attacks. I don’t feel as afraid of them anymore and feel empowered with the tools I’m learning thru your program and newsletters…keep them coming! I know I have a long road ahead of me, but I’m looking forward to being myself again…today I caught a glimpse of her again! 🙂 Thank you!
Jim
I thought all of my symptoms were physical – so I had every test known to man. I discovered that I am one healthy dude, but my symptoms remained (DIZZINESS – fatigue – anxiety – tingling in arms and legs – swollen glands in my neck – heart palpitations – etc). I recently saw a friend and began to cry hard (unusual for me) and felt no symptoms for two days after. I then knew it was in my head. I found this web site yesterday and have already seen a positive results. I need more information so I need to buy the program, but yesterday was AWESOME!!!!! A full day of feeling great. What a blessing!!! Thank you so much for your help!!!! I can’t express my gratitude enough!!!! I know I have more work to do, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Jim
ann
… My poor kids worry all the time. I have been to the emergency room about 6 times but it gives me comfort knowing im not dying or Im not having a stroke or heart attack.But now that I found this sight I will by all means try everything I read. I usually have one a week, but since I have been coming to this sight, its been over a week and nothing. The fear I feel is not so bad. I have been having panic attacks for about 5 years now. So many people don’t understand what we all go through, all I every hear is don’t worry stop thinking, its all in your head, well until they have one, they will never understand the feeling. What a great place for relief and being able to talk to people who dont think you’re crazy. Thanks
Amanda
Half the battle is to stop thinking that your body might turn on you, you might have a heart condition, a brain tumor, somehow your body will find a way to kill you. It won’t. IT WONT. I am a Med. student. Just like you can’t hold your own breathe till you pass you. Your body wont turn on you.. For those with dizziness, you give your body a work out every time you have an attack. Even general anxiety raises hormone levels equivalent to a brisk walk. Your dizzy because your brain is tired. It sounds redundant and ridiculous but keep doing yoga and meditation, every day. panic attacks can occur bc extremely anxious ppl develop shallow breathing (another reason for dizziness) the Air your breathing is no sufficient so your body sends the signal which can be hyperventilating or a full blown attack. Dont just count and breathe, get some exercise, do yoga, breath for a purpose. Its been a year for me with cyclic attacks. I have hopes one day to fly and hopefully this newsletter and support will help me to reach that goal..
Zhana
It’s worth trying, though it may be hard at times.
I get scared when my heart is beating fast, I can’t breathe or I lose coordination at times…
But no matter how many panic attacks I have in the future, I won’t give up, I’ll still try and with God’s help some day, will win this battle.
Don’t let panic attacks make you feel like you don’t belong to this world anymore, because you get scared of the public or scared to go shopping (because of panic attacks and anxiety) and do things that you enjoyed doing before you got anxieties.
tom
It sounds crazy but the countdown thing does work. A woman that I met while in group therapy shared this trick with me and i used it once while in line at a gas station there were several people behind me and felt it creeping up on me.I guess you could say its grabbing the bull by the horns and showing him who`s boss. The woman that shared this with me said that a true Irish gentleman taught her this.I knew when I started reading this news letter that she was refering to you.You are an amazing fellow. Truly blessed.Thank you!