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All of a sudden, your heart begins to race. Your body feels heavy
and wobbly. Your hands start to tremble and a wave of terror descends over you. You believe you are fainting. Having an heart
attack. Dying or going mad. But you are not. You are just having a
PANIC ATTACK
How can I overcome panic attacks?
The Observer Magazine 12.02.2006
A
student is struggling to cope with anxiety attacks, but doesn’t want to take medication. Are there any effective alternatives?
Our experts offer some suggestions.
Question
I
am a 20-year-old female student, and I have been suffering from terrible anxiety and panic attacks for the past few months.
They began when I started a new degree course at a new university, after dropping out of my old one. I often wake up panicking
that I have made completely the wrong choice with my life. The panic worsened significantly when pretty awful money problems
began to emerge. I have tried KALMS, but they had no effect. I don’t wish to take up drugs of any kind if they are hard
to stop taking or have unpleasant side effects. Can you suggest any effective natural remedies, or is medication the only
way? I feel like I’m losing it and my short-term memory has become terrible too. I haven’t yet seen a doctor.
THE
YOGA EXPERT
Simon
Low
Yoga
is the universe’s great preventative and curative medicine, and for you I’d recommend a Hatha class at least once
a week for gentle, breath-led movement and plenty of time for being still. As soon as you feel panic coming on, sit down,
feel flat on the ground, with posture upright but relaxed. Release any tension in your jaws. Close your eyes, place your hands
on your belly and concentrate on your breath. As you slowly inhale, draw the breath down into your belly, pause and count
‘1,000, 2,000’, before repeating. The pauses prevent hyperventilation. Now add ‘inner’ words to the
process. ‘I breathe in calm as I inhale,’ and ‘I breathe away all fear as I exhale.’ Continue to breathe
this way for a minute after the symptoms have gone. It may take time before the panic attacks go, but it makes a difference
immediately. Let me know how you get on.Yoga@simonlow.com
Simon Low is co-founder of the Triyoga centre
THE
PSYCHOLOGIST
Jacquie
Hetherton
I
see many patients with problems like you, so please don’t feel alone or that your only option is medication. Cognitive
behavioural therapy (CBT) can certainly help you, as CBT has been proven to be very effective at treating anxiety and panic
attacks. The theory is that it’s not the situations themselves but our interpretations of them that create anxiety.
A CBT psychologist will ask you to describe an attack to see if these thoughts are realistic or simply unpleasant and frightening.
The aim is that you learn to keep yourself from falling back into anxiety and panic. Knowledge is power, so I suggest you
read as much as possible – Mind over Mood by Greenberger & Padesky (Guildford
Press) is particularly useful. CBT can be effective quickly – five or six sessions may be enough – but it may
be a good idea also to contact a psychiatrist who has specialist knowledge of medication that can help you.
Dr
Jacquie Hetherton is a lecturer in clinical psychology
At
Royal Holloway, University of London, and an
Accredited
cognitive behavioural therapist
THE
PATIENT
Lucy
Hebditch
As
someone whose panic and anxiety attacks started at 19, during my second term at university, I know how you feel. I thought
I was dying. I couldn’t breathe, started hyperventilating and an ambulance was called. I was convinced I’d never
get better, but I’m well now, and you’ll get better, too. I recommend seeing your GP to find out your options
– I went down the medication route, but there are other ways to help yourself. My GP referred me for counselling, which
really helped, and gave me leaflets so I could understand panic and anxiety attacks. Read as much as you can to help you feel
in control (www.nopanic.co.uk). If you feel yourself getting anxious, try the
‘seven 11’ rule – breathe in for seven counts, and out for 11 to stop you hyperventilating. Also know your
triggers – I’m more anxious when over tired. Finally, consider telling your friends, I felt so much better knowing
others understood and were there to support me.
Lucy
Hebditch is a council worker on the Isle of Wight
Ways to help yourself
Relaxation exercises can help you to reduce stress levels.
Although I have never seen it mentioned in terms of a de-stressant, love-making has always been highly successful.
Engage in physically draining activities. Do not
simply sit around feeling agitated or lost in self pity: Get up and go swimming, jogging, dancing, trekking,
cycling, climbing , juggling, gliding , sailing, skiing, surfing, etc
Engage in simple repetitive activity. Focus attention upon
'countables' . Depending where you are there should always be some form of countables. In a library for example,
the countables could be books, bookcases, people, desks, chairs, red headed people wearing glasses. windows. doors. public
posters: There is usually something countable wherever you are.
Many people find it helpful to carry some cards containing
coping statements around with them. Whenever one feels the start of an attack coming on, you simply take them out, read them
and repeat the statements over to yourself.
De-stress by expressing your anger by pounding on pillows
and cushions. Throw soft things around, dance to loud music, or dig the garden and flatten the earth by hammering it with
a spade.
Do things that require your concentration to be focused. Crosswords
are well suited to this activity, as is knitting or playing cards.
Learn and practice deep abdominal breathing.
Cuddles are always highly effective at making us feel good
about ourselves
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