SelfhelpMagazine

by Deborah G. Alicen, Ph.D.

I am glad that you have gone to see your doctor. If he has examined you and is sure your heart is normal, then you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder and panic attacks.

Panic attacks are a sudden strong feeling of fear with physical symptoms like a racing heart, upset stomach, trembling, dizziness and sometimes chest pain. Panic attacks are not in your head, but are a combination of emotional and biological symptoms.

Panic attacks and other anxiety disorders can be caused by increased stress or by a combination of life circumstances. They can be treated by cognitive behavioral or some other, similarly-based psychotherapy, which often involves learning relaxation techniques.

When symptoms are severe, medication might be needed to give immediate relief while you learn the necessary skills to eventually get off the medication and sustain your calm without artificial means (like medication).

My advice would be to call and make an appointment with a psychologist who is an expert at working with panic attacks. Go right ahead and ask about over the telephone before making your appointment.

If they are a generalist, and haven't learned specialized techniques for working with anxiety disorders, you might find yourself spinning your wheels and getting even more upset because the treatment is failing you. Don't go see a weight loss doctor is you're having heart problems. Similarly, don't go see a generalist when you are having a very specialized problem.

About the Author:

Deborah G. Alicen, Ph.D. is a private practice psychologist who lives in Plainfield, Vermont--a transplanted Southerner who still can't say "cows" the way real Vermonters do. She has spent the last twelve years working mostly with children, adolescents, and adults recovering from sexual abuse and domestic violence.