How to stop panic attacks without medication

A panic attack is, without question, one of the scariest things you’ll ever experience.

It feels like any second your heart is going to give up and you have this overwhelming sensation that “this is it”… you’re going to die.

Unfortunately, it’s of little comfort (for many people, at least) to know that it’s a panic attack because the feeling is so intense that your senses start telling your brain that this may actually be a real heart attack which in turn triggers your body to panic even more.

It’s a vicious cycle that if left unchecked, will almost certainly get worse over time and as you get older and encounter new challenges, it gets harder and harder to “deal” with everyday things until you eventually find yourself spending more time alone in your house unable to do things that you once enjoyed.

You see traces of this when you start to doubt if you really want to leave the house or start creating excuses to stay home. If you’re already doing this, time is not on your side.

These thoughts ferment inside of you giving little clue that they’re there until its too late and if you’re like most, you’ll start popping pills which will make you feel better for a little while but then they’ll stop working because your perfectly adaptable body will get used to them.

Your doctor will up your meds dosage and you’ll start feeling better again for a little while. Then it’ll happen again and the cycle will keep repeating itself along with some new symptoms (thanks to the your original medication; yes, they have side effects that are sometimes worse than the symptoms they were meant to “control”).

Medicine is not the solution

The reality is that prescription medication is not the solution, and much less the cure, for panic attacks. Panic attacks happen because your body incorrectly sends signals that something is wrong.

What happens to your body during a panic attack is harmless… but it is in fact, very real. All the sensations, although harmless, are very real. It’s your body reacting to an explosion of adrenaline rushing through your body.

Understanding why you panic is the key to curing it, naturally

Problem is, because there is no real danger or threat, there’s nothing to do and now your body is stuck with all this adrenaline and now it’s up to you to tell your body what to do with it.

This is how you deal with a panic attack but in no way is the cure. The cure involves reprogramming your body so you’re not “overreacting” to normal everyday situations (i.e., like being asked to give a toast at your sister’s wedding or any situation where you’re put into an uncomfortable yet totally non-threatening situation).

For a long time, I suffered what I thought were mild panic attacks. Really though, I just ignored them and made them out to be less than what they really were (hence my thinking they were “mild”).

The panic attack that sparked my ah-ha moment

One night after an especially stressful week at the office, I had a panic attack that was far scarier than anything I’d ever experienced.

You know the feelings…

Racing heartbeat.
Pressure in my chest right under my sternum.
Weird sensation running up and down my arm.
Similar sensation in my leg.
Etc.

Long story short, I went to the urgent care center which redirected me to the nearest heart center after taking a few readings (I’m sure you can imagine how much more panicked I became after hearing this). They took a bunch of tests and had me laying on a bed until about 5 AM when a doctor finally came in and told me I simply had a panic attack and that I should try to reduce my stress levels and take it easy.

Drugs and a referral… Seriously?!

He recommended some prescription drugs and told me to see a cardiologist.

Although I’m no extremist, I tend to stay away from medicines unless they’re absolutely necessary. That said, I did some research and came across a few programs that promised panic attack relief without medication.

Doctors don’t always know what’s best

I have nothing against doctors. Truth be told, both my kids want to be doctors and I couldn’t be happier. Reality is, most physicians have it drilled into their heads that there’s a cure for everything… and it’s in a bottle and it comes from a laboratory and its only available via a magical little slip of paper that only they have the jurisdiction to distribute.

Its not their fault really. Its what the pharmaceutical companies want them to think as as any savvy business-person will tell you, it’s the reason why these companies have us all by the you-know-what.

Anyway, my point is that most doctors haven’t really taken the time to fully understand the science behind stress, anxiety and panic attacks. Thankfully, some do and those are the ones responsible for curing over 148,000 people of their anxiety and panic attacks!

I did my research (due diligence) and finally came to the conclusion that the only way to stop panic attacks was to cure myself entirely from the feelings that bring them on.

I found the natural (drug-free) cure for my anxiety and panic attacks

I found that the best program, by far, was this panic attack cure.

I saw immediate results and every aspect of my life improved. Among all the exaggerated claims, this was the one program that actually did what it promised.

I admit, I didn’t finish the entire program. In fact, against the program’s recommendations, I stopped about halfway through the program because I felt that good and honestly, between work, family and everything else that finds it’s way into your life, panic attacks just weren’t a part of my life anymore.

For me, the biggest benefits were that the relief was immediate and the techniques I learned were so simple that my 8-year-old son could master them easily.

I learned how to recognize and control my feelings well before they got to a point where I started feeling panicky and on the off chance I wasn’t able to, I knew how to quickly and effectively ease myself out of any panic or anxiety attack.

I now live my life to the fullest. I don’t avoid situations. In fact, I now look for ways to become more social (which was something I’d been wanting to do for years) and my life has become so much better because of it.

Get the only cure for anxiety and panic attacks that I used to totally eliminate the anxiety from my life.

   

Use this link to try it risk-free (with unlimited guidance from the center’s qualified psychologists and counselors; if you need it, they will walk you to full recovery).

   
   
   

4 easy things you can do to beat holiday stress

It’s no secret that stress is literally killing people… which is why you should do everything you can to limit the amount of holiday stress you put on yourself and believe it or not, it’s actually a lot easier than you think.

You’ve probably heard it before that diversions / distractions, exercise and sleep are the only things that can successfully rid you of your stress and anxiety. It’s true. Medicine is NOT the answer 99% of the time and in that 1%, medicine ends up becoming a bigger problem… but that’s another topic altogether.

Here’s the good news… To help you get started, here are 4 simple ideas that will help you get better sleep:

  • If you’re like most, you spend a good part of the day trying to pep yourself up. 20111223-081708.jpgI myself love a good Cuban café con leche but for you it may be Starbucks or tea or any of the caffeine packed drinks lining the shelves of your favorite gas station. Point is, having things that are not conducive to sleep floating around in your body is typically not a good thing. Tip #1: Avoid drinks with caffeine and anything with nicotine after 4pm (and alcohol after 4pm is also a bad idea; trust me on this one).
  • A big battle in my house has always been whether or not the bedrooms should have televisions. 20111223-082004.jpgWith two young children and everyone wanting to watch something different all the time, it’s been a tough battle but you need to keep in mind that your bedroom should be your sanctuary. It’s where you sleep. Period. That said, if a television is what you need to help you dose off, then keep it to the bare minimum. Tip #2: Switch out to a smaller television (if possible) and make use of the sleep timer so the TV automatically shuts off after you’ve dosed off. you should also remove any additional electronics (the bedroom isn’t the place for home theater or video games or components). Shut down your iPhone, Android and / or Blackberry (this will take some getting used to but I swear it’s so very worth it) and either shut off or dim the lighting to as low as you can bare it (you can pick up an inexpensive dimmer at any Lowes or Home Depot).
  • Many people don’t make the correlation but food is a huge factor in how well you sleep. Eat a proper diet and you’ll sleep like a baby. Fill up on junk and well, not so much. Tip #3: Eat meals that have lots of lean protein, veggies (the leafier and greener the better) and complex carbs (or at least keep the simple carbs like white rice and white breads to an absolute minimum); stay away from fast food and anything processed; and the only things you should be eating after 6 or 7pm are green grapes, green apples, Jell-O or Popsicles. You should also take a multivitamin every morning as deficiencies are known to cause even minor insomnia.
  • I like schedules. My wife detests them however she’s a big fan of lists. Whatever you choose to call it, make sire you keep one. Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day causes your body to develop a healthy cycle. Think about it… If your sleep is erratic, it’s not surprising that your body would become confused about when it’s appropriate to sleep. You can apply the same with meals and exercise as well. Tip #4: Define sleep time(s). 10pm to 6am works for many people but feel free to adjust for your particular needs. The important thing is to block off a full eight hours and stick to the times. Set up timers (here’s one thing that your iPhone can do very well) to help you keep your schedule.

Follow these simple tricks and you’ll be on your way to enjoying and even looking forward to holidays without stress and anxiety.

All the best!

Healthy Solutions For Stress & Obesity

Advances in science and technology have revolutionized how people live and work. The breakthroughs in 21st Century medical science have extended life expectancy rates and wiped out some of the diseases that were once thought to be incurable.

Still, these modern miracles have fallen short of eradicating two of the most troublesome conditions that have afflicted mankind: stress and anxiety. No matter how many vitamins we take, or how many fitness programs we try… absolutely no one can get immunity from life’s woes.

Another health problem that poses a challenge to medical science is the silent plague of obesity. According to the U.S. Obesity Society, at least 64% of Americans are now obese or overweight. The dramatic changes in food intake or diet, the ease of transportation, and the change of work into a more sedentary activity have all contributed to the rise of obesity.

But another major factor that has been left behind in the news is the fact that stress is a contributing cause for obesity. What comes to mind when you are trying to beat the deadline? What comes to mind when you become so tense just thinking about the upcoming bar exams? What comes to mind when you feel over worked? Food! Food! and More Food! You begin to develop food cravings as a way to relax your nerves and keep your mind off your problems for a while. You can hear it calling inside your head “Come to me….taste me! How delicious I am today!” Your mind suddenly is filled with swirling images of cakes, cookies, candies, chocolate bars, donuts, burgers….and, mind you, not just plain burgers — we’re talking about double cheese burgers with extra toppings.

It is true that eating is one of the most common escapes for troubled souls. No wonder there is such as term as “comfort food.” Depressed people are more prone to give in to food cravings. Studies show that an average healthy individual carries around about seven to ten pounds of toxic waste. So it is not hard to imagine how much waste overweight people have to move around with. Other studies reveal that 10 percent of people who are overweight actually began overeating as a means to escape from their anxieties. The pleasures of eating had become a way to block off all negative thoughts and feelings.

Having a healthy body and a healthy mind is something that we cannot achieve separately. In fact, our thoughts have a very big influence on how our bodies feel. Somehow, our bodies show our mental and emotional condition. Obesity, therefore, could probably be a sign of a more serious emotional and psychological problem.

Stress and anxiety, as indirect causes of overeating and obesity, must be addressed squearely in order to avoid more serious health problems. To determine whether you or a person you know is being slowly sucked into a stress spiral, see if you have any of these stress symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Memory loss
  • Low self-esteem
  • Nervous twitches
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Withdrawal
  • Teeth-grinding

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Aside from managing our eating habits, we also need to manage our emotions. The daily pressures at work and at home can be too much for some people. Most urbanites and executives are trapped in a life in constant rush. Busy people can become so frantic that even their eating habits can be affected. Just observe a regular restaurant in the middle of the business and financial district. Most likely, you’ll notice people just gobbling up whatever is in their plate…not really enjoying the meal. And to make it worse, they eat enormous amounts of food thinking that they need to replenish themselves after having worked so hard. The worst part is that instead of getting good nutrition, busy people consume high fat, high calorie foods that are not good for one’s health.

So, if you are serious about not getting too fat or becoming overweight, you must eliminate the many things that can cause stress in your life. More than just controlling the amount of food you eat, you should also try one or more of the following health-enhancing activities:

  1. Try out a Yoga Program or DIY Yoga: all you need is a mat and a yoga video showing the different Yoga positions.
  2. Laugh till you drop: laughter is still the best medicine.
  3. Meditation: although a bit difficult to master it is good stress reliever. it involves focusing inwardly and shutting out all the noise, restore the body and give us calm.
  4. Diet: There are certain foods that contributes to a person being stressed out like for instance too much caffeine. Watching what you eat and knowing what essential foods that gives you strength and stamina is vital. Getting the right proteins and balancing it with vegetables keeps you strong and healthy!

A healthy solution to combat stress and obesity is that you must lessen your hectic, fast-paced life.

Get rid of the thousand and one things that bring chaos to your daily life. Eat healthy foods and try to keep in mind to do everything in moderation. Do something else with your hands other than dipping it into bucket of chicken or holding a liter of soda.

When you think about it, the solutions to stress and obesity are in your hands.

5 Quick Stress Busters

How do you react when your plans fall through? Do you roll with the punches? Or does anxiety keep you from enjoying life? To a great extent, our personality determines how we deal with stress in our lives, but here are 5 things to help keep your stress under control:

  1. Sleep more. It’s very common in our society to exist on less than 6 hours of sleep a night. But experts keep telling us we need at least 8 hours. Not just to rest our bodies, but to rejuvenate our minds. “Tired” and “cranky” seem to go hand in hand. Don’t use your bedroom to watch the news or finish up some work from the office. Make that room your haven, a place to relax and escape the day. Have a hot cup of tea, take a warm bath, or read a paperback to help you unwind.
  2. Have faith. Saying a short prayer in times of stress can give you a sense of calm, especially when the situation is one you really have no control over. Studies have shown that people who trust in a higher power have lower blood pressure. Being able to forgive people also can affect your blood pressure. Holding a grudge is not good for your health!
  3. Turn it off. The convenience that cell phones have added to our lives can actually be a double-edged sword. We depend on them so much it seems we can’t live without them. This increased accessibility means not only can our loved ones reach us at any time, but so can work. If your employer legitimately needs to have your cell phone number, make sure you set clear limits on when you can and cannot be reached. Your time off is yours.
  4. Take a holiday. It doesn’t have to be a fancy vacation resort. A day at the beach, or an afternoon at the park will do. Just anywhere you can be and not think about the bills, work, or whatever tensions you may have. It’s important to take time for yourself, so do it! You’ll feel better with a fresh outlook.
  5. Treat yourself. Sign up for a yoga class at your local gym or community center. The costs are nominal, and you’ll feel more relaxed after even just one session. A monthly massage or a spa treatment is also a great way to recharge. You’ll walk out feeling like a million dollar bowl of jelly.

Stress is unavoidable. But what we do about it is up to us. Experiment with these suggestions and see what works for you!