Anxiety and panic attacks can be cured - I am the best proof

I just read the following statement on a phobia forum:
"What should I do to get my anxiety under control I have tried medication therapy and have talked with a counselor but none have helped and could this mean that I have a brain abnormalality that is causing the anxiety to be severe and undcontrolable."
Firstly I believe that most of us think we have a brain abnormality when it comes to things like panic attacks simply because we can find no explanation for them.

My advise is that you should see your doctor again. Do not forget there are many different medications for anxiety and some work better on certain individuals and others. I had to try several medications myself before discovering the one that helped my condition. Just because a medictaion did not have the effects you were expecting does NOT mean that you have a brain abnormality.

Autogenics Training - self help for panic attacks

One of the behavoural methods I started early on was a course on autogenics training. Basically, this was a method invented by a German doctor, Johannes Schulz, in 1932. In essence it is all about body and mind deep relaxation and these skills can be acquired by anyone within a three month period. It's aims is to create a physical and psychological feeling of well-being and as well as being used in therapy for phobias and anxiety, it has been successful in stopping smoking and other addictions. Autogenic training is self taught. You will find many good sources on the Internet but I prefer the guide to psychology website Although it did not cure my panic attacks it definitely gave me a life vest when they occured.

An important point - and a growing network

It would seem clear that the current phase of the Internet is focusing on social networking. Even the search engines give priority in their ranking to sites which have no obvious commercial orientation but are there to communicate and inform. There are many great forums on very differing health issues and indeed the area of phobias, anxiety attacks and panic is amply covered by great exchanges between sufferers giving eack other advice.

I believe this is great because we tend to be secretive about our disorder and the Internet gives us a chance to meet up with fellow humna beings going through the same sort of problems. This form of communication can prove extremely useful. However, one word of caution. How ever supportive such forums are they cannot always replace medical advice. This I find to be particularly true in regard to medications. Advice on this issue can only come from a medical practitioner. What works for one person might not work for the other. Keep in mind there are hundreds of crooks out there willing to sell you RX and prescription medication at enormous prices. These people are exploiting your situation - shady little business profiting from your weakness. Look at all the advertisements on the right column in google when you search for panic attacks - half of them are trying to sellyou drugs at highly inflated prices - disgusting!

A useful comment regarding depression from Dr. Palin

I really get encouraged when I get comments on what I post here and I want to flag up a recent comment by Mr Palin who writes:
"It is not true that the old men and women are more susceptible to depression than their younger counterparts and it must be mentioned that an individual is said to suffer from depression when he exhibits symptoms, namely, hopelessness, chronic tiredness, appetite loss, loneliness, sadness et al for one week or more. Therefore, it is important for you to get hold of right information on depression related details before starting to treat your depression."

Remember in an earlier posting I mentioned that anxiety, phobic disorders are a very close cousin of depression and that is perfectly normal - basically you have a reason to be depressed on account of your life situation. I support Mr Palin's word of caution that it is very important to get qualified information on your depression.