I began having panic attacks about 4 years ago. It began during a business presentation where I was unable to continue with a speech due to overwhelming anxiety. It is normal to have anxiety and become nervous when public speaking, but this was more than anything I had experienced before. I simply couldn’t contunue talking and had to leave the room. I was able to continue, but only from sitting in a chair within the audience. I couldn’t continue standing up and speaking.

That incident wouldn’t have been so bad, but what wound up happening after that episode was the beginning of a struggle with anxiety. When I went back to work I began having panic attacks every day. Almost every interaction I had with people brought on the same symptoms of anxiety and panic. I would have difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest and stomach area, my heart would begin pounding, and all I could think of was how to escape. If I was in a room with people, I desperately wanted to leave. I think the most difficult situations were when I had something scheduled. The anticipation would build into such stress it was rather unbelievable.

Over the last four years I have learned quite a bit from my experiences with Anxiety. I have had both good and bad experiences. I have also tried various treatments to stop panic attacks. This includes self-help programs in addition to the medical approach.

With this blog I hope to both inform and help other people who also suffer from panic attacks. I know what has worked for me and what hasn’t. I won’t claim that there is a magic pill you can take to cure this condition. However, I know it can be managed and by reading my blogs I believe others will gain some insight as to what has worked for me and perhaps it will work for them.