High Anxiety

Have you ever been in the presence of a person in the midst of a panic attack? In a crisis setting we see people like this all the time. When our personal resources are unable to cope with a stressful situation the mind can become overwhelmed and our emotions plus body react. Shortness of breath, numbness, tightening of the chest, dizziness. Many people feel like they are having a heart attack!!

As a therapist the first order is to keep yourself centered. There is not much help we can provide if we rush around for a doctor or call 911. Though I admittently have done both. With experience it is easy to remain calm and talk to the part within the person that got triggered in the first place.

What causes panic? To Object Relations therapists, they believe mental illness begins with early childhood experiences. Most of the people who show up in our crisis center who suffer from panic have had horrific experiences in their youth. When we are small our mind hasn't fully wired till we reach eight years of age normally. Experiences on and before this period if not worked through in therapy can cause debilitating mental illness in later years.

What can somebody do in the midst of high anxiety?

The first thing is to keep breathing and relax the tense areas in your body. It is proven that relaxation is the number one antidote for anxiety. However this is only the starting point. There is a core issue that needs to be addressed. Talk to the afraid part by using a pillow to represent the freightened part within. Assure that part you will take care of him/her. Lastly ask questions within. Try to find out what the scared part inside of you needs in this very moment.

For more information self help books, counseling, and clergy can be a huge help.

Emotional panic can represent the feeling that there is no God and as a human being we feel alone and unable to handle life's difficulties. With God back in the mix all things are possible.