About Me
STEPS TO FREEDOM.
Copyright © Daniel 2004INTRODUCTION.Well, hello and welcome to the first day of your panic-free life. Firstly I'd like to introduce myself, my name is Danny and my first panic attack occurred in 1995 in the middle of a busy supermarket. As you can imagine, I thought my time was up and I was dying. I visited my doctor because I thought I had a serious illness, this doctor told me it may be vertigo amongst other things, I was prescribed a course of medication that made no difference to my feelings whatsoever. Any of this sounding familiar yet? I then relocated to another area and I had to change doctors(present doctor), this doctor was very understanding and sympathetic, I was prescribed a few different types of medication to see which suited my condition etc and he would regularly give hints and tips to the best of his knowledge, and an appointment with the local health centre was made to visit a therapist. The therapist ensured me that I was normal and that I wasn't the only person to have this problem and taught me some breathing techniques and ways to deal with a panic attack in its full effect. This did not help long term and I gradually lost all my self-confidence and before I knew it I had stopped leaving the house, couldn't eat and my one attack in the supermarket soon became a panic disorder. Naturally, everyone around me thought I was nuts, didn't understand what I was going through and I couldn't explain it myself. I had become a recluse and so it remained for 2 years.I continued to try the medication, alternative remedies like st. johns wart. No use. I started to become more and more depressed and I thought that this was it, my life is filled with fear and panic, I'm losing everything and it’s not my fault. That was my frame of mind for a long time. Lost my job, girlfriend had almost given up on me and (pardon my expression) everything had turned to s**t. I'd given up.THE REALISATION.Winter morning, freezing cold, got out of bed had a cup of coffee and about 6 cigs and I was stood looking out of the window and I saw a young couple walking down the street laughing and joking in the snow (well, slush really) carrying shopping bags from Asda. At that moment there I realised I was not going to give up, not going to admit defeat and curl up in a corner and eventually die, alone and in fear.
At that very moment I phoned my sister, Sarah and asked her to go to the library and get all the books she could find on Anxiety Panic Stress illnesses, I sat at my computer and looked at every site that was relevant. I telephoned doctors, therapists, help lines you name it. I even wrote to Denise from(daytime t.v) This Morning for advice. My other sister, Pippa also suffered from panic attacks too so she knew exactly what I was going through and would advise me the best she could, a few tips here, a few suggestions there… she was great- dealing with her own anxiety yet trying to help me with mine.I developed new techniques into distraction and breathing using what I had learned and studied aswel as the tips etc from my sister. As I stated in the advert, I’m not a medical man, no training, in fact the closest I ever came to being medical was being forced to watch E.R. I was suffering, in pain and needed it to stop. After a few trial and error test runs I discovered I could sleep peacefully, walk to the top of the street, eat a nice big meal and not feel ill.
Pretty soon I was walking to the shop, going to friends houses, going to restaurants and slowly beginning to actually enjoy life again. I was doing it, I was winning.THE 10 STEPS INTRODUCTION.Ok, now I've finished going on about me, let’s get on with it. The 10 steps program is not another program created by experts who have studied it and never suffered it. As you now know, I really suffered it and came through it without having to use medication or hypnosis or any type of alternative remedies. Just taking control of the situation and knowing that YOU are the driver and not a panic- passenger. Now, no two people suffer the same attack, symptoms or reaction so in places I will advise you to incorporate your own approach or system to a step. That way its personal touch to your recovery. All the experts I spoke to told me the same thing, its not my fault this is happening but, I'm sorry to say it....in a way, it is. I didn't take control. I accepted what was happening as a way of life and basically gave up. I let it push me away and it took over the driving. In realising this, I knew that it was only me that can change it.
The steps have worked, not only for me but for many others, friends, family, neighbours and people I have met along the way and I know you will be soon taking me out shopping and for drinks without a hint of panic. And rest assured that I'm not just going to send you the information and wish you luck. I will be here for you for as long as you need support or advice. If for any reason one of the steps is not working for you, we can work out a way that suits your lifestyle and build it into the program.
Some of the steps you may find slightly unorthodox and even irrelevant but, stick with it. The program will teach you how to deal with a panic attack in its full attack mode, grabbing it and pushing out of your body. It will also teach you how to get back to yourself within hours of starting. Also, with the program you will finally realise that a panic attack is part of you, it’s an automatic response to fear, a defense mechanism. It's something everybody has built in as standard but, in our case it goes off like a faulty alarm when we don’t need it. If you saw a great white shark heading your way at the beach, the panic would switch itself on without you having to think about it. You would see the danger, your brain then tells your body, "LETS GO NOW" and you go. If it didn’t, you be shark lunch. The same thing is happening to you when you have a panic attack except, where is the danger? Think and KNOW that a panic attack is like a house alarm, sometimes your fast asleep, 3 am and your house alarm goes off for absolutely no reason. Well, all we do is switch it off, it was a "FALSE ALARM".
From this point we will not mention panic attacks; we call it a "FALSE ALARM" sometimes the mention of “panic attack†can trigger one to start.SYMPTOMS.I will include a list of symptoms that commonly are associated with a "false alarm". What I want you to do is tick which ones are appropriate for you and then write down how you feel afterwards and how you deal with it. I will then ask you to do it again after 4 weeks of working with the 10 steps.DO'S AND DONT'S!!Do follow the steps everyday
Do allow an hour or so to reflect on progress
Do write down exactly how you feel during an "f.a"(false alarm) and keep it close at hand.
Do tell yourself "this is my life, I don’t have time for you(f.a)DONT rely on others or blame others.
DONT give up on your dreams of freedom.
DONT rely on alcohol, doesn't work believe me.
DONT forget, you’re not alone... You got me now.GETTING STARTED.First thing you need to do is read through all the information in the program to know what’s ahead and prepare. Explain to loved ones that you are going to get better and to be patient with you. If you are already on medication, DO NOT stop taking it. Once you notice the change in yourself, talk to your doctor and he will advise you on the best way to come off your medication.Copyright © Daniel 2004
