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Whats The Latest In Research?

I have suffered from Anxiety and Panic attacks for over 25 years now. I am also active on many different internet anxiety forums and try to help those in need. I have learned to accept and dont really suffer that bad anymore but am not fully recovered. My main question is:
Is there alot of research being put into this disorder? And whats the latest developments?

From what I understand, panic attacks are the #1 non-emergency related visit to the emergency room and takes up valuable time from the emergency room staff members. I would think that if this is such a growing problem, research would be epidited. Sure would be nice to feel like I used too.

Any thoughts?

Rich
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Avatar universal
Do you find that the Linden Method isn't working for you?  Last night I was desperate to find out what was happening in my body and began "googling' again.  See, I obviously don't listen to my own advice!!  Anyway, I found a little blip on one of his many, many websites about "inappropriate anxiety" it was very interesting.  That's what I have.  It is a craziness that has no rhyme or reason, it just starts.  The psych I saw a couple weeks ago doesn't believe it is a primary anxiety issue, he thinks it is most likely secondary to something else.  The psychologist I saw two days later has said the same thing after a couple sessions.  I feel good about that, I guess, but also now I'm back to square one.  Either way, I have to get ahold of the anxiety issue no matter if it is secondary or primary.

Hope you are well.

Thanks Barbarella and Cuz10, this was a interesting post for me.  I searched my local library for Weekes' books.  No luck.  I guess I will take my cheap 'ole self down to Barnes and Noble and buy it!!!!
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Avatar universal
I was a full agorophobic and wouldnt go anywhere without my safe person. Claire gave me my life back and in less than one year I am even shopping by myself again. Like Barb said, even if I dont make any more progress, I can still live a nromal life now. The book is called "Hope and Help for your Nerves".  Like Barb also said, read it over and over and over.   Here is a place you can download some it it for free. I burned it to a CD and take it with my on trips.

http://www.controllinganxiety.com/dsp_downloads.php

Rich
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Avatar universal
I am definitely going to get these books!  You both seem to be so much better because of them.  Best to you, and thank you!
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Avatar universal
Rich,  

Allow more time to pass.  I still get anxiety at times when the weather is real hazy and humid, and I am in traffic, you know the days when they have an ozone warning or whatever they call it, when its so humid and still you wont see a leave on the trees move, but you smell all the gasoline from the cars three times as strong, that is when I get anxiety sometimes, not always.  I guess I will never get rid of this.  I also still wake up at night sometimes with anxiety, but nothing like before I read Dr.  Weeks's books.  If that is what I have to live with I gladly except it because before her books I was a total panic and anxiety basket case for 15 yrs.
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Avatar universal
I float thorugh anything that pops up and havent had a major attack in almost 2 years now. Actually, I dont think you can have an attack as long as you fully accept and float through the intial symptoms.  The only thing that bothers me still is the constant nervous/jittery feeling. I think if I could just feel calm again, I would be fully over this stuff. Should I question this nervous/jittery feeling or just allow more time to pass? I just dont know if its anxiety/stress related or not..

Thanks!!
Rich
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Avatar universal
Rich,

Thanks for the link.  Desensatizing takes longer in some people it all depends how long you suffered from this condition.  Also, remember what Dr. Weeks said about occasional "setbacks" (in my case its the 5% I have not overcome, but I am not complaining) DON'T let a setback discourage you, like she said "let it do its very worst" it will pass and most of all it wont kill you.  Like she said "don't fight it" but "float through it".  I know its hard, but you can do it.  Just keep on reading and listening to her and the more you do that the more something will click in your brain, it did for me.
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Avatar universal
Thanks, I will never give up..
I listed to Claires CD over and over and your right, everytime something new clicks.  I have absolutly no fear of the symptoms anymore and thought desensatizing would just come alot faster but it sure is taking its time.. I have also learned that deep breathing really helps. I found this for those who are interested. Its say there is a direct link between breathing and nerves.

Hope this helps some of you as well:
http://www.swamij.com/diaphragmatic-breathing.htm

Rich
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Avatar universal
Rich,

DON'T give up.  It took me way over a year until I got rid of my agorophobia.  I read, and re-read her books over and over, and everytime something more clicked in my brain.

Society doesn't help either.  I worked with a woman one time who had the same panic attacks I had, and one time when she was out of the room I heard another co-worker say "she is nuts, there is no such thing as panic attacks, they are all nut cases".  That is the reason I never talked to people about my panic attacks instead I ran to the bathroom saying "I've diarrhea again must be IBS" and they believed it.
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Avatar universal
Anti depressant drugs and anti anxiety drugs were already there as far back as over 30 yrs ago.  Elavil an anti depressant and Valium an anti anxiety I know were already out 40 yrs ago.  Now they are using Paxil instead of Elavil, Ativan instead of Valium.  Newer drugs, more side effects and more money to rake in for the pharmaceuticals.

I and others I know didn't suffer in private, but the medical professionals didn't understand us.  That is what Dr. Weeks said in one of ther TV interviews she was shocked how very little the American doctors and even Psychiatrists knew about this disorder or where willing to learn about, but rather slammed us with a prescription instead, she was swamped with letters from Americans who thanked her for the help and understanding she gave us.  She was from Australia.

I know my body didn't heal itself, but with the help of Dr. Weeks it did 95% of it, and only because I saw her ad about her books in a magazine.  NO doctor or therapist ever told me about her, of course not THEY wanted to rake in the money why would they tell me about her books??  Yet her books were even in libraries, and all over the bookstores.
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Avatar universal
My mother suffered from panic attacks back in the early 70's and I had my first atack back in 82.. However my mother is now fully recovered and travels around the world. I ask her how she did it and all she can say is "I just stopped letting it bother me and over time it went away".. I cant tell you how much of life I missed out on over the past 25 years, including life with my son. I remember back when I was first having attacks I told my doctor I would let him cut off my arm if he could make it all go away. I still feel the same way today..
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Avatar universal
I seem to agree with you that all these drugs do not really solve the problem that most of us have.I have taken many ADs without any luck and some actually made me worseAnd sometimes they made my condition worse.however I do think we live in a much more stressed out world today,with so many things to worry about.I think people decades ago had sressfull lives but not like it is today in this rushed out world.I also think people then had closer interpersonal and family relationships than is the case today and hence when a crisis arose familly and friends would be there to help without the need to go to a shrink and get a prescription for something.How mamy times do you see people in need on the street and no one wants to help them,I have seen it many times.In general I sometimes think we have become a cold and heartless society with very little human bonding.
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Avatar universal
20 years ago there were no ssri's (or maybe longer).  People survived without these meds.  Why do I feel that I need them?  Is it because I am so addicted now?  Did the people with this disorder suffer terribly their whole lives in private or did their own bodies and minds heal themselves????  Food for thought.
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Avatar universal
I have been using Claires method for about a year now. I am agorophobic as well and can now get out and do certain things but still wont travel alone on the freeway unless I'm with my safe person. I accept and dont fear the symptons anymore and allow them to do what they want but the only thing that wont go away is that 24/7 nervous/jittery feeling, which I believe is the only trigger I have left.. Actually thats what triggered my first attack over 25 years ago and I believe if I could desensatize that, I could fully recover.

Rich
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Avatar universal
How long have you been reading Dr. Weeks?  I suffered from severe panic attacks and agorophobia for 15 yrs, and thanks to Dr. Weeks I'm now 95% free of my panic attacks, and 100% free of my agorophobia.  I read her books over and over, and also listened to her tapes.  Meds and therapy didn't do a thing for me.  Dr. Weeks was a god sent for me.
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Avatar universal
Thats how I have been recovering through desensatization (Claire Weekes). There is no doubt it has gave me some of my life back but again I am not fully recovered. I just find it amazing how it can initially come out of know where and then slowly progress and destroy our lives there-after. And also become such a wide-spread problem these days. From what I understand indipendant researches are mainly interested in discovering thngs that will target the mass market like Viagra. Well they need to get on the ball because this disorder is catching up and the first one to come out with a wonder drug or cure will capitalize.

Rich
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263369 tn?1191350069
I am absolutely convinced my anxiety and panic was a direct result from taking other psych meds.  I never, ever, not once, experienced an anxiety or panic attack before I took an anti-depressant.  Stress?  Yes.  Nerves?  Yes.  Panic attack?  No.

So after finding that I've got a one disorder requiring medication, I later find that I'm also suffering from an 'anxiety disorder'... which also requires medication to treat.  In retrospect, I think what happened to me is pretty clear.

It seems that many in this forum are also on anti-depressants or other medications.  So I have to wonder who's doing the research... and what interest they have in finding out all the answers.  I'm not a tin-foil hat or conspiracy club member, by any means.  But I also understand what drives our economy.   I've got two pharmaceutical reps in my family.

Food for thought.

mark
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Avatar universal
I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for 12 years now.  I would love to know what is being done about this condition.  Most of what I have read says that self-help (meditation, desensitizing, etc). is the only way to "get better"...but do we ever "really" get better???
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