Posted by Gracie2 on August 2, 2001, at 23:38:03
In reply to Re: Can anyone help with a comparison?, posted by grapebubblegum on August 2, 2001, at 16:22:19
First, worrying is a terrible habit that can escalate to the point of ruining your health. After my brother was killed in an accident, I refused to let my son out of my sight because I knew that if I did, I would never see him again. If he disappeared for a second, I became frantic.
Needless to say, this was harmful to both of us, but I would not refer to these episodes as panic attacks. If I had to put a name to it, I would think of it as some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder.Anyway, much later in life, I started to suffer occasionally from real panic attacks. The physical symptoms are debilitating. If you can move at all, it is to pace around aimlessly or, prehaps, to find someplace to hide, such as locking yourself in your car or in a bathroom. You hyperventilate, your hands shake, sometimes you cry. Often you talk to yourself. You are not really in control or able to function in an appropriate manner. In short, you simply "lose it". This kind of attack (in my unofficial opinion) can make you a danger to yourself and others, and requires medication.
On the other hand, constantly worrying is a slow kind of death. To break this habit, I was helped a great deal by Dale Carnegie's classic book, "How To Stop Worrying and Start Living." I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Good luck to you-
Gracie
poster:Gracie2
thread:72927
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010731/msgs/73218.html