Courage and panic attacks -Part 8

Courage and Panic Attacks

People who have never experienced a panic attack
often judge the anxious person harshly.

The outsider has no real comprehension of
what is happening to the person experiencing
a panic attack and wonders why they fear
to do the simplest things.

I know myself that I could not understand how
overnight I went from being a confident young
man to someone who became anxious of 
common everyday situations.

Going places took on a whole new dimension
as I constantly evaluated if being there might
trigger a panic attack. 

I had to force myself to do very simple things
like go to the cinema or drive in traffic.
As a man that type of anxiety really erodes
self confidence, as so much of male self esteem
comes from being perceived as strong and brave.

...but here I was afraid to queue at the bank! 

Today I know better. Through my own journey
and all those I have worked with, I know now
that anxiety disorders have nothing to do with
a persons level of bravery.

I know this to be true because I have worked with
many people from the 'bravest' professions around.
Firemen, policemen, soldiers. All of them admired
by others for their bravery. 

Some of these individuals would actually prefer
to run into a burning building than stay awake
at night with a panic attack.

That sounds strange but it isn't really.
In a burning building they knew what to do and
how to handle the situation. During a panic
attack they felt powerless and out of control. 

What you have to remember is that panic attacks
and general anxiety have no relationship to the
level of courage an individual has. In fact it has
nothing to do with the world out there, -it is a
problem born out of an internal crisis.

It is easy to feel brave and fearless in the world
when your internal world feels safe but when you
feel those internal walls have been breached by fear,
then your confidence is rocked. The danger you fear
becomes internal. Your psychic foundations feel
vulnerable.

That is where the crisis originates. The doubting
of your ability to handle the sensations
shakes your inner confidence and that is
what the fear feeds off.

It is a crisis of confidence in your body and mind's
ability to handle the stress. This crisis however
does not stop the bravery.

People with anxiety actually do the bravest of things.
 
They get up each day and get on with life. Picking
themselves up after each and every setback.
It does not make headline news but it counts
because it is real bravery, true courage.

To the untrained eye it does not seem like such
a big deal to simply drive out of state, attend church,
or go shopping. However for the person with anxiety, that
experience can be a massive accomplishment, especially
if they have tried and failed many times before.
 
The good news is:

This bravery does not go unrewarded.

Once the person has triumphed over their anxiety
problem, they develop an inner strength that the
average person never gets to develop.

You see, no matter how many brave things you do in
the world, if you have not been challenged on an
inner level, then you miss out on the opportunity
to develop real inner strength.

That is the hidden opportunity anxiety presents to you.
To become a bigger person than you already are.
That is what you take from the challenge of anxiety.

It does not matter if you have not reached that
point yet. The journey is unique to everyone so
do not judge your progress against others.

The only thing that matters is that you persist.

Persistence will ensure your success.

To learn more visit
http://s6.adwatcher.net/barrymcd/tracker.php?t=20

 

Kind Regards
Joe Barry
http://s6.adwatcher.net/barrymcd/tracker.php?t=20

 

 

All material provided in these emails are for informational or educational purposes only.
No content is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice,
diagnosis or treatment. Consult your physician regarding the applicability
of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your
symptoms or medical condition

Panic Away
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