Michael's Story
Back to Panic Prevention Program
"I
began to panic, I had to get out"
"I had recently being going through a very stressful time with family
life and, on a trip to a historic monument which involved visiting a very
dark crowded tomb, I began to panic, I had to get out. I thought that
Icould not beathe, was suffocating, and was going to die. My heart was
pounding in my chest. I ran outside and the feelings gradually began to
subside."
"I start feeling panicky on buses, trains, anywhere I could not
escape immediately"
"However in the days and months after that I gradually began to generalise
the anxious feeling and started feeling panicky on buses, trains, anywhere
I felt I could not escape immediately and would have a panic attack quickly.
I went on a trip to the UK, panicked on the plane, in a car and the underground.
I hated every minute and could not wait to get home."
"It
was affecting my everyday life"
"Before I knew it I started panicking in meetings at work and it
was effecting my everyday life. I went to my doctor and he prescribed
Lexotan, very strong relation medication for my problem. I travelled to
America on holiday and hated every minute because I was either panicking
or afraid I would panic. I had to stand close to exits in shops and would
actively avoid crowds. I felt dilapidated. I was at my wits end and could
not fight it anymore, and I felt I was no longer in control, my fear and
panic ruled my life."
"I
felt taking pills didn't help"
"I felt taking pills didn't help, they provided short-term relief
to a long term problem, which I felt was mainly psychological. I went
looking on the internet I found the panic attack website and read the
testimonials and thought I would try out the audio tape."
"I
listened to the tape once and realised all I believed about panic attacks
was wrong"
"I listened to the tape [Panic Prevention Program] once and realised
that all I believed about panic attacks was wrong - instead of fighting
each attack I should accept it, fighting it only made it worse. I learnt
the breathing techniques to control and relax my mind and heart rate and
the tape challenged my beliefs about panic-attacks, their origins, effects
and purpose."
"I
have not suffered one panic attack since"
"I have been to the UK and America 3 times since I got the tape and
used the breathing techniques whenever I felt a little anxious, and with
my changed beliefs I have not suffered 1 panic attack since. I have remained
in full control and learned to accept a little anxiety as a normal feeling
not a prelude to a full blown panic attack."
"I
am forever grateful"
"I have gotten control of my life back, I have even become more confident
in my everyday life knowing I can live normally again. I now look forward
to my trips away, not dread them for weeks before, like I used to. I would
have never thought this possible before. Thank you so very much. I am
forever grateful."
Michael, IT Profesional, Dublin, Ireland, May 2005
(We are grateful to Michael for taking the time to write his story and
allowing us to publish it on the website.)
