The Linden Method Answers Your Questions

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

The Linden Method provides the answers you seek. These aren’t just textbook interpretations. Author Charles Linden went through years of anxiety and panic until he found out what really works.

I know he’s been there, because so have I, which is why I can honestly recommend the Linden Method for overcoming panic and anxiety disorder.

This is what you’ll learn in this package.

  • Understanding anxiety and panic disorder
  • What are social anxiety, social phobia, panic, de-realization
  • How to quickly stop pending anxiety attacks
  • How to cure anxiety and panic disorder
  • Relaxation techniques

After carefully reviewing this package, I’m impressed. Charles Linden clearly understand what it’s like to have anxiety and panic disorder, as well as the depression that commonly occurs in people with these disorders.

As far as I’m concerned, only a person who’s been there could provide this quality of help.

Most of you will be able to relate to his story. You get to walk along with him as he explains his own experiences in seeking a cure for the illness that was devastating his life. He wanted happiness, just like the rest of us, but his condition was preventing him from achieving his goals. He was obsessed with his condition and this took up all of his waking moments.

As a former anxiety and panic sufferer myself, I can see that he knows what he’s talking about. He’s not just someone who has studied the subject and written a book. He’s been there.

The fact he’s willing to share such intimate details impressed me as much as the advice he provides.

Imagine being able to start over from scratch, to the time before your anxiety and panic attacks struck. Who doesn’t want that? Well, that’s what he did and he explains how he did it, then he teaches you exactly what you have to do to recover too.

I particularly liked the audios he provides with his instruction manual. In and of themselves, they are comforting. Charles has the type of voice that immediately calms you. From his compassionate voice you can tell he actually cares about his clients.

While the extensive manual gives you an excellent insight into how anxiety and panic develop and feed off themselves, the audios offer clear explanations.

I really liked the relaxation audio that runs for about 30 minutes. This audio alone is worth a listen whether you have anxiety or not. I found it very soothing and effective. In minutes, I felt the tension melt away. It was quite amazing, actually.

Charles seems to be an excellent coach because you immediately feel like you’ve know him awhile. He speaks smoothly and compassionately as he teaches you how to free yourself from the thought processes that have been keeping you in that anxiety-ridden state.

And if you have any problems after applying The Linden Method, his office is ready to provide the backup counseling to assist you. This is a unique addition because other programs I’ve seen do not offer any follow-up help. With other programs, you’re pretty much on your own. Not so here.

Other treatments hindered his recovery

Charles goes another step and provides you with more insight that might sound familiar, like how other treatments actually hindered his recovery.

You’ll read about his various treatments and his experiences with medical doctors and psychiatrists. No doubt, you’ll recognize and relate to some of what he reveals. I know I did.

He outlines the various types of anxiety and its related conditions. Among the conditions described are social anxiety, social phobia, panic, de-realization and that dread of losing control over your thoughts and your life. I’m sure most of you will relate to that disturbing feeling.

Trust is important when you’re seeking treatment for anxiety and panic disorder. His compassionate approach almost forces you to trust him. You really can’t help it.

Long before I finished the first audio, I began to believe that with this system anyone could be cured, that they can overcome their anxiety and panic attacks for good.

Charles also details the steps necessary for you to achieve a permanent solution to your anxiety and panic condition. Their simplicity will surprise you, but he stresses that you must do exactly as he explains.

He shows you how to make the transition from your usual support systems, like doctors and medications, to self-support. Replace your old life, burdened by anxiety and all of its symptoms, to become anxiety and panic-free.

Charles goes directly to the core of what perpetuates anxiety and teaches you how to proceed effectively so you can begin to feel your condition retreat. You’ll learn how to replace old damaging habits that are enabling your anxiety with healthy ones that nurture well-being and healing.

I like the fact he’s been through so much and has studied so extensively before developing The Linden Method. Clearly, he is committed to helping others. It is evident in this massive and thorough package that he’s put together. It incorporates all that he’s learned about anxiety and panic and also includes one-on-one counseling support from his trained staff.

My opinion of The Linden Method

I’ve reviewed several panic and anxiety books and can say that The Linden Method for anxiety treatment is one of the most in-depth and complete packages I’ve seen.

Based on my own personal story, I can honestly tell you that your anxiety and panic can be eliminated forever. My last attack was in 1983 while I was under considerable stress. It was one attack that lasted about 20 minutes. I’ve had none since.

Who am I?

I reviewed this product as a former panic anxiety sufferer and as a journalist who has studied the topic in-depth. My experience with the Canadian Mental Health Association made me even more aware of just how widespread panic and anxiety are across the country and around the globe.

Having experienced the debilitating effects of panic and anxiety first hand, I decided to use my research skills to help people like you. (You can read my story here)

In light of my own experience and in talking with other sufferers, I believe you will find the information you seek here. I can see how you will be helped by The Linden Method for anxiety treatment, because I’ve been there, but only you can make the final determination.

Having gone through several treatment options myself and look through some current programs, I’m convinced this program will help you overcome your anxiety forever. This is one comprehensive package.

The Linden Method for Anxiety Treatment offers permanent recovery from anxiety and panic disorders

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What is a Nervous Breakdown and How Do You Fix It?

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

We’ve all heard the expression, “nervous breakdown”, but what does that mean, exactly?

First off, what makes people think they are having a nervous breakdown? Is it the moment they feel they have lost all ability to cope with their lives and all the stresses that come with it?

What are the symptoms they are experiencing at that time? Probably the most prominent is their minds are spinning. They can’t get a grip on any one thought because they all blend together as one chaotic mess. It’s impossible to think straight, to sort things out. They might also have lost their energy and are unable to get up in the morning and complete their daily tasks. They can’t cope with the simplest concept.

In short, they think they are going mad. After all, isn’t madness the inability to care for yourself because your mind has gone awry? It’s a terrifying concept, to be sure. But does a person really go mad?

We’ve seen the stereotypical images in movies of people wandering the halls of darkened institutions, staring straight ahead, shuffling their feet, and mumbling repeated phrases to themselves. They don’t recognize others or know themselves. You can’t communicate with them and they can’t communicate with you.

In actuality, total madness that is depicted in movies is very rare and generally is not caused by the person having too much stress. Yet this is the image we might conjure up when we think of someone having a nervous breakdown.

The fact is, “nervous breakdown” is not a medically recognized term. It is a blanket term used to explain more the feeling than the actual condition. A “nervous breakdown” has nothing to do with nerves. It’s a breakdown of the adrenal system.

If you think about stress, you will make the connection with anxiety and it’s symptoms. You will notice that when under stress, your heart will race, your body will sweat, and your thoughts will speed up. The adrenal glands are designed to cause these changes so that you are prepared to react to danger. When the real danger never appears, however, the built-up apprehension and body changes are not released as they normally would be if a bear came at you and you ran away to safety.

When the body is under consistent stress, the adrenal glands continue to work until they begin to tire out. That’s when the body has reached the point of adrenal fatigue.

In doing it’s job, the adrenal glands produce 50 or more different hormones that are essential for life. They help our bodies to manage fat, regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, and manage the body’s energy sources.

The hormone, cortisol, helps to keep our body systems balanced and protect body cells.

In effect, the adrenal glands help to predict our longevity. The healthier the adrenal glands, the longer we can expect to live healthy lives.

Unfortunately, chronic stress hampers the ability of the adrenal glands to do their jobs. Consequently, we experience increased difficulty concentrating, our energy levels drop significantly, and we become even less able to cope with stress.

Among the symptoms of adrenal fatigue are lowered sex drive, depression, muscle weakness, lightheadedness, increased menopausal or menstrual symptoms, cravings for foods that are high in fat and salt, and persistent tiredness even after a night’s sleep.

What can you do about Adrenal Fatigue?

As with anxiety and panic disorders, adrenal fatigue can be eased by:

  • Learning to laugh more often and to have fun
  • Be sure to get enough rest
  • Stay away from negative people
  • Eat regularly and nutritiously (no junk food, processed foods, fats, salt)
  • Take vitamin and magnesium supplements, including vitamin C & E
  • Take Vitamin B complex supplements that are high in Vitamin B6
  • Replace table salt with sea salt
  • Reduce stress by eliminating the things that are causing it
  • Participate in activities that help you to relax. Use music therapy, find your special place of peace and solitude and go there often. Let the stress fade away and the quiet replace it.

The longer and more severe your condition, the longer it will take to recover. It can take anywhere from six months to two years. Keep this in mind. Don’t think your efforts are not working or aren’t working fast enough. Be persistent with your program and you will recover from anxiety, stress and adrenal fatigue.

If you feel you are under too much stress, you need to deal with it now before it ruins your health.  This will help.

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Panic Away Review

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

Panic Away Review

Panic Away Review“What does Panic Away do? How can it help me?”

Panic Away provides a very simple technique that shows you how to stop a panic attack instantly. It is called the One Move™ technique. The concept behind this method seems to be that it distracts you from the fear of having an panic attack.

My first impression of the One Move™ was that it sounded similar to the Pavlovian dog experiments. In case you aren’t familiar with them, they were based on studies conducted on dogs to retrain their responses. By applying discomfort (mild electric shock) if the dog made the wrong choice, researchers were able to get the animal to make the right choice.

Now, Panic Away‘s methods don’t use discomfort or pain, but the concept seems to be based on doing something that causes you to change direction, mentally.

I remember once the suggestion that if you have a headache, bang your toe to take your mind off your headache and it would be cured. I suppose a sore toe certainly would take your attention off your aching head.

With Panic Away, when the fear begins, you make specific painless mental shifts that force your mind to change direction, similar to my example. After persistent use of this technique, your panic is supposed to be cured.

To be perfectly honest, I cannot claim to have used Panic Away or experienced its effectiveness because by the time I discovered Panic Away, I had already recovered from my disorder. When I first read about his technique I began to doubt it’s effectiveness. That is, until I reviewed my own recovery process.

What I can tell you now is that when I was going through the recovery stage, I did implement similar techniques to stop my panic. It wasn’t the One Move™ exactly, but I do understand the concepts that enable both my own methods and the One Move™ to work.

For this reason, I can honestly say that Panic Away tells you exactly how to stop a panic attack.

Of course, everyone is different so the results can vary. Apart from the technique that the author, Joe Barry, has developed, Panic Away also covers other important factors including nutritional information that will help to combat stress, a very real component of anxiety.

Joe also reviews the value of medications and whether or not you need to add them to your treatment program. Although there is evidence that medications are not a cure, they can be very helpful for people who need some relief from their symptoms in order for any treatment to be successful.

Lastly, he includes a mini health lesson on how the human body works and how it can sometimes go astray.

These details are enlightening.

They help you to understand how you got where you are today, what anxiety is all about, and what’s needed to break away from the fear/panic cycle.

All this information seems to back up the claim made by Joe Barry that your condition can be cured using his technique. The key is to follow the instructions and apply the technique exactly as explained.

Panic Away teaches you how to stop a panic attack quickly. The steps he teaches also provide a way for you to build a defense against future attacks.

Joe Barry is a survivor

I like that Joe puts his own story out there. As a survivor myself, I can see that he truly has experienced this troubling disorder.

He shares with you the years of anxiety and panic attacks that he endured. Tired of all the treatments that didn’t work, he created his own successful cure.

If you’ve experienced panic, you’ll understand as I did what Joe Barry means when he talks about a sensation of being disconnected from the real world. Or you might be familiar with the all-consuming fear that sweeps over you at the height of an attack.

You’ve also experienced the fear of a recurring panic attack and worried that you might not survive another one.

Believe me, I know what that feels like. At this point, it’s hard to accept that you will not be injured, physically or mentally, by an anxiety attack, but Joe helps you to understand in Panic Away. Being constantly afraid, sensing a heart attack, disconnectedness and loss of control are some of the common symptoms he talks about in the book.

Learn More About Panic Away Here

The Book

Joe takes you through the realm of anxiety from its physical manifestations to the mental ones.

In simple language, he explains the physical effects: trembling, dilated pupils, respiratory changes and racing heart, and then provides answers.

Going through the mental symptoms, he talks about the moment that panic strikes, along with a fear that is so overwhelming that some people become frozen, unable to step outside and get on with their daily routine. The dread that something terrible is going to happen is a common concern.

Many aspects of anxiety are based on the ‘fight or flight’ response that humans and animals experience when they are faced with danger or, more commonly today, perceived danger. In the anxious mind, fear has control, and this is explained quite well in Panic Away.

By explaining the concept of anxiety and the pursuant panic, Joe helps you to understand how to react to it in the future. He shows you how you’ve trained yourself to react in the past, and how this can be reversed quickly.

Step by step, he leads you through the stages of panic and how his One Move™ technique stops it in its tracks. This prevents the attack from worsening so you don’t have to endure the fear that follows those first symptoms of an impending attack.

After teaching you his One Move™ and explaining how it works, he discusses Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Building a strong defence is imperative to ward off any lingering fears, he says. He shows you how to do that in a simple, straightforward manner.

Joe offers other ways to stop anxiety and strengthen your body against further panic attacks forever.

What I liked about Panic Away is that you can tell it’s written by someone who has experienced the same fears and anxiety responses that you have. It was easy for me to identify with what he was saying… unlike some other products I’ve seen where it’s soon evident the author just hasn’t been there and really doesn’t relate to the issues we sufferers face.

Joe encourages you, letting you know you can be cured, your confidence can be restored, and your life can return to normal. His approach will help tremendously because it gets you into the mindset that recovery is actually possible. I really liked that positive support.

If you want to know to stop a panic attack and stop anxiety fast, I highly recommend Panic Away.

To learn more about Panic Away, Click Here!

Posted in Admin Updates, Panic Away | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stress and Mental Health – What You Can Do To Ease Them

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

Since there is a proven connection between stress and mental health, it makes sense to tackle them before serious problems take over. You do that by finding an escape route, a secret place where you can go to dispel the stress build-up and ease your mind.

1. Get A Massage

Pampering yourself is one way to cope with stress. Visit your local health spa and indulge yourself in one of their traditional massages. This is a great way to loosen those knotted muscles and relax while experts do all the work. Shiatsu is considered to be a good choice.

2. Aromatherapy

There are certain scents from plant extracts that can greatly affect our mood. Enjoy an aromatherapy session along with your massage. Buy some incense or oils from your local shops. Use them in your home to relax you. Also, the smell will also have some effect on those around you for a calmer atmosphere.

3. Listen To Music

Music is an excellent soother, especially where stress exists. Listening to your favorite music will relax you and bring your body back into its natural rhythm. Give it a try. You might surprise yourself.

4. Visualization and Biofeedback

If you haven’t tried these, you will be amazed when you do. These have given me some of the most relaxing moments I can ever imagine. They come pretty close to how I feel when I venture into the wilderness, away from home and job and all the stress that goes with them. Have you ever floated on a cloud? I have. Here’s how I did it.

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How To Stop An Anxiety Attack With Biofeedback Exercises

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

I can tell you exactly how to stop an anxiety attack. One method that works amazingly well for me is distraction. The instant an attack strikes, I can stop it simply by getting angry at it. In other words, I fight back. I refuse to accept it into my body and my life.

The fact that this really works might astound you, but believe me, it does. I’ve used it lots of times with great results.

Sometimes, the anger is directed at myself for being so weak and letting something so ridiculous put me in such a defensive state. In other areas of my life, I fight back. I defend my position, my opinions. People have pressured me, but soon backed down because I will not simply sit back and let them control me.

But when it came to anxiety attacks, things were different. And then one day, I regained my confidence and took a similar stand there as well.

When the attack was not imminent, I discovered ways to stay relaxed, to control my feelings and my thinking. Biofeedback was just one tool that is very useful.

Here’s how it works. You attach these painless little electrodes to your finger which are attached to your computer and from there, to a biofeedback exercise program. The images that appear in the program can be manipulated by you, simply by controlling your thinking and your body’s reactions.

That program is called Wild Divine. It’s a lot of fun. Go see!

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why Visualization Is One Of The Best Panic Attack Remedies

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

I’ve tried the obvious panic attack remedies – namely, professional therapy and medication. The problem is that when the sessions finally ended two years later, I was not totally cured. I still hand lingering discomfort related to anxiety and panic.

The fear that an attack could strike at any moment didn’t help. That’s when I did a lot of reading on visualization and relaxation remedies. The first time I tried relaxation, I had help from a psychiatrist who taught me how to perform self-hypnosis. I talk about this method in another post.

It was just the beginning.

Using the methods detailed in some of those books, I learned how to lie quietly, listen to soothing music (Hawaiian instrumental worked best for me), and visualize something that pleased me – a scene that was extremely welcoming and stress-free.

My visualization came in the form of a magic carpet that was carried up onto the breeze, circled a tropical island just off shore, and returned to the beach. All the while, I could hear the birds, the waves – and the music in the background. It was quite amazing. I actually felt myself drifting up off the floor.

Relaxation – along with visualization – is a fantastic tool to relieve stress, which is at the root of the majority of panic attacks.

When we feel inadequate and overwhelmed, we develop stress. If we do not relieve that stress, we become agitated. We are constantly tense and worried. It stands to reason that our bodies cannot stand that kind of pressure indefinitely. Something has to snap.

And it does, through panic attacks.

Relaxation with visualization calm the body and the mind. It’s difficult to explain exactly how great this works until you try it.

Back in the 70s I think it was, people discovered visualization and how to use it to get into a certain frame of mind. They also learned about something called biofeedback.

I recall going to our local fair and experiencing biofeedback. It was interesting to see how I can affect the monitor simply by changing my thinking and relaxing my body.

Shortly afterwards, I added it to my other effective panic attack remedies.

This program, Wild Divine, teaches you exactly how to do that for maximum results. You can read my review here, where I explain how it works it more detail. What I liked about this program is that it’s actually fun to do. You’ll see when you click through to find out more.

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Where Can You Find Help For Anxiety?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

I was fortunate in that I found help for anxiety quickly, although it was actually panic by the time I did. I waited too long, instead of seeking help as soon as anxiety struck. What I discovered during my recovery is that many people just do not have much sympathy for someone with a mental condition. They think you are just exaggerating to get attention.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

The last thing most anxiety suffers want is for people to constantly pander to them in this way. They want honesty. They want support. And they want to know they can trust you.

That’s why it’s important that you do not downplay the problem. Instead, seek help for anxiety in your own backyard.

It helps to know the situations that trigger the anxiety. Then, you can find help in some of the great relaxation and biofeedback programs that are available.

For me, learning to escape my own fearful thoughts was essential.

That’s when I discovered how soothing music and visualization can be beneficial. Here’s an excellent system that will quickly diminish fear and anxiety.

Here’s a post on biofeedback therapy that you might want to read.

If you want help for anxiety, this is a great place to start.

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Keys to Managing Workplace Stress – And Other Stressful Situations

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

It doesn’t have to be difficult managing workplace stress, or any other form of stress if you take the upper hand quickly.

Stress is a permanent feature of our lives, but it really seems to ramp up at work. More than two-thirds of American workers report that workplace stress is a problem.

Simply making decisions and taking action can be one of the most immediate ways to relieve stress. Take a moment whenever you feel stressed, identify the things in your mind that are contributing to your state, and then do something about them. That’s all there is to this simple technique.

Having to play a role in a meeting can cause significant stress in people who are just not comfortable speaking in public. There is a way to ease your stress. Mentally rehearse the situation that causing you to feel stressed. In this scenario, visualize the meeting you’re about to walk into and rehearse what happens.

Imagine yourself successfully completing tasks that give you trouble. Visualize feeling calm and in control. This type of mental rehearsal can help you actually attain these feelings when the situation becomes reality. Many top athletes use this type of stress reduction to help them excel.

Here’s a stress relief method that is guaranteed to work! It’s really quite amazing. I use it all the time when I feel stressed so I can contest to the fact that it will relieve your stress fast… almost instantly, in fact.

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Panic Attack Treatments: Do You Really Need Them?

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

You could go it alone, but you don’t have to when there are some quality panic attack treatments around. How do I know this? Because I suffered with panic and anxiety disorder for years.

For me, recovery began with my therapist who sat and listened to my lengthy sagas about my most recent feelings and fears. My file was immense two years later when we parted ways.

Oh, I wasn’t cured, exactly. He just decided that he couldn’t really help me much more than what he had, with the medications and talk therapy. That’s when I realized I’d have to go the rest of the way myself.

Today, I can barely recall what I did, but I can assure you it was directly linked to learning how to relax and become more confident in myself and my abilities. That was only part of the solution, however. While extremely helpful, the thing that helped me the most was learning how to control the fears that welled up every time panic hit.

It’s not easy to explain, because it seemed like one day I just knew how to turn it off. I just did it. I sensed the fear and did a quick evaluation of the situation (what was happening, why and what I needed to do to stop it). By switching my thinking, I succeeded.

From then on, turning off the anxiety and panic was easy. Just like turning off a switch in my mind. It was quite amazing, actually. Once I’d learned how to do that, I felt wonderful. At that moment, I knew that I never had to succumb to a panic attack again.

Read my review of one of the best panic attack treatments that I’ve found that demonstrates what I learned. I’ve reviewed this treatment, too.

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How To Use Hypnosis As An Anxiety Relief Remedy

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

You can hire a hypnotist or you can hypnotise yourself. I’ve done it and you can too, if you are serious about finding an anxiety relief remedy that works when you want it to.

Find some relaxing music. If you don’t have any, there are a lot of great CDs around. Choose something you enjoy that also calms you. For me, it is Hawaiian instrumental music. I find it extremely relaxing, plus it enables me to easily conjure up images of those luscious islands, blue skies and sandy beaches.

Turn on the music, then find a comfortable and quite place to do the exercise. This can be in your easy chair, lying on your bed or even lying on the floor next to the music so that it fills your head. This last option is my favorite because I can also feel the music coming through the floor. It works kind of like a mini-massage.

Put your attention on the music, the instruments, the various tones and lilts in the music. Think of nothing else but what you are hearing from the CD. When I do this, with my head on the floor between the speakers, I reach such a relaxed state that I feel I’m lifting off the floor. It’s quite amazing.

As you can imagine, with all that music and rhythm flowing through my body, it’s pretty much impossible to feel anxious.

Next, focus on whatever causes your anxiety. If you don’t know exactly what that is, then think about the anxiety itself. Put it into perspective as it relates to your good days. Visualize yourself floating out of the anxious state and into total calmness.

For me, this meant imagining my beach blanket floating up into the air and sweeping smoothly around the island in front of me. I feel safe and comfortable as I drift on the breeze and listen to the birds, the rustling leaves and the waves.

Practice this type of exercise yourself until you reach that point where your body feels light. Feel it drift on the air on a magic carpet. Believe that you can achieve this level of peace whenever you please. Prove it by doing this exercise every single day.

Eventually, you will have created your own auto-suggestion. Whenever you feel anxiety coming on, you can switch on the suggestion that is filled with calm images and thoughts.

This anxiety relief remedy worked for me many years ago, and although I no longer need it, I do enjoy using it just to escape stress and information overload. It works wonders!

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Stopping Panic Attacks: Your Mind Has The Answer

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

I know all about panic attacks and how they can consume your life. For many years, I struggled to stop them. Initially, I failed. My thoughts were too obsessed with the condition to think of anything positive.

Then, one day I discovered that my panic attacks were getting rather tiresome. That sounds odd, doesn’t it? But it’s true. I’d thought about nothing else for about five years, but the early days were vivid memories of the terror I experienced.

Fortunately, learning inspires me. Whatever comes across my path, I want to know more. Panic was no different. The books I read on the subject would fill an elephant.

Some of the most inspiring ones focused on self confidence. It wasn’t long before the idea that a lack of confidence was in large part responsible for my panic attacks.

Begin constantly negative was all part of that condition. Everything began with a negative thought. But then one day, I came across Dr. Norman Vincent Peale’s book, “The Power of Positive Thinking.” I highly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with confidence issues.

It led me to more books on building self confidence. It took some effort to turn my attention away from the panic disorder and towards the positives in my life.

At that time, I needed a job and was working on my resume. That’s when my life flashed before me. Look at all the positive things in my life? My accomplishments. My strengths. My successes. I’d forgotten about those.

Suddenly, stopping panic attacks was as easy as working on my confidence. It began by rejecting all negative thoughts and allowing only the positive ones into my conscious and subconscious.

Right now, you’re probably thinking, “That’s hogwash! It won’t work. Positive thinking doesn’t help. It’s nonsense.”

Well, I can tell you that if you do it correctly, it certainly does work. The concept is simple, but it’s not easy. You must constantly be aware of your thoughts. You have to make the decision right now that you will think only positive thoughts. The moment a negative one intrudes, beat it out with an opposite positive response.

It’s so easy to allow negativity to be your first answer to any problem or situation in your life. I did it for years. I still do it, but not nearly as badly as I did when I suffered panic attacks.

You have to work at it constantly. Do that, and you will soon discover how stopping panic attacks can be as sudden as a change of thought.

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

How To Stop Anxiety Before It Starts

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

Obviously, once you are in a state of anxiety, you’re not in any mental state to figure your way out of it. Until you learn what to do to stop anxiety before it starts, you’ll just have to let it run its course.

Believe me, I know. I remember all too well what it felt like to have an anxiety attack and feel so overwhelmed, puzzled, afraid and scattered. You can’t think of anything else, can you? It takes over your entire being, from your body to your mind.

Fortunately, it does end. Personally, I think it’s because your body eventually tires of it and decides to stop fighting. That’s when the attack goes away.

Why do I say that? Because now that I have recovered from anxiety disorder, I can easily study what’s happening. Here’s an example.

Not long ago, I felt anxiety coming on. Admittedly, I didn’t recognize it at the very beginning and just started to become afraid, wondering what the heck this was. I thought I might be sick. You know, like when you have a vague health issue that you can’t identify until it develops into a real problem.

Well, yes. I did feel it heading towards panic. My mind began to race, my heart started to speed up, my hands got a little clammy and I couldn’t focus on anything else.

And then, I stopped myself. That’s right. I stopped the process. I recognized it was an anxiety attack and knew where it could end up. I’d been there many times.

I quickly turned my attention to relaxing, something I’d learned how to do some time ago. I thought, “Hang on. This is just anxiety. It doesn’t have to get worse. Just relax. Take your mind off it. You know exactly where it’s coming from. Shut it off, now.”

And I did. But it started by taking a logical look at the anxiety. I knew it couldn’t hurt me and I also knew that I could control it whenever I wanted. Had I not taken control at that point, it surely would have gotten much worse. But it didn’t.

You can do that too. It takes a bit of practice, but start by putting the whole episode into perspective. Tell yourself, “It’s just anxiety.” This tends to downplay its importance. Think of what just happened to cause it.

In my case, I’d been worried about finances, money owing to me that doesn’t seem to want to arrive while the bills are flooding in the door. It could get serious. I could lose my house, my car. I might have to give up my dog.

I have good reason to be anxious, but I know it’s a useless event. It doesn’t solve my problems. It doesn’t provide me with any answers, just questions. I need answers, so that’s the direction I turned my attention… looking for answers. You need to do that, because you know inside that anxiety doesn’t appear unless something happened to trigger it.

It’s all about perspective and how well you can learn to turn your thoughts in the right direction on command. That’s how you stop anxiety before it overwhelms you. Practice it the instant you feel anxious. Ask yourself right away, “What was I just thinking about? What has been on my mind lately?”

Figure that out and then you’ll see why you’re anxious, and you’ll realize that anxiety is not the solution but an outcome of your stress.

Do this, and you will surprise yourself when you see how easy it really is to stop anxiety on your own.

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Overcoming Social Anxiety Disorder: The Next Step

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

You’re probably skeptical right now that you can ever expose yourself to social situations without feeling like you’re going to collapse. Overcoming social anxiety is not easy, that’s true. I know, because I’ve suffered with it in various phases all of my life, beginning as a shy child.

I’m here now to tell you that you can beat it. I did and my life has never been so fulfilling. It meant venturing into an entirely new career at the age of 38. What’s more, this new career exposed me to some very difficult social situations. After all, I had to put myself right on the line to interview people, attend meetings, photograph community events, and more.

So how did I do it?

Well, my therapist got me started when he treated my anxiety disorder. The rest was up to me. I put myself out there.

With some trepidation, I entered my first day of journalism class absolutely convinced that everyone was eyeing me. After all, I was the oldest student there.

I found one other person who was close to my age and we struck up a conversation. I did that a lot… looked for someone who was a little reserved as opposed to those grandstanding attention-seekers. This helped tremendously. We hung out together a lot.

Gradually, I met a few more people. Because the work occupied my mind so intensely, I had surprisingly few thoughts about what people thought about me or my presence. I put my head down and got my work done.

When my first test came back with top marks, I was so uplifted I thought I’d float away. I’d never received good marks in school. In fact, I was very bad. This proved that I was not the dumb person I’d thought I was.

If you can find your strengths and focus all your attentions on them, you will discover as I did that society is not all that important. Knowing and proving that you are good at something and that you can overcome anything you set your mind to is a huge step in the right direction.

So find a way to take your mind off of what everyone thinks and establish within yourself a true confidence and strength based on your massive potential.

Overcoming social anxiety isn’t easy, but it really isn’t impossible either.

.

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Self Confidence Exercises To Help Cure Anxiety

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

Anxiety and low self confidence tend to go hand in hand. Who knows which comes first? The important thing is that you can do something about it right now by giving yourself  a self confidence quiz. Begin with this quick  self-evaluation.

1. Find out what you are good at. You might need to reach back into the archives to find the answers, even to your elementary school grade reports. That’s what I did. I forgot that I was so good at writing and art. As soon as I started doing them again, I had found the perfect escape from my anxiety.

2. Decide which you would still like to do, especially if they are things you are no longer doing today. As our lives mature, we tend to drop the very things that made us happy, whether it’s playing sports, being active, studying our favourite topics, or helping someone.

Maybe you just like learning. I know I do, but I didn’t do much in school. I was depressed, sad, lacked confidence and self esteem, and felt unwanted and unaccepted. It was tough. We moved every year so making friends was difficult for this shy girl.

When I was struggling with my anxiety and panic attacks, I delved into my school records and began learning again. I took night courses. I watched all the educational shows that related to topics that interested me. Soaps and other time-wasting shows held little interest for me. Except MASH. I loved that show.

The more time I put into studying, the less time I had to be anxious or to think about my lack of self confidence. In actuality, I became anxious for a different reason. I was anxious to get my marked lessons back because I was getting such high marks. I loved the praise and that boosted my confidence levels like you would not believe.

3. Try hypnosis to relax and build confidence. This is another method that worked extremely well for me. By going into a relaxed state and envisioning myself doing successful things, I felt wonderful.

If you want to know how to build self confidence, go here and download a free self confidence quiz.

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

How To Stop A Panic Attack With Exercise

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Sylvia Dickens

Want to know how to stop a panic attack? Exercise.

Probably the last thing you want to do when you’re having a panic attack is exercise. You’re more likely to want to hide out somewhere that feels familiar and safe.

The fact is, when you are having a panic attack, your body WANTS to do something physical. It is geared up for running.

Your heart is pumping extra blood throughout your body and into your muscles. Your body is tight, which translates into strength. If you were escaping a dangerous situation, you would use your muscles and power to succeed.

This is exactly why you should give your body what it wants. It wants to use up the adrenalin that fear has produced. It wants to save itself from the danger.

When you have a panic attack, the danger is not so obvious as a bear chasing you, but the fear is no less real. So put yourself in that frame of mind next time you have a panic attack and have a plan to “escape” – through exercise.

This is easy to do if you have an exercycle in your home, or a treadmill. If not, you can jog, dig in your garden or anything else that uses up adrenalin and energy.

When you’re done, your attack will be gone. Then, you will be in a more relaxed state so that you can see what happened from a calmer state.

Try it. It can’t hurt. But you should know, it worked for me.

Posted in Admin Updates | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment