Re: Stress has Triggered SEVERE Anxiety/Panic Attacks. PLEASE HELP, PLEASE!

Hi, and I am sorry to read about your experiencest. 

What you are describing sounds like a severe anxiety disorder and you've not developed a hormonal disorder, according to the medical exams and tests - good for you for getting that done, too!  It simply rules out organic conditions that could be present, so good for you.

I have suffered severe anxiety disorder, myself, and I've witnessed it in many, many others.  It doesn't just come from nowhere - there is a "cause" for this physiological reaction.  When we were hunter-gatherers, a certain level of anxiety was "healthy" because it was our gut instincts warning us to be aware and wary and preparing us for a possible fight-or-flight-response.  Nowadays, severe anxiety is recognized as a reaction to some kind of trigger, typically traumatic in nature.

So that you know that you're not alone, my anxiety disorder was so pronounced that I was virtually agoraphobic - I couldn't leave my house without extreme reactions and I wound up in the Emergency Room on a number of occasions with the belief that I was having a hear attack. 

Right.......so, there has been some sort of "trigger" for you - something that has reminded you of something that happened where you were either hurt, injured, or traumatized, and that's what is causing this reaction. 

Here are some tools that I use, myself, and practice when I am not in the throes of a panic attack:

*  controlled deep breathing IN to the count of 4, and OUT to the count of 5

*  "getting into The Now," which is simply taking note of where my hands are, what I'm walking upon, textures, colors, aromas, temperatures, etc., of where I am, right now (sounds like voo-doo, but it really, REALLY works with practice)

*  EFT-tapping which is not, by any stretch of the imagination, some mysterious technique!  Cross your arms or wrists, and rhythmically tap the opposite thigh or elbow using alternating hands.  Right hand taps left leg/elbow, left hand taps right leg/elbow and do it with a gentle rhythm.

Strict aside, EFT-tapping works by incorporating the left and right hemispheres, together, at the same time.  Typically, when in the spiral of a panic vortex, the FEELING side of the brain has kicked in and there is no stopping it.  "The Now" works by negating the past and future so that past fear-based reactions and future fear-based reactions are replaced with simply being in the present.  And, you know all about controlled breathing because of your athletic knowledge.

There are many, many, many techniques to managing anxiety, but the option that might help in the long-term to resolve this issue (since it isn't organic) might be to consider counseling therapy if you can sort out some of the triggers that started this reaction. 

The caveat is that no management technique is going to "work" immediately, and they all require practice whenever you're not in a tough state because it will be that much easier for you to access them when you are in a panic mode.  It would sort of be like muscle memory but with emotional control, instead. 

Again, you are not alone and you can manage this and sort it out.  Best wishes to you