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What is fear?

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 619

Now I have panic attacks under control but when I had it the triggers where loud sounds and crowds.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

Kendra.

Acceptance is the key to building confidence instead of arrogance. Arrogance and agression are seldom signs of confidence. Knowing things like when you are right and when you are wrong and accepting the latter builds confidence. Not being able to do this breeds performance anxiety. It is okay to be a control freak if you are right but if you are wrong then you are a tyrant not confident. Better to sit down and laugh than to get mad when you lose control.

You haven't been fired, that says something.

Davit.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 250

I hope everything was ok with the earthquake!

I do have some performance anxiety. I tend to assume the worst as well. I have been at my current position since January and come Monday mornings I am still feeling worried etc. I do not have much confidence either.

In my job I have to be able to diffuse situations very quickly and I worry about that. It is very on the spot. I am a bit of a control freak so I don't like it when the room I work in (daycare) erupts into chaos.

I don't know how to gain confidence.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 57

I have a fear now from earthquake shaking my house, now hurricane on the way, I am trying to keep calm and rational but it becoming difficult jaybe

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1665

Hi Kendra: You mention being judged as a trigger. Could it be "performance anxiety"? especially in a new place where you don't have a comfortable routine yet. or where you think everyone is watching. I sometimes have that too. I think for me it is sometimes a lack of confidence for whatever reason. Maybe doing something I've never done before, maybe because there is an "expert" watching me, maybe because a lot is riding on it.

Sunny

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 250

I am not sure if I have panic attacks, I more or less experience severe anxiety and then lesser anxiety. I am a creature of habit. For those of you who watch Coronation Street, I am kind of a Roy :)

I like predictability. I like knowing what will happen. But this isn't really a great trait as life isn't always predictable.

My "panic attacks" usually happen when I have to work. I grew up with a father and mother who both had anxiety, depression and panic attacks, all associated with new situations and especially work. I have always had a negative impression of work. I am always terrified of being fired etc. I am now trying really hard to raise my daughter with a healthier view of the working world. I don't talk much about work. I point out good parts and bad. I try to balance it all.

My sisters, brother and I all suffer with the same issues more or less. And we are all trying really hard not to pass these tendencies on.

As for frequency of attacks, maybe once or twice every 2-3 weeks. Mine can last from 10 minutes to an all day episode.

My triggers: being judged, new challenges

Take care,

Kendra

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

Vincenza

I have only one tiny disagreement. A panic attack is when you can not shut off the fight or flight. Otherwise it is only panic, a normal reaction. But it can be from a life threatening situation. (a near miss accident with a car or a fall from a ladder) When this happens the "attack reaction" can get transferred to non panic situations and cause an attack when there is no need or reason for one such as now driving to the grocery store or standing on a chair. Extremes become leaving the house or stepping off a curb.

See where something subconscious could be the cause. Something from a forgotten or blocked actual reason to panic in the past. So I would not rule out actual reasons to panic as precursors for panic attacks. Breaking the cycle or conditioning is important to stopping seemingly unreasoned for panic attacks in this case.

Unlike the professionals who say there is no reason for GAD, I think there is always a reason somewhere.

Knowing your triggers is not as important as knowing they are or that there is one. It is easier to deal with something concrete than something seemingly invisible. Searching for a reason you can not find can make an attack last longer. (personal experience)

Davit.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1853

Members,

We all know what it is like to be afraid. Everyone’s been afraid of something at least once in their lives. And fear is good. It’s a basic human emotion and is just as important as other emotions like happiness, sadness and anger. Our ability to experience fear is very important. Without the ability to experience fear we’d be in big trouble.

Fear is an emotional and physical response that’s common in all animals. It’s been developed over millions of years and has helped humans survive real threats.

If you’re either in fight or flight mode you’ll feel a number of things: an increased heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, flushing, shaking, restlessness, agitation, edginess or jumpiness. Increased heart rate, breathing & sweating prepare your muscles for action. Flushing, shaking, restlessness and agitation are the result of changes in blood flow and the release of chemicals like adrenaline that prepare your body for maximum effort in a short period of time.

The switch for turning the fear response on is very sensitive. And it’s important to know that fight or flight response doesn’t last very long – a few minutes to a half hour at most. When the fear response (fight or flight) occurs in situations that are not dangerous or life-threatening, it is called a panic attack.

Do you suffer from panic attacks? What is their frequency? How long do they last? Any triggers?

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