The Panicker's Pocketbook

By Shari Lynn

If you suffer from Panic Attacks, Anxiety and/or Agoraphobia then this book is for you. Years ago my Panic Disorder and Anxiety were completely out of control. My psychologist actually told me that I was one of the worst cases of anxiety that he had ever seen in his career. It was a terrifying, awful time in my life.  In my desperation to be free of anxiety  I found a way to get completely better.  When I first started my journey I was trapped in my own home, unable to leave or do anything. You can read about those dark days in my very personal journal chapter which I have decided to include.  Now I live my live freely and happily visiting friends and family, joining clubs and traveling. You can have a wonderful life again too! I know how it feels to be so anxious, so desperate for help, and not knowing where to turn or what to do. I have been where you are. It was a very painful time in my life and there were many times where I just felt like giving up but I had the inner fight in me to get better. I would get better no matter what!  And that is exactly what I did. I have divided this book into 6 Steps for you to follow in order to heal and live a completely uninhibited life.  As you follow these steps there will be times when it will be very tough but it will be worth it! Continue to do the work. You "can" take back your life once and for all! Do this for yourself because you deserve to live your life "anxiety free" again. You will enjoy and love life again!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shari Lynn
• Release date: Sep 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781105586682

Book preview

Table of contents:

CHAPTER 1: Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Agoraphobia 

CHAPTER 2: Step 1 - Reaching out: Doctors, Medications & Support Groups 

Medication: (Optional)

Natural Alternatives:

Support Groups:

Chapter 3: Step 2 – Keeping a Daily Journal 

Chapter 4: Step 3 - Arming & Preparing Yourself (Physically & Mentally) for Recovery 

CHAPTER 6:  Step 5 Cognitive Therapy 

CHAPTER 7: Step 6 Exposure Therapy - Desensitization 

CHAPTER 8: Helpful Tools 

CHAPTER 9:  Overcoming Setbacks and Minimizing Future Stress 

BURNS Anxiety Sheet 

CHAPTER 1: Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Agoraphobia

Are you terrified of social situations and public places? Do you get a nervous and sick feeling at the thought of even going out? Are you afraid to leave your home? If you answered yes to any of the above questions you may be suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. 

I know what it is like to suffer from severe anxiety and panic attacks. I know, because I have been there and it is an awful place to be. I want you to know that you can get better just as I have. This book shows how I recovered from panic disorder and agoraphobia and it will take you along my painful journey all the way to my joyous recovery. Along the way, you too can recover! This book and my experience can help you!

There may be a few technical terms in the first couple chapters of this book but the attempt has been to make the rest of the book as easy to read as possible, because it can be difficult to concentrate and stay focused when you have panic disorder.

Panic disorder is a terrible affliction to have. It is a condition in which the person affected suffers from random panic attacks which can slowly, eventually, be so enveloping that it can take over one’s entire life.

Panic attacks are episodes of intense fear that can occur out of nowhere and can be completely terrifying and disabling. When a panic attack happens adrenaline is released from the brain thus resulting in unreasonable fear of almost anything and everything. A panic attack can be compared to a faulty smoke alarm going off at the wrong time. Your brain is sending out signals of fear at times when it shouldn’t be. Your brain is essentially misfiring. But just as a faulty smoke alarm can be fixed so too can this.

When a panic attack happens it is usually accompanied by at least three of the following symptoms:

  Trouble Swallowing

  Racing Heart

  Excessive sweating

  Nausea

  Trembling & shaking

  Hyperventilating

  Chest pain

  Dizziness

  Tingling

  Sweating

  A Detached Feeling

  Fear of dying

  Sudden terror for no reason

  Fear of going crazy

A person may suffer from all of the above symptoms or just a few of them when having a panic attack. Panic attacks may start anywhere, at anytime. They can strike you while you’re driving, shopping, or even while you are at home. If you start to experience frequent panic attacks in public places and find it unbearable to go socialize any longer, for fear of having another panic attack, you may have developed what is known as "agoraphobia".

Agoraphobia is a condition in which a person suffering cannot, or has a fear of, leaving their home. It is the most crippling phobic disorder of all and it often occurs in a person’s mid twenties or even later.

Agoraphobia is more common in females although it does strike many males too. It has also been known to afflict children.

Agoraphobics fear being unable to quickly escape or reach help in the event of a sudden unexpected panic attack. Since the first panic attack usually occurs as a surprise, the agoraphobic then begins to fear occurrence of another such attack and avoids many situations. 

Agoraphobia can be a terribly confining disorder, leaving most of its victims stuck at home all the time, sometimes even confined to only one room. Their home, or their room, is believed by them to be their safe zone, a place where they can be practically panic-free. The more confined the agoraphobic becomes the smaller their world becomes.  Pretty soon even their own home may start to feel unsafe and the agoraphobic’s world has become so small that sometimes he or she may even start to contemplate suicide. It is a horrible way to live! 

I remember when I was in the peak of anxiety and agoraphobia. I was homebound but felt fairly safe in my home but when my own home, "my safe zone", started to feel unsafe to me, and I was getting frequent panic attacks all day long, I knew it was time to do something QUICK!

Panic attacks and agoraphobia can start anytime and out of the blue in a person’s life but it is usually brought on by a traumatic event or extreme stress. When I turned twenty-nine I became pregnant. My husband and I were ecstatic. We couldn’t wait to start our family. We bought all the furniture, clothes and everything that a baby would need. We were so excited. Suddenly, unexpectedly, at seventeen weeks pregnant I had a miscarriage. It all happened so