by Dr. Blumberg on October 17, 2011
The Fear of Fear What distinguishes panic attacks from other types of fears and phobias? In a specific phobia of dogs, heights or air travel, the feared stimulus is external. In a dog phobia, if you escape or avoid the dog, your fear subsides. The exact opposite is true in panic disorder. In this condition, […]
by Dr. Blumberg on August 28, 2011
“I used medication to control my panic attacks for two years. Now, I am planning a pregnancy and I want to be medication free during my pregnancy. I hope those awful panic attacks don’t come back into my life during my pregnancy. What can I do to prevent a relapse? What If the panic attacks […]
by Dr. Blumberg on July 4, 2011
The Call from the Airport *Yesterday, I received a frantic call from one of my patients. Dorothy was at the airport, waiting to board a flight to attend her sister’s wedding. We had just started panicLINK training. I had created a special audio program to help prepare her to take control of panic attacks on […]
by Dr. Blumberg on January 23, 2011
Market Place Panic attacks *When a sudden surge of heart pounding, dizziness, and shortness of breath hit you unexpectedly while shopping in the market place, your first thought is “Why am I feeling this way? What is causing me to feel this way?†Naturally, worrisome, terrifying thoughts flood your mind like “Faint, Heart Attack, Stroke, […]
by Dr. Blumberg on January 2, 2011
*If you are like most of my patients, that first panic attack struck “Out of the Blue†for no apparent reason. This sudden unexplained surge of physical feelings like weakness, shallow breathing, heart racing and rubbery legs can be very terrifying. The experience of panic attack symptoms “Out of the Blue†immediately makes you think […]
by Dr. Blumberg on December 26, 2010
THE FOUR TRIGGERS IN FORMATION The first Attack “Out of the Blue†The Primary Trigger (1): The Core Emotional Source of Panic Attacks *Mary, a 32 year old married school teacher, had just lost her father to a sudden heart attack five months ago. The holidays were quickly approaching and, as usual, Mary had overextended […]
by Dr. Blumberg on December 19, 2010
Holiday Panic Attacks The Holidays were rapidly approaching. *Janet, a 35 year old married Nurse, was busily preparing for her family to visit. After she had completed most of her preparation, she took a break and started to thumb through a family photo album. All of a sudden, “Out of the Blueâ€, she felt a […]
by Dr. Blumberg on December 14, 2010
Panic Attacks Keep Me up All Night The sun is starting to set. Your mind is already consumed with terrifying sleep thoughts. “I hope I get a good night sleep tonight. What if that dreaded heart pounding and sweats strike again, just as my head hits the pillow. What if the panic attack symptoms escalate […]
by Dr. Blumberg on December 5, 2010
Setback-Depression is Secondary to Panic Disorder Abracadabra panic disappears from your life. You found a magical technique or new method. You think “It is gone forever!†You are floating on “cloud nine.†You found the answer. Then, all of sudden, “Out of the Blueâ€, just when your life seemed perfect with no major stresses or […]
by Dr. Blumberg on November 29, 2010
Training Emergency Medicine and Primary Care Doctors in Early Diagnosis and Brief Education Capturing panic disorder in its earliest, formative stages yields the ripest opportunity for rapid reversal. After the first panic attack, panic disorder patients congregate in medical settings, desperately seeking a medical explanation for their physical symptoms. Panic attack sufferers present with an array […]