"An anxiety disorder panic attack can change your life and the way you live it forever because of the way panic and anxiety simply "take over" the body."

Survival of the Fittest? Overcoming Panic Attack


Overcoming panic attack problems has been the goal of many North Americans, and many of us don't even realize what that entails. This brief article will describe, in detail, the differences in the quality of life of a person without panic attack symptoms and a person with panic attack symptoms. Overcoming panic attack symptoms can be challenging and dealing with them normally changes the fabric of life at its very core. It is never easy and often misunderstood.

Joe's Story

Joe is a mature and well-off 34-year old male that works on Wall Street. He also suffers from trying to overcome panic attack symptoms. Joe walks to work every morning because the subway terrifies him, in fact he cannot remember the last time he has taken any form of public transportation because he has been afraid of the germs and afraid of the potential for crime for about three years now. Joe can't remember being afraid of anything like that in his life before, but can't remember not being afraid of it either.

Joe's struggle with overcoming panic attack symptoms is not easy, especially given that his job takes him right into the downtown area of the city. Joe is terrified of large crowds but realizes that to make a living he has to do what he has always done. He is a stockbroker and works right on the main floor of Wall Street, trading volatile stocks every morning and working on computers doing research all afternoon. There isn't any doubt as to what part of his job Joe likes better as he walks nervously downstairs to start trading.

Joe works the stock floor like a pro because prior to the start of his shift he has taken a variety of medications prescribed by his doctor. These do not solve the problem, but they get him by and at this point, that is really all that matters. Joe trades stocks for a few hours without really feeling anything but mild indigestion from the medication, but as soon as the trading is finished Joe vomits in the bathroom. This is because of a side effect of the Xanax. Joe finishes his day sweating and goes home to his wife and kids. They know nothing about it.

Sandra's Story

By contrast, Sandra works in a bank and also has experienced overcoming panic attack issues. Her brother, Joe, experiences these symptoms and she is often the only person in the family that understands that Joe is not crazy but that he has a problem that needs direct assistance. Sandra is relatable because she recently dealt with her own problem: depression. Joe looks up to Sandra because she has been down the road he has been down and everything worked out okay for her.

Sandra works her day normally, without much of a care to even the smallest stresses of her job because she believes it is the best way to live. She does not allow the little things to bother her, and has been trying to talk to Joe about adopting the same philosophy. Some day, Joe will learn to overcome it. Some day.