Anxiety Disorders & Panic Attacks on Shift

SABC1 Tuesday 10th July 2012 at 13h30

July is Mental Health Awareness month; on Tuesday 10th July at 13h30 on SABC1 Shift explains about anxiety disorders particularly panic attacks.  Anxiety disorder involves excessive worrying or fear that has no specific or direct cause.

These feelings are accompanied by physical complaints such as elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and muscle tension, sweating and shaking.  An average individual may feel some anxiety before visiting a dentist but a person with anxiety disorder may feel anxiety every time they leave their home to catch a minibus taxi to work.

This could be related to a traumatic event that happened in their lives related to commuting via minibus taxi.  These disorders are a serious problem because they interfere with work, schooling and family life. They also contribute to the high rate of alcohol and substance abuse. - http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Abuse -

Anxiety disorders are an additional problem for health professionals because the physical symptoms of anxiety frequently send people to doctors or emergencyrooms.  Panic Attacks often seem irrational, embarrassing and difficult to overcome. They are unfortunately also frequently misdiagnosed as a thyroid problem, hypoglycaemia or a heart problem. 

If you continue to experience short periods of worry or fear along with physical symptoms related to a racing heartbeat, breathlessness for no reason then this episode of Shift about Panic Attacks is for you. The good news is that this disorder is treatable with the right combination of therapy.

Our questions to you:

• What do you excessively worry about for no apparent reason and how often does ithappen in a day, week or month? Is this worry accompanied by some kind of physical tension?
• Are you afraid to be visible to people in public e.g. fear of public speaking or avoiding social experiences because of how you think people will judge you?Tell us of your experiences or someone else that you know?
• Do you fear a specific object such as a dog and the fact that it might attack every time you see one? Or maybe you fear travelling by mini bus taxis as you believe there will be an accident and you might be hurt or killed? How doesthis disrupt your life? Are you sometimes late for work because of this fear? Tell us of your experiences?
• What help have you looked for to help you overcome your anxiety disorder/panic attacks? What was the outcome?
• Do you sometimes feel you need to drink alcohol to deal with your panic attack? How often do you drink and does it cause problems in your daily routine?

Our Poll Question is:

• Are there certain experiences, objects, activities or memories that come back and worry you on a recurring basis - what are they and how do they affect you and for how long? Answer Yes or No to SHIFT on SABC 1: FACEBOOK