Below is the workbook I am curently using, it's a great workbook, and I recommend getting the accompanying book, Facing Codependence, from the same authors.

Want to cheer me up? You can buy me something off of my My Amazon.com Wish List.
What a shameless plug, eh?

This page is meant to provide a better undestanding of "Panic Attacks with Agoraphobia" and "Generalized Anxiety Disorder". One out of 20 people suffer from some combination of these disorders, and are often mis-diagnosed by their physician.

Panic Attacks
First, I'll talk about what a Panic Attack is. According to the Study Guide to the DSM-IV , which is the book that psychiatrits use to diagnose patients, the essential feature of a panic attack is the occurrence of a discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, usually lasting for several minutes, and accompanied by at least four of the following symptoms, which develop abruptly and reach a peak of intensity within 10 minutes.

1. Palpitations, pounding, or accelerated heart rate
2. Sweating
3. Trembling or shaking
4. Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
5. Feeling of choking
6. Chest pain or discomfort
7. Nausea or abdominal distress
8. Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
9. Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalixation (being detached from oneself)
10. Fear of losing control or going crazy
11. Fear of Dying
12. Paresthesias (numbness or thingling sensations)
13. Chills or hot flushes

It's hard to describe just how intense a Panic Attack is. When I have a Panic Attack, I really am convinced that I'm losing control, that this one will be the end of me. It is extremely difficult to survive through a Panic Attack, but that's what I have to do. Having a Panic Attack won't kill me or hurt me, but when I'm having one I don't believe that. It's like living through a nightmare.

A Panic Attack can be brought on by something legitmate, like worrying about the next trip on an airplane, and then that worry spirals into a full Panic Attack. Or it can come completely unexpected, for instance I could be feeling good, and then a few moments later start having all the kinds of physical symptoms that are a Panic Attack.

Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia used to be considered mostly a fear of social situations or crowds, but now has a more broad definition. Again, quoting from the Study Guide to the DSM-IV, the criteria for agoraphobia include the following:

1. Anxiety about being in places or situatioins from which escape might be difficult (or embarrassing) or in which help may not be available in the event of having an unexpected or situaitnally predisposed Panic Attack or panic-like symptoms. Agoraphobic fears typically invove characteristic clusters of situations that include being outside the home alone; being in a crowd or standing in line; being on a bridge; and traveling in a bus, train, or automobile.
2. The situations are avoided (e.g., travel is restricted) or else are endured with marked distress or with anxiety about having a Panic Attack or panic-like symptoms, or require the presence of a companion.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Once again, I'll quote from the Study Guide to the DSM-IV to describe this disorder.

Individuals with this disorder have excessive anxiety and worry that they cannot control a number of events or activities. The anxiety lasts for at least 6 months... The anxiety and worry are associated with at least three of the following symptoms:

1. Restlessness or feeling "keyed up" or on edge
2. Being easily fatigued
3. Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
4. Irritability
5. Muscle tension
6. Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)