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8 - The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, May 11, 1999 -Jfhere is help to overcome anxiety attacks By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Kathleen (flot her real naine) was 25 years old when she was rushed to the hospital, convinced she was dying. She thought it might be a heart attack. Instead, emnergency roomn doctors informed her that it was an attack of nerves. "Lt started witb going to bcd one nigbt and baving al of a sud- den chest pain and difficulty breatbing," said tbe Oakville resi- dent. "I bad the overwhelming feeling 1 was going to die." That was tbe debut of an anxiety disorder tbat bas now plagued Katbleen for 15 years. After tbat firat attack, tbings went disastrously downhill, said Katbleen. Within montbs, ber world bad sbrunk to tbe square footage of ber bome, wbere sbe remained bousebound for six months. "Wben it bit me like a ton of bricks 1 lost my job, bast my spart- ment, lôist my boyfriend and most of my friends," sbe said. "It's very demoralizing. It kicks tbe bell out of your seif-esteem." Panic attacks, Kathleen bas leamed flratband, are caused by an inappropriate release of adrenaline.* Adrenaline will flood tbe bran without apparent cause, inciting a figbt or fligbt response. It's the sanie response other people would bave wben faced with an actual life or deatb situation. After years of practice, Kathleen bas become adept at hiding ber attacks. Hier two children, aged nine and 1l, don't know about them. They believe the limitations on lier life are caused by stomach problenis. Those limitations can be severe. Though Kathleen bas managed to Work up the courage to leave ber home, she bas not set foot outside Oakville in five years. Talking can heip Therapy bas taught Kathleen that talking can help. Sbe also knows tbat it isn't always enougb. "You're flgbting a chemnical. You're flghting adrenaline," she said. "Lt is sômething that is very difficult to fight entirely witbout medication." Relaxation therapy can go a long way in dealing with anxiety, said Dr. Mary Klein, a cinical psycbologist in Milton. "There are some very basic parts of therapy, and one is relax- ation training and breatbing exercises," she said. "Lt helps people use imagery to relax and calm theniselves." Anxiety suiferera tend to be well-gmoomed, with a befty strain of perfeetionism in their makeup. That's wbat makes the out of control feeling so difficult, said Dr. Klein. "It's a double whammy for theni, since they already have a stronger need to be in control than some other people do," she said. Wbile genetics can play a part in tbe development of anxiety disordera, early cbildbood experiences can also bave a mIle. "There are two ends of the continuum. Lf someone grows up in a very cbaotic atmospbere, then the child won't have a sense of basic security," she said. "They carry around a need for control." Children of alcobolics or those who grow up in abusive homes fit in that category. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Dr. Mary Klein, a clinîcal paychologlat, maya relaxation thsrapy can go a long way ln dealing wlth anxlety disordera. "On the otber side it can happen in a famutly where tbere's too much control. Maybe a parent suifera fromt anxiety and is over- protective," said Dr. Klein. "They transmit tbat sense of fear to tbe child." The good news is anxiety disorders - an umbrella termn wbich covera panic attacks, agoraphobia, social anxiety and obsessive- compulsive disorder - are very treatable. A panic attack at age 30 sent the normally extroverted Deborah Williams into a whiplash-quick downward spiral that left ber completely bousebound within tbree weeks. "I was even afraid to walk outside and go tbree doora down," she said. "I couldn't take my son to his basebaîl games. Suddenly a mother wbo was very outgoing was afraid of ber own sbadow." Housebound not uncommon Today sbe is tbe executive director of tbe non-profit national organizations Anxiety Disorders Network/Freedomn from Fear Foundation (ADNIFFFF). According to Dr. Klein, becoming bousebound - or agorapho- bic - is not uncommon. Tbougb agoraphobia is tecbnically a fear of open spaces, it could just as accurately be described as a fear of fear. "It really stems from a fear of having a panic attack in public," said Dr. Klein, wbo is not taking new patienta at tbis time. Today, tbe ADN/FFFF fields between 30 and 400 cails a day The organization provides information and a referral service for sufferers of anxiety disorders; across the country. For accurate, up to date information on local services, checking in with a nearby chapter of Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is a good be. Clinics available The Halton branch of CMIHA usually runs two eight-week. cli- ics on anxiety a year, said support service coordinator Lesley Henshaw. "It's surprisingly common, she said. "The first time we had a clinic, we had ovet 100 calls." Tbe CMHA also offers books, tapes, handouts and therapist referrals on the issue. Specifically recommended are the books Hope and Help for your Shattered Nerves and Peace front Nervous Suffering, both by Dr. Claire Weekes. Also suggested is The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Boume. According to ADN/FFFF statistics, about one in 10 Canadians will be bit witb an anxiety probleni in their lifetime. Approximately one million Canadians suifer from panic disorder. For more information, call ADN/FFFF at 905-831-3877 or tbe Canadian Mental Healtb Association at 905-693-4270. i r0 Proti PAVUNG LTD. îdly Servng Your Community Vonit ii fol i . I itio " AsýhaIt Paving > * interlocking " Concrete " Driveways *, Parking Lots * Main Roads * Walkways & Curbs " Excavation * Grading Io. Cosi iou coi r"Quaity & sere v V W. uae heavy-duty equlpmnent for botter compaction. Ail work la guaranteed. 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