Panic Attack | How Not to Ditch Your Current Lifestyle

You have a panic attack. You know, those moments of sudden and intense anxiety, triggered by nothing you can obviously point to as the cause. The episode appears random. But the mind and body's response is immediate. Somehow your body of its own accord produces a flood of hormones, particularly epinephrine (more popularly known as adrenalin) as a natural aid in the body protecting itself from harm. This time it is the 10 minutes of longer hell, not the previous 5 long minutes.

This panic attack like those before is at least upsetting. More importantly it is both frightening and a very uncomfortable experience. Could it be that the attack is the result of something major going wrong in your life? A relationship is comfortable, the sex is great but perhaps you do not trust your partner's loyalty. Perhaps your routine is too easy and you want more challenges and a nagging feeling sets in that you want to be freer. This is what is referred to as the "trapped" mode and a key cause of the attack.

It could even be little things that are stressing you out, like a silly argument a few days before that sticks in your mind; it is "that time of the month" again, or a hangover from too much booze being consumed makes you edgy; or bills are building up and you seem to be treading water with your personal finances.

In the height of the panic attack you consider calling for help. An ambulance perhaps. But is this thinking "too crazily". You think you must be hallucinating. You are not. You think better of calling the emergency services, so no ambulance. The attack can trigger so many random thoughts.

You think about a more instant solution. Escape. Live abroad. Eureka! That is it!

Start afresh in a warmer place such as Greece, the West Indies. Australia. The question is: "Are you thinking rationally during such a period of intense anxiety?"

Is to move abroad, the correct thinking? Actually, it could well be. If you are contemplating such a drastic move, believe in "gut instinct". It is proven that what our sixth sense tells us is often correct. If you are more a pragmatist, then let me help guide you in how not to move your life along to the next stage:. Here are the "dont's":

Do Not -

1. Upsticks right after a big disagreement.

2. Tell your other half on the telephone from the airport departure gate.

3. Just go without telling anyone.

4. Leave your refrigerator full of booze.

5. Arrange a "last supper". Cook a fabulous meal then tell the guests your decision.

6. Apply for a seasonal job advertised in a foreign newspaper in a resort famed for its "sex and booze" tourism.

7. Feign sickness, then disappear off the radar.

8. Throw anything that comes to hand in the suitcase.

9. Forget to pack condoms and enough underwear.

10. Leave the car with the partner, explaining you'll be back to pick it up later!