Living With It

A Survivor's Guide To Panic Attacks Revised Edition

Bev Aisbett

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN: 9780732295950
• eBook ISBN: 9781743097502
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: General Health

The classic guide for panic attack sufferers - now fully revised and updated. Panic attacks - approximately 5% of the population will experience them at some time or another. the dread of having an attack - they seemingly come out of nowhere - transforms the ordinary world of everyday life into a nightmare of anxiety and suffering. Author Bev Aisbett, a survivor of Panic Syndrome, has three basic messages: ? You can beat this? You are not alone? You will recover Originally published in 1993, this calm, commonsense guide has helped many thousands of panic attack sufferers to overcome their fears. Bev Aisbett explains how panic disorders develop and how to recognise the symptoms, and covers topics such as changing negative thought patterns, seeking professional help and, ultimately, the skills for recovery. Now fully revised and updated, LIVING WITH IT provides much-needed reassurance and support, showing the way out of the maze of panic with humour and the insight of first-hand experience.

THE THINKING IT OWNER

CHECKLIST FOR AN IT OWNER

Not everyone qualifies to own an IT. You need to be a special kind of thinker. Try this checklist:

I worry a lot over things that might not happen.

I tend to exaggerate.

I expect to be able to deal with ANYTHING.

I strive for perfection but fail to achieve it.

I feel that, when compared to others, I am lacking.

I expect to be liked by and to like everyone.

I often find it difficult to handle my emotions.

I am not happy with my appearance most of the time.

I tend to push myself too hard.

I do not ‘suffer fools gladly’.

I tend not to make time to relax.

I find that my emotions spill over easily.

or

I have difficulty in showing my emotions.

I spend a lot of time thinking about old hurts, injustices and regrets.

I worry about what people think of me.

I feel uneasy/scared if I cannot control a situation.

I tend to criticise others and myself.

I often find myself thinking ‘I should’ or ‘I wish’ or ‘what if’.

I have trouble ‘letting go’ of a situation.

I feel the need to be right.

IT owners are great THINKERS. They do lots of it, and lots of that thinking is NEGATIVE, otherwise they wouldn’t own an IT!

Remember the recipe? Ingredients like CRITICISM, GUILT, WORRY … that’s your IT.

So it’s time to see IT for what he really is …

IT is that voice in your head, telling you over and over that you BLEW THIS, or MESSED UP that, or that you’re NOT GOOD ENOUGH, or that you’re FOOLISH — too this, too that; that it’s ALWAYS this or NEVER that; that you SHOULD be better, but you CAN’T do anything — you’re HOPELESS, INCOMPETENT, UGLY, LAZY, DIFFICULT, BAD, WEAK, PATHETIC … on and on and on, nag, nag, nag, day in, day out.

He’s even started to brag about himself lately, hasn’t he?

He says …

IT has a whole LIST of thought patterns to use on you and bring you down …

Here are the main ones …

1. EITHER/OR

You see one bad situation as the PERMANENT situation. Either you’re dazzling this time, or you never were!

2. BLAME ME

EVERYTHING is YOUR fault and YOUR responsibility: the weather, the behaviour of your guests, your company’s bankruptcy, your spouse’s cooking.

If there’s a problem — you caused it!

3. ONE GOOF=TOTAl GOOF!

One mistake and that’s it. You’ll NEVE...

Table of contents

• COVER
• TITLE PAGE
• CONTENTS
• NEW INTRODUCTION
• ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION
• DOES THIS LOOK FAMILIAR?
• WHAT IS IT?
• HOUSE-TRAINING YOUR IT
• ‘WALKIES’ WITH IT
• THE PHYSICAL IT
• THE THINKING IT OWNER
• NON-IT OWNERS
• OWNING YOUR IT
• BEFRIENDING YOUR IT
• RECRUITING AN IT OBEDIENCE INSTRUCTOR
• IT’S BACK!
• A FINAL WORD
• COPYRIGHT