 Dear H,
I am sorry to hear about your anxiety attacks. There is nothing more painful. Often a sufferer of anxiety knows perfectly well that there is no real reason to be feeling so anxious, but the body continues to act as if they are in a life threatening situation. It is as if our own body is rebelling against us.
What happens physiologically is that the body is going into flight, fight, or freeze. This is the natural reaction that our central nervous system has to any overwhelming external threat in the real world. It is our body's way of dealing with danger and is perfectly natural.
Our pupils dilate to see peripheral danger, adrenaline pumps into the body for increased energy, our muscles become taut, and all non essential functioning such as hunger pangs cease. This is meant to last for about fifteen minutes until the danger is over. If it lasts longer then cortisol builds up and that can be damaging to the body over the long haul. When someone has an anxiety attack the body and mind perceives the message of threat either externally or internally, but no real life threatening event is occurring.
These episodes can result from trauma, life style difficulties such as drinking too much coffee, emotional problems such as divorce, medical issues such as hormonal fluctuations, and especially hereditary factors. It might well be that your hormonal situation makes it more likely for you to have this kind of episode because hormones effect neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that effect thinking and feeling. In general foods and vitamins turn into hormones and hormones turn into neurotransmitters.
Since you have noticed that your tension is in some way tied to your cycle I would seek out a medical consult with your gynecologist. However, due to the family link of anxiousness I would assume that there might well be a neurotransmitter or chemical problem in the family. Often panic attacks occur because of a depletion of neurotransmitters, especially Serotonin. I would see a psychiatrist who specializes in this type of disorder. Sleeping pills or tranquilizers only treat the immediate symptom and do not solve the problem. In the short run it might be helpful, but is not the ultimate solution.
NET™, Applied Kinesiology, and nutrition are also often helpful with this kind of problem, as is hypnosis. I hope this has been helpful.
Good luck.
Jef Gazley, M.S., LMFT, DCC
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