Anxiety & Panic Attacks Research Findings
Extract from the National Institute Of Mental Health Website
"Heredity, other biological factors, stressful life events, and thinking in a way that exaggerates relatively normal bodily reactions are all believed to play a role in the onset of panic disorder. The exact cause or causes of panic disorder are unknown and are the subject of intense scientific investigation.
Studies in animals and humans have focused on pinpointing the specific brain areas and circuits involved in anxiety and fear, which underlie anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder. Fear, an emotion that evolved to deal with danger, causes an automatic, rapid protective response that occurs without the need for conscious thought. It has been found that the body's fear response is coordinated by a small structure deep inside the brain, called the amygdala.
The amygdala, although relatively small, is a very complicated structure, and recent research suggests that anxiety disorders may be associated with abnormal activation in the amygdala. One aim of research is to use such basic scientific knowledge to develop new therapies." (NIMH 2004)
So, what does this mean to sufferers?
It means that existing therapies which address the anxiety disorder by teaching coping strategies are completely misplaced and that actually, drug therapy isn't the answer either, although I am sure that someone will produce, a so called, 'wonder drug' at some point in the future.
If the Amygdala is the core controler of anxiety disorders in the brain, then therapeutic practices which address the imbalanced reactions within the organ are the most effective. Well Mr. Linden, it looks like you've proved your point! When will mainstream medicine listen up?
Editor
