The Magnifying Effect
Have you ever realize that when you’re angry with someone, the more you think of what he/she has done or said, just makes you even angrier?
Or when you fail in something (i.e. being rejected by something or someone, or failed in your exams,) you tend to brood so much about it that you brood over other irrelevant matters like your past rejections or failures. In the end, you will feel even worse. This is the magnifying effect. You can say it is like “thinking too much” or “thinking too in-depth”.
Our mind tends to focus and concentrate fully on one thing at a time. When we pay attention to something, we pay so much attention that we become unaware of other things that are happening.
Like as you’re reading this e-book now, I’m sure you are unaware of the other things happening around you – like your fan or air-conditioner is making a sound; your clock is ticking; the kids or somebody outside is making noises and such. You do not know its happening because your mind is fully focusing on reading this e-book. You only realize and pay attention to the environment only when I told you so.
And also, our mind tends to overestimate/exaggerate things. Like if you have a pimple on the center of your forehead or on the tip of your nose, you will start to think that you will be laughed at when people see it. You keep on thinking how BIG it is and how many people out there must be laughing behind your back. But of course, in actual fact, it’s not as bad or big as you think.
The magnifying effect plays a HUGE role in panic attacks. It usually is the catalyst to your panic attacks. Take the following case study as an example.
Johnny is going overseas tomorrow and he’s taking the airplane. As he has panic disorder, he begins to ponder over questions like “what if my panic attacks suddenly occurs during the flight?” “Oh no, imagine the uncomfortable symptoms…” “Gosh, and I couldn’t get off the plane till I reach the destination!” and many other worrisome questions.
Observation: As you can see, Johnny wondered whether his panic attacks will happen during his flight. The magnifying effect is being triggered and his mind now bombards many irrelevant questions and worry. Now, he will feel the uncomfortable symptoms. When he continues to think about such questions, he allows the magnifying effect to continue. If he stops thinking about it, the magnifying effect and the panic attack process will stop. He begins to feel anxious and alert; he is anticipating his panic attacks to happen soon; his heart begins to palpitate; and his breathing pattern begins to become irregular. He feels derealized. Johnny reaches the airport. He feels his legs has turned to jelly – weak and shaking. When he takes a sit in the plane, he begins to feel more and more alert. He feels like the volume of the environment around him has increased – he can hear the slightest and softest sound. His vision becomes more intense and sharp. He begins to feel light-headed. His mind now bombards questions like “Dammit, what if my panic attacks happen..”, “I think I’m going crazy!” “Oh no! The panic attack symptoms are getting worst! Suddenly, he felt his stomach is being pushed down as if he jumped off a building or riding the rollercoaster. The fight-or-flee response has happened.
When the magnifying effect is triggered, many irrelevant worrisome questions starts bombarding your mind. As the magnifying effect is going on, your breathing pattern becomes irregular; you felt the hot flushes, and other uncomfortable initial symptoms. As you begin to feel the initial uncomfortable symptoms, your mind panics and now focuses on them. The magnifying effect will now bombard irrelevant questions like “The symptoms are here! A panic attack is coming!”, “I’m going crazy!” or “I’m GOING to have a full-blown panic attack!” Refer to the Panic Attack Process diagram and you will understand better. Not only will such thoughts make you panic even more, your condition will exponentially progress to a full-blown panic attack!
The magnifying effect is the catalyst! As you know, it’s the initial symptoms that goes progressively worst or till a full-blown panic attack happens. That is why we are always advised to do deep-breathing to prevent later symptoms or a full-blown panic attack. But there’s a problem – the magnifying effect is still there. The bombardment of negative thoughts and worries are too difficult to be neglected. Some people have recommended the Distraction Technique because it worked for most people. But why and how does it work? Remember that our mind tends to focus and concentrate only one thing at a time?
Basically, the Distraction Technique makes your mind focus on other matters that you lose attention and focus on your worrisome questions. This kills off or shuts down the magnifying effect of your panic attacks. Therefore, the symptoms are halted before it could get progressively worst. Unfortunately, the Distraction Technique doesn’t work for most people because the uncomfortable symptoms and thoughts are just too disturbing to be neglected. Fret not, in this website there are many other techniques you can use on if the Distraction Technique doesn’t work for you.
Note: Please remember Tip #2 of this e-book when you use the techniques!
Next Article: The Mistaken Chain