The Mistaken Chain
I’m sure at one time you’re having a cup of coffee or having a meal and suddenly, you felt anxious and you start to have panic attack symptoms. Your panic attacks could also be triggered by what I termed it as the Mistaken Chain. This is basically your mind and body misinterprets a stimulant’s side-effect or an emotion for a panic attack symptom, thus triggering the Magnifying Effect and this aggravates the symptoms. When the symptoms get worse, your mind and the magnifying effect focuses on them. As the cycle continues your condition exponentially progresses to a full-blown panic attack.
CASE STUDY: Fiona and the Mistaken Chain
On a perfect day, Fiona was at her favourite café. Everything was perfect and normal as it used to be. A few minutes later after she finished her cup of coffee, she felt alert (due to the stimulant effects from the coffee). Her mind and body misinterprets it as a panic-attack symptom! She begins to hyperventilate and her heart starts to palpitate rapidly. The magnifying effect has started – her mind is bombarded with worrisome questions.
She tries to control herself by doing the deep-breathing exercise she learnt from the internet. Unfortunately, it didn’t help at all. Her mind panics even more now and her symptoms gets worse– her brain is bombarded with doubtful questions and an urge to flee.
Immediately, she left the café without hesitation.
Observation: Fiona’s alertness was caused by the coffee’s stimulant effect. Her deep-breathing didn’t work for her because her alertness was caused by the stimulant. Therefore, when her deep-breathing didn’t seem to work for her, she begins to panic and the magnifying effect focuses on the ongoing symptoms and worsens it.
The cause of Fiona's panic attack was a result from the Mistaken Chain. As soon as she felt anxious or alert, they misinterpret it as an initial panic attack symptom. In actual fact, her anxiousness or alertness was caused by stimulants or natural anxiety.
When she misinterpret it as a panic attack symptom, the magnifying effect is triggered instantly and this aggravates the symptoms and progresses to a panic attack!
That is also the reason why some people who smokes experience panic attacks sometimes. Or sometimes people who consumed alcohol and suddenly experience panic attacks. Or people who take drugs (like Marijuana or Pot).
The Clarifying Technique in this website will teach and help you to eliminate this.
Next Article: Coping Techniques for Panic Attacks