Anxiety Disorder/Panic Attacks....Acceptance of Physical Symptoms...???

[Guest guest]

Hi All, Iam new to the concept of ACT and have only been working with

it for approx 6weeks. Making very good progress and I have fully

embraced all aspects as part of my recovery.

August 2007 I began to feel unwell but could not identify exactly what

the problem was. December 2007, hit by the first of many debilitating

panic attacks.

Physical symptoms include, sense of choking and difficulty swallowing,

difficulty breathing, chest pain, heart palpitations including skipped

beats, numbness and tingling in limbs, sweating, dizziness and

inability to talk and impending sense of doom. Clinical symptoms

include raised blood presure, increased pulse rate and diagnosis of

ectopic heartbeat(arrythmia).

Attacks strike at random, without warning and have been classed

as 'untriggered', there does not have to be a preceding event or crisis

to precipitate the onset. The problem I am having is using ACT to deal

with the 'physical' symptoms of anxiety. It is like having a monster

lurking in the background of my life, its frightens me. How do I

accept the physical symptoms? Any suggestions?

Iam currently reading 'The Happiness Trap' by Dr Russ and find

it to be a truly remarkable and inspiring book, my first hope of

recovery. Iam unable to obtain a copy of 'Get Out of Your Mind and

Into Your Life' in Australia as yet.

I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and feedback on this subject.