Posted by mila on May 10, 2001, at 11:07:42
In reply to Re: Bipolar disorder vs. panic disorder: any insight?, posted by grapebubblegum on May 10, 2001, at 9:34:57
Hi BGB,
are your panic attacks situationally bound, unexpected, or situationally predisposed?
have you ever tried or been offered to panic control treatment? psychological treatments of panic disorder are very effective, and what's most important they are the only ones which leave patients panic free after the treatment is discontinued months afterwards.
depression is often comorbid with panic disorder, but is not a must have. It is very depressing indeed to suffer from anxiety, and especially panic attacks of the magnitude that you describe. my heart goes out with you. Gosh, you must have suffered big way.
Other phenomena that you describe in your post, seem to me to be anxiety related. Vulnerability to anxiety is definitely genetically predetermined, the fact that one of your relatives suffers from mood disorder, only tells you about your vulnerability, and doesn't doom you to have an exact same disorder as they do. Psychological contribution to the development of your condition (early awareness that events are not always in your control, development of a set of danger-laden beliefs, high sensitivity to threat, and exquisite interoceptive awareness, awareness of your bodily states) distinguish you from them. Plus social contributions to your disorder are of course, hightly specific in your life. (you live under different social pressures than them)
hope this helps.
mila
poster:mila
thread:61609
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010507/msgs/62374.html