When I came home one day and found Lynn on the floor, hardly breathing and with a vacant stare, 2 little kids crying in their bedrooms, I knew we were in trouble. The doctor came, she went to hospital for sleep therapy, then medication, thoughts of suicide by Lynn, then clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and more hospital and more medication. It was a blur for a month or two.

Once things started to calm down, I started to crystallize a system to manage Lynn's condition. She came off medication as soon as we could convince the doctors and psychiatrist to allow this. Panic attacks came, but we overcame them quickly. Depression threatened, but we managed it.

Panic attacks are "attacks" of extreme, overwhelming anxiety, causing the sufferer to breathe rapidly and shallowly, eventually resulting in lack of oxygen to the brain, so the person becomes sort of semi-conscious. They cannot help themselves, as their normal logical thinking process is disturbed. To overcome a panic attack, the person needs to be TOLD to BREATHE DEEPLY. They need to breathe in to their maximum lung capacity, abd then hold their breathe for 5 seconds, then blow it ALL out again. This sends lots of oxygen to the brain, and calmness returns to the person within a few minutes. They also need reassurance and a hug while they are recovering. I have helped Lynn over the phone. She feels herself getting more and more anxious, so she phones me at work for help. I tell her to breathe deeply, and I listen carefully for her to do it. Then after a minute or two I get her to breathe deeply again. And a third time. Then I reassure her. After 5 or 10 minutes she's good enough to last till I get home in the afternoon, or longer.

Major Depression, which often brings on the panic attack syndrome, is usually because of a long drawn out time of stress, anxiety, health problems, etc etc. Lynn had problems with her second baby that drained her before the birth and after, with lack of sleep, worry about the welfare of the baby and life threating problems herself. People with major depression need the help of others, lots of sleep to build up their strength again, and if possible, removal of the "stressors" the things that are causing the stress. In extreme cases, medication will help a person to get some sleep and be calm, but it is advisable to come off the medication as soon as you can.

Once you have started recovery, you need to look for the positive things in your life - THERE ARE ALWAYS POSITIVE THINGS, EVEN IF YOU LIVE IN A SEWER AND HAVE NO FRIENDS. If you have a tongue, you can taste - this is a positive thing. Can you breathe? Wow! That's great! It's better than suffocating!! I know it sounds stupid, but it really helps to concentrate your mind on the positive - it trains your subconscious to do the same. Make a list of all the good and positive things in your life, and read it over and over: add to it daily - you'll be amazed at how long that list gets!

And remember, you are a worthwhile person. No matter what anybody else says - I know that you are worthwhile. You should believe that too.

So there's hope. The sun is still shining! Be thankful for where you are right now, and you can be happy.
There's always something good if you look for it!

Duncan Kelly

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