You're in your car. It's a drive you've made a dozen times but that inner-voice in your brain won't let you forget about the time you felt anxious, "What if I feel anxious again? What if it makes me feel dizzy this time? If this red-light doesn't turn green soon, will I just run it? What if I lose control? What if I hurt someone?" Panic.

Anxiety is often the result of your body's response to a negative thought pattern. One negative thought leads to another, and another...and another. This is called a negative feedback loop and it is why anxious feelings can grow rapidly and spiral out of control. As maddening as this can be, momentary feelings of anxiety are actually the result of a deeply ingrained process.

You have probably heard of adrenaline and you probably know how it feels: it's that rush you experience on a roller coaster, during a scary movie and after an intense workout. Another name for adrenaline is epinephrine. Epinephrine is responsible for a lot of symptoms you feel when you are anxious such as: a racing heart, sweaty palms, and feeling light headed. These brief feelings are totally normal and are a part of who we are. However, for some people those brief moments become longer episodes and that's when anxiety can become debilitating.

If you are anxious often enough, you may start to worry every time you sweat or feel any change in your body's normal state. This worry can lead to panic and the fear of panic can contribute to experiencing a lower quality of life.

You don't have to be held hostage by your anxiety. There are a large number of things you can do to resolve your panic and decrease your anxiety. Reducing caffeine intake, confidence building exercises and diaphragmatic breathing are all simple methods you can practice at home. At Professional Wellness, Dr. Burgess offers a personalized treatment plan that can help you take back control. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to learn which treatment plan will work best for you.