Imagine existing in a world full of fear.
Not a fear of anything in particular. More a fear of fear itself. Knowing that at any moment, your mind will trick your body into thinking something horrible is about to happen.
This is the reality for people suffering with panic attacks, according to psychologist Dr. Maureen Whittal, of the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Centre.
“A panic attack, by definition, is a variety of physical sensations — shortness of breath, dizziness, blurry vision, chest pain, nausea, wobbly legs, sweating,” Whittal said. “It’s feeling like you’re not really there.”
The sensations come on fast, in a few seconds or minutes, peak quickly and tail off over a few hours.
For a time last year, this was the terrifying roller coaster world of Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto.
I know exactly how he felt... except for the baseball bit!
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