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Triggers
As I learned more about anxiety attacks and observed my own experiences of attacks, I became aware that I was susceptible to certain triggers. What I mean by this is that I would see or hear things which would trigger an anxiety attack.
The trigger wasn't instantaneous, it would take a day or two to roll around in my mind and then start to play its tricks.
For me, I was most effected my news reports of celebrities who had died of heart conditions, seeing hospital drama programmes which involved patients with heart problems and hearing of friends or relatives with heart conditions.
The thing that is crazy about it, is that even though I became aware of the existence of the triggers and could almost anticipate them, I still could not avoid them. I told myself that I was not going to be affected by what I had heard or seen, but it seemed to make no difference.
For me, the thing that seems to have stopped these events triggering an attack is the fact that I have proven to myself that I do not have a heart problem. I can run for 5 miles with no problems and play a hard game of squash with no ill effects. As I get fitter (and healthier), I am building my confidence that there is in fact nothing wrong with me at all. There are occasional lingering doubts if I feel a little below par, but generally, I do not seem to be susceptible to these triggers.
Last Updated : 14 April 2004 17:23:33