Home » Mind & Soul » Panic Disorder » Letters from Readers

Letters from Readers

© Karen Hamilton

Karen, I am working with a patient who has an unusual sensation in her abdomen during a panic attack. She describes her abdomen as being like a box of worms crawling over and around each other. The sensation is frightening to her. This is new to me. Can you comment on this for me.She has the usual panic attack symptoms with this. She has had the sensation in her abdomen without the usual symptoms of panic attacks too.

Answer: I have heard of people who get all manner of weird physical sensations during or not during an attack. Nothing surprises me anymore. Has her medical doctor ruled out any medical reason for the sensations? What seems to help me is to just keep reminding myself that my body is only trying to tell me that I am on overload. Once I stop being afraid of the sensation, the sensation gradually goes away. I know that doesn't help you any but it is the best that I've got.

Good luck.

Peace, Karen

---

Karen: Thanks. I think her condition may be somatic rather than have a real physical basis. Her family doctor has told her that he doesn't think there is any physical etiology involved. "Getting the mind off it.." thanks. I explored that with her today and found that the condition in her stomach is much less severe when she is occupied or talking on the phone or " putting" around at something. This is significant, I think, because she has taken on a rather inactive life style and has become totally dependent on the rest of her family eg. for cleaning, laundry, dish washing and practically everything. So she generally has lots of time to "dwell" on the stomach sensation. When she's talking on the phone, it's much less severe.Helping her see this will lessen her anxiety about the sensation. Her inactivity is due I think to her clinical depression - another problem. Thanks for your help. I'll keep working on the inactivity problem and that, without doubt, will help with the frightening stomach sensations. Peace to you too.

Answer: is it possible to get her moving somehow? I found that putting on my headphones and walking, I can work out the stress and anxiety very quickly. If you could get her to do something like that, it might ease her symptoms somewhat.

Also, may I ask, are you a therapist? Just curious....

The copyright of the article Letters from Readers in Panic Disorder is owned by . Permission to republish Letters from Readers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.