Panic Attacks and Addiction

Have you ever felt panicky and afraid? Your breathing becomes erratic and your heart beats in flutters and moves about wildly in your chest. It feels like you might be having a heart attack. It's probably not a heart attack, but a panic attack. You can tell the difference. During a real heart attack, the primary symptom is a crushing sensation inside the chest that causes a person to double up in pain. Panic attacks do not hurt physically. During a panic attack, the heart beats rapidly and you may even be able to hear your own heartbeat.

Panic attacks are scary because you don't know what is going on with your body. I know a little bit about panic attacks because I used to get them periodically. The first time I ever had a panic attack, my dad called an ambulance because he thought I was having a stroke or heart attack. Panic attacks are not a serious health threat, and they have nothing to do with the health of your heart.

Some people may not get full-blown panic attacks, but might feel anxious, nervous or fearful instead. The good news is, panic attacks can be completely eliminated from your life for good by getting to the bottom of why you may feel panicky and or anxious in the first place. Panic attacks are only a symptom of something going awry with your emotions and, or physical health.
Addiction of any kind can cause anxiety and fear in us. So can feelings of guilt and shame. Not eating a good daily diet, and having low blood sugar can also cause nervousness and anxiety. Certain medications can cause panic and fear in us too. Heavy-laden emotions can make us feel nervous, fearful and anxious as well.

The good news is, we do not have to let our feelings control our mind and body. We can humbly pray about it, asking God to help rid us of our negative and destructive feelings that might be making us feel fearful and anxious. We can trust in God with all of our heart and mind, and He will take care of us.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

If it is guilt that is causing you to feel anxious and fearful, maybe you just need to stop doing something you know in your heart to be wrong, or stop behaving a certain way. Many things can make a person feel guilty. To overcome this destructive emotion, you should really try and get to the bottom of what might be making you feel bad. Ask God to help you rid your mind of these unwanted feelings.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)
If addiction is causing you to feel anxious or guilty, then again, you need to believe with all of your heart and mind that God can rid you of the controlling forces of alcoholism and drug addiction. When we pray we really need to be sincere by praying in a genuine selfless way, asking God to deliver us from the depths of addiction because we truly want to quit in the addiction and are committed to God.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

This is the great and awesome works of our Lord and Savior! If you truly want to be free from panic attacks and other fearful feelings, God will take them from you forever! You will become a new person in Jesus Christ. You do not have to be a slave to your emotions any longer. Give them to God and He will take care of you.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified' do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 NIV)