Is the Fight or Flight Response Draining You of Energy?

Are you dealing with exhaustion, fatigue and feelings of malaise on a regular basis? High levels of anxiety and frequent panic attacks could be to blame.

Many people who experience the unusual sensations associated with panic disorder soon learn that the physical effects of the adrenaline boost experienced during a heightened state of anxiety can take their toll on their energy levels.

Anxiety is simply a response to a danger or threat, and we all experience varying levels of anxiety throughout our day based on what our brain and body is sensing is happening to us.

We’re all equipped to experience the ‘fight or flight’ response automatically when faced with some sort of danger. Unfortunately, people who experience anxiety and panic attacks on a regular basis get this rush of adrenaline far too often, leaving their bodies drained of energy.

Does this sound familiar?

When your body is constantly in a ‘crisis’ mode, it can be very difficult to have enough energy to do much else. You might feel emotionally and physically exhausted on a daily basis, or you might become very sensitive to people and situations.

Fortunately, there are ways you can get out of this malicious cycle. Identifying the bodily triggers of your anxiety or a panic attack is the first step. Next, you need to work on processing the bodily sensations so the fear around those sensations is removed.

In my book Panic Away, I share some specific strategies that can help you end the fear of fear and take control of your body. You learn how to process the anxiety so you’re harnessing the energy and won’t feel so exhausted each time you go through the cycle.

There will come a point when you can observe and embrace your panic attacks fully, enabling you to stop the cycle of fear.

Barry Joe McDoangh

PanicAway.com

Anxious thoughts and the worry station

When your anxiety level is high any anxious thought you might have takes
on a different intensity. For example a bizarre thought that would normally
never cause you any concern starts to feel uncomfortable and leads to
further anxious thoughts.

The reason this happens is because your anxiety score is high
and you are not feeling at ease with yourself. Compare that to when you
are feeling relaxed and happy. In that situation anxious thoughts hardly make an
impression and if they do, you have enough inner calm to dismiss them and
move on without reacting in fear.

Have you also noticed that if you are feeling exhausted and run down, you are much
more prone to worry.

That’s because your energy levels are low and you don’t have that same level of inner
calm and self assurance to deal with the anxious thoughts.

Think of it like listening to a radio station. When your anxiety level is high your mind tunes
into the worry station. The worry station amplifies any anxious thoughts you might have.
Like attracts like. By the virtue of being anxious your mind has turned the dial
away from Cool and Calm FM  to Worry and Stress FM.

But then when you are more relaxed and calm that station switches back automatically
and anxious thoughts have very little to no impact.

So the next time you are feeling anxious and wondering why your mind feels so
stuck on Worry FM, remember it is directly related to your overall level of anxiety
in your mind and body.

By taking steps to reduce your anxiety level you will be less troubled by anxious
thoughts and find your mental climate much more calm.  You will be tuned into
the station of your choice.

Learn more about the Panic Away Program here >>