Dearest:    For three years, I have referred to the most comprehensive article on the cause and 
treatment of panic attacks. I've searched for the author and recently came across his Web site, 
"How To Treat Your Own Panic Disorder" and I'm so pleased he's here with us tonight.

            DR.   B E R T    A N D E R S O N

...has taught the use of behavioral and psycho-physiological methods in the treatment of addiction, 
stress, pain, hyperventilation, anxiety and panic disorder. These subjects are of special 
concern during menopause, when the highs and lows of hormone levels often create feelings 
of anxiety and panic. 

Anderson's "How To Treat Your Own Panic Disorder" Web site was created in 1996. This was the 
first Internet site to deliver self-help treatment advice to users world wide. The Healing 
Panic treatment program evolved in response to the people who used this material. The information 
found on the Web site is a product of 30 years devoted to clinical practice and consultation 
as a licensed therapist. 

Anderson now operates his site full time, answering viewer questions, supporting people who are 
using Healing Panic, updating content, reviewing scientific publications and keeping contact with 
scientists and clinicians in the field of treatment for panic disorders.

Welcome to Power Surge, Dr. Anderson. You write, "Panic attacks result from what has been called 
"Hyperventilation Syndrome." Panic attack sufferers all have one thing in common --they don't breathe 
properly."  Can you please elaborate on this hyperventilation syndrome?  Thank you.


Dr. Bert Anderson:   My turn?


Dearest:   Yup :)


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Hyperventilation happens when people unawarely overbreathe.  The breathe out 
too much carbon dioxide and this causes an imbalance in their system.  The imbalance is called 
alkalosis -- not enough acid produced by the CO2


Dearest:   Is this anything like breathing into a paper bag, where you take in more carbon dioxide 
than oxygen and that's supposed to relax your system?  


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Yes, breathing into a bag is a temporary way to restore the balance.  
You can do it when you feel dizzy or like panic symptoms are coming on.


Dearest:   I have used the paper bag method for years and find it helpful. What generally 
happens to the breathing of someone before and during a panic attack? What sort of symptoms 
do they describe? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   There are several symptoms.  The most common is pounding heart.  Suffocation 
and shortness of breath, dizziness and feeling detached are the other really common ones.


Dearest:   Dr. Anderson, this may sound like a foolish question, but can people die during a 
panic attack?  


Dr. Bert Anderson:    Was asked that in an email today.  If it ever happens it's not enough to 
make a statistic out of it.  It's not really something that you have to realistically worry about.


Dearest:   Thank you for your wonderful answers. Let's go to the audience. Donna, go ahead.


MELADONNA:   Can dysfunctional family life or imbalance or combination cause panic disorder?


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Well a lot of people who suffer have trauma in their past, something 
that happens to kids in a dysfunctional family.  A lot of kids have panic, you know.  We need to 
see a difference between the things like stress and trauma which lead up to panic and the actual attacks 
themselves.


MELADONNA:   My mom had agoraphobia and so did I...did it rub off?


Dearest:   Is there an actual medical difference between an anxiety attack and a panic attack? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   No, Dearest.  They're both the same thing.


Dearest:   Thanks. Meladonna said her mom had agoraphobia and so does she. Is it hereditary? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Sort of like.  Depression is hereditary, or heart disease.  It's more likely 
to have it if someone in the family has had it in the past.


Goosetess1:   I also have agoraphobia due to almost constant dizziness and faintness.  It's worse 
when I leave my "safety zone".


Dr. Bert Anderson:   That's pretty typical of agoraphobia.  The dizziness and faintness are classic 
hyperventilation symptoms.


Goosetess1:   I have ordered your program.  Does it give specifics on breathing techniques?


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Oh yes, very specific instructions on breathing.


YINEYES:   Doctor, what do you recommend for generalized anxiety disorder?

Dr. Bert Anderson:   We think that Generalized Anxiety Disorder may have the same root causes as 
panic attacks.  But the two things are a little different.  So I would check for the way you breathe. 

Dearest:   Thank you, Dr. Anderson. Sally, go ahead, please.


Sally1019:   Hello Dr. Anderson, I never experienced a panic attack until I started going through 
menopause.  How do hormonal imbalances trigger these attacks? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Probably one of the reasons women have more panic attacks than men.  
Fluctuations of progesterone seem to cause breathing changes.  High progesterone brings on more 
rapid breathing.


RSEquines:   Is there a clinical difference between a person who is a "chronic worrier"...
and someone who has GAD...or is the first just in denial (clinically)?


Dr. Bert Anderson:   I think that the chronic worrier can learn to be more optimistic.  


Dearest:   Learn to be more optimistic through therapy?  


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Hey, therapy, good books on the subject.  Tapes.  All  kinds of things.  
Worry is a cognitive decision, and a habit.  It can be changed when we're willing to change it.


Dearest:   Thanks. Excellent answer - the "willing" part :)  


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Yeah, I thought so, too


MELADONNA:   Been on medication for years..will right the kind of breathing help get over 
using medication?


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Depends on the medications.  I recommend that people taper off benzodiazapine 
medications when they start breathing practice.  It might take awhile, but it is awful hard to 
recover when you are taking the benzo's.


Dearest:   I believe you wrote in your article that sometimes anti-anxiety medications can be 
more of a hindrance than a help, yes?  


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Oh, yes.  The anxiety medications prevent you from learning and remembering.  


PianoMary:   Some people get panic attacks when having to make phone calls.  My mom, a cousin, 
a friend and I all have this and it's awful :(  Anything that I can do to help it? 


Dearest:   <call me and I'll call for you> :)


PianoMary:   LOL


Dearest:   LOL


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Well this is a breathing thing again.  First you learn to change your breathing, 
then you practice on the phone with a friend who can remind you to breathe right as you talk.


PianoMary:   Thanks :)


Careergrl:   All my anxiety and panic disappeared when I truly went thru the pause and went 
off of the medications.


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Terrific.  Could be because the hormones calmed down, don't you think?


Careergrl:   yes


Dearest:   I've never heard so much about panic attacks as since I started Power Surge, Dr. A.  
Dizzhead, go ahead <and congrats, Careergrl>


DizzHead:   My dizzy spells have been diagnosed as migraines from stress and anxiety. Started to 
have panic attacks and was put on medication.  Will I ever get off these medications and stop 
having dizzy spells?  


Dr. Bert Anderson:   There is a hyperventilation connection to migraines!  Hyperventilation 
causes arterial constriction in the brain and around the eyes. Yes, you can get over both, and 
get off of medications.  I recommend that you read Robert Frieds book "Breathe Well, Be Well"


DizzHead:   thank you


Dearest:   Goosetess, go ahead.  <by the way, DizzHead, dizziness is a very common complaint 
during menopause>


Goosetess1:   Isn't is dangerous to stop taking medications all at once?  I've heard of problems 
with seizures.


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Always go off medications under a doctor's supervision.  Going off of benzos 
suddenly can be very bad and dangerous.


MELADONNA:   Can putting a pencil between your teeth help the breathing techinque?


Dr. Bert Anderson:   I haven't heard of the pencil technique.


MELADONNA:   o.k. thank you


PianoMary:   What do you think of Paxil for social anxiety?  I've heard that it helps a lot of people. 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Yes I think Paxil will help some people.  The thing is that everyone 
responds differently to these medications.  So Paxil may help one Prozac help another and so on.  
Some people react strangely to medications. 


PianoMary:   Thanks


Dearest:   Thanks, Dr. A.  Dayja31, please go ahead


Dayja31:   I am on Paxil and it works for Panic attacks,  will I have to be on it for life or 
does it wear off?



Dr. Bert Anderson:   No, you can start treatment using breathing methods, and the Paxil will not 
interfere.  When you are confident that you can control panic and feel better, then you can ask 
you doctor to help you off the Paxil, or any other of the anti-depressants.


LORACURA:   How much do you think the weather has to do with depression in people? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   I used to always get depressed around Christmas.  Shorter days seem to 
affect a lot of folks.


MELADONNA:   I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia years ago but has seemed to have gone away. 
Is this possible that it goes away?


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Probably you are eating better.  I've gotten interested in the Zone way of eating.  
It seems to work well with hypoglycemia.


Dearest:   Dr. A., people who are dealing with serious emotional issues and having panic attacks 
due to, say, phobias or fears, mightn't it be difficult for them to just start trying breathing exercises? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   I think it would be easier to work on the emotional problems after they have 
solved the panic problem.  


Dearest:   Is it my imagination, or does it seem like an usually large amount of people are on 
anti-anxiety, anti-depressant and anti-panic medication these days? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   There are a lot of people on anti-anxiety medications and and anti-depressants.  
After all, if you go to a doctor for these problems that is all he knows to help you. 


RSEquines:   Back to my first question about the difference between worry and true anxiety--
could you please define the way to determine the difference? Thanks.  


Dr. Bert Anderson:   All these things are mixed up.  The way you think, the way you breathe, 
the way your body and brains reacts to hyperventilation, the things that your brain recognizes 
as fearful.  So you start where you are, and with what you can change.  I forgot the emotional 
system up there.  I see treatment for panic as finding and effective means of changing something 
that will help with the symptoms you have.


Dearest:   Dr. A., can you give us some of your breathing exercises to try while we're sitting 
at our computers now? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Sure.  Did you know there are studies being done on people who work at 
computers?


Dearest:   I'm sure there must be. 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Try a slow breathing technique  right now.  Take in a slow, diaphragmatic 
breath, and then breathe out slowly through pursed lips, like blowing out a candle.  Take 10 
to 20 seconds to breathe out  


Dearest:   Keep mouth open or closed while inhaling? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Oh yes, breathe in through your nose if you can.


Dearest:   And then repeat again? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   By the time you have done this 3 times you'll feel more relaxed. 


Dearest:   Once you inhale, do you hold your breath for any period of time before exhaling? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   You can for a short time.  


Dearest:   Thanks :) 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   There are no hard and fast rules except to slow down the whole breathing 
process.


PianoMary:   You mentioned dealing with emotional problems earlier.  Do you suggest therapy 
first or medication?  Personally, I get a panic attack just thinking about seeing a therapist :( 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Hey, that's what I'm here for!  Use medications only if you need them.  
If you start breathing practice, even doing the stuff you see on my site, you will find that you 
can control panic attacks and anxiety a lot better.  


Dearest:   Dr. A., do you think we overuse the term "panic attack," when we're merely feeling 
a little unsteady or worried? 


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Yes, I do.  Recently I've been getting a lot of people who say they have 
panic attacks when actually they only have a few symptoms of anxiety or depression.  A real 
panic attack is a pretty big event!


Dearest:   I mean, I remember my bout with agoraphobia and severe panic attacks and they were 
debilitating. Thanks for your input :)  Donna, go ahead.


MELADONNA:   Zone "eating".  Is that like Eat Right for Your Type or protein with veggies only 
and carbs and fruits alone?


Dr. Bert Anderson:   The Zone is a balance of carbs, protein and fats.  A definite ratio.  
Enter the Zone by Barry Sears is the best one to read.


MELADONNA:   thank you


Marmar6509:   How do I handle always worrying that there is something medically wrong with me 
like cancer for instance?


Dr. Bert Anderson:   That's what cognitive therapy is all about.  The only way you can turn it 
around is to change your thinking, remind yourself that you are ok. 


Sally1019:   I could not tolerate Paxil but was able to overcome my panic attacks with deep breathing 
exercises I learned here on the Power Surge Board posted by Dearest.  


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Wonderful.  


Dearest:   Dr. Anderson, we have referred to your wonderful article time and time again.  
What general suggestions could you give to those in the audience who suffer from panic attacks?  
I mean, where to start.


Dr. Bert Anderson:   If they read the self-help information on my site they will get a lot of 
information.  There are people here tonight who have done that and gotten over their attacks.  
It really doesn't take very long to gain some control if you know what to do. 


Dearest:   Dr. Anderson, thank you for an informative and stimulating visit to Power Surge. 
I highly that everyone visit Dr. Bert Anderson's wonderful Web site, 
"How To Treat Your Own Panic Disorder" at: www.healingpanic.com


Dr. Bert Anderson:   It's been great and interesting being here tonight.  My best wishes to you all.


Dearest:   Thank you, Dr. A. It's been interesting having you :)


Dr. Bert Anderson:   Sure, be very happy to come back with this great group. 




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