Emotional Rain

Did you ever go through a time when the emotional rain came, and it continued to pour for days on end? Oh, I suppose times like these come to most everyone, but I’m thinking a bit more frequently to panic and anxiety sufferers. How ‘bout you, what do you think?

Where does one go, and to whom and what do they turn, when it seems there’s no hope? I mean, when the punches just keep coming, how does one survive? And why would one even want to live for the next moment when all it brings is anticipation of the next jab? In the midst of this, what gives us the motivation and resolve to move forward? For that matter, what’s the true definition of “moving forward?”

For some, when the storms blow in there is no forward motion. In the grasp of their present circumstances, temperament, and life experience they simply shut down. In terms of personal resources the cupboard’s bare. And there’s no fuel to muster any manner of resilience and fight. For others, putting one foot in front of the other is at least possible, but that’s really the only sign of life in a mentally and emotionally dim existence. And then others forge ahead, seemingly unaffected by the downpour.

I wonder where you believe you fall on this spectrum of response. I wonder about my own pattern of reaction. You know, you take it and take it and take it, and then some. And you ponder two things, really. How much more to come, and how much more can I take? 

Feelings are amazing, aren’t they? They can bring us to the heights of joy and fulfillment, and they can lead us to distraction with their intensity and intrusion. When my funnel is full it weighs so heavily on me. But, then, as if out of nowhere, a surge of perspective presents and I experience a splash of thankfulness for having the ability to at least feel such emotion. Many don’t.

Can you tell I’ve been dealing with much over the past few weeks? Ah, what insight you possess.  It’s during times like these I learn exactly where I lie on the spectrum of response. And in times like these, somehow and someway, feelings and thoughts like these come to the fore. From my poetry…

In the end the words will come
Never worry, I know it’s true
And the very action you always doubt will be there
I’m certain

A strange kind of wisdom
Has grown so deep inside your troubled heart
And a miraculous power without notice is alive
And at call

I know
So be calm
All truth is there
And it waits so quietly by your side

Panic Attacks, Anxiety, and Anger: The Dynamics of Defense (Part 3)

Well, this is the final article of a three-part series on the role of anger in the occurrence and perpetuation of panic attacks and anxiety. In the first two installments we defined anger within two theoretical perspectives, and took a look at how anger presented in my life as an anxiety sufferer. I’d like to wrap-up the series by discussing what I did, and still do, to keep my anger in check.

The first technique came to life as I gained the insight to identify the relationship between my thinking, feeling, and behavior, and the obvious presence of anger. I can’t stress enough the importance of matching untoward mental, emotional, and physical sensations to what’s going on in and around you at the time; as well as the goings-on in the past when you experienced similar sensations. As you detect troubling mind, spirit, and body sensations, take a moment and ask yourself if you’ve felt the same phenomena in other situations, past and present. And try to recall the emotion involved. This little technique, which I call Symptom Identification and Association (SIA), will help you identify the feelings behind many of your special little internal quirks. And that can be incredibly helpful.

I became ready to see my anger for what it was and allow it, under supervision, to play itself out. When the feeling and symptoms arose, I didn’t run. No, I hung in there and opened my mind in an effort to examine as many contributing factors as I could. And this scrutiny always included looking beyond who or what was about to wrongly become a target. Usually, in time, the true sources of the agitation (often me) were revealed and action plans could be drafted and implemented. Please don’t ever forget about the potential for displaced anger, which I discussed in part two.

Now, while the anger processing was taking place, I’d support its deliberate work by doing anything I could to sustain a presence of calm and management. Activities such as exercise, journaling, guided imagery, and relaxation techniques were employed; as well as becoming involved in some sort of positive project. No doubt, anger equals energy; so why not use this energy to feed something constructive, as opposed to feeding mismanaged and destructive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. All of these activities provided an environment of perspective and just enough diversion to inhibit the potential for becoming overwhelmed, while not losing focus on the work at hand. And I’d try to find a trusted party with whom I could talk and use as a sounding board, and from whom I could gain some perspective.

Heck, I just let myself be what my emotions were dictating, within the context of self-awareness and management. I would identify and acknowledge what I was feeling, said it was okay to feel that way, and dealt with it accordingly. And that included constructively expressing my feelings to anyone with whom I was in conflict. And if my anger was as a result of a situation over which I had absolutely no control, I did all within my power to process it and let it go. And, man, that sure wasn’t, and isn’t, an easy thing to do. Dang, it’s just so natural for us to harbor anger and become so traumatized by it, not to mention traumatizing others along the way. But, why go absolutely mad, and bring so much pain to others, over something that could possibly never change?  

I remember feeling a lot of stress and anger one steamy summer day several years ago, and taking a walk in a local forest preserve. While strolling about, I found the biggest stick I could physically manage and started cracking every tree and rock I could find in a selected isolated area of woods. When I started, the stick was about five feet long. When I finished it was down to about the size of a baseball bat. But, it didn’t end there. I took that stick home and it became my “anger stick.” To this day, when dire frustration and anger knock upon my door, I’ll reach under my bed, grab my anger stick, and beat on a pillow or my bed, verbalizing my frustration as I strike.

Another great anger management technique is screaming. Now, you may be saying, “Bill, how am I going to do that without my neighbors calling 911?” Hey, scream into a pillow or while you’re driving your car. I’m telling you, it works. Here’s another one. Go to your local dollar store and buy a set of drinking glasses and head for the woods or your garage. Throw those babies at a tree, a rock, or a wall as you express your anger (please be sure to clean up the mess). Or how ‘bout an anger-venting exercise using something as simple as a towel? Yes, grab a hand towel with one hand at each end. Now just start twisting like crazy, grunting and groaning while you’re at it. If you’re so moved, verbalize some thoughts and feelings.

Well, that’s all “he” wrote regarding anger’s role in the generation and perpetuation of panic attacks and anxiety. Hopefully, you’ve not only seen the relationship, but you’ve gained some insight and learned some techniques to help you identify and manage your anger experience. Finally, I can’t stress enough that I never let myself believe that feeling anger is wrong or bad. It isn’t. However, displacing, mismanaging, stuffing, and abusively displaying anger will only lead to misery for you and those with whom you interact.

Panic Attacks, Anxiety, and Anger: The Dynamics of Defense (Part 2)

In part one of this three part series we poured a solid foundation by defining anger within the context of psychoanalytic and cognitive theory. Well, now it’s time to have a look at how anger directly impacts panic and anxiety.

As I focused upon recovering from my disorder, it didn’t take long before I realized I was a pretty angry guy. And my stealthy anger deeply impacted my day-to-day living. Now, I wasn’t one to have an explosive temper, or to be verbally or physically aggressive in expressing my anger. No, my anger was very much internalized and folks with whom I came in surface contact would probably never have known any sort of anger problem existed. Truly, all smiles and “I’m just fine” was my public persona.

I really doubt that most sufferers of chronic anger really even know it’s rumbling within them, much less believing there’s any sort of problem. Yes, in most cases you just can’t put a finger on exactly what’s causing you to feel so uncomfortable. I mean, it’s not like someone came up to you and busted you in the chops, it’s just sort of “there.”
 
Anger is a very real and appropriate emotion for all of us. But, anger retained for long periods of time, because it has no means of being managed or resolved, is an entirely different matter. And the reason it never goes away is because, in most cases, its source, even its very existence, is never identified and acknowledged. I’d be willing to bet that even sufferers of chronic anger who express it daily, and admit it’s a major problem, have no clue as to its foundation. And on they go through life with displaced anger, blowing off steam at inappropriate targets, including themselves, without giving a thought to the fact that their aim is tragically off-mark. This is a huge and totally avoidable case of mistaken identity.
 
So, why might a panic sufferer like me, or you, have anger issues? Well, how ‘bout these for starters: self-hate, self-punishment, poor self-esteem, not being able to relax, not being able to go out, not being able to initiate or manage a healthy relationship, not being able to plan for the future, just being saddled with this panic and anxiety mess, unresolved internal conflict, having social interaction problems, being the source of ridicule, believing we’re constantly letting people down, and on and on. Think those will get the job done?

My anger presented itself physically and psychologically in a variety of ways. Let’s see - stiff neck, short attention span, next to nothing patience, impulsive eating, smoking, drinking, general tension and anxiety, irritability, poor concentration, and all sorts of other methods of constantly beating-up on myself for “the screw-up du jour.” So many times I’ve likened my emotional and behavioral expressions of anger to those clinically associated with “self-injury.” One could even make the case for comparisons to suicidal ideation, gestures, and attempts. Really now, what’s the difference?

Well, fortunately, after mucho suffering I was finally able to put two and two together and identify the relationship between my thinking, feeling, and behavior, and the obvious presence of anger. And with that kind of insight, I was able to detect when my anger button was being pushed, as well as having a plausible explanation for some funky everyday symptoms that were making me downright uncomfortable. Now, I may not have known exactly what was making me angry, or what best to do about it, but I sure as heck knew when I was feeling that way, and that was a good start. By the way, a counselor shared an interesting observation with regard to the physical expression of anger and fear. She said tension in the neck generally points to anger, and a tight gut usually points toward fear. Hmmm, what do you think?

Well, let’s go ahead and close part two and look to part three for details regarding how I approached and managed my anger.

Panic Attacks, Anxiety, and Anger: The Dynamics of Defense (Part 1)

I’d like to discuss anger’s role in the generation and sustenance of panic attacks and anxiety. To give the matter its due, I’ve decided to present the information in two parts. In this edition, part one, we’ll review what anger is in the eyes of the psychoanalysts and cognitivists. And in part two we’ll have a closer look at how anger directly impacts panic and anxiety. Well, are you ready? Let’s get to work.
   
The French psychiatrist, Jacques Lacan, a 20th Century pioneer in psychoanalysis, believed aggression is generated as a psychological defense against the threat of something known as fragmentation; the mental and emotional sense of losing control over self-cohesion. Now, fragmentation may present in a feeling of low-grade distress, or it may manifest in all-out panic and terror, for fear of total annihilation. Lacan took the whole matter to infancy where a human is simply a mish-mash of biological functions well beyond internal management. And the only goal one could have is to at least make an effort to pull everything together into some semblance of cohesive identity.

But, Lacan believed any achieved cohesion or collected personality is only a matter of appearances; just a front intended to mask one’s innate vulnerability and weakness. That said, when any outside force poses a threat, which to the individual would reveal the sad and terrorizing truth regarding her ever-looming potential to fragment, she calls upon her most natural and available defense; concealment of her innate frailty. And this is implemented by the immediate presentation of the illusion that she has scads of power right at her very fingertips. Well, that supposed power is aggression; so often expressed and received as anger.      

Now, according to the psychoanalysts, regression is a defense mechanism generated by the ego, the mediator between our primal drives (the id) and our social conscious (the superego), that forces an individual to give the heave-ho to healthy and mature coping strategies in the face of intense internal distress. In lieu of employing age-appropriate management strategies, the individual unconsciously elects to revert to patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior from a stage of psychosexual development in which he’s become fixated. Now, this fixation could take him back in time to anywhere from birth through adolescence. And the stage chosen for the reversion is generally one during which some sort of major unresolved conflict or trauma occurred. By the way, Sigmund Freud named the psychosexual stages oral, anal, phallic, latency period, and genital.

You know, interestingly enough, it’s possible that an individual may be unconsciously holding on to pain and anger in a misguided attempt to reconnect with the person who inflicted wounds and generated trauma during a developmental stage in which she’s fixated. And this occurs in a hopeless effort to achieve a wrap and a sense of healing. Indeed, even though the regression and fixation traps the individual within the walls of intense distress, they at least bring him close to the scene of the crime, and the perpetrator(s). And being at least close equates to having a shot at resolution. Does any of this connect with you?

Though not as detailed, I want to at least mention the cognitive point of view regarding anger. The cognitivists would submit that anger is an incredibly powerful emotion grounded in a real or perceived event. They’d go on to say that anger’s presence in our lives may be generated by any combination of genetics, life-experience, poor conflict-management skills, and learned behavior. And they’d probably suggest that most people who display anger blame others, and situations, for all of the hubbub; as opposed to taking responsibility for their misguided expectations. Indeed, if the events at hand don’t jibe with their perception and expectation of the way things should be, boom, all hell breaks loose.

Like the psychoanalysts, the cognitivists would remind you that anger is a deeply rooted defense mechanism that protects us from a variety of situations from which rescue is perceived to be necessary; its power and energy aiding in both emotional and physical survival. So that can be a good thing, but the downside is when anger becomes horribly mismanaged and taken beyond the boundaries of its biological and psychological purpose. It then becomes incredibly dangerous.

Well, that’s a wrap for part one. Hopefully, I provided a nice definitive foundation as we look to part two, and our discussion of how anger directly impacts panic and anxiety.

Panic Attacks, "Interpreaction," and "Interpreversal": A Mind Game

I’d like to share two concepts I believe will be of great assistance as we approach panic attacks, agoraphobia, derealization, and depersonalization - any of our anxiety and mood-driven misery, for that matter. They play so very big and need to be put into practice over and over again. And that’s exactly why I came up with names that are easily remembered.  

The first is “interpreaction,” which reminds us of the fact that interpretation always drives reaction. And the second is “interpreversal,” emphasizing if interpretation can create a negative reaction, it only stands to reason it must also hold the power to reverse this reaction to a positive. Do these make sense to you?

Well, how ‘bout more detail. Interpreaction is actually a double-edged sword because it ensures us of defensive, panicky, and self-destructive reactions if we interpret stimuli as being threatening. Conversely, interpreaction ensures us of managed, calm, and insightful reactions if we interpret stimuli as non-threatening. Interpreversal takes us to the next level of power and hope, as it gives us confidence in knowing that just as we’ve traditionally created our distress, it only stands to reason we can reverse these warped patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior.

And the best part about interpreaction and interpreversal is – and never forget it – they bang home the point that we have the authority and ability to manage reactions to anything our minds and bodies may throw our way. Now that’s power, because it means we can totally side-step panic attacks, agoraphobia, derealization, depersonalization, social anxiety, you name it. How could that not be true? 

But, to make interpreaciton and interpreversal work for us we have to train and discipline ourselves to accurately interpret stimuli within seconds of their occurrence, maintaining our edge until the impulse to react in desperation subsides. And we also have to believe in the good-common-sense principle that if our interpretations can create negative reactions, they must have the ability to create positive reactions. Now, the time it takes to fend off overreacting to a negative interpretation varies for each of us. However, with practice and success it can only decrease.

See, we just need to force ourselves to pause for a short bit of time after a panic trigger. Yes, we need to stop everything because our fear circuitry headquarters, the amygdala, is trying to figure out how best to respond to the potential threat. So, now is the time to take a few abdominal breaths and chill, as the amygdala sends a rather pokey message, asking for clarification, to the prefrontal cortex, the cognitive center of our brains. It’s here where we can ultimately determine what’s truly going on, putting an end to our self-defeating thought processing and reaction patterns. Well, after the prefrontal cortex determines the facts, we still need to employ our chill skills, buying time while the truth makes its way back to the amygdala. And, convinced there’s no true threat, the amygdala turns off the alarm.

You know, since we’ve suffered for so long, we’re so used to blindly receiving and accepting all of the negative and destructive little gems our minds and bodies throw our way. Well, I believe it’s time we stood up for ourselves and fought back. Don’t you agree?

Surely, if faulty interpretation can so easily generate disasters, why can’t reasoned and accurate interpretation flip things around? Well it can. And we have the authority and ability to make it all happen. 

Panic Attacks, Anxiety, and Your Primary Care Physician: Are You Getting the Best Care?

I found an editorial in the March 6, 2007 edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine that I believe is spot-on. It was written by Wayne Katon, M.D. and Peter Roy-Byrne, M.D., from the University of Washington School of Medicine. The subject matter was poor treatment practices, as well as outcomes, for anxiety disorder sufferers who receive primary care-based mental health care.

The editorial begins with Drs. Katon and Roy-Byrne referring to the anxiety disorders as “the neglected stepchild of primary care-based mental health care.” Curiously, there are mountains of research floating about with regard to primary care-based mental health care for depression. But, such is certainly not the case for the anxiety disorders. And that’s really very remarkable when you consider that the anxiety disorders are the most frequently occurring mind variances (my stigma-busting replacement term for “mental illnesses”) in the United States, if not the world. And let’s not forget about the devastating social, educational, and vocational havoc they can wreak.

It can’t be of any great surprise that anxiety disorder sufferers are frequent flyers at primary care practices. And that’s “primarily” because of all of the anxiety-generated physical symptoms we experience and endure. I mean, there’s chest pain, rapid heart rate, heart palpitations, breathing difficulty, gastrointestinal issues, and on and on. And on top of the physical hub-bub is a very tough layer of psychiatric comorbidities, such as mood disorders, other anxiety disorders, and substance abuse and dependence.

In their editorial, Drs. Katon and Roy-Byrne cite the research of Kurt Kroenke, M.D., of Indiana University and the Regenstrief Institute. Dr. Kroenke’s work reveals generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the most frequently presenting anxiety disorders at a primary care practice. Also noted in Kroenke’s research was the prevalence of comorbidities such as depression, somatization issues, and overall functional impairment. Kroenke’s study goes on to indicate there are several brief and reliable screening questionnaires that address all four of the disorders just mentioned, most notably the GAD-2 and GAD-7. And, finally, Kroenke’s work reveals that more than 40% of studied patients who presented with an anxiety disorder stated they weren’t receiving any mental health treatment whatsoever.

Now, certainly, screening for the anxiety disorders at a primary care practice is a crucial first step; however, according to Katon and Roy-Byrne, arriving at a diagnosis doesn’t at all equate to improvement in quality of care or outcomes. Indeed, studies show anxiety patients who are receiving primary care-based mental health care, and are accurately diagnosed, show significant gaps in care. Among these are poor physician follow-up, which often leads to meds non-compliance, and very limited exposure to efficacious psychotherapies. So, when you pull together the data, primary care-based mental health care just doesn’t appear to be an option for anxiety sufferers.

Drs. Katon and Roy-Byrne believe it’s time for major change and suggest looking at primary care-based depression screening protocols as a starting point. They go on to recommend greater emphasis upon anxiety screening and linking screened anxiety sufferers with proven treatment resources. And they propose the use of allied health professionals in supporting the work of the primary care physician. Imagine a qualified professional who provides anxiety education to patients and staff. And this same team member could monitor treatment compliance and outcomes, facilitating physician follow-up appointments should the patient’s circumstances not improve. This allied professional could even work with a psychiatrist on medication adjustments and recommendations, passing the information on to the physician.

Well, this is all very interesting and revealing information, don’t you think? And as distressing as much of it is, there’s every reason in the world to be hopeful. And that’s because studies show the recommendations of change suggested by Drs. Katon and Roy-Byrne work. Period. So, it’s time to identify barriers to correction and push them aside.

There’s absolutely no reason why an anxiety sufferer shouldn’t be able to see his/her primary care physician and benefit from a great initial, and ongoing, collaborative offensive against their nemesis. Anything less is simply an injustice and an overwhelmingly sad missed opportunity.

Panic Attacks and Mitral Valve Prolapse: A Mimicker's Deception?

A mimicker is a symptom or disorder that fools its victim, as well as medical and psych professionals, into believing he/she is suffering from something other than the true cause of the problem. And the likeness is so striking that the mimicked issue gets all the attention, allowing the real culprit to remain a mystery. Obviously, mimickers can cause all sorts of confusion, as well as unnecessary pain and anguish. One of the major mimickers of panic attacks and panic disorder is mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and mitral valve prolapse syndrome (MVPS).

As always, let’s start with definitions. If the heart’s mitral valve is functioning properly, blood flows from the left atrium to the left ventricle in a very tidy manner. And that’s because blood is prevented from going back into the left atrium by a tight seal formed as the mitral valve closes. But if one has MVP the flaps of the mitral valve allow small amounts of blood leakage because the valve flaps don’t close evenly; one, or both, collapsing backward.

The physical manifestations of MVP may include heart palpitations, atrial fibrillation (the atria, the heart's two small upper chambers, quiver instead of maintaining a normal rhythm, resulting in blood pooling and clotting because healthy pumping is interrupted - a stroke may ensue if a bit of blood clot breaks away and lodges in a brain artery), fainting, chest pain, and shortness of breath. MVP, a common and generally benign condition that presents in women three times more than men, is a genetic disorder typically confirmed by an echocardiogram. The only real potential for trouble is the very remote possibility of contracting an infection called endocarditis (an infection of the inner lining of the heart, the endocardium, and the possibility of blood clotting).

Now, here’s where things start to get panic-interesting. Just as a percentage of panic attack sufferers become panic disorder sufferers, so it is with MVP. Some 40% of patients with MVP also have something known as dysautonomia, an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which would indicate neurotransmitter and hormonal confusion as well. Well, the ANS has two components, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system has the responsibility of ramping-up our biochemistry as our fight/flight response is switched on; and the parasympathetic nervous system returns our biochemistry to a state of normalcy as the threat is gone.

Indeed, an incredible number of bodily functions are directed by the ANS and when this system is out of balance the physiological results can be, as you may already know, panic attacks, anxiety, fatigue, migraine headache, irritable bowel syndrome, and many more little goodies. Well, when the situation becomes this complex one is said to suffer from mitral valve prolapse syndrome (MVPS). And it’s estimated that 40-60% of MVPS sufferers will experience panic attacks.

Are you saying to yourself, “Hmmm?” If you have ever suspected you suffer from mitral valve prolapse, or if members of your family have been diagnosed, please get to a doctor and have an evaluation. And even if you don’t have a family history, get tested anyway. A diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse or MVPS, and appropriate treatment, could dispose of your panic attacks and save you a whole lot of aggravation.

Perhaps you suffer from mitral valve prolapse or mitral valve prolapse syndrome, not panic. Women - are you paying attention?

Panic Attacks, Agoraphobia, Spatial Orientation: Perception is Everything

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been plagued by agoraphobia. Well, my arm’s fully extended upward. I can recall being all but housebound because of it in the early 1980’s. And if I did venture out it was with a few drinks under my belt, a few beers in the car, and about ten cigarettes in my mouth. I can’t tell you how thankful I am those years are gone. But, one of the huge upsides is my ability to offer very meaningful and efficacious assistance to those suffering from the same misery. Well, then. I’d like to share some interesting information regarding the relationship between agoraphobia and something known as spatial orientation.

First, let’s make sure we have a solid foundation. “Agoraphobia” is a compound word. “Agora” comes from the Greek for “place of assembly;” and, of course, “phobia” comes from the Greek, “phobos,” meaning fear. So, literally we have “fear of the place of assembly.” Now, as you may know, agoraphobia and panic attacks are attached at the hip. In fact, a formal diagnosis of panic disorder is made “with or without agoraphobia.” Simply put, agoraphobia is, well, anxiety about being in places or situations where a quick exit may be tough to pull off. And why don’t we throw into the mix feeling uneasy about who will come to the rescue should panic-like symptoms, or an attack, occur. Ultimately, things escalate to the point where places and situations of perceived threat are most often avoided; and if not, they’re endured with tons of angst. Again, been there and done that way too many times.

Okay, so just what is spatial orientation? It’s pretty cool, actually. How ‘bout we say it’s our ability to maintain a sense of body orientation and/or posture within the context of our surrounding environment in the immediate. And this applies to when we’re moving and static. Though it’s so wonderfully natural it seems as though it “just happens,” such is definitely not the case. No, to maintain sufficient spatial orientation our brains blend proprioceptive (from the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints - tactile) and vestibular (from the inner ear) cues with visual messages. And, of course, adjustments are made as changes in environment and/or positioning occur.

Well, research has discovered a relationship between agoraphobia and problems with spatial orientation that makes a whole lot of sense, and explains much. It seems as though many agoraphobics have weak vestibular functioning. As a result their brains are forced to rely solely upon visual and tactile cues for spatial orientation. Well, this becomes a major problem if visual cues are tough to come by; say, if one is standing in the middle of a desert. And problems also occur if the visual input is overwhelming, like what may be experienced if one is on the dance floor of a popular night club. Finally, those with spatial orientation challenges have difficulty with irregular surfaces or landscapes; say, one of those goofy rooms in an amusement park funhouse where the floor is severely tilted.

Hmmm. Standing in the middle of a desert, being on the dance floor of a popular night club, a severely tilted floor in a funhouse. Aren’t these places and situations that are generally very disturbing to agoraphobics and panic sufferers? You bet. And it’s all about having difficulty with processing atypical audiovisual input.

I really enjoy uncovering and sharing tidbits like this. And the cool thing is, once we make our “scientific” discovery we always end up saying, “Well, hey, that makes sense. It happens to me all the time.” So, how ‘bout we chalk-up another manifestation of anxiety to biology. And the next time we become distressed over an issue of spatial orientation, let’s first consider the facts as to what’s really going on and learn to leave panic and avoidance behind.