Fears, worries, panic attacks – possibilities for effective testing and successful treatment
Torsten Hartmeier, Naturopath, Lübbecke, Germany
All of us are afraid sometimes. Fear can actually help protect us by alerting us to potentially dangerous situations. There are times, however, when fear runs amok and permanently disrupts our daily lives long term.
Take a moment and imagine what life would be like for anxiety sufferers if they were no longer anxious. It is not difficult for us as therapists to imagine that overcoming anxiety would significantly change the lives of anxiety patients for the better.
All of us have to face our fears at some point. How we deal with our fears determines whether we experience our lives as an exciting adventure or whether we are trapped in our fears.
The question is: Where do fears come from in the first place?
Neuroscientists claim that we humans are the most anxious creatures on the planet. This is because we can learn with our mind, think with it, and also create fear with it (in the amygdala).
Furthermore, these experts say that the anxious feeling we have when we are afraid is a standard biological response. They are more or less the same body signals (activation patterns) whether we’re afraid of being bitten by a dog, being rejected on a date or being audited by the tax office. Fear, like all other emotions, is basically information, nothing more – but also nothing less.
Although the biological reactions that take place in the body are always the same, a distinction can be made between the following manifestations of anxiety disorders: panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and phobias. Phobias can be divided into agoraphobia, social phobias and specific phobias.
The physicist and successful author Dr Karl Albrecht postulates 5 basic fears upon which all other fears are built.
Extinction – the fear of annihilation, the fear of death. The fear of ceasing to exist. The thought of being no more arouses an existential fear in all people.
Mutilation – the fear of losing a part of our body (amputation, accident); the thought that the boundaries of our body will be violated; or the health of an organ. Fear of animals like beetles, spiders, snakes and other creepy things comes from fear of mutilation. A similar fear is observed in elephants when they sleep at night. They are afraid of small animals or insects creeping into their trunk. Hence the joke about elephants and mice.
Loss of autonomy – the fear of being immobilised, paralysed, restricted, over‐whelmed, locked up, confined, or otherwise controlled by circumstances beyond our control. In physical form, it is commonly known as claustrophobia, but it also extends to our social interactions and relationships.
Separation – the fear of being abandoned; rejection and loss of commonalities; being seen as persona non grata – not wanted, respected or valued by anyone else. “Silent rejection”, when imposed by a group, can have devastating effects on human behaviour.
Ego death – the fear of humiliation, profound disapproval, loss of integrity of the self.
Topics we will cover in this presentation
In this presentation we will look at the aspect that anxiety in particular can have a somatic trigger and look at possible alternatives for support. We will not delve into conventional medical methods, procedures and therapies. You can find enough information on those on the Internet.
We will address the following points in particular:
How we can distinguish anxiety from ordinary worry.
What symptoms can occur with anxiety.
What changes you should clarify at the structural/organic level.
Possible causes/triggers.
Anxiety and possible comorbidities.
Neurotransmitters/hormones and fears.
Possible effective supplements.
How to distinguish fears and worries well – the 7 cues
Cue 1: Worry is specific. Anxiety is vague.
Worries are based on realistic concerns that are specific and can be named.
Fear, on the other hand, is fear of the general “unknown”. Fear usually cannot be named or explained by someone who experiences it.
Cue 2: Worry makes us want to fix the problem. Anxiety causes paralysis.
Because worries are based on specific and often realistic concerns, we respond accordingly. We would like to fix the problems and eliminate the cause of our concern. This is also successful in most cases.
Fear does just the opposite. People with anxiety are unable to pinpoint the reasons for their fears. This creates an inability to take appropriate countermeasures. Many patients also report feeling paralysed and unable to take action. Since people like to be in control, sufferers often adopt compulsive behaviours in order to have at least some degree of control over themselves.
Cue 3: Worry causes mild emotional reactions. Anxiety causes severe emotional reactions.
Worry is a natural human reaction. There is no way humans would have survived this long if we had no “concerns”. This only leads to a minimal emotional reaction, as we are still able to fight against our worries.
Those who struggle with chronic and unconscious anxiety exhibit over‐reactive emotional responses to their environment and circumstances. This hinders their ability to take action against whatever is causing the anxiety.
Cue 4: Worry is controllable. Anxiety controls you.
Precisely because worry is a natural human reaction, we can use our consciousness to control that worry, meaning that we can control the emotions that arise from that.
Anxiety, however, is very different. Because chronic anxiety or fear occurs outside of our cognitive awareness, we cannot take full responsibility for our responses to it. Anxiety manifests itself unconsciously and controls our body’s physical reactions to it without it being aware of what is causing it.
Cue 5: Worry is relatively temporary. There’s no time limit to fear.
Because worry is based on realistic concerns, it is primarily temporary. It motivates us to act so that we can eliminate the cause in a timely manner. The more disciplined we are about it, the sooner we are free from worry.
Anxiety that is chronic and disordered is a common fear of the unknown and is difficult to explain. Since anxiety is hard to name and almost impossible to fix, it can last for days, weeks or months. Fear that lasts overnight is most likely a sign of chronic or disordered anxiety.
Cue 6: Worry takes place in the mind. Anxiety manifests itself in the body.
As we have already mentioned a few times, worry is a cognitive response in the mind. When explaining what is causing concern, there is usually a linear and logical explanation that can be communicated verbally and lead to the timely resolution of the concern.
A chronic, generalised anxiety disorder triggers permanent physical reactions. This can lead to a significant restriction of our normal daily routine.
Cue 7: Worry does not negatively impact our personal or professional functions. Anxiety interferes with our ability to function normally.
Worry is usually a reaction to a problem. Outside of this concern, we function normally and without limitations. This means that although worry may preoccupy us, they allow us to lead a normal life to a large extent without losing our head.
Anxiety – even if sufferers have no idea what is causing it – affects our ability to function normally. Those who struggle with chronic anxiety cannot concentrate, are often tired to the point of CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome). Fear always means worst case scenarios. It is the brain’s coping mechanism, which has to fight against it permanently and causes the exhaustion.
Certain centres in our brain are involved: the limbic system and the amygdala are responsible for processing emotions and storing them. According to scientists, these two centres are overactive in people with anxiety, worry and distress. In addition, the balance of certain messenger substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain seems to be disturbed. The so‐called abdominal brain (gut‐brain axis) can no longer process information properly, either.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
What are the common physical symptoms?
➡Panic attacks ➡Tachycardia ➡Chest pain ➡Heart palpitations ➡Headache ➡Breathing difficulties ➡Extreme sweating ➡Stomach problems ➡Nausea ➡General fatigue ➡Dizziness ➡Sleeplessness ➡Butterflies in the stomach ➡Difficulty swallowing
In many cases, emotional and psychological symptoms are added, which are even more difficult to bear:
➡Constant fear and anxiety of impending doom ➡Depression ➡Agoraphobia ➡Sudden panic attacks ➡Irritability ➡Feeling of going crazy and/or losing control ➡Feeling of being left alone and restless ➡Feeling helpless and not normal ➡Social phobias ➡Nightmares and anxious thoughts ➡Fear of being abandoned by partner ➡Existential fears ➡Jealousy
Anxiety and possible comorbidities.
➡Bipolar disorder ➡Bulimia ➡Depersonalisation ➡Depression ➡Claustrophobia ➡Hunger craving ➡Globus hystericus ➡Sleeplessness ➡Misophonia (“hatred of sound”) ➡Night terrors ➡Cryptopyrroluria (KPU) ➡Psychosis ➡PTSD ➡Anger attacks ➡Suicidal thoughts ➡Trichotillomania
Anxiety and possible comorbidities.
➡Asthma ➡General and chronic pain ➡Bedwetting ➡CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) ➡Haemochromatosis ➡Hypertension ➡MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity ➡Recurrent tonsillitis (CAVE: PANDAS) ➡Weight gain
What is PANDAS?
The acronym PANDAS stands for paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections. It is considered a subcategory of paediatric acute‐onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS). It describes a neuropsychiatric syndrome that is now widely recognised and has already been successfully reproduced in animal experiments. In childhood and adolescence, infections with group A β‐haemolytic streptococci lead to the sudden onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms that, if left untreated, can take a long‐term, chronic course. Source: Wikipedia
At the structural/organic level, you should always clarify the following possible causes:
Changes in the area of the cervical spine can often cause massive anxiety due to irritation of the nerve and/or blood vessels running there.
Uncontrolled blood sugar fluctuations, hypoglycaemia and insulin resistance can cause anxiety. The first studies on this subject were carried out as early as the 1960s. Blood sugar fluctuations and spikes, often not detected by HbA1c, can cause anxiety, depression, insomnia, tremors, tachycardia, dizziness, and forgetfulness.
Reducing refined carbohydrates can lead to an immediate improvement. (Source: Salzer, H. Reactive hypoglycemia and neuropsychiatric illness. J Natl Med Assoc. 1966 Jan; 58(1): 12– 17. PMCID: PMC2611193)
According to a 2016 case report, a dietary change adding more protein, fat, and fibre can improve anxiety, mood, concentration, energy and blood sugar problems in a patient with generalised anxiety and hypoglycaemia. When subjects returned to their dietary habits of refined carbohydrates, it triggered anxiety, and the symptoms returned. (Source: Gangwisch, JE, Hale, L, Garcia, L, Malaspina, D, Opler, MG, Payne, ME, Rossom, RC, Lane, D. High glycemic index diet as a risk factor for depression: analyses from the Women’s Health Initiative. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Aug; 102(2): 454–463. PMID: 26109579 Source: Aucoin, M. Bhardwai, S. Generalized anxiety disorder and hypoglycmia symptoms improved with diet modification. Case Rep Psychiatry. 2016; 2016: 7165425. PMID: 27493821)
Thyroid dysfunction directly affects your mental health and can cause anxiety as well as full‐blown depression. Just think of hypothyroidism in old age in this context, which can perfectly copy depression.
Heart disease (CHD; ACS) and respiratory diseases (e.g. COPD) can trigger anxiety, which often becomes chronic simply because of the seriousness of these clinical pictures. In such cases, the underlying disease must be addressed first so that the anxiety can be effectively treated.
CAVE: alcohol consumption/drug abuse. Substance abuse should always be considered so that these individuals can be referred to the appropriate services.
Diseases of the nervous system, such as MS or Parkinson’s disease and others, are often accompanied by anxiety and should be treated quickly.
Exposure to electrosmog/Wi‐Fi/G5 and geopathic stress should always be tested and, if positive, addressed accordingly.
Hormonal disorders (e.g. pheochromocytoma, progesterone) also cause anxiety, which can be treated well with the BICOM device and accompanying measures.
Laboratory results
Blood count, blood sugar, electrolytes (Ca++, K+), thyroid status (TSH), ECG with rhythm strip. Lung function, cranial imaging (MRI, cCT), EEG only if specifically suspected.
What you should test and check
Anxiety and the gut‐brain axis
It is not surprising that dysfunction of the gut‐brain axis can trigger anxiety. The easiest way to understand the connection between your intestine and your brain is to think of a time when you felt nervous before a presentation, exam, important meeting or other event. You may have felt butterflies in your stomach, nausea, abdominal pain, or even diarrhoea. As you can see, psychosocial factors can affect your gut and physiology, leading to inflammation and movement of your GI tract. Conversely, compromised gut flora can affect your mood and brain health and trigger anxiety (Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases‐and‐conditions/the‐gut‐brain‐connection).
How the gut‐brain axis works
Your gut and brain communicate through the gut‐brain axis. Communication can take place via nervous (spinal cord), vagal (vagus nerve) and hormonal (e.g. GABA, trypto‐ phan) pathways.
Disruptions in the microbiome and this gut‐brain axis can lead to a range of cognitive dysfunctions and mood disorders, including anxiety, depression, obsessive‐compulsive disorder, attention deficit disorder (ADD), sensory processing disorder, autism, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
A 2016 scientific report discussed that the microbiome has bidirectional effects on mood via the gut‐brain axis. A pathologically altered microbiome can trigger anxiety and lead to symptoms such as mood swings. Conversely, anxiety can also negatively affect the microbiome. A 2017 scientific review found that intestinal malabsorption and inflammation can trigger anxiety, depression, and other common mental illnesses. *Psychobiotics can help relieve anxiety and depression by restoring normal microbial balance. A 2019 review showed that probiotic supplements, probiotic‐rich foods, and a nutrient‐dense diet can help “reboot” the gut microbiome and lower anxiety symptoms (sources: Clapp, M, Aurora, N, Herrera, L, Bhatia, M, Wilen, E, Wakefield, S. Gut microbiota’s effect on mental: the gut‐ brain axis. Clin Pract. 2017 Sep 15; 7(4): 987. PMID: 29071061 Liu, L, Zhu, G. Gut‐brain axis and mood disorder. Frontline Psychiatry. 2018; 9: 223. PMID: 29896129 Yang, B, Wei, J, Ju, P, Chen, J. Effects of reg‐ ulating intestinal microbiota on anxiety symptoms: a systematic review. Gen Psychiatr. 2019 May 17;32(2). PMID: 31179435).
*Psychobiotics is a term used in preliminary research to refer to live bacteria that, when ingested in appropriate amounts, can provide psychological benefits by affecting the microbiota of the host organism.
Neurotransmitters
Glutamate‐GABA imbalance can trigger anxiety
Neurotransmitters are biochemical substances that transmit, amplify or modulate stimuli from one nerve cell to another nerve cell or cell. It is important that they remain balanced to keep a person’s mood and mental health stable. Neurotransmitters such as gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are responsible for regulating your emotions and various functions of your body.
It has been shown that they can cause anxiety and other mood swings if they are mismatched. Glutamate and GABA account for 90 percent of all neurotransmission in your body. They are responsible for regulating the emotional response to potentially threatening stimuli that can trigger fear.
A 2015 study showed that a GABA imbalance can trigger anxiety, and balance can help relieve anxiety. A 2010 peer‐reviewed study discussed the importance of examining glutamate‐GABA imbalance. (Sources: Wieronska, JM, Stachowicz, K, Nowak, G, Pilc, A. The loss of glutamate‐GABA harmony in anxiety disorders. Link here. Nuss, P. Anxiety disorders and GABA neurotransmission: a disturbance of modulation. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2015; 11: 165–175. PMID: 25653526).
Glutamate and GABA balance
Glutamate is the main excitatory (energising, stimulating) neurotransmitter in your body. It is involved in every nerve pathway in your body, including those that can affect, relieve, or trigger anxiety. The N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDA) is an important glutamate receptor and ion channel protein in neurons relevant to anxiety. A balanced ratio between glutamate and GABA is therefore particularly important. (Source: Myers, KM, Carlezon, WA Jr, Davis, M. Glutamate receptors in extinction and extinction‐based therapies for psychiatric illness. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011 Jan;36(1):274‐93. PMID: 20631689).
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter that can help relieve anxiety. For this reason, doctors often prescribe barbiturates or benzodiazepines, which can increase GABA and relieve anxiety. However, these drugs do not bind to GABA receptors and can also lead to increased tolerance levels, addiction, poisoning and serious or even fatal side effects.
The neurotransmitters serotonin and GABA
Low serotonin levels are more likely to lead to mental discomfort (increase in anxiety, “mental projector”). Low levels of GABA tend to lead to more physical reactions.
Symptoms of serotonin deficiency
Anxiety, panic attacks or phobias, feeling worried or anxious, obsessive thoughts or behaviours, perfectionism or excessive need to control, irritability, anxiety that is worse in winter, winter blues or seasonal affective disorder, negativity or depression, suicidal thoughts, excessive self‐criticism, low self‐esteem and confidence, PMS or menopausal symptoms, sensitivity to hot weather, hyperactivity, anger or rage, digestive problems, fibromyalgia, TMJD or other pain syndromes, difficulty falling asleep, insomnia or sleep disturbances, cravings for carbohydrates, alcohol, or drugs in the afternoon or evening.
Symptoms of GABA deficiency
Feeling anxious or fearful, panic attacks, not being able to relax or loosen up, stiff or tight muscles, feeling stressed and burnt out, craving carbohydrates to relax and calm down, craving alcohol to relax and calm down, craving drugs to relax and calm down – these cravings are felt physically, insomnia, flood of thoughts, inability to prioritise planned actions, acrophobia (fear of heights), poor focus, rectal cramps/flaking sensation in anus, burning mouth/tongue, irritable bowel syndrome.
Symptoms of a deficiency of catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine)
Depression and apathy, easily bored, lack of energy, lack of focus, lack of drive and low motivation, attention deficit disorder, procrastination and indecision, cravings for carbohydrates, alcohol, caffeine or drugs for energy.
Symptoms of endorphin deficiency (“endogenous morphins”)
Increased sensitivity to emotional pain, increased sensitivity to physical pain, tearful, eating as a mood lifter/consoler, cravings for certain foods, behaviours, drugs or alcohol.
Symptoms of low blood sugar
Daytime cravings for sugar, starch or alcohol, irritable, shaky, headaches – especially if the intervals between meals are too long, intense craving for sweets, feeling light‐headed if meals are missed, leaden fatigue improves with a meal, agitated, easily angered, nervous.
Anxiety and hormone deficiency – often forgotten
Frequently tested programs
Adrenaline release (10006), energy deficiency (10045), adult nerve dampening (10110), CNS disorders (10194), depression (test individually), serotonin (841.0), (980.5), vegetative dysregulation (960.4), shock treatment acute (3093.0), stress relief (3084.0)
In this context, BICOM® chips have proven to be extremely valuable in the therapy of anxiety and should always be used.
Possible effective supplements.
Palm phobia technique
No external training necessary – all immediately actionable information available on the Internet. In case of clearly defined anxiety and in combination with the BICOM, an extremely effective form of therapy, with a success rate of over 70%
Gentle stimulation of the acupuncture point lung 1 on the left side of the body (Source: Youtube video of Dr Uso Walter)
The emotion code
A very good way of quickly and successfully detaching negative emotions from the body. The respective emotions are energetically detected and then specifically released. Can also be learned autodidactically. The book title is: “Der Emotionscode: So werden Sie krank machende Emotionen los” (The Emotion Code: How to get rid of emotions that make you sick (German)) Paperback.
Anxiety is a feeling caused by our anticipation of an imaginary event or experience.
Final thoughts
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress. However, frequent, excessive and persistent anxiety can seriously affect the lives of sufferers and affect their overall health.
Bioresonance gives you a tool with which you can provide active and effective support. Because harmonising destructive, emotional and mental oscillations is a basic prerequisite for health and well‐being.