The Anxiety/Panic Attack Journal

Change happens gradually for most people. This is certainly the case with me, and most of the people I coach. For example, a few days ago I found myself clinging to the side of a brick wall, more than 30′ in the air. It’s called ”urban rock climbing,” but personally, I call it a real breakthrough.

Not many years ago, the idea of climbing a vertical wall so high off the ground like some kind of spiderman “wannabe” would have been impossible for me. My former anxiety and panic attacks would have prevented it, plain and simple. And yet, there I was, ringing a bell with my right hand, while clinging to a small crack in the mortar with my left–waaaay up off the ground, and loving every minute of it!

 This story is not meant to impress you. It is meant to impress upon you that you can change, just as I have, one step at a time.

You see, I didn’t go from A to Z in one fell swoop, and I certainly didn’t start out by climbing the side of buildings. No, I began tackling much smaller challenges–tiny in fact. But every little victory paved the way for a (slightly) bigger victory, and so on, and so on. In other words, it was a slow and methodical process. And this is how real and lasting change happens: one little victory at a time.

That’s why the EasyCalm Anxiety Program uses the steady, gradual approach. When it comes to anxiety and panic attacks, quick fixes don’t last, but slow and steady wins the race every time.

A good example of this is the “Speed Merchant” strategy outlined in the EasyCalm Videos. You can find out more about the “Speed Merchant” in this video. It is a very gradual approach that requires a bit of patience, but has a fantastic success rate. And in the end, isn’t that what matters?

Be well,

Jon

Jon Mercer
Personal Development Coach
http://www.easycalm.com/
http://www.attractanything.com/
http://www.ultraconfidence.com/
Managing Director, Youniverse LLC

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

 I was recently invited to try two of the most popular ”brainwave entrainment” programs on the market: Neuroprogrammer 2, and Quantum Mind Power, so I’m writing this post as a kind of mini-review to describe my feelings and results with each of them.

The technology at work behind both of these programs is called “brainwave entrainment.” The aim is to actually change the frequency of the electronic impulses in the brain, creating a relaxed, positive state of mind with a healthy feeling of “well being.” 

The ”entrainment” effect is created with the use of sound, so the user sits comfortably using  headphones and simply listens (no meditation or visualization is necessary). The sound produced varies, but is often a type of low frequency “swooshing” sound, also known as ”binaural beats,” These sounds create the alpha and delta wave patterns associated with relaxation and general feelings of “well being.”

The research is very clear that brainwave entrainment technology does have an affect, so that’s not really the issue. The real question is, how well do these two programs utilize this technology and what are their practical results. In other words, “what difference will they make in your life?” Let’s find out…

The first program I tried was Quantum Mind Power. My first reaction was that QMP was a bit expensive and I wasn’t thrilled about their (seriously too long) sales page, so unfortunately, I probably already had a negative view of it before I even got started.

But I strapped on the headphones to give it a try anyway (remember to ALWAYS use headphones with these programs!). In just a few minutes, one thing became very clear:  this thing definitely has an effect.  There was a noticeable shift in my thought processes and the way I “felt” that is difficult to explain. I tried describing it to a friend, and the only word I could come up with was “clear.”

But it was an oddly enjoyable sensation, and it made me want to continue listening to it.  I felt relaxed, but alert and somehow “healthier” than normal (I don’t quite understand this feeling, as I’m really healthy guy anyway, but it’s the only word that comes to mind).

Overall verdict: weird, unusual, but extremely relaxing and enjoyable.

The second program tried was Neuroprogrammer 2. I had heard pretty good things about it beforehand, so I was expecting I would enjoy this one as well, but surprisingly, it didn’t go as well as I expected.

At first I noticed nothing at all. But after about 7-8 minutes I began to feel a bit anxious…uneasy. A few minutes later I began feeling dizzy and slightly nauseous. After 11 minutes or so I couldn’t take it any more and had to take off the headphones. Once I stopped, the dizziness and nausea faded away very quickly, and in less that two minutes I was back to normal.

Now, I want to state for the record that my results with NP2 could have been unique, and other people may have far greater luck using it. But after my experience,  I personally wouldn’t try it again.

Overall verdict:I couldn’t honestly recommend Neuroprogrammer. Perhaps it was just too “intense” for me?

Summary:

I would recommend trying the free demo of Quantum Mind Power. I’m not wild about their sales page (kinda cheesy) but QMP did have an incredibly positive impact on me. TIP: if you scroll all the way to the bottom of their sales page (which is waaaay too long ), there’s a link to sign up and get a free demo. The demo is not nearly as effective as the actual program, but it does give you some of the same feelings I mentioned earlier.

Make sure you use headphones!!

Take Care,
Jon

Jon Mercer, MA
Personal Development Coach
www.easycalm.com

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

EasyCalm recently had it’s second birthday online (yay!). I was thinking about how much things had changed since we started out–in fact the entire EasyCalm series received a big make-over last winter, and we’ve added much more content, including many new practical exercises.

 Overall, EasyCalm is now much more complete than when we started out, but we continue to look for ways to update and improve the series. For example, this morning I was negotiating to buy outright a new program to add to EasyCalm that would compliment the training already included in the series. I don’t want to “jinx” it, so I’ll say no more for now (but watch this space).

Likewise, my life coaching program has grown substantially over the past few years–some people need that extra motivation that only a coach can provide. I’m very blessed that things have been so good that I usually have a waiting list these days (it’s nice to be loved. haha :-). But I still make time for “one off” phone coaching sessions and anyone is welcome to contact me at: coaching@easycalm.com for more information on the life coaching program or ”one off” coaching calls.

As we begin our third year online, our mission is exactly the same as it’s always been–to get the word out that panic attacks and anxiety do NOT have to be a permanent part of life. They can just as easily be a temporary glitch that you’ll have forgotten about a few months from now.

All anyone needs are the right cognitive “tools,” and a desire to make a change. As I used to say back in the beginning: give me your attention and a reasonable desire to change, and I’ll give you a life without panic and anxiety.

 It’s just as true now as it was then.

Jon Mercer, MA
www.easycalm.com

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Here’s a really common question I get asked: Is anxiety a disease?

Now here’s my really common answer: No, it’s not.

 Those of you who have read my articles before or are familiar with The EasyCalm Series will not be surprised by my answer. But in truth, it’s not only my answer–or my opinion. Hundreds of experts feel the same way. Consider:

 “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy does not pretend to “cure” anxiety…because anxiety is not a disease.”

– Vancouver Coastal Health Anxiety Disorders Clinic
http://www.vch.ca/psychiatry/adc_treatments.htm

Some may be thinking, “So what? Does it really matter if we call anxiety a disease or not? A rose by any other name, right?” Well In my experience, it absolutely does matter how we label anxiety. In fact, the labels we assign to things determine how we deal with them.

If my doctor says I have a cased of the ”sniffles” I will react to that information in a certain way. But if my doctor says I have an “upper respiratory infection,” I’m going to react to this information in a very different way, even though my situation may be exactly the same. The words we use definitely count.

No where is this more evident than in dealing with anxiety and panic attacks. If we use words like “disease” or “disorder” to describe these things, we tend to start looking at them as something that happens to us, something that we have no control over. This kind of “victim” thinking can keep us paralyzed with fear and panic; it makes it easy to develop a belief that the whole anxiety/panic situation is completely out of our hands. Wrong!
 
No matter how you go about it, recovery from anxiety requires the individual to accept his/her role in creating the issue to begin with. It has been my experience that “Until you accept responsibility for your anxiety situation, you’re not going to overcome it.”
 
You also need a method/program that YOU can believe in, one that makes sense to YOU. Of course I recommend The Easycalm Anxiety Coaching Videos, but if you want to use another program, or a therapist, or doctor, that’s fine too. Just as long as YOU feel strongly about it and it motivates and encourages and even inspires YOU to ’see’ yourself living a different life, free of anxiety and panic attacks..

So is anxiety a disease? Nope. Not even close.
 
Wishing you increasing peace, 
Jon Mercer, MA

Personal Development Trainer
www.easycalm.com
Managing Director, Youniverse LLC

PS: For free anxiety tips and resources, don’t forget to sign up for our free newsletter: http://www.easycalm.com/newsletter.htm

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

“Anxiety and Panic Attack sufferers tend to live lives of quiet desperation.”

As a personal development trainer specializing in anxiety issues, and a former sufferer of extreme anxiety and panic attacks, I can assure you the above statement is true–I’ve been there. I spent years of my life searching in desperation for an anxiety cure that was effective and would last.

Like many people, I tried the medical route: I was prescribed anti-anxiety medications that doctors assured me would provide a “real” anxiety cure with no severe side-effects…at least that’s what I was told…

Fast forward two years: I had gained 50 pounds, had chronic heartburn, fatigue, memory loss (my friends began calling me “Mr Short-Term Memory”) and sexual “dysfunction” (don’t even ask!). My relationship was in ruins and I was barely able to function at my job.

And the worst part? My anxiety and panic attacks were still there!

Here’s what the medical community and drug manufacturers don’t really want you to know: anti-anxiety medications are completely ineffective for most people as an anxiety cure. The best anti-anxiety medications available have success rates that are only slightly higher than a placebo–and when you factor in the severe, soul-destroying side effects, it’s easy to see how dangerous and harmful these medications usually are.

 I’m not saying there’s a conspiracy going on (exactly), but I am saying that there is a ton of money to be made by keeping this information quiet. And that’s exactly what the big corporations do. Which is great news if you are a stock holder, but terrible news if you are desperately seeking an anxiety cure, as I was for so many years.

 So if medication is not the answer, what is?

A “real” anxiety cure must be sustainable, not a quick fix that makes your life progressively worse over time, creating a type of addiction that keeps sufferers feeling like helpless victims. A “real” anxiety cure is all about empowerment–taking back control over your life.

The method  I used to cure my anxiety problems has been well-documented both online and off: The EasyCalm System for Anxiety and Panic Attacks.

The EasyCalm System is the only proven anxiety cure presented in video format, for a one-on-one training experience, and it’s all natural–no weight gain, memory loss, or other weird side effects. And best of all–no more feeling like a helpless “victim,” watching your life slip away from you, and feeling powerless to do anything about it.

The cure for anxiety is not to be found in a pill. A real and lasting anxiety cure can only come from proper training and and the knowledge of what is causing your anxiety situation in the first place. Watch the free EasyCalm introduction video (27 minutes) and find out for yourself. And then take YOUR life back.

Don’t believe the hype folks–There IS a real, drug-free anxiety cure. I cured my anxiety and panic attacks years ago by following this method. I truly hope YOU won’t you wait years to get this information. The sooner you take action–the sooner you take back control of your life.

 Jon Mercer, MA,
Personal Development Trainer
www.easycalm.com

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!