European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 09, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Learning to endure panic a by Janet d Agostino medical writers standing in formation can make his heart race and his Palms sweat As though he has narrowly escaped an Accident on the German autobahn. The anxiety can Start when he is standing at attention at ease or if the platoon sergeant is Barking out orders his tear is thai the tension will explode into overwhelming feelings of doom As though he is physically ill or going crazy. He suffers from panic disorder one of the most common anxiety disorders characterized by lumpiness irritability tension sweating heart pounding sleeplessness and persistent feelings of apprehension. The attacks last Only minutes but the anticipation and dread of those feelings can inhibit victims from living a full life. The cause of panic disorder is unknown but theories Point to a biological rather than psychological basis. Some people May be genetically inclined to the disorder. David Marten who did not want his real name or rank revealed in this article has suffered from panic disorder Lor several years. He is treated at the Frankfurt army regional medical Center by or. Col Robert Shearer chief of the department of psychiatry. Normal anxiety the emotion experienced when a person object situation or impulse seems dangerous helps people adapt survive and be productive. But severe anxiety can Lead to mental anguish. Shearer said. Panic attacks often begin in Young adulthood and can erupt seemingly without cause or warning even if the person is Happy and relaxed at the Lime said David Ruhland a clinical psychologist at the Frankfurt Hospital. Marten s first attack struck while he was attending a sports exhibition on a previous overseas Lour. Ii came on me very suddenly said Marten who was in his eary 20s at the time. It was horrible. I thought i was going to die or that i was having a heart attack. I thought if i Sal Down and tried to relax it would get better but it got  assuming he was physically ill. Marten went to a doctor who told him to needed to relax and Lake a Acks vacation. But other attacks soon followed and grew in frequency. I would have attacks driving or walking in the mall he said. You can t imagine How bad it is when the attacks Are severe. It s the Way you might feel if you re about ready to have a car Accident or you just had a very narrow escape there s a big Rush of  those with panic disorder cannot predict when they will have a panic attack. They not Only experience great anxiety in situations that Are relatively Safe but May go to extreme lengths to avoid places they think May provoke an attack. There Are three aspects to panic disorder the actual attack the fear of an attack and in some people persistent feelings of anxiety that May exist before or after the disorder manifests itself the first time. Marten suffers from All three. There s just a general tension that s always there but certain circumstances will aggravate it such As even at Best treatment for panic disorder is less than completely successful says or. Col Robert Shearer. Medication can help mute the experience of the panic. Standing in formation or talking to the commander Marten said. The disorder took control of Marten s life forcing him to avoid situations where he feared an attack might occur. He had to leave College because to could t sit through his classes. For a year he lived As a Recluse rarely mustering enough courage to go to a 7-11 store. You avoid this place and icon avoid another place and eventually the world closes in he said. This thing comes into your life and takes Over and everything else seems to be planned around  some doctors Call this avoidance of going into the Community or Public places for fear of an attack a Type of agoraphobia. Shearer said. Marten realized he was became very diff cull a very unhappy  he sought psychotherapy but later began having bouts of psychosis Wilh imaginary voices and hallucinations. Soon he was hospitalized. But Medicine he took Lor a couple years Zombie me out so bad i could t  he gave up the medication and the voices and delusions recurred. In 1981 he took a leave of absence from his Job his wife had already filed Lor divorce he travelled the country working at jobs As Long As the voices would let him in 1984. To found himself Back in a Milwaukee Hospital thanks to friends alarmed by his behaviour and went Back on medication. Now Aldridge Speaks publicly about schizophrenia hoping to encourage research. Looking Back at what schizophrenia Cost him he said i m trying to find out what Good it brought. I can t think of any situation where i can be intimidated because the worst has already happened. How much More can you lose than everything suffering from panic disorder while Reading a Book on panic disorder and agoraphobia by columnist Ann Landers. I said of. That s me i had no idea what it was. What i was really afraid of at first was that i was going  Marten went to a doctor who agreed with his self made diagnosis and prescribed valium. The valium blunted the attacks and gave him Chr courage to leave his House but locked him in a psychological dependency which he eventually broke. He received psychological treatment off and on for the attacks and was prescribed various antidepressants but nothing exorcised the panic. Marten believes the attacks have changed the course of his life keeping him boxed in fear limiting his relationships and keeping him from working to his potential. Marten referred himself to the Frankfurt Hospital when the attacks worsened after arriving in Europe for another tour of duty. Shearer said Marten has not had Success from previous treatments in part because they were not continuous. Panic disorder is often difficult in manage. The victim needs to find a doctor who is familiar Wilh the disorder and stay with him he said. Even at Best treatment for panic disorder is less than completely successful. Shearer said. Medication can help mule the experience of the panic. Shearer has prescribed a new antidepressant for Marten in Hopes that it will be More effective. Marten receives biofeedback therapy at the Hospital. It is helping him control his autonomic nervous system the part of the nervous system that works without conscious control. Learning to control his nervous system will Lessen the severity of the body s overwhelming response to the panic. With the use of sensitive electronic equipment that connects to the body Wilh electrodes it is possible for him to become consciously aware of his autonomic nervous system and learn what he can do to control his heart Rale or breathing and to relax his entire body. Marten said so far the biggest Aid to enduring the panic attacks was learning that he was not mentally ill and that he was not the Only one who suffered from these feelings of panic. Still he said with each attack i feel like i can t stand this one More time and i Tell myself i be done it a thousand limes before you la make it. And i always  risk factors in emerging schizophrenia currant thinking is that schizophrenia usually requites an inherited susceptibility to Tho disorder. This list Points to some factors implicated increasing the risk when combined with innate vulnerability. Researchers studied children of schizophrenic parents because they Are known to be at least six times More Likely to develop schizophrenia than other children. Most of the listed factors Are not ordinarily linked to schizophrenia unless genetic susceptibility is already considered to be present. The factors have not been ranked in their relative influence presumably they Are most potent in combination. Childbirth problems including Low birth weight and unusual birth position. Poor emotional bonding with Mother during the first three years. Poor motor coordination during infancy and other neurological problems in infancy. Separation from parents being raised in an inst Luton. Or Foster Home or passed around among relatives. Intellectual deficits during Tho school years Partick Lilily in verbal abilities. Cognitive defects such As difficulty in focusing attention and . Social incompetence such As abrasive Ness Wilh teachers and Peers. Confusion and hostility in communication from Parent to child. Tuesday May 9. 1989 the stars and stripes Page 17