Panic attacks are sudden, discrete periods of intense anxiety, mounting physiological arousal, fear, stomach problems and discomfort that are associated with a variety of somatic and cognitive symptoms. The onset of these episodes is typically abrupt, and may have no obvious triggers. Although these episodes may appear random, they are a subset of an evolutionary response commonly referred to as fight or flight that occur out of context. This response floods the body with hormones, particularly epinephrine (adrenaline), that aid in defending itself from harm. Experiencing a panic attack is said to be one of the most intensely frightening, upsetting and uncomfortable experiences of a person’s life. According to the American Psychological Association the symptoms of a panic attack commonly last approximately thirty minutes. However, panic attacks can be as short as 15 seconds, while sometimes panic attacks may form a cyclic series of episodes, lasting for an extended period, sometimes hours. Often those afflicted will experience significant anticipatory anxiety and limited symptom attacks in between attacks, in situations where attacks have previously occurred.

Panic attacks are commonly linked to agoraphobia and the fear of not being able to escape a bad situation. Many who experience panic attacks feel trapped and unable to free themselves.

Panic attacks also affect people differently. Experienced sufferers may be able to completely “ride out” a panic attack with little to no obvious symptoms or external manifestations. Others, notably first-time sufferers, may even call for emergency services; many who experience a panic attack for the first time fear they are having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown.

Descriptions
Sufferers of panic attacks often report a fear or sense of dying, “going crazy”, or experiencing a heart attack or “flashing vision”, feeling faint or nauseous, heavy breathing, or losing control of themselves. These feelings may provoke a strong urge to escape or flee the place where the attack began (a consequence of the sympathetic “fight or flight” response).

A panic attack is a response of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The most common symptoms may include trembling, dyspnea (shortness of breath), heart palpitations, chest pain (or chest tightness), hot flashes, cold flashes, burning sensations (particularly in the facial or neck area), sweating, nausea, dizziness (or slight vertigo), light-headedness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), sensations of choking or smothering, and derealization. These physical symptoms are interpreted with alarm in people prone to panic attacks. This results in increased anxiety, and forms a positive feedback loop.

Often the onset of shortness of breath and chest pain are the predominant symptoms, the sufferer incorrectly appraises this as a sign or symptom of a heart attack. This can result in the person experiencing a panic attack seeking treatment in an emergency room.

Panic attacks are distinguished from other forms of anxiety by their intensity and their sudden, episodic nature. They are often experienced in conjunction with anxiety disorders and other psychological conditions, although panic attacks are not always indicative of a mental disorder.

More can be found here.

That’s pretty much it. I experience panic attacks. Just like the description says, they come out of no where and can be triggered by anything. Yesterday, I had another one. It’s been a month or more since the last one so this one was kinda of a shocker to me. 

Basically after leaving the “happy” hour, I got in the car, started to drive off then BAM! It was as if the world no longer existed. A sense of rage or utter and complete confusion took over, I wanted out. I wanted to punch, hit, scream, run, anything, but I was trapped in my car. I had no where to go, and no one to talk to. I knew exactly what was going on, which my have perpetuated it. For that brief time there was nothing else in the world but pain. 

In the past they’ve been so bad that I’ve literally wanted to drive off the road just to make it stop. I would’ve done anything to get “out”. Imagine the feeling Harry Potter gets when the scar starts to burn. That’s putting it mildly. Panic attacks suck ass. There’s really no other way to put it. I got to the point where I could breathe my way outta them, but not yesterday.

So that’s that. I figured if I at least make an effort to post about this or bring it to light, I may be able to find my trigger or be more prepared when it happens again. 

Oh, and thank you Lewis for being there for me. It was good to know I had someone to reach out to in a time of need.

Tags: lewis, panic attack

Enjoy your family, your day, and your turkey (or what ever else you are having)!

I’ve been making quite a few cupcakes and a request was made for a) something with cream cheese and b) a pecan pie cupcake. Well, I’ve decided to combine the two into one. I did some searching and found this: Pecan Pie Cupcakes. Then I went and found a recipe for Cream Cheese frosting that I’ll incorporate some pecan’s into. I’m probably going to modify the cupcakes a bit so they will rise, but we’ll see. For now here’s the recipes.

Pecan Pie Cupcakes
Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup butter, melted
• 2 eggs

Directions

• 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• 2 Combine all ingredients and mix well
• 3 Spray a miniature muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray
• 4 Fill each 3/4 full
• 5 Bake in preheated oven for approx. 18 minutes

For the cupcakes I will most likely do my normal cupcakes:

• 1 package (18.25 ounces) plain white cake mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

But add in some pecans and maybe switch out the mix for something else. I’ll have to play around with it.

For the frosting this is what I’m going with.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 2 (3oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• dash salt
• 1 box (1lb) confectioners’ sugar — sifted
• cup chopped pecans

Hopefully everything will turn out ok. If not it was a learning experience and I’m sure people will eat them any way. I’ll post some pics after they are done.

Tags: cupcakes, pecan pie

As with nearly every day, Lewis and I went on another punning spree. Now for your reading pleasure…or displeasure depending your level of comfort for bad puns.

Ben: http://www.amazon.com/Lowel-Digital-Imaging-Tabletop-Fluorescent/dp/B0009K50RO?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1202049246&sr=8-1 i want that
http://steamykitchen.com/blog/2008/02/03/lowel-ego-lights-for-food-photography/

Lewis: that’s pretty amazing
amaz-on-ing

Ben: yeah. lighting makes all the difference

Lewis: i might get my dad something like that, he sells gourds (and believe it or not people buy them!)
sells em on ebay

Ben: yeah, i think i recall you saying that a while back

Lewis: and i’ve done photos for him but they’re just the ambient room light or the awful flash light
yeh

Ben: are they gourdous?

Lewis: it’s a gourdamn gold mine!

Ben: you better gourd your secrets

Lewis: well, commissioner gourdon has batman on that
all in all i did a pretty gourd job
this could be a flight of the congourds song

Ben: oh snap! i think it’s time you cut the umbilical gourd from that.

Lewis: still challenging me? En Gourde!
ok, lets make a peace acgourd

Ben: yeah, i was about to call Harrison Gourd to assist

Lewis: that would have struck a gourd for sure
so you going to gourdge on turkey tomorrow?
hmm, got DCd, someone pulled the gourd on the internetz
i should stop, otherwise this converstaion will gourd to hell

Ben: yeah, i think you struck a gourd with the powers that be

Lewis: used that one!

Ben: did you?
damn

Lewis: “that would have struck a gourd for sure”

Ben: i’m gourded for life

Lewis: snap!
well, regourdless, it was a good run

Ben: o
m
g
you have won my friend!

Lewis: w00t, that was a long one
better post this one

Ben: FOR THE GOURD!

Lewis: OMFG…
you came back from the DEAD on that one
I concede!

Ben: hey, are you doing the revote for gourdgia senate seat?

Lewis: doh!
yeah

Ben: < winnar!

I know, it was pretty bad…but that’s how we roll.

Tags: bad puns, lewis

So the other day I came across an open directory of like 1800+ songs. Mainly it was rap with a few other things in there. I went ahead and DL’d all of them and for the past week I’ve been listening to a plethora of new rap as background music at work. There are a few really good songs in there that get me pumped up. There are a few that are just lame, and then there’s this one:

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I was sitting there and then started hearing Sarah Palin talk about “laying pipe” and this guy rapping about it. It was one of the funniest songs I’ve heard. I reckon there isn’t much people won’t sing/rap about these days. It’s not the most bizzare rap song I’ve heard, but it certainly was one of the more entertaining.

10lbs that is. Whoo hoo! 15lbs from my lowest adult weight (currently 224). I looks as if all the running and eating right has started to pay off. I feel great and my clothes are finally fitting like I wanted them to. Yay for losing things you never wanted to start with. The next 15lbs will be tough, but I can do it. I have a plan.

…now where did I put that bacon, sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast burrito.

Country Breakfast Burrito!

Tags: weight loss

So I’m not sure how I came across http://thebloggess.com/ but I sure am glad I did. This mess is just too damn funny. I wanted to share with the world just how awesome it is. So far http://thebloggess.com/?p=534 is one of the funniest things I’ve read. You can’t make this stuff up! Any way, that’s all I had on that.

Enjoy!

Tags: thebloggess

Tonight after much drinkin, Kit decided that it would be in everyone’s best interest to drive the “penis car” to the strip club. We all (me an Bob) went along and hopped in the car. Well about 2 miles from the house Kit decided to get us pulled over. This was after the pushing the gas all they way down and hitting 70 in a 45. She totally was tyring to see how much penis she could get out of the car, and the cop that was sitting there caught on to her little game. Well needless to say, we got pulled over, she blew a something over the legal limit and it was all downhill from there. Well, with my persuasive powers, Bob’s kindness, and Kit’s boobs we got out of disaster. After all was said and done, my brother-in-law, Chris came to pick us up, Kit got off with 2 tickets, and we ended up heading back to my house. Travesty averted and the night will most likely end at my place. Yay for Powder Springs police!

That’s all I have for now. I may post more tomorrow…or I may just go for a run. Either way it’ll be a lot more fun than sitting in the back seat of a car waiting on a cop to issue us some punishment.

Tags: kit, the law

After reading this article, and sending it to Lewis, we decided exactly how the conversation must’ve gone. Enjoy.

Ben: Gene: Ok, so we need to get 3,200ft of cable over there. Any ideas?
Jeff: We could attache them to a helicopter and take it over.
Gene: Really? That’s the best you got?
Jeff: Well it’s better than the rocket idea I had.
Gene: What rocket idea?! OMG! Rocketz! Someone get me some rockets!

Lewis: Gene Wang and Jeff Chong… of course
haha
Jeff: It’s a good thing I didn’t mention ‘a guy with a jetpack’ idea

Ben: Gene: What’s that Jeff? Did you say something about a jetpack?
Gene: The noise from the rockets kinda drowned you out.

Lewis: Jeff: NO, i meant. Deaf bats, yes, Deaf bats are poising a problem for the uh, hey look a rocket!
Gene: ROCKETZ!

Ben: this is getting posted

Lewis: do it!
but use a rocket — somehow
fire bottle rockets at your keyboard

So there it is. I managed to get an actual transcript of how that conversation took place. Man, from now on I’m using rockets for everything at the house. If I need to rake leaves…rockets. Change the litter, yep, rocket. I don’t think there’s anything a rocket can’t help out with.

Tags: lewis, rockets

mmmmm, bacony!

Nope I did not stutter. This is the real deal. I will go ahead and add this to my weird food collection (which includes Maple-Bacon lollipops). Anyone up for some sandwhiches at my place?

http://www.uncrate.com/men/culture/food/baconnaise/

Tags: bacon