People in mental torment search for what they perceive as normality. Instead, confusion fills their thoughts causing speculation and they repeatedly enter into worst-case scenarios. They want to be happy, but they have such deep ruts and runaway thoughts that they see no hope. Their thought pattern has taken them hostage.! They find the value of life just slipping away.
Brian wrote “ I felt I had reached rock-bottom and this ailment had control over me. Quite frankly, it was doing a very effective job of beating me up.”
WHO IS BRIAN:
Brian Ludwig was a typical businessman who truly demanded success. He was driven by logic, obsessed with order, and only truly comfortable when firmly in control. For 10 years, he was overcome by debilitating panic attacks and anxiety disorder that completely turned his life upside down. Through his relentless nature, he was determined to not let his life be taken hostage.
Brian sought to understand how the mind works and gathered invaluable information by observing and counseling others overwhelmed by panic and anxiety. He discovered some common denominators that spur on panic and anxiety attacks and other forms of mental torment.
For Brian, it was severe anxiety disorder and panic attack. This is what he has to say about his life. No matter what thought patterns you deal with, see if you relate to this:
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Upon waking, I’d analyze how I felt. Then, throughout the day, I would become aware of the slightest abnormal feelings. I just didn’t want another panic attack. That was the bottom line. As a result, my every thought became so consumed with altering my life to avoid anything that I thought could possibly trigger a panic attack. In doing this, I ended up giving up most of the things that made life worthwhile. In my pathetic situation, I was determined to beat this thing—I would not let it control my life.
Well, panic attacks robbed most of that contentment from me. I spent most of my days in a very anxious state, always wondering what was going to happen next. It became increasingly hard to feel comfortable, relaxed, or peaceful since, most of the time, I was trying to answer one big question: “When will the next panic attack strike?”.
Brian was consumed with thoughts that always ended up with the same conclusion.
“Strongholds are patterns of thinking that have taken you hostage, and to think a different way is virtually impossible.” Brian Ludwig
Trucks with No Brakes
(From Chapter 9 – PANIC ATTACKS CALMING THE STORM – Ruts In Your Mind)
A runaway thought pattern is like several trucks parked at the top of a very steep hill. Each truck is pointed toward a path that has been established by vehicles continually traveling the same course. Each truck is devoid of any brakes. Each truck is teetering right on the edge of the steep hill.
Let’s say that the runaway thought pattern that we are dealing with is that of being an alcoholic. (As well as counseling people who suffer from panic attacks, I also counsel people who struggle with addiction, such as alcohol. Alcohol can be physically and psychologically addictive.)
So, with a person who is addicted to alcohol, their body wants alcohol. The mind has been trained by the thought pattern that to be without alcohol is not an option. Any time a person who is addicted to alcohol attempts to modify their behavior, fear gives a little nudge, just as if you were to nudge a truck teetering at the top of the hill, pushing it over the edge and plunging it into inevitable destruction. The truck represents a thought, while the hill and path represent a trained pattern of thinking. Even if a person was determined to try to change, they would not be able to, because there has been nothing done to change their runaway thoughts.
Their thoughts have been traveling the same path for so long that a pattern has been established from which there is no escape.
A course of action—without focusing on the alcohol. If the alcoholic person would start intentionally and persistently entertaining the thought that there is life outside of alcohol, they would begin to disrupt the addictive patterns of thinking. Before long, brakes would slowly be added to the trucks, and after that, cutoffs on the path would soon be established. Before long, the trucks would be moved farther back from the edge of the hill so it would take a lot more to start the runaway thought pattern.
Please understand that I know how addicting alcohol can be because I deal with it firsthand with the people that I counsel. I’m just giving you an illustration that may be oversimplified, but I believe it will help you understand what you’re going through.
A person who suffers from panic attacks deals a lot with the same process. Fear has been allowed to create patterns of thinking that always find the same destination—the fear of death or the fear of a lack of control. For example, a person stubs their toe. “Ouch, that hurts!” they may exclaim. Now, for a person without a runaway thought pattern, the story would end there, but not for a person who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks. Their thought pattern would most likely be: “I’m going to lose that nail. That toe might get infected. I could lose that toe, or I could get blood poisoning and lose my foot. It could be so bad that I lose my leg. I saw on the news where a person got a blood clot from an injury and it flowed to the brain. They had a stroke and eventually died.”
This sounds so absurd, but people actually think this way.
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Join others that have been freed from debilitating mental torment and read Brain’s book.
Use this link for PANIC ATTACKS CALMING THE STORM to view the book trailer read reviews and order the book for only $19.99.
Message from the author:
If only a book like this, had been around when I was battling panic attacks! If I knew then what I know now I would not have gone through years of torment. The experience, as horrible as it was, has blessed me with the ability to be a blessing to others. I do not like to see others in such torment!
There is an ASK THE AUTHOR FEATURE, that will let you ask Brian questions. As people read the book they message Brian and often refer to a page number with any questions they may have.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOOK:
VISIT https://www.overcomingpanicattacksludwig.com/
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