NEW GROUP TO TACKLE ANXIETY ATTACKS
KEEPING DESPAIR AT BAY
"Moreland Community News," Tuesday 24 July
2001
Simon Palomares identifies closely with the phrase, "I've been visited by the black dog."
He also relates to the description of "malignant sadness" to express the depth of despair, depression and anxiety disorder that had been inflicted upon his life.
The actor and comedian, who created and starred in Wogs Out Of Work, last week spoke about his 16-year ordeal with anxiety disorder and depression.
"An anxiety attack is when you get a really bad pang in your stomach and you can feel it all through your body, and you could spend all day like that," Mr Palomares said.
Knowing what he was experiencing was very different to stage fright, Mr Palomares eventually found a psychologist who helped him overcome the disorder.
"Once I started talking to people about it, all I had to do is tell them how I was feeling," he said.
"Being able to continually check your reality with someone else is crucial to get it out of your own head."
"For many years I thought it was just a part of me."
Mr Palomares will speak about his experience of anxiety disorder on Tuesday, August 7 for the Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria (ADAVIC), along with Brunswick clinical psychologists Sallee McLaren and Joe Bolza.
ADAVIC will launch its first anxiety support group in the northern suburbs next month.
The association estimates one in four people suffer anxiety.
Ms McLaren said that in her six years of practicing in Brunswick as a specialist in anxiety disorders, she noticed an increase in the number of sufferers.
"I think people are feeling a bit more alienated and a bit more disconnected from the mainstream," Ms McLaren said.
She cited job security, the increase in part-time work, working from home and unemployment as some causes of this loss of connectedness to society.
"Everyone has anxiety, it's a normal human emotion to experience . but while it's normal, usually people are aware if they're experiencing excessive levels of it."
Ms McLaren said the symptoms of an anxiety attack included an elevated heart rate, a sweat, sudden feelings of impending doom and dread, a shortness of breath, shaking, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance.
"When you experience anxiety, you need to treat it as a wake up call and you need better strategies for dealing with life, and that involves learning new things."
"I think a support group is very important because it can make someone feel less isolated and realise they're not the only person suffering."
Thanks to Simon, Joe and Sallee for their efforts at the Brunswick Launch. The evening was a great success and the Brunswick Support Group is now up and running already providing much assistance for the people in the Northern Suburbs.
