| Panic attacks by themselves can cause you much | | | | exhibited in many episodes. In addition, his OCD traits |
| suffering. But, dealing with panic attacks together with | | | | manifested to a much higher level within his being. |
| you having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be | | | | Together, the two caused "Monk" to have difficulty |
| overwhelming to an individual. When in the grips of this | | | | getting through the every day events in his life. Yes, |
| type of attack, often you just wish to survive your | | | | the show was only about a fictional former police |
| day; minute by minute. You may even feel as if your | | | | detective. But, in real life there are thousands of |
| very body is about to explode. And, unfortunately you | | | | individuals throughout the world who suffer from OCD |
| are powerless to do anything about it. | | | | panic attacks. And, without treatment their lives are |
| You may be familiar with the popular television show | | | | often very miserable. |
| that just ended, (in late 2009) on the USA cable | | | | The key to learning how to control this condition is to |
| network, "Monk". The actor, Tony Shaloub played a | | | | work with a licensed medical professional, one who is |
| former police detective who had tragically lost his wife | | | | qualified to treat both your panic attacks and the OCD. |
| when she was killed many years before. The | | | | You absolutely cannot go about it on your own. People |
| character, "Adrian Monk" could never get over this | | | | who suffer from an OCD panic attack generally do so |
| tragedy. For years, he exhibited every trait of an OCD | | | | because of an imaged scenario being played out in |
| individual: A compulsion for neatness by arranging, and | | | | their mind. If it goes untreated, the worry, fear, and high |
| re-arranging items in, (and outside of) his household until | | | | level of agitation brought about by this imagery could |
| they were perfectly straight to his liking. He also had a | | | | result in the individual becoming hysterical, (as it often |
| compulsion to arrive at a destination punctually to the | | | | happened with the "Monk" character). If the individual |
| very second. He would be able to observe every | | | | reaches such a dangerous level of histrionics in his/her |
| featured nuance of an individual, place, or thing. "Monk" | | | | physical and mental state of mind, he/she could |
| would not hesitate to correct the tiny flaws within, or | | | | become a danger to his/her own being. |
| made by other individuals. This flaw could be a tiny | | | | There are prescription medications available for a |
| spot on a character's clothing, a mistake in grammar | | | | person who has been diagnosed with OCD Panic |
| spoken by another individual, or the fact that another | | | | Attacks. But, just like many other medical disorders, |
| person's watch showed the time as being off by one | | | | medication to help a person suffering from this |
| minute. "Monk" was then compelled to suggest | | | | condition simply will not provide permanent cures. Pills |
| corrections that the individual should follow up on. | | | | will only treat the symptoms of such attacks. In some |
| "Monk" would then become agitated if the individual did | | | | cases, the individual may be prescribed two or more |
| not follow up on his suggestions. Unfortunately "Monk", | | | | different types of medication. Unfortunately, this may |
| because of his emotional disorder could not live alone | | | | result in more harm than good to the individual. Many |
| without a colleague assisting him each day. Often, | | | | medications may conflict with each other in the |
| "Monk's" compulsion elevated to levels of panic as he | | | | person's body, with the result that some potentially |
| constantly worried about and obsessed over mundane | | | | dangerous side effects could occur. So, if you suffer |
| things; which to the rest of the world were very | | | | from these types of attacks, please understand that |
| unimportant in life. | | | | prescription medication will not be the long term solution |
| In this television series, (which ran for almost 10 years) | | | | for your condition. |
| the "Monk" character may have had some of these | | | | There are methods being practiced by individuals with |
| OCD traits within his being before the tragedy involving | | | | this disorder that rely on natural, (holistic) solutions to |
| his wife. He was a brilliant detective able to solve | | | | help control your mind. Behavior modification |
| cases using the cognitive skills that were a part of his | | | | techniques employed by medical professional to a |
| being, while assisting the police force. But, "Monk", for | | | | patient may involve relaxation exercises, meditation, |
| years, (and until the series finale) was never able to | | | | and even physical exercise to help the individual focus |
| solve his wife's own case. This traumatic event | | | | on other things besides the thoughts in his/her mind. |
| caused the character to have many panic attacks as | | | | |