MaryJ: Do you feel anti-anxiety medications are the way to go or can a person take the natural approach?

Bronwyn Fox: There is a time and place for medications, especially if depression exists. But you can learn the techniques while on medications, and then slowly under medical supervision, withdraw from them. Then, you can control your panic and anxiety to the point that you become free.

David: I want to address your recovery from panic disorder and your Power Over Panic method of dealing with panic attacks and anxiety. Before we get into that though, earlier you mentioned that you were stuck inside your house because you were depressed. Did you do something internally to change, to say "I need help" or did it come from an outside source?

Bronwyn Fox: No, it happened within me through meditation. When I had panic disorder, agoraphobia was barely understood, so I used to think I was the only one in the world who had it. And so, it came down to the fact that it was up to me and I needed to do something for me.

David: You briefly touched on the meditation aspect of your healing. Can you please go into more detail about your "Power Over Panic" method of recovery and what it entails?

Bronwyn Fox: It means learning to meditate. The meditation we use is not a spiritual technique. Its a basic meditation technique that we use in five different ways:

1. as a relaxation technique

2. to become aware or mindful

3. to learn how to manage our thinking

4. to learn how to stop fighting the panic and anxiety

5. and to learn, for some people, not to be frightened of any derealization or depersonalization symptoms

David: Is this something you practice day in and day out even today, or are you past that point now?

Bronwyn Fox: Every day I meditate and I also have now an automatic awareness of my thoughts so I can choose moment-to-moment what I want to think about.

David: How long did it take you, using this method, to achieve substantial results?

Bronwyn Fox: It took, from the beginning to the end, 18 months. Six of those months involved withdrawing from tranquilizers. At the 12 month mark, I went back to work and, then, at 18 months I was free.

David: Here are some audience questions Bronwyn:

Italiana: Where do you find the strength after having this for years-and-years, like me?

Bronwyn Fox: It comes back to our own self. The fact that you are in the anxiety chatroom now, means you are still looking for answers. That tells me your motivation to recover is still there and behind your motivation will be the strength.

vio_71: My counselor had said that meditation doesn't always help everyone. That everyone is different.

Bronwyn Fox: Meditation is a natural technique, and in some areas it's considered the opposite response to the fight and flight response because it is controlled by the same part of the brain. People have trouble meditating or relaxing because they are frightened of either letting go of control, or of the sensations of their body relaxing. Some people have not relaxed for many years, and when their body does begin to relax, they think their worst fears are coming true!

tracy_32: How did you get over the initial fear of facing what you were afraid of?

Bronwyn Fox: By seeing that my fear was being created by the way I was thinking. Those of us with panic disorder, we are not so much frightened of a situation and/or places, but are frightened of having a panic attack. Once we lose the fear of the attack and control our thinking, there is no anxiety and life becomes easier and easier.

blusky: Did you use daily visualization to overcome this? And how long did it take?

Bronwyn Fox: No, I did not use it.

David: Here are a few audience comments on what's been said tonight and then we'll get to some more questions:

ebonie_woman: I am also agoraphobic and I hate it.

dhill: My son is 8, and has been diagnosed with anxiety disorder. He was diagnosed borderline adhd 2 years ago.

Jade32: Could I just take this chance to thank you for your book, Power Over Panic? It helped me more than I can say :)

Bronwyn Fox: Thank you, Jade.

Sharon1: How about biofeedback in learning to control our mind and body.

Bronwyn Fox: It can be of assistance, but it's not used much in Australia and the most effective technique is cognitive behavioral therapy.

Kali27: Do you think that distraction (distraction technique) helps temporarily (like counting things in the room) when you feel a panic attack beginning?

Bronwyn Fox: It may, and I say this with caution. You'll not get permanent recovery using a distraction technique because you are not confronting the thoughts and the fear.