Chapter 10 - The Rules of Opposites

Question 1

Here is a rule you will probably find very helpful:

WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE A PANIC ATTACK, BECOME CONSCIOUSLY AWARE OF YOUR GUT REACTION - AND DO THE OPPOSITE.

Question 2

The Rule of Opposite is a powerful and helpful response to the panic trick.

Question 3

Rewind

Panic fills yo with powerful senssations that fool you int thinking that you’re in danger. You develop the proverbial “fear of fear” and try to protect yourself from fear. THIS MAKES YOUR CONDITION WORSE. Phobias aren’t produced by a disease, a chemical imbalance, or some terrible disorder that attacks you. PHOBIAS ARE THE RESULT OF EXCESSIVE SELF-PROTECTION.

They’re the result of following your gut instinct to protect yourself from the fear. This instinct systematically gives you the wrong advice when you panic. It tells you to fight, to flee, to resist and to struggle. That would help if the problem were DANGER. But when the problem is discomfort, it only makes things worse.

Question 4

The panic trick is diabolical. It tricks you into responding in exactly the way that will make the panic stronger and more persistent. It’s practically the perfect crime.

Question 5

Take a few minutes to consider how following ther Rule of Opposites would change your typical response to a major panic atatck. Most people, when they have a panic atack, do a number of things almost automatically. They hold their breath, tense their leg muscles, back, and jaw, hunch up their shoulders, look frantically for an exit, and try to hide their fear.

Question

What do you usally do? Make a list of your automatic responses. For each one, write down how those responses affect you.

Answer 5

Responses
1.

Effect
1.