One ordinary morning at work everything suddenly went dark and distant, and I fell hard to my knees. This couldn’t be! Panic attacks are for the emotionally fragile. A week later it happened again.

They say a marriage breakdown is worse than a death. Lack of closure, profound feelings of guilt and loss, financial damage, and fear of loneliness all add up to months of constant anxiety. I was in the midst of the slow death of a six-year marriage. On the surface, people were surprised at my jokey, carefree demeanor, and I even had myself fooled.

As a few weeks went by with no more panic attacks, I began to feel my confidence return, until one Saturday afternoon at the museum with my oldest daughter, it struck again, this time I was surrounded by a crowd of people. 

My family encouraged me to see my doctor, which was the last thing I wanted to do. I was already trying not to obsess on these uncontrollable episodes. We’ve all seen this before with someone we know: Their lives begin to unravel, and at first they seem to hold their own, not talking much about it, keeping a stiff upper lip. Things worsen and they finally see a doctor for help. Often they are prescribed antidepressants, and that’s when it takes over their whole life, and it’s all they talk about. I was determined for that not to happen. But after some considerable pressure, I made an appointment with the doctor. He threatened to suspend my driver’s license unless I underwent a number of tests.

There is no pain in undergoing CAT Scans and EEG tests, but the fear they can arouse is just as palpable. While awaiting the test results, I started to obsess all day over my mental health, with visions of brain tumors floating in my head. The feelings of panic became self-perpetuating, and the less I felt in control, the more the feelings of panic intensified. It felt like my inner world was failing apart. In desperation, I even began entertaining the idea of taking antidepressants for the first time in my life. The thought of taking medication led me to the advice I had given so many people when facing health problems. The idea came like an epiphany: fasting. How could I have been so dense? I knew in that moment of clarity that I needed to fast. 

The Stress Buildup
Like a retaining wall that has been mercilessly beaten by a Katrina-sized hurricane, the protective barrier no longer has the strength to stand up against even the smallest storms. Faith in your inner defenses diminish and you experience strong feelings of vulnerability, fearing attacks from within even more then the ones from without.

Gradually little things like a slow line at checkout can result in heightened irritation and anger. Everything sets you off, molehills become mountains. All this does not happen overnight; it’s a buildup of months, even years of mismanaged stress. Unfortunately, it is not until the retaining wall breaks, resulting in a flood of physical and mental illness, that we take action.

Feeling Out of Control
Being under the suffocating weight of stress can make you feel out of control. With heart and mind racing, many turn to overeating or, even worse, drinking to self-medicate. Overeating or eating the wrong foods only exasperates the feelings of being out of control. Weight gain, foggy mindedness and overall unwellness result, which is the last thing you need. Sure, a large bag of ripple chips washed down with five beers may feel like relief at the time, but the next morning you are in worse shape. I have always been confounded by the fact that a great night of indulgence, where you actually do experience some enjoyment and relief, has absolutely no lasting positive effect. No matter how great the night was, it contributes zero help in slowing the runaway horse of stress and fear.

When something as fundamental as faith in ourselves has been broken, we are far more susceptible to other breakdowns. Those inner walls need to be rebuilt.

Fasting to Decompress
Just the decision to fast triggered a physiological change within me. The many years of practicing fasting had created a renewal mindset, and I could already feel my body relaxing in preparation. Within the first 24 hours of the fast, my metabolism slowed down and the muscles in my neck began to soften. A day or two later, the veins on my forehead started to disappear for the first time in months and my blood pressure lowered. Entering deeper into the fasting state, I could literally feel the pressure in my body decompress. Unlike the slow buildup of months of stress, the release was quick and remarkable. The contrast allowed me to realize just how stressed out I had become and it became clear why I was experiencing so many health issues. The third night of the fast I enjoyed uninterrupted sleep, awaking clear-minded and refreshed. That morning, while washing fruit and vegetables for juicing, I knew that I had turned an important corner. Standing at the sink, I began weeping with a real sensation of joy, something I had not felt for a long time.

So What the Heck Happened?
How could seven days of fasting undo months of built-up stress? I’m going to try to answer that question, although it’s important to keep in mind that there are some things we still do not understand about the relationship between the mind and the body.

Lowered blood pressure

Stress triggers a “fight or flight” response, stimulating adrenal glands and elevating blood pressure. I normally have slightly low blood pressure but during a particularly stressful period recently, my blood pressure went up so high it burst a blood vessel in my eye. Fasting reverses this effect, normalizing the adrenal glands and reducing sodium levels which also help lower blood pressure. I could feel the pressure reduced in my neck and head within three days of fasting.

Lower Metabolism

I have heard people say being sick in bed with the flu was the best thing that ever happened to them because it forced them to stop their crazy busy routine and take stock of their lives. When we are in the middle of a crisis, busyness can become a form of escaping from our inner world of turmoil, trying to keep one move ahead of a losing game. The fasting state tempers that agitated feeling of racing from one thing to the next, forcing us to slow down.

Quieted mind

Physically slowing down could be counterproductive if not for the fact that fasting also calms the raging mind. This allows for a clearer evaluation of compulsive fear-based thoughts that can march through the brain like an out-of-control parade. Phobic thoughts become more manageable as we slow down and work through what we are feeling. Anxiety always exaggerates our situation, pushing out all the good things we can be thankful for. In the flurry of fear, we forget the bigger picture, that this too shall pass, and there will be better days ahead. The quieted mind is not something you have to consciously do—fasting does it for you.

Proper Perspective

A fridge full of food, a warm home, a soft bed, good Church, clean clothes—we have so much to be thankful for. Even on my worst day, two-thirds of the world would feel like they have died and gone to heaven if they dropped into my world. For some reason, fasting always reminds me of these things, which leads to a deep feeling of thankfulness. I guess a part of it is seeing everyone around me eating delicious foods, oblivious of how blessed they are. Then I start asking myself the important questions, like: What do I need to be happy? This always brings me to my faith in God, my friends and family. I go for a walk in the forest and I thank God for strong legs, the trees and singing birds. Whatever I am obsessing over finds its proper context in the larger picture of a blessed life.

Feeling back in control

The feeling that we are victims of uncontrollable events, that we have no control over our own thinking and emotional well-being can be extremely demoralizing. Because fasting dramatically accelerates beneficial changes, we are able to witness the stark contrasts between healthy and unhealthy. This can really help reinforce a feeling of taking back control, which is paramount to overcoming anxiety attacks.

Remember, I said that many people self-medicate during times of stress by overeating or drinking. In my case, I turned to drinking an increasing amount of coffee to try to combat overwhelming fatigue. Studies show that coffee can contribute to increased anxiety and panic attacks. During the fast, I weaned myself completely off coffee. The withdrawals were painful but the feeling of conquering this addiction was well worth it. It contributed to helping me feel like I was regaining control over my life.

It’s been months now since my fast and I’ve had no more panic attacks. My forehead veins are invisible, neck pain is a distant memory, and my mind is focused and productive. No more uninvited tears and too-loud laughter. It was like a reset button was pressed. The best part of this lesson is knowing that when I start to feel the symptoms of stress coming on, I have something better than any medication to fall back on. Fasting as a backup stress management program is better than owning a tranquil cottage on a lake!