Anxiety, panic disorder, and depression are serious disorders that can dramatically affect your life and the lives of everyone around you.
They can be THE MOST debilitating of the symptoms associated with MVPS.

"There is no doubt that serotonin imbalances play a large part in the symptoms associated with Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome. In fact I believe this is what separates the patients with MVP and MVP Syndrome." Robert Hamilton, M.D., Vice president of The Baptist Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama

Anxiety disorders aren't just a case of "nerves." They are illnesses, and there are several types of anxiety disorders, each with it's own distinct features.

PANIC DISORDER
Panic disorder is a fairly common psychiatric problem. It is probably the most frequently reported psychiatric syndrome associated with Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome.

Panic disorder is manifested by discrete periods of fear or discomfort with associated physical and emotional symptoms. The actual panic attacks tend to be fairly short in duration, lasting typically no more than a few minutes. In most instances, these panic attacks seem to be unrelated to any specific stress; they seem to come "out of the blue." As the illness progresses, often individuals who have suffered an attack in a certain situation may tend to have an anticipatory fear of that situation. After they have developed this kind of anticipatory anxiety about a given situation, they may be at risk to have more attacks in that particular situation. As a result the individual tends to avoid various situations in which they may have had panic attacks, and their world becomes more and more enclosed. When a person has experienced panic in so many social settings that they become homebound, they are experiencing agoraphobia.

Individuals with Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome seem to be at higher risk to develop panic disorder than the general population; however, not all individuals with MVP will develop panic disorder. It is when an individual does develop this disorder that referral to a psychiatrist is sometimes in order. It is extremely important to understand that this does not mean it is being suggested that a person's problems are "all in their head." Panic disorder is a very real illness and is not imaginary or self-induced. It is based on biochemical changes and abnormalities in the person's body, and as such, medications are frequently necessary to adequately treat it.

"Panic disorder is a very common illness; particularly in the patients with MVPS. Although it can be extremely debilitating, particularly as it progresses and becomes severe, it is quite treatable and can be interrupted in it's early stages with effective treatment."
Robert Hamilton, M.D.

GENERAL ANXIETY DISORDER, (GAD)
Having GAD means always anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money, family, or work. Worries are often accompanied by physical symptoms like trembling, muscle tension, nausea, twitching, headaches, irritability, sweating, or hot flashes. You may also feel lightheaded, or out of breath. Or feel as though you have a lump in your throat. People with GAD can't seem to shake their concerns, even though they usually realize that their anxiety is more intense than a situation warrants. People with GAD also seem unable to relax. They often have trouble falling or staying asleep and startle more easily than other people. They may also suffer from depression.

PHOBIAS
Phobias occur in several forms. A specific phobia is a fear of a particular object or situation. Social phobia is a fear of being painfully embarrassed in a social setting. And agoraphobia, which often accompanies panic disorder, is a fear of being in any situation that might provoke a panic attack, or from which escape might be difficult if one occurred.

Phobias aren't just extreme fear; they are irrational fear. You may be able to ski the world's tallest mountain with ease but feel panic going above the 10th floor of an office building.

If the object of this fear is easy to avoid, people with phobias may not feel the need to seek treatment. Sometimes, though they may make important decisions to avoid a phobic situation.

SOCIAL PHOBIA
Social phobia is an intense fear of becoming humiliated in social situations, specifically of embarrassing yourself in front of people. It often runs in families and may be accompanied by depression or alcoholism.

If you suffer from social phobia, you tend to think that other people are very competent in public and that you are not. Small mistakes you make may seem to you more exaggerated than they really are. You may be afraid to be with people other than those closest to you. Sometimes social phobia involves a general fear of social situations such as parties. More rarely it may involve a fear of using public restrooms, eating out, talking on the phone, or writing in the presence of other people, such as signing a check.

Although this disorder often is thought of as shyness, the two are not the same. Shy people can be very uneasy around others, but they don't experience the extreme anxiety in anticipating a social setting, and they don't necessarily avoid circumstances that make them feel self-conscious. Social phobia disrupts normal life, interfering with careers and social relationships.


Order a DVD from our April, 2005 support group meeting where Dr. Joseph Fanelli
spoke about anxiety, panic disorder, and phobias



CLINICAL DEPRESSION
Seventy percent of MVPS patients suffer from clinical depression. This is a staggering figure!

"A common problem in patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome is the presence of mood swings. These mood swings are particularly noticeable in the month from November through March. During this period of time many patients experience marked change in mood, particularly the onset of depression. In the past this has been termed the "holiday blues" but also is known as "seasonal affective disorder or S.A.D. It is very puzzling to understand why this occurs especially in patients with MVP Syndrome."
Dr. Phillip Watkins, director of the MVP Center, Birmingham, Alabama


In recent years research has been done on S.A.D. Studies have shown that patients experiencing S.A.D. show an abnormal rise in a brain chemical called melatonin. Increased levels of melatonin lead to depression. These patients also begin craving carbohydrates and sweets. This is thought to be due to abnormal levels of serotonin which is a normal neurotransmitter present in the brain.

Research has now shown that by changing levels of serotonin and melatonin the mood swings, particularly the depression and the craving of carbohydrates, can be corrected.

Major clinical depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. These disabling episodes of depression can occur once, twice, or several times in a lifetime.

A less severe type of depression, dysthmia, involves long term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but keep you from functioning at "full speed" or from feeling good. Sometimes people with dysthmia also experience major depressive episodes.

Tragically, the majority of patients that suffer from depression never seek help.

If you suffer from anxiety, panic disorder, or clinical depression, you are not lazy, senile, or crazy. You are not a hypochondriac, and above all, you cannot just "snap out of it." Too many people suffer needlessly, not recognizing that their pains and aches, their exhaustion and irritability may be symptoms of an underlying depression. Some people don't seek treatment because they attribute their symptoms to a personal "weakness." Others wait and hope their "blues" will go away by themselves.

TREATMENT
If you suffer from any of the above disorders, please seek the appropriate medical treatment.

There are many types of treatment, depending on the individual. Patients suffering from any of the anxiety disorders are sometimes very frightened of medications, fearing they will cause horrible side effects. Sometimes counseling is needed to help these patients change their "disturbed thinking." Beta-blockers, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines are probably the most effective. Other choices are cognitive and behavioral therapy, and biofeedback. Most medical professionals believe that therapy along with medication is the most effective.

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