Former client advocates for counseling

Whenever Bob Neal feels a panic attack coming on due to anxiety or worry, he calmly begins to take deep breaths, closes his eyes and imagines the anxious feelings rolling off of him.

Envisioning the feelings disappearing helps him remain calm, which is one way Bob has learned to handle his panic attacks. People who suffer from panic attacks experience overwhelming feelings of anxiety, stress, worry or loss of control.

“I have to stop for a minute and figure out what’s going on around me,” he said.

Bob learned this and other techniques for handling panic attacks at his counseling sessions at Family Services. He began suffering from panic attacks about 15 years ago when he was living in San Antonio and was treating them with medication.

When he moved to Houston from San Antonio, he continued to suffer from the attacks and discovered that Family Services could provide counseling and support to help him cope.

Bob began meeting with clinician Tim Louis, who helped him develop tools and skills to handle his panic attacks. He learned that he wasn’t the only one suffering from anxiety.

He also developed a trusting relationship with Tim, which provided the emotional support he needed.

“Sometimes when I was overwhelmed, I made an appointment with Tim and he helped me work through the obstacles,” he said. “I keep his card in my wallet and it reminds me that support is only a phone call away.”

He advises his colleagues and friends to seek counseling if they are going through something that is too difficult to handle on their own.

Today, Bob has retired from corporate America and he and his wife have formed their own business. He is doing well and shares his story of success with everyone he meets.