A new charity aimed at helping people suffering from anxiety disorders is planning to extend its services to expatriates living in France, recognising that for some expats life in France can at times be more stressful than they anticipated, especially for those living alone in France or in isolated or difficult circumstances.

No Panic was started over 15 tears ago in the UK by Colin Hammond. Colin decided, after suffering from anxiety and agoraphobia for many years, he would like to help fellow sufferers. He and his wife Marian set up a helpline that in its first year took 253 calls. The charity quickly grew and now takes over 60,000 calls a year, has over 95 volunteers and over 3000 members!

No Panic is a totally voluntary charity, whose aims are to aid the relief and rehabilitation of those people suffering from Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, other related Anxiety Disorders, including Tranquilliser Withdrawal, and to provide support to sufferers and their families and or carers.

We live in an age where anxiety is an accepted part of daily life. Will I get to work on time? Will the bills get paid? Will the car start? These are examples of "normal" anxiety which we have all experienced during our lives and which represent relatively small problems.

However, for people who suffer from Anxiety Disorders these "small" problems get blown up out of all proportion and can dramatically affect their lives, resulting in such severe anxiety that they may well develop Panic Attacks and or Phobias and or Obsessive/Compulsive Disorders. For expats living in France these problems can be doubly exasperated by language problems and the stresses of living in a new country. These illnesses ruin the quality of sufferer's lives and subsequently also ruin the quality of life of their families, partners and carers. They frequently result in the sufferer becoming handicapped, severely disabled and even excluded from society, e.g. not able to go to parties, take holidays and many sufferers are unable to go to work.

The good news is that sufferers can and do get better but it takes a lot of help and support along the way and that is where NO PANIC comes in. We try to help people to return to a fulfilling and satisfying life-style.

In 2004 No Panic was very proud to extend their services to Southern Ireland, where in its first year took in excess of 1,500 telephone calls! They are now looking to offer their services further a field starting with France.

No Panic France is in its preparation stage and is currently looking for volunteers to train to become help liners, if you are interested in volunteering your services to No Panic France please contact them by email at: nopanicfrance@orange.fr


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