It's not about you!

[Fallheart]

Does anyone else have the issue where people take your anxiety attacks or simply saying you don't want to talk personal? Even though they know that you have things you're working through. How do you even handle this?

[fauxartist]

forgive me but I am not quite sure I understand what your asking.....what do you mean that other people take your anxiety attacks....are you saying others take you having an anxiety attack personally....like it's directed at them?

[Fallheart in reply to fauxartist]

Kind of. Or if you are having one they sometimes get mad that you aren't acting yourself. I had one on a car ride one time and all I wanted to do was cling to my passenger side door, maybe I was trying to be as far from people as possible, i'm not really sure. But I was kind of unresponsive or would only give one word answers. I did tell my bf I was having a panic attack at the start though, but during the trip he would ask why I was having one and I would shrug and he just kept trying to ask me things and because I couldn't answer he got mad that I shut him out.

[Marshall64 in reply to Fallheart]

Your boyfriend may have been trying to help you out and then got frustrated that he couldn't "fix things" for you. Guys are like that...

[rach1402]

People who care about you want to help you but don't always get it right. I'm sure he means well and just wants to try to find out what is bothering you so he can support you, or as someone else suggested, fix the problem. Try talking about it with him when you're not having a panic attack. Thank him for trying to help you, so he won't give up trying, and tell him how best to help you in future. He will probably feel relieved that you weren't rejecting him and he'll know how to handle the situation if it happens again.

[Fallheart in reply to rach1402]

I tried after and he gave me the cold shoulder.

[Lizardlover2]

Hi Fallheart, Thank you for reaching out with your question. With my experience with anxiety attacks I find they make others uncomfortable and in turn they do not know to react to help you. Have you thought about talking with whomever you are with after the attack is done on how they could have helped you? I have found that if I do that, they are more responsive and be able to help me when another one comes along. I know it is hard when you are going through the attack and you can’t always respond to what you need. Have you thought about counseling to help you with how to deal with others while you are having an attack?

[Fallheart in reply to Lizardlover2]

I did talk to the main person in question after and they wouldn't reply, they gave me the cold shoulder. I have been looking into counseling though.

[Lizardlover2 in reply to Fallheart]

I am really sorry that they gave you the cold shoulder. That just really hurts, and doesn’t make the situation any better. As for counseling, that’s awesome. It has really helped me, and i’m hoping and praying that it will help you.

[Fallheart in reply to Lizardlover2]

Thanks! I have high hope's for it. This website actually showed me how good it feels to talk about my issues, so talking to a professional has got to be even better!