New to anxiety

[Jloava]

Hi! I just start experiencing anxiety and depression last month. Previous to my anxiety attacks, I was working on losing weight and cutting back on coffee and drinking alcohol completely. It was hard because I am a full time nurse, full time student, wife and mom. It was Christmas week when I had my first panic attack and I thought I was having a heart attack or stroke. I had gotten confused (I guess what they call brain fog) and my blood pressure was in the 200’s over 100’s. I had no idea where what was wrong with me. I even passed out. My husband has me rushed to the hospital and the staff thought I was high. My anxiety continued to get worse because of that but the confusion prevented me from expressing that and it angered my husband. I want to know how to overcome this. I’m fighting daily. It is very overwhelming. I’ve been having panic attacks everyday since. I feel like I just want to explode from the inside out and it would relieve it all. Like I just want to scream! I have been to the hospital several times since the 1st time because of these anxiety attacks. I just want them to go away.

[Agora1]

Hi Jloava, too much, too fast in getting off caffeine and alcohol. Those 2 stimulants

put you in a downward spiral. Your brain is crying out for it's fix and so it responds

by going into anxiety attacks. It would be the same thing if you stopped cold turkey

with any psychotropic med. The brain needs to readjust which takes time. Eventually

it will stabilize and make the needed chemicals on it's own.

You also have a lot on your plate situational wise. Something had to give. I could imagine

how much stress and fear you have stored up in you that makes you want to explode.

Crying can sometimes relieve that stress but you are so wound up right now that it might

take a little medication for a short time. Where you given anything in the ER? Ativan?

This will all pass once you learn to accept this as anxiety, nothing more, nothing less. Your

subconscious mind is baffled by all that you are doing and so an alert went off in trying to

protect you. That alert prompted the anxiety attacks. There are many ways you can help yourself. Having a little medication to have as a bridge while you learn other methods in

controlling the stress in your life. I personally use meditation and deep breathing. The

deep breathing is a phenomenal tool in reducing adrenaline, lowering b/p and h/r and just

giving you some peace of Mind/Body.

I'm glad you came to this amazing forum. You will get the support and understanding you so need right now. You are not alone my friend. Stay strong, this too will pass. xx

[Jloava in reply to Agora1]

Agora1 thank you for that☺️

[AZ1970]

Maybe you need to scream. Go in the woods. Yell in your pillow. My guess would be that you eliminated all of your coping skills, which is amazing by the way. But perhaps you didn’t replace them with healthy ones. You’ve always had anxiety, but masked it. I’m glad you are here. We are an awesome group of people.

[Mehditate]

Hi!

In regards to the panic attacks, One thing I have learned after beating my anxiety attacks was to let them in. Just like the waves in an ocean, the attacks come in, then they eventually wash out. There is a technique called flooding. What you basically do is stand and let the anxiety attack happen. As tough as this sounds, you could have many go's at it before. But Dr. Barry is someone who specializes in panic attacks and says they are the easiest to eliminate when you do the right technique. Let the panic attack flood in with all the emotions and don't react or move because the panic attack average life is about 10-20 mins MAX or even less. Try this next time and try even calling on the panic to attack and you will see the difference. For more info: go to youtube and type Dr. Harry Barry panic attacks

[Mistykitten]

I agree with Agora, she was one of the first people who responded when I first cried out for help. I had anxiety attacks 33yrs. Ago when I became pregnant with my eldest daughter. The best thing that really helped me when I could feel the anxiety coming on, was go remember to breathe. When humans are scared, we tend to hold our breath. Do breathing like you're in labor (I'm going to use more medical terms since you are a nurse) in the nose deep... Deep... Out through the mouth all the way. Do lamaze breathing until the anxiety attack is gone. Then take a cleansing breath. If the hospital where you were. Treated, is the place of your employment, and they thought you were high, wouldn't they have to have a doctors order to do a drug panel on you. (Don't respond to that publicly, just in your mind). If the doctor didn't order a drug panel on you, he could obviously tell that you weren't high. I would let that happen one go, why worry about it? You do have a very full plate right now, you are wearing a lot of hats...... Mom,wife, nurse, student, lover, homework helper, cook, launderess........ I am surprised you have gotten this far w/o the anxiety creeping in. I would suggest that you put as many of those hats away for awhile and concentrate on you. Your husband can help around the house can't he? Think about dropping school for a semester or two and find yourself a good therapist that deals with panic & anxiety disorders.

I think the quickest way to stop all of this is like Agora said. You let go of to much to quick. Get into therapy and grab it by the neck before it really gets set. Get some help just now as it has just started. Accept whatever medications the doctor might want to prescribe for you. It will help you faster in the whole schematic getting better. Much love and grace to you, I wish you the best and most of all I wish you peace.

Warmest Regards Mistykitten

[lovetodance2018]

I am so sorry your are struggling with anxiety attacks. Just reading your post made me feel worn out and anxious. As Agora and Mistykitten mentioned you have a lot on your plate. When our bodies start feeling overwhelmed they get worn down which often leads to depression and anxiety. Adding the pressure of trying to lose weight, stopping coffee and alcohol along with your already very busy life caused stress on your body which probably led to the anxiety. Seeing a therapist and possibly getting on medication to help get your body regulated maybe helpful to feeling better. I struggled for years because I would never slow down, give myself a break, and felt I had to do it all. We aren't made to do it all. See if your husband, family, church family or friends can help unload your burdens. We often tend to feel like we are weak if we ask for help. But that is what family and friends are there for. I also pray to God daily, he give us the strength we need when we ask for his hep. We are glad you reach out to this site. We are here for you anytime. It truly helps to know you are not alone going through this tough time. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. Lots of Hugs and Blessings!!!

[Jloava]

I have decided to try and check myself into a detox facility to get off the ativan and try and go another route. The physical withdrawal symptoms are too painful and this is coming from someone who has a high pain tolerance. I just want to think clearly and not be in a fog. I am dropping classes for the semester just to help to make it through. Everyone is right I am no good to my family if I and not good for myself. It’s just amazing that you can become physically dependent in 3 weeks. With God’s help never again. This has been such a transition for my family.

[lovetodance2018]

Hi Jloava,

I am glad you are taking steps to care for yourself. I will be praying for you to receive the right care and that you will be feeling better soon. Please keep us posted on your progress. God Bless!

[Strongheartforever]

You are a nurse so all I say may be known to you but you may need to take natural progesterone or Vitex and also some heavy duty magnesium. When estrogen falls, so does magnesium in the brain. I just read about this study. This is new research. This triggers anxiety and depression. Vitex also known as Chaste tree berry extract helps you produce progesterone, a calming hormone. GABA is another supplement that works wonders. And finally, if you’re completely off all synthetic antidepressants, you can take 5-htp which helps your brain manufacture serotonin. I take Natrol brand, 100 mgs, morning and night with food, and it’s incredible. It has B6 and B12 as well which are precursors and necessary for it all to work. Do you think there could be a vitamin deficiency at play here? Also, adrenals! And cortisol. Your adrenals are shot. Just some ideas. Wishing you the best!