ANXIETY & PANIC

[Solarm]

I've been experiencing anxiety & panic for the past couple of months. It comes & goes. Some days I'm fine and others I just can't shake it. I could be completely ok and all of a sudden I get this sensation of immense fear wash over me, it can last seconds or minutes, sometimes longer but even the ones that just last seconds leave me feeling jittery the rest of the day sometimes. I'm so frustrated with this, I hate it. I know there are people a lot worse off than I but in that moment I feel so alone and helpless. I really don't want to get on meds, it was my doctors initial go to when I talked to him about it. I really want to try talking about it. I've started journaling, I think it helps. Breathing and putting myself back into what I'm currently doing helps some too. Do these things help in the long run to get it to go away completely or am I just masking a potential blow up? I've had anxiety before and it's gone away completely for years. This time around I have a big fear of it never going away. Thanks for listening.

[Lesbo1997]

I completely know how you feel with the attacks and shaking. I been doing that for the past couple days. When i have the feeling it feels like i cant talk because my teeth are hurting really bad. I ha e no drs or medicine that i take for anything but i know im trying to get help. Im gnna try to journal and see how it goes putting my feelings on paper.. And in the long run no it will no completely go away... Im here if you want to talk

[Solarm in reply to Lesbo1997]

Thank you for your response. Be sure to write absolutely everything down, don't hold back on what you want to write, it's important to let it all out. Most of the time I start writing as soon as I start to feel it, I try to describe what I'm feeling as best I can and I do it as I take deep breaths. I also jot down what I was doing and thinking when I started feeling it or what I think might have triggered. That provides awareness of triggers and when you know the triggers, you can work your way through it.

[lmontero]

Sometimes I wished I never went on meds bc I don’t know if it was really me that got better through counseling or if it was the meds, but I knew eventually I would have to do it bc my condition is due to my genetics and not some last trauma, my sister has panic attacks too, counseling and anxiety groups helped me a lot in the beginning also alternative therapy helped me too, which is essentially sitting down and learning to calm yourself down.

[Solarm in reply to lmontero]

Anxiety runs in almost everyone in my family, my mom, uncles, aunts, cousins... but we're also a family that doesn't like to be on meds because that worries us more. Thankfully none of us has had to be on meds, we always get over it on our own and we'll clear completely for years until something triggers it again. It just really sucks during. I just want to get to the point where I've had enough and I'm so angry with it that it goes away. It worked for me about 10 yrs ago and I'm praying it happens the same way this time. Have you considered weaning off meds?

[Hidden]

Depending on the cause of your Anxiety talking out your Anxiety may be the best way forward. Your GP should be ablle to arrange a course of talking therapy. In the UK CBT is a poor relation at the moment because of COVID.

Make a list of what causes your Anxiety and any questions you may have. this will help you remember what you wish to say

BOB

[Solarm in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your response, I'm not familiar with CBT. What is that?

[atlas97 in reply to Solarm]

cognitive behavioral therapy it focuses on changing the way you react and fixing unhelpful thought patterns

[Hidden in reply to Solarm]

Talking Therapy,, You talk out your problems and learn how to move on

Your GP will need to arrange a course of about ten sessions with a therapist

BOB

[Tahiri]

I’ve had Panic Disorder for many years. I did receive Cognitive Behavioural Therapy years ago , which I recommend ,as it lessened the frequency and severity of the attacks - which were severe and numerous. They would just come on out of the blue. One Dr advised me to press the vagus nerve between my collarbone and my ear on the side of my neck , and the constant pressure helped me keep most attacks at bay. I also bought a machine called a Resparate ( strange spelling ) which teaches breathing techniques. Light music is played until the correct breathing zone has been achieved and there is a guiding voice. My attacks have lessened from several unbearable times a day , to rarely now. I hope this helps as there is nothing worse in the world than the attacks - sometimes so bad that an injection of sedation is required . Writing this , it has been months since my last episode- but there is nothing comparable to the sense of dread and impending doom. You have my sympathy.x

[Solarm in reply to Tahiri]

Thank you for the tips, I will look into them.