Random anxiety?

[Jayde_96]

Does anyone get this random anxiety? Like you can be totally calm watching TV and boom ..... full on anxiety attack?

Tight chest, sudden dizziness, palpitations, sweaty hands & feet? Don’t even need to be anxious about anything it just happens?

[SamuelJ52]

Totally yes. Sometimes it feels like my brain just decides to turn on me and give me grief for nothing. I've been practicing mindfullness meditation for 3 weeks now and things have improved a fair bit, before that though I had a week long period of severe anxiety, multiple breakdowns a day. Talking to my loved ones and to all the kind people on here has been so great though. Surround yourself with support, we're all human and we all need each other.

[Lm92]

Yes! The other day I was just relaxing with my husband, cuddling and watching TV and just out of nowhere got a burst of adrenaline.

I have them like that often in the middle of the night too where I'll wake up right in the middle of a full on attack. When you feel it starting to come on, you can kind of prepare yourself and do breathing exercises and what not, but when I wake up like that already in the middle, it sucks because it's like you just have to ride it out.

Getting onto an antidepressant has helped cut down the severity and frequency for me, but it's still a major pain when it does happen. You're definitely not alone.

[valentin77]

Yes,in fact panic disorder.

A key and common part of the disorder is that it is like a volcano erupting.

May be silent for long periods,not even a rumble,then POW,it's all happening full on.

This is one of the classic patterns of anxiety or panic attacks.

The part of the brain they are caused by is NOT connected to the stress-anxiety-worry-pressure part of the brain.

You can make a million pounds,be with a wonderful partner,lots of friends,great life,good health,not a worry or stress in the world,lying on a beach in the Bahamas with a tequila in your hand and POW.Full on anxiety attack.

And this is part of its 'trick' as then it is saying 'you can't control me,you can't stop me,you cant find any reasons why I activate,I can get you at any time and there is no reason you can find so there's nothing you can do about it'

The unexpected is always far more shocking than being mentally prepared.

And this is one of anxieties great powers.

Also it is hugely worse experience,not only the awful swamping feelings of anxiety but also the final message 'and there's nothing you can do about it!'.

No matter how bad a problem you have,if you feel there is a cure or lots of things that can help,it feels 80% better.

If you have even the slightest problem but don't know the cure or even how you could attack the problem,then powerlessness (feeling or believing this)is again 80% of the suffering.

So feeling you have some power over your anxiety,however little will strengthen you and weaken the fear of fear.

Are there things which lessen or help you to cope with your anxiety when it happens? This is a great first step,to know that there are hundreds of methods,it's just using your best will power to try one as an experiment and you WILL find techniques that help significantly.

I found about 1 in 10 or 20 things that I tried helpful,so you can build up a box of anti anxiety tricks to feel better when attacked.

This information and advice is only ONE way to look at your problem and only ONE way of working with it.

There are many others.

[Hidden]

Absolutely! A couple of times I've woke up in the middle of the night with one. LM92 said it best...if it happens while you're awake, you can do breathing exercises and positive mantras (this is just anxiety and will not hurt me.). Try not to freak out, but feel it, accept it and ride it out. It's hard but it really helps.

Another suggestion I HIGHLY recommend is to read Claire Weeks' book, Hope and Help For Your Nerves. Many on here have read her books and listen to her CDs. You can order them on Amazon. She was a doctor in Australia and a pioneer is helping patients with anxiety. She's explains anxiety, how it works, the symptoms, how to handle them and be able to live your life. She's just amazing.