Panic attacks ruining my life and health

[justinc1974222]

OK here goes, i am a 37 year old male i have alot of anxiety issue's but this is my biggest. I have an extreme fear of doctors and anything to do with them i have several health concerns which i need to see a doctor for but i cant get myself to go. I have fainted and or almost fainted from the simplest things such as high school health class, when i was 12 i fainted to get a routine physical, this issue has ruined my life as i have avoided everything i wanted to do because of fears. After i have a panic attack it takes my body and or mind 6 mths to recover so i avoid everything and become lethargic and depressed. My question is how can i have this issue corrected? I have tried exercise, and eating better but doesn't help the attacks. I feel like a baby or less of a man so hard to talk about but i feel ok talking online.

[DJ873]

i am so the same way!!! i need to get in for my annual, etc and just can't make myself do it. i think with me, beside the fear of passing out, which basically keeps me house bound alot, i don't like being the focus of attention nor do i like the little rooms. I have started meditation and the John Kabitt SZinn mindfulness meditiation thru depression. it works for anxiety too. i am getting out more and more and should soon be ready to bite the bullet and make an appt. also, the self talk that keeps me sane is knowing that this too shall pass

[GTrain]

I feel like we have similar fears. For example, I never have a good normal blood pressure reading in a HC setting due to nervousness.

Just out of curiosity, why are you afraid of doctors? My anxieties about my health prompt me to visit doctors perhaps excessively, but every time they order a test, I loose my mind and worry excessively about the test results and how I might handle the news if the results point towards serious illness.

[tygerose]

Have you tried in-home therapy?  I have a therapist who comes to me once a week through the clinic that I go to.  You should call a bunch of mental health clinics and see if they have a program that can do that for you to help you.  The program I am in is called Total Family Strategy by Suncoast Mental Health.  It sounds like you may need someone to come with you to your doctors just to get on medicine because the doctor will not prescribe one to you over the phone...no matter how bad off you are...you will have to somehow beat the fear to get the help that you need to get you started off then get involved in a program like mine.  Before I started the program I didn't drive at night I was too scared too...I now drive at night...therapy helps.  I believe if I didn't have Amanda to talk to I would've tried to commit suicide again and I have a teenager to take care of.  Maybe there is a place that will do online therapy as well.  Good luck and you are not a baby, you are actually more of a man for admitting that you have a problem.  A lot of men do not admit there problems and even though I don't know you or your situation too well, I am proud of you for admitting to yourself and others what your problem is.  That is the first step to getting help.  If you need to talk you can inbox me anytime.  I haven't checked my medhelp in a few months so I just got back into doing it.  I feel better I think when I keep track of my episodes and what's going on with me.  It does help.  I think when we have attacks we are supposed to do visual therapy of some sort.  Try imagining you having a life without panick attacks...imagine your body feeling relaxed...start with your toes (I think that is what you should try and do).  Living with panick attacks is not easy for a woman and I can only imagine how much harder it is for a man to live with it.  My brother told me something that I try often he said look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself where do I want to be in five years?  (This was about weight loss) and then he said, "ask yourself do I want to have diabetes, do I want to have trouble walking etc."  Try that with your panick attacks but say something like, "In 6 months do I want to be depressed and lethargic?"  The other thing you can try is meditation...i have not tried this myself but I really should as well.  Good luck and let me know how things go.