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panic attacks.
i've been experiencing panic attacks for the past year or so now. after they happen, i keep telling myself that it was no big deal and that i got through it just fine. but when they're going on, i feel like i am going to or about to die. i hate to say it, but i do not wish these on my worse enemy - if i even have one.
are there any techniques that you all use to calm yourself down during one of these? these attacks have caused me to not want to drive in traffic, for fear that i will have one and be stuck in between so many cars without a way to get out and get back home, to my safe place. and even though at home i am alone a lot because of my husband's job in the military - it has become my "safe haven" that i need to be in at all times. this has also effected my career. i'm a professional photographer and i've started to why away from doing what i love the most, for fear that i'm going to have a panic attack in the middle of a session or wedding that i am shooting.
any tips will help.
are there any techniques that you all use to calm yourself down during one of these? these attacks have caused me to not want to drive in traffic, for fear that i will have one and be stuck in between so many cars without a way to get out and get back home, to my safe place. and even though at home i am alone a lot because of my husband's job in the military - it has become my "safe haven" that i need to be in at all times. this has also effected my career. i'm a professional photographer and i've started to why away from doing what i love the most, for fear that i'm going to have a panic attack in the middle of a session or wedding that i am shooting.
any tips will help.
That's great! I'm glad you are going for CBT. You sound like you have a handle on the problem and are taking the necessary steps to get back on track.
sorry i accidently posted that without finishing it.so due to the stress i quit my job without really thinking but i do think it was the best thing for me as im sure its my job that triggered the anxiety.i don't just lie in bed all day i do go out with friends 2-3 times a week and there all very supportive aswel.i also go for long walks which help clear my head and read books,research on net etc.im trying my best to help myself and i am getting better and my doctor has reffered me to cbt councilling so im waiting for that to start.i would love to be able to work but just cant at the moment hopefully i will soon and hope you all get better aswel.
@jgf25.hi i didnt realise your comment was for me aswel.regarding my job it was a very stressful job as i was a health advisor and worked long hours at a 24hour call centre and didnt get much sleep.also the management where very unsupportive and quite rude and arogant basically.when i went on the sick note with anxiety they where even worse and i made many attempts to go back but each time i did my anxiety just got worse and i would go back on the sick note.the managers basically thought i was taking the mickey and the doctors probably thought the same because i kept refusing to take any medicine they prescribed to me because im just so scared of the side effects.with my job i
I'm glad you were not offended. I'm not an advocate of medication it is just what has worked for me. I'm all for people that can do it without it. Actually if truth be told, I'm a bit jealous of people that can lead their lives with panic/anxiety/OCD and be medication free.
There is a book that I read and liked very much. It is called Self-Coaching by Joseph Luciani. It talks about how to be our own best motivator. Explains why we do the things we do. And also gives strategies to help ourselves when we do panic or have irrational thoughts. You can get it as an e-book or pretty cheap through Amazon.
Trust me when I say that I have been in your shoes and I absolutely hate to see anybody else go through this.
Best of luck!
There is a book that I read and liked very much. It is called Self-Coaching by Joseph Luciani. It talks about how to be our own best motivator. Explains why we do the things we do. And also gives strategies to help ourselves when we do panic or have irrational thoughts. You can get it as an e-book or pretty cheap through Amazon.
Trust me when I say that I have been in your shoes and I absolutely hate to see anybody else go through this.
Best of luck!
honestly, i didn't take offense to your post.
but i did get defensive when you stated something about not having a good life because of not being medicated. unfortunately, my career doesn't allow me to be medicated, if that makes sense. especially since a lot of my "episodes" occur right before going to work.
when i worked a 9-5 job, i had to quit it as well. i was sitting at my desk in my office and out of nowhere, my heart started to pound. i felt like the walls were coming in on me and i felt like i was going to have a heart attack. i walked out, got in my car and made the 45 minute commute back home, praying my heart rate would slow down before i was halfway home - because then i knew i would be okay. instead, i got stuck in traffic and sat there not being able to breathe, so i pulled over to the median and drove 30 something miles an hour past everything to get to the nearest exit, got pulled over and they had to take me to the hospital, because they thought i was dying as well, or so it looked and felt like to me.
once i got to the hospital, i was so scared that, before the doctor came in, i walked out. i called my friend and went to the second floor of the hospital still semi hypervenelating and asked her to come get me and she did, since she was local at the time. it was horrible.
and yeah, this condition has definitely taken over my life. there have been several times where i've had to call my clients and lie to them, telling them that i have a fever or that i'm in and out of the bathroom and won't be able to do the session that particular day. instead, i hide out at home. it's so weird, but i have heard about that sort of treatment, and maybe it would be best for me to get into that. but to be completely honest, being around any sort of doctor scares the you know what out of me. every time i went to my PCP, the nurse had to run out of the room when she took y pulse to get the doctor because of my high pulse [167 last week] and they've finally been told by myself that i have horrible panic attacks. i hate them, and i do want and need help and a support system.
but i did get defensive when you stated something about not having a good life because of not being medicated. unfortunately, my career doesn't allow me to be medicated, if that makes sense. especially since a lot of my "episodes" occur right before going to work.
when i worked a 9-5 job, i had to quit it as well. i was sitting at my desk in my office and out of nowhere, my heart started to pound. i felt like the walls were coming in on me and i felt like i was going to have a heart attack. i walked out, got in my car and made the 45 minute commute back home, praying my heart rate would slow down before i was halfway home - because then i knew i would be okay. instead, i got stuck in traffic and sat there not being able to breathe, so i pulled over to the median and drove 30 something miles an hour past everything to get to the nearest exit, got pulled over and they had to take me to the hospital, because they thought i was dying as well, or so it looked and felt like to me.
once i got to the hospital, i was so scared that, before the doctor came in, i walked out. i called my friend and went to the second floor of the hospital still semi hypervenelating and asked her to come get me and she did, since she was local at the time. it was horrible.
and yeah, this condition has definitely taken over my life. there have been several times where i've had to call my clients and lie to them, telling them that i have a fever or that i'm in and out of the bathroom and won't be able to do the session that particular day. instead, i hide out at home. it's so weird, but i have heard about that sort of treatment, and maybe it would be best for me to get into that. but to be completely honest, being around any sort of doctor scares the you know what out of me. every time i went to my PCP, the nurse had to run out of the room when she took y pulse to get the doctor because of my high pulse [167 last week] and they've finally been told by myself that i have horrible panic attacks. i hate them, and i do want and need help and a support system.
Sorry if my post upset you. I really wasn't directing the entire post to you actually even though I put "everyone" There were a lot of people on here that have different problems and I lumped my post to cover more than one person.
I do have anxiety. I have OCD actually. I know what panic is and even though I take medication I still have the occasional panic attack. I know it stinks. I don't like to think about the next one either.
I was merely trying to point out all of the options including taking medication and also some information for the people that don't want to take it. I'm not going to tell anybody what to do.
The part about not having money and a job was directed to anjum247. I hate the fact that she felt she had to quit her job and is now feels that there are not options.
I'm glad that you are having a wonderful life. I understand that you don't want to use medication. That is a personal choice. So for you, really the part about seeing a therapist that specializes in CBT was what I was suggesting. I use CBT to control my panic attacks. I can in most cases stop the attack before it gets bad using my CBT.
So again, sorry if my post was confusing.
I do have anxiety. I have OCD actually. I know what panic is and even though I take medication I still have the occasional panic attack. I know it stinks. I don't like to think about the next one either.
I was merely trying to point out all of the options including taking medication and also some information for the people that don't want to take it. I'm not going to tell anybody what to do.
The part about not having money and a job was directed to anjum247. I hate the fact that she felt she had to quit her job and is now feels that there are not options.
I'm glad that you are having a wonderful life. I understand that you don't want to use medication. That is a personal choice. So for you, really the part about seeing a therapist that specializes in CBT was what I was suggesting. I use CBT to control my panic attacks. I can in most cases stop the attack before it gets bad using my CBT.
So again, sorry if my post was confusing.
wow... no judgement from me, but that's a lot to carry around!
i mostly get antsy and panicy when it comes to having to drive for a long period of time because i don't know whether or not i will get in traffic and then have an attack - but a lot of doctors that i have talked to and gone to see have told me that this is VERY common. and being that i do not really like medications - there are other options out there for me that i am going to try.
i mostly get antsy and panicy when it comes to having to drive for a long period of time because i don't know whether or not i will get in traffic and then have an attack - but a lot of doctors that i have talked to and gone to see have told me that this is VERY common. and being that i do not really like medications - there are other options out there for me that i am going to try.
i can afford therapy and everything else, money isn't an issue - but thanks for
the input. i won't lose my job over this, but that doesn't change the fact that i get fearful to have another panic attack before i go out to shoot a wedding and/or a regular portrait session. and i'm not going to resort to anxiety medication, have a panic attack before a session and then show up medicated. THAT'S a good way to lose clients that i've worked hard to obtain over the years, if that makes sense.
and you're judging a little on the quality of life aspect. i have an amazing husband who serves our country, a beautiful home, a thriving and sucessful business that i own and built from scratch and a supportive husband, regardless of whether he's in uniform or not. i don't sit in my house all day everyday. maybe others do, but i do not. but i do have certain "fears" that i'd rather not face at this point and time - such as driving long distances to where i may get caught in traffic and have "no way out" but honestly... i have a good life.
i understand that we get only one life and we need to make the best of it. and i look back three years ago at who i was and what i wasn't doing - and then take a look in the mirror now - and i have to say i am pretty stinking proud of where i am today.
this site, the last time i checked, was for people to come on and ask for advice and/or be there for others who may or may not be going through the same thing or know someone who is, at least. i came on here to get advice from people who've been through the same thing, to see what sorts of things help them. who knows - they may or may not work for me.
the input. i won't lose my job over this, but that doesn't change the fact that i get fearful to have another panic attack before i go out to shoot a wedding and/or a regular portrait session. and i'm not going to resort to anxiety medication, have a panic attack before a session and then show up medicated. THAT'S a good way to lose clients that i've worked hard to obtain over the years, if that makes sense.
and you're judging a little on the quality of life aspect. i have an amazing husband who serves our country, a beautiful home, a thriving and sucessful business that i own and built from scratch and a supportive husband, regardless of whether he's in uniform or not. i don't sit in my house all day everyday. maybe others do, but i do not. but i do have certain "fears" that i'd rather not face at this point and time - such as driving long distances to where i may get caught in traffic and have "no way out" but honestly... i have a good life.
i understand that we get only one life and we need to make the best of it. and i look back three years ago at who i was and what i wasn't doing - and then take a look in the mirror now - and i have to say i am pretty stinking proud of where i am today.
this site, the last time i checked, was for people to come on and ask for advice and/or be there for others who may or may not be going through the same thing or know someone who is, at least. i came on here to get advice from people who've been through the same thing, to see what sorts of things help them. who knows - they may or may not work for me.
I take Lexapro and Xanex and they have helped me alot over the years. I have had anxiety issues for 11 years now and used to have panic attacks so bad and so often that I was in the hospital constantly. I have learned to talk myself threw them but they are still very uncomfortable. I have made my home into a place that I have everything I need and want under one roof so I dont have to go out very often. I am actually happy this way and I have 2 little girls and they like to stay home with me and swim or watch netflix. I have gotten to the point that I dont drive unless I absolutely have to and I bought 2 deep freezes so I only have to grocery shop about once a month and then I can get my mom to bring me milk over when we need it. Most people dont think this kind of lifestyle is healthy for a person but I havent had a panic attack in 2 years so I am extremely happy with it and I feel safe so why would I want to do anything else. I do know that I will have to leave sometime because I am currently taking online college courses through the community college in my town and when I finish my degree I will have to go back to work to be able to pay the bills that my student loans and pell grant is now covering. I am not realy looking forward to this but I also know that if I just try to drawel a disability check and never work I will have constant panic attacks because we will be broke and I cant quit obsessing over the bills. I hope that when it is time for me to go back out that I am strong enough to make it ok by then. I wish I could find a job that you can do with a criminal justice degree at home. I get very anxious in crowds and heavy traffic and in general other than my kids I cant stand for people to stand to close to me at all. When I am in the car and start to paic I turn the radio up really loud so that it distracts me from my inner problems and if I have to I yell/sing the words as loud as I can and focus on trying to sound just like the singer. It had helped me alot before to do this and makes my kids laugh alot at the same time. When I am home and start having issues I read and I dont stop until my eyes are so tired that they cant stay open to read anymore. If you do decide to go on medication I recomend Lexapro, it has done wonders for me the past 2 years. It is specificaly for anxiety so it works realy good. My doctors tried me on all these antidepresents before and all they did was bring on depression. I think if you dont have a problem and you take medication that is not right for you it can make you sick instead of better. I almost commited suicide because of Paxil and was scared to ever try meds again. After I took the Lexapro it didnt really feel like it was helping for the first 2-3 weeks. I guess I never really felt anything off of it like I do if I take the Xanex but I just noticed a couple weeks later that I was ok with alot of things that used to send me spiriling down a panic runway. I was happy and have not stressed over things near as much. If you can do it without meds though then stay that way because I think anxiety is one of the hardest things to treat and not become addicted to the meds that they give you for it.
@ the addict.good to hear you do not take medication for your anxiety.im the same i refuse to take it and my doctor's where getting sick of giving me a sick note because of refusing the medication.so i felt stressed out and quit my job and now have no form of income :( im only 22 used to enjoy my job and going out with friends,driving etc and now im the same as you i only find being in bed a safe place.i even hate being around family and it causes me anxiety.i cant sleep and dont enjoy life at al any more. i also feel like im going to die when im havin a panic/anxiety attack bt i calm myself down by trying my best to ignor the symptoms as concentrating on them will only make you worse and i some times phone/text a friend to distract myself or i tell my mum and she reads a pray for me and holds my hand and comforts me and keeps me calm.i hope this helps x x
I suffer severe anxiety and my heart constantly pumps rapid, my safe spot is my bedroom I hate going outside I really Dnt think my doctor cares what am going through lately she said jus stop taking medication then if its not working, I hope 1 day this goes away and I get my life bk. Were do I go 4 therapy Is it expensive I need anything 2 help me as I'm getting really bad again like last year, I was that bad I didn't leave the house 4 6weeks and as horrible as it sounds I was frightened 2 death of getting in the bath so my sister used 2 sit and talk 2 me an help me in the bath I also stopped driving I had a big fear of driving I dont no what 2 do coz I'm getting bad again and I don't no if I can handle it again I'm constantly anxious and have panic attacks but o have phases were for a couple of months I get extremely bad were I can't handle it and just get through each day by taking lots of sleeping tablets from the minute my eyes open I wish I can get help
Have any of the doctors that have treated you for panic attacks taught you cognitive behavioral therapy? The breathing I mentioned above is part of it but only a small part. The self-coaching is part of CBT. You really need to learn these techniques if you are to get a handle on this since you cannot take medication. And in reality, medication probably does help some but it is more than likely the CBT that really does the job of stopping a panic attack.
Well I can relate ! I usually breath in deep and exhale yell stop in my head and ill begin to read a book or anything I can find to get my mind off it its dificult and scary and just like you I wouldn't want no one to go through it
every doctor that i have been to about this has always tried to shove pills down my throat. and i hate for that to sound mean and what not, but i do not take pills - i am a recovering addict to opiates, and medication is half the issue when it comes to panic attacks.
What exactly are your symptoms??? Having a panic attack is one of the most scariest things to have happen. Although Anxiety disorder is not curable, it is treatable and depending on the person, treatment varies. Breathing techniques are very helpful in most cases, however if the panic attacks are starting to steal away your life, medicine may be helpful as well. Agraphobia occurs when you cannot deal with the situation and your safe haven is at home, you become afraid of the outside world, causing a drastic change in your career, job, social life etc....my advice is that you seek professional help to get a diagnosis and then weigh your options with treatment.
I breathe my way out of them and I also self-coach myself through them. The breathing is to take a deep breath, hold it for 5 seconds, count this out in your head, and then let it all out through your mouth. It slows your heartrate back down. Sometimes I even hold my breath. I also self-coach myself just like you were saying. You have been through it before, you didn't die and you won't this time. I hear you, they are not pleasant. But what I absolutely do not do is stop what I'm doing. If I am driving, I will continue to drive until it goes away.
I battled one for 15 minutes this past November and I got it because I talked myself into it. I was thinking about it and bam it happened. I should have started breathing right when the thought popped into my head. So there is lesson 1 for you...just don't go there if you can help it. But in any case after about 15 minutes of white knuckling the steering wheel and singing to the radio and breathing it was gone and I was able to drive the rest of the way which was another 2 hours.
If we give in, then we won't be able to do anything anymore.
Also, my doctor did suggest that I take klonopin at that point but I declined. I don't like to medicate with a benzo during the day. I do take other meds though that I'm sure help me, wellbutrin to be exact. Just some food for thought.
I battled one for 15 minutes this past November and I got it because I talked myself into it. I was thinking about it and bam it happened. I should have started breathing right when the thought popped into my head. So there is lesson 1 for you...just don't go there if you can help it. But in any case after about 15 minutes of white knuckling the steering wheel and singing to the radio and breathing it was gone and I was able to drive the rest of the way which was another 2 hours.
If we give in, then we won't be able to do anything anymore.
Also, my doctor did suggest that I take klonopin at that point but I declined. I don't like to medicate with a benzo during the day. I do take other meds though that I'm sure help me, wellbutrin to be exact. Just some food for thought.
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Ask yourselves what type of qualify of life you have. Is it a good one? Are you able to do the things you want to do when you want to do them without the anxiety, panic and fear getting in your way? If the answer is no then you need to get treatment.
You don't want to take mediciton, then fine. Medication is tricky. Some work better than others and you need to have the patience to find what works best for you. And like JGMontgomery found out, it takes at least 4 to 6 weeks before you start to see the benefits. At some point she will not even need the Xanax most likely during the day anymore.
For myself, I would rather take the mediction for the rest of my life, regardless of addiction, than live a life inside my house unable to hold a job and do the things I enjoy.
Having said this, okay so you are medication free. Now what? Well you need to go to therapy. You need a therapist that specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy. If you continue down the path you are on, how long before you never leave your house again?
If you can't afford therapy, then you need to look into group therapy that is free in your area. Get on the internet and find something that you can participate in with others that are in the same situation. It may take some time to find but it will be worth it. See if there are ongoing anxiety studies in your area at the local research hospitals that you can participte in. These usually come with free therapy.
In short, I'm saying that you have options that maybe you haven't pursued because you didn't know what to do next. What is NOT an option is sitting in your house, losing your job, etc because of anxiety. It is highly treatable. You only have one life and only you can make it a good one.