No longer myself. I want the old me back

[momof3gr8kids]

I feel like a different person now.  I had a bad anxiety attack about a month ago and have never been the same again.  I don't enjoy things anymore, I can barely get out of bed in the mornings and as pitiful as this sounds I deeply miss having coffee.  I force myself to get up get my daughter ready, drop her off and take my hour long drive to work.  I put on a somewhat happy face for work but I feel empty inside.  I hate the fluttering heart feeling and not being able to enjoy simple things.  Anyone know how longe before I will possibly feel like me again.

[edgyboy]

Remember that anxiety humbles you. it removes confidence and belief in anything. But remember this, WE are the cause of these feeling and WE have the power to reverse it. WE can get our old selves back and make them better.

The cause of anxiety is a buildup of stress and negative thinking. Small steps are needed to reverse the negative cycle. Please remember, that people that suffer from anxiety are strong. There is no limit to the amount of discomfort you can bare. If meds are needed to get through this, fine, do it. We all need some help at times. You will all be fine. Take small steps to improve. Pray for inner peace. We are all here for each other.

[Saishaw]

That's so nice

[MrCT]

How are you feeling as of today. I've had a serious panick attack three months sgo and I have not been the same. I lost my appetite which lef me to losing almost 30lbs. Im always dizzy and st times have a hard time breathing. Life just doesn't seem real. I've been to the doctor several times. I seen a phsyc. Had a number of blood test. The craziest thing is that I dont have any stress. Life is great as far as I know. Just want to be myself agsin.

[cheerleandingismylife]

ever sense ive had an anxitety attake i dont feel like myslef eather it was like a month ago when i have my im alot more worried and i dont laugh with my friends and more bacuse i just dont find any thing funny anymore and im not that active and more im mostly tired and just want to realx is this something i should be worried about?

[captscudd]

You will be ok I have just started to ovecome my anxiety and have started to feel 100% trust me Anxiety is not permenent. what it is is your brain screaming I NEED A BREAK translation vacation geared towards your self and needs i took a self vacation that specialized in anxiety disorders for a week i was pampered and was taken cae of in the best possible ways i did not have to worry about things like what am i going to have for dinner i just showed up and made my choice there it was fantastic. again you will be ok.

[momof3gr8kids]

Hi, Thank you for the deep  insight.  This does help a lot.  When I do therapy I have very emotional weeks that follow.  I almost dread that part of it. I have made up my mind to fight this with more positve thoughts and cut out my beloved coffee and other things.  I was one of the people who thought something like this would never happen to me and well we can't control what life throws at us.  We will just have to work towards a better tomorrow. :)

[Hillsy69]

Both of you CAN feel good again! Anxiety is often triggered by stress and it sounds like you both have a lot on your plate which can lead to stress which can lead to anxiety. It can be a not so great cycle...if you let it. I would see your doctor to rule out any medical reasons and then work on treating the anxiety. For a good couple months after my first panic attack I felt different too, many of the things you describe, dreamy, fatigued, nervous, scared of the next panic attack, etc. One thing I want to point out right away is a panic attack is nothing to fear, it can't hurt you. It seems the sooner we come to understand this, the less panic attacks you'll have. Anxiety can be treated very successfully with therapy (I can't stress therapy enough! It has helped many sufferers a LOT!), medications can help sometimes with the symptoms and/or to treat any accompanying depression that sometimes comes with anxiety (you may have to try out a few different meds, not everything works for everyone, and you have to give them time to work, it usually takes 4-6 weeks for you to start to feel the effects) but not everyone needs medication. A psychiatrist will be able to help you figure out if medication is right for you. If I were you I'd make an appointment with a psychiatrist and psychologist to start therapy. Until you get into the appointment there are other things you might want to try, there are MANY books on anxiety, even the "for dummies" and "idiot's guide" series have books on anxiety. There's a book called "From Panic To Power" by Lucinda Bassett that helped me a lot. Watch your diet. Caffeine, alcohol, sugar, these things can all make anxiety worse. I haven't had caffeine in almost 9 years and it helped my anxiety tremendously. I know that fatigue often comes with my anxiety so it seems hard to give up caffeine, but it did a lot for me personally, I don't know about others but it's something to think about. Alcohol has been known to trigger anxiety in some for a few days after drinking. Fruits and veggies, a healthy diet can help some people, you may want to talk to your doctor about supplements as well, certain vitamins helped me. Yoga, meditation, breathing exercises and getting enough sleep have all been known to help some anxiety sufferers. Exercise also seems to help anxiety sufferers, it helps with nervous energy, feel good chemicals in the brain, etc. Again always talk to a doctor first. I'm no doctor, I'm just offering up some suggesstions that may help you. Being informed helps as well for me. I got everybook, went to every anxiety website I could find and learned about it. Talking about it on another forum like this and reading the questions and answers on medhelp in the anxiety forum has helped me a great deal. I'm new to medhelp, I hope I didn't break any rules, I've just been in this position and remember those feelings after my panic attacks started and just wanted to offer up some ideas that helped me. I've had multiple types of anxiety disorders (generalized, panic, ocd, ptsd) for at least 15 years but showed symptoms since childhood so I'm just trying to pass on info that I've learned. I still have anxiety issues sometimes, but they're not nearly as bad as they were when I first developed anxiety at 12 and had no idea what to do about it. On a scale of 1-10 1 being no anxiety ever and 10 being those first 6 months with anxiety not knowing what to do about it or wear to get help and in constant fear having regular panic attacks, I'd say I'm now at a 2.5. It's not only better, but if anxiety does creep up on me I know how to deal now. Therapy was one of the biggest helps on my anxiety journey. All the other things have helped too though at least a little, sometimes a lot. THERE IS HOPE!!! Many anxiety sufferers have felt like you do and feel a thousand times better now. Good Luck and Feel Better!

[hell1971]

You may be sufferring from depression, your symptoms sound like it to me, perhaps its time to talk to a doctor.

[blessednloved09]

Thank you and I'm the same way always there for everyone else before myself but now I feel like I'm crumbling and I can't get a grip in  reality... Wish I could go back rop the person I was too joking and playing and basically the goofball... I am pretty sure we can get through this... I will keep you in my prayers and hope you feel normal again too

[momof3gr8kids]

Thanks for sharing your story with me.  Not that my life was perfect by any means before.  I have always been the person who takes care of everyone's issues in the family and now I lost my motivation to do anything and barely take care of myself.  I feel real guilty because I am an only child and I take care of my mom and grandmother's health needs and things they can no longer do themselves.  I have been almost avoiding them because I don't want them to see me like this.  I want this episode of my life over and have my old crazy self back.  I wish the same for you.  Hang in there!

[blessednloved09]

I am the same way I had an attack a month ago a bad one and I haven't felt the same since terrified that another one is going to hit again.... I can barely get out the bed.... When I do everything seems unreal like I am living in a dream or movie.... My love life ***** my boyfriend tells me I'm not the same and I dont feel the same.... I dont want to take the medicine for it because my memory leaves me... Your not alone I promise