First Anxiety Attack - 09/11/09

[John32692]

Hi Everyone,

First of all, I joined these forums to see if anyone can help me and/or if anyone is experiencing any of (or all) of the symptoms I currently am suffering from...

To start off: I had my first "real" anxiety attack on September 11th (as stated above) and I'm sorry to report that the symptoms have gotten worse over the past week and half.

On that fateful, I was lying in bed, worrying my *** off about everything you can imagine. I don't want to get into it, let's just say... I'm depressed and I have lots of anxiety. Did I happen to mention that I'm a senior in high school? Anyway... the attack was the worst thing I've experienced in my life...really quick breathing, fast heart-rate....I thought I was going to die....then I briskly moved downstairs into the kitchen and started pacing, I looked up at the light and my eyes nearly burned out of my head... After some more pacing and quick breaths I (thankfully) calmed down.

But over the next week or so.... I noticed my blood pressure severely dropped...My veins weren't popping as they normally were (not at all really) and my pulse felt low (though I didn't attempt to "take" my pulse since I didn't have any type of timer at my disposal)...

Then I felt down for the rest of the week but the next weekend I had a nice pick me up (I talked to mother a bit about some problems and difficulties)...and now my pulse is increasing and I'm feeling a bit healthier....If it weren't for this numb feeling I have all over...

It started last friday (the 18th...hmmm.... another Friday...could there be a connection?) when I felt tingling in my feet.....then the tingling stopped and I felt a slight numbness...almost to slight to notice...then the rest of my body became "infected" (if you will)...Currently, I have the slight numbing sensation all over...but it is verrrrrry slight....

Now today, I noticed my balance is off a bit....and I notice it gets worse in social situations...When I'm home, it's close to normal but not quite....but at school or anywhere besides home it really feels off but I tend to keep my compsure so no one notices...

And sometimes (mostly at school) I find it incredibly hard to concentrate, though I notice it happens mostly in what I consider to be "boring" classes but this still may be a factor I think since the feeling is sort of intense, like I almost can't control it. On that note, I sometimes feel "foggy" minded as well...

Please Help Me...I'm really scared....My mother thinks I'm a hypochondriac and believes it all to be anxiety...but I fear that that last (and first) anxiety attack may have triggered something for the worse....

I really, reaaly, sincerely appreciate any help you can give me....

[Skelly88]

wooooo man... yep, sounds like me when I was in school, i'd walk down the hallway all tense because of my anxiety. (before I knew it was anxiety [which developed the summer prior when I had played this MMO and didnt socialize at all with anyone])

anyways, my anxiety wasn't that bad then. it got bad when I smoked pot for the first time, (well, after a week of smoking pot)  and then i had a full blown panic attack! yay. (sarcasm)

so anyways, stay clear of meds (SSRI's, i.e. paxil, zoloft, celexa, etc.) untill you've been to therapy, I suggest going to see a psychologist, it sounds lame, but..they really can be helpful. :)  

all the symptoms you're describing, i've experienced, and i'm sure theres maaaaany ppl on this site thats experienced the same thing + more.

so dont worry, we're right there with ya.  My suggestion is, do NOT withdraw yourself from social situations, continue to push yourself to be sociable. if you withdraw yourself it'll just make it worse. However, you have to learn to relax, you're a senior in high school, you'll be starting college soon (i hope) and you just have a lot on your plate. Dont stress.  I cant emphasize enough, the importance of seeing a counselor/therapist/psychologist.  keep your head up man. you'll be alright.  Just remember, we ALL have those symptoms (well.."we all" being the ones with anxiety)

so come back and update us how you're doing.

[remar]

Your not being a hypochondriac. Anxiety is a real condition.
All the symptoms you mentioned, alot of us anxiety sufferers go through the same thing.
Can you talk to your mom about seeing a counselor? Or maybe talk to your counselor at school.
We're here to listen. Take care. Remar