HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Panic/Anxiety

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/29/2012 10:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All! I would just like to start off by saying I'm VERY new to this forum and am greatly looking forward to support in this forum since I just recently started my journey with panic and anxiety, (yay me!). I hope you all are doing well... but anywho, on to me... I am a 24 year old female from Florida and moved here about 2.5 years ago for a job. The transition was pretty easy considering I use to NEVER have any sort of anxiety. I graduated from college in '09 with my BSN. I have been fairly successful in my life. My first panic attack started, while studying for a national certification exam, in january of this year (so 2012 has been my worst year as of yet). I woke up with palpitations out of my sleep, missed 3 days of work, was cleared by a cardiologist, and kind of went away. I passed my exam which I thought would bring me great relief because I did GREAT, but it didn't. Then in February I had the same attack, alittle worse actually and this attack sent me back to my PCP, he gave me celex and xanax and told me to FU with a psychologist. I tried the celexa... It was a no go.. pretty much every SE you can have I had, I could barely walk I was so uncoordinated. Since then Ive tried to muster up the guts to see a counselor, but I don't want to be labeled as "crazy". Since then i had a few weeks of racing thoughts, times of palpitations and depersonalization. I have started feeling better, I started taking vitamins, magnesium and fish oil. They all have seemed to help a bit. Ive finely decided on a mental health conselor that sounds terrific, so I'm gonna call today, I feel CBT may be helpful for me. Lately, my biggest problem had been panic attacks during my sleep, 30 minutes in and i awake with my heart pounding. I don't have a large support system here in Florida since most of my family resides in a few states away. I also haven't burdened my family with all this because, sometimes I feel like if I told them that either 1. There will be times I'll want to not talk about it, and they'll still push it. or 2. They will just think I'm crazy. I think the worst of all of these is the racing, obsessive, and intrusive thoughts. I've always expected alot out of myself, but now I'm trying to take it easy and be patient with myself. So much has happened these last months, Ive had the craziest thoughts. But I think most of it is just that I'm trying to find a pattern and find out what triggers it, I've yet to find any answers. Anyway, thanks for listening to me vent! I look forward to chatting with you all in the future. Also, a support buddy would be nice! If anyone wants to chat, leave your email! I would love some moral support :)
Posted 3/29/2012 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
You are not alone, you are under a lot of stress and that is what brings on anxiety. Talking to a councilor might be the best thing you could do. Try not to think to much about what brought it on because you will probably never know exactly what it was. If you consume yourself in your thoughts trying to figure it out it won't go away. Good luck and god bless
Posted 3/29/2012 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks barbz :) comforting words mean the world! I update you after I see my psychiatrist!

Thanks again
Posted 3/29/2012 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thinking your crazy is a very common symptom of anxiety, the fact is crazy people don't realise they're crazy, the fact your aware of whats going on means your certainly not crazy, that's what my docs/psychologist told me and i'm sure anyone you see will say the same thing, no one will think your crazy.

I also get a lot of panic attacks during sleep, and wake up in a panic state, its very disruptive to sleep and i hate it, just realise its only anxiety and it cant hurt you, i know that's easier said than done but the more attention you give it the worse it gets. I find valium is handy for night time panic attacks because usually i don't feel like deep breathing or whatever at like 3am.

Having gone down the med path myself i would definitely suggest trying CBT first (it does take a few months to work but its important to stick with it) and maybe even some natural treatments. If it is really affecting your life badly then try meds but personally i wish i could go back and give cbt etc a try first before going down the med route, as they only mask the symptoms, at the end of the day cbt is really the only true way to fix the problem, its better to face and deal with the issues than try and hide them if possible.

racing, obsessive, and intrusive thoughts are also a common part of anxiety, i get them myself its pretty normal so don't be concerned, its part of the fight or flight response.

I'm still trying to find a pattern after 6months and i've never found one yet for me they're just random. depends on the type of anxiety you have, GAD or social or something else. Sometimes there isn't a pattern and unfortunately anxiety problems can start for no reason at all.

Seeing a therapist is a good idea I hope your session goes well for you. Its important to find someone you feel comfortable with.
Posted 3/29/2012 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi argh! Thanks for your input :) I'm def gonna do the CBT bc for the most part I can self-talk myself out alot of my attacks.. It's def UNCOMFORTABLE to deal with but I think it'll help in the long run. The anxiety is still there, but these days it's alot more manageable than it was before and don't get me wrong, if I had not had any SE with the celexa I prob would've done the whole med route too.. Mayb it's good I did have the SE. Anyways thanks again! And I'll update with some cbt techniques if anyone is interested!
Posted 3/29/2012 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
"Thinking your crazy is a very common symptom of anxiety, the fact is crazy people don't realise they're crazy, the fact your aware of whats going on means your certainly not crazy,"

I like this one.
Posted 3/29/2012 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Me too!
Posted 3/29/2012 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Heya Rach, welcome

Hey, I didn't have my first panic attack untill I moved to Florida, coincidence...probably...lol.

 

I love this state and wouldn't leave even if it was the cause. I am almost fully recovered after many years of struggle, I did it without meds...so it can be done..either way you will find lots of support and suggestions here, post anytime...best wishes....WM

Posted 3/29/2012 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Good to know there are survivors out there! Thanks for the positive words :)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply