Panic attacks and home alone with my two little ones :(

Hi Gbaby08,

Yes, it is scary to have anxiety & panic and feel like there is nothing you can do about it. I'm sorry you feel this way, it must be overwhelming to be at home with the kids and by yourself while your husband is away.

Have the symptoms passed by now, are you feeling better?

I find what helps me is to jump in the freezing cold shower if I get myself worked up. It's just something that works for me, it gets me right out of my head and into the present.

Try positive affirmations instead of what's going on in your head and worrying about the symptoms, try thinking about your two wonderful children or something to distract you from being scared.

In the end panic attacks don't hurt me, you, or anybody else. It is a silent horror movie we play in our own minds, and it affects only us. Wouldn't you rather not have to watch that silent horror movie? I find that positive affirmations help me change the channel when my mind is spinning. I also like very much guided relaxation tapes or just sitting and trying to block out the negative and spinning thoughts.

I hope you are feeling better soon. Saying a prayer for you and for your family!

Joshua

Gaby

Death anxiety weighs heavily on my mind, it is usually my trigger too. I was in the bookstore and saw a book entitled "When I Die" and had a panic attack right there. It was a mild one, but non-the-less I am still in the process of trying to accept the deaths of others and my own eventual death. Figuring that out is such a huge topic, that it just can't be done in one sitting of mental torture. I have to confront thatover time and with baby steps.

Signing off for the night, hope you are sleeping well and wake up refreshed!

Joshua

Hi gbaby.

I am sorry that you had a rough night. It is really hard to be home alone with kids and think that there is a chance that you might not be able to take care of them because of panic...or worse.

I think as parents, a lot of us struggle with anxiety for the same reason...the awesome responsibility.

That is not to say that we are not up to the challenge...conversely...we, having anxious minds, just imagine too much!

My therapist once told me that people with anxiety are highly intelligent and imaginitive but lack the regular filters that others have to block out the 'worst case sernarios' in life.

So here we are trying to navigate life with all sorts of what-ifs running around in our heads.

Could our fears be realized? Sure they could...but is it probable? Not really...but when it comes to something like the ability of taking care of our little ones...those fears become hard to stay rational about.

I am sorry to hear about your aunt. I can see how that would be a trigger for your worries! However, another person's situation is not your own, and you can't take other's experiences and apply them to yourself...good or bad, because they are unique to them.

I used to have the same fear of not waking up...and my girls would be left without their mom. However, that was years ago, (and lots of therapy/self help and work) and I am still here.:)

The farther you get along in your treatment of A/P, the more you will see these fears start to fade. It takes time and effort, but you will get there.:)

Let us know how you are doing soon.

S.C.

Hi guys! Thank y'all do much for responding. It's been a busy day with work and kids, so I felt pretty good today. When my mind is busy, I seem to be a little better. I always try and distracts self. You're right, there is no need to worry about what happened to others because we aren't one in the same. I've just had a lot of death in my family at very early ages. My father passed in his sleep when he was only 53 and then my aunt at 49. Sometimes I just can't help but worry about it, especially with all these crazy symptoms. It's hard to tell what is "real" and what isn't.

I have been having these attacks for many years now, so you would think I would be used to them. . Thank you for being here and supportive.

Thank you Gizmo! I'm sorry you have to go through it at all!!!

Excuse all of my typos...I am on my phone, with badly cracked screen. I can barely see what I'm typing :). Some little girl dropped my phone today.