Fear of going crazy

FaithNotFear,

I have the fear of going crazy also.  I had my first panic attack a little over a month ago, and though I've always been a shy, anxious person; this anxiety has overwhelmed me now.  I just got married 2 years ago and have a 1-year-old son and I'm one semester away from finishing college, so I'm terrified that I'm just gonna totally lose it and ruin everything.  Plus, I have one uncle that is schizophrenic, one is bipolar, and depression, OCD, and anxiety run rampant in my family. 

How did the Zoloft work for you?  My doctor prescribed some for me but I've been too afraid to take it.   I wanted to try the natural route but I've had so much pressure from my family that it's a bad idea.  It really frustrates me.  I've decided that I'll at least give the Zoloft a try, but how have the natural supplements been working?

Don't worry, we're not going crazy.  Though the thought is scary and losing your family is unimaginable, be positive and try and enjoy every moment!  I know, easier said than done.

Take care,

Kristen

1 John 4:18 "Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life - fear of death, fear of judgment- is one not yet fully formed in love."

to faith not fear

you may have some post traumatic stress disorder from the first panic atack, look this up on the net

fear of going crazy, or of actually now being crazy is common for anxiety and panic attack sufferers but it never happens, also your problems dont lead to anything worse

did the zoloft help, if it does its a big help

I know exactly how you feel. I have had panic and anxiety problems going on for about five years now and have been plagued with the thoughts of losing my miind and ending up in an insane asylum ever since my first panic attack. The thoughts are much less persistant than what they were in the beginning and cause less anxiety then what they used to. I think the only thing that will totally take these thoughts away is time, becauase i have improved so much over these past couple years. I can say one good thing about panic , it caused me to quite doing drugs because every time i tried to get high I would get terrorized that i was going to blow my mind from doing drugs or that something stronger was in it and my mind just could'nt take

it and I would end up insane. I think why these thoughts also occurred was I had my first blown attack while high on pot. Well anyway , just wanted to tell let you know you are not alone when comes to thinking these weird thoughts. Stay strong.

 

Welcome OCC1532 and schizo :)

oops that was 11 years ago now i look back and laugh about it i have been anxiety free for 9 years i faced my fears took my paxil and got on with life and now the good lord has thrown a big one at me i was told i have crohns disease and i am a nurvous wreck so you can just imagine but i am still working and i will not give into the anxiety that bad again i know it is normal to feel a little anxious right now but it will go away i started taking zoloft again and i think it is helping some
anyway i must go now Barb

That's actually my biggest fear: going crazy and not being able to take care of myself. It's even worse when I have PA and don't feel in control of anything that is going on in my life.

Ive been dealing with panic attack and anxiety sufferers for 25 years and none have gone crazy, most get better but those who dont stay the same and dont go crazy

panic attacks and anxiety dont lead to anything else

Wow. FaithNotFear, I have the exact same feelings as you. I've been seeing a doctor who continues to reassure me that this is just anxiety and that millions of people are going through the same thing we are (in varying degrees). It helps a lot to hear from others, but of course, it doesn't make it all go away.

My only advice is to just continue to tell yourself that you are not going crazy at all. It is just a symptom of anxiety. Remind yourseld that for all of the time that you have been thinking you are going crazy, you haven't! You are still fine! So why would that change?

I hope this helps.

@ LYN - can you please tell us where to find the Cognitive Therapy workbook you mentioned? You said it is free and online, but failed to say where we might find it. THANKS!

it is MoodgymsTrainingProgram.com

Post Edited By Moderator (Howlyncat) : 10/13/2006 4:02:53 AM (GMT-6)

oh people! you guys comfort me SO much! I just came on here because I was lying in bed having those awful thoughts! I can agree with 99% of what the poster said! It's actually weird!! lol... the difference is that im just 18 and have to face SOOO many changes. Like leaving home for college, etc...! I've been weeks, almost months, of being completely anxiety-free, and now here it comes again, the cycle. But i know I will get over it. I had my first attack 1 and a half year ago after trying ... for the first time (I DONT DO ANY DRUGS NOR ALCOHOL, IT WAS JUST A SILLY TEENAGE EXPERIMENT THING), so yeah, first attack caused by the oh-so "harmless" ... I only had one full blown one followed by a couple tiny ones, but havent had an attack for probably over 6 months... and my fear is not the attacks anymore, it's the anxious thougts...of going crazy, or just being pessimistic about things, or developing schiz (since im young) ...i see a therapist and she says the same things... that im NOT going crazy or developing schiz, that im more in touch with reality than most people,etc etc...bit in this moments, nothing seems to sink properly in our minds huh? well i have faith, we all should, we are together, and no one here is going crazy, developing schiz, or whatever. We just have to cope with this cruel little feeling called anxiety. All my love to all of you!

 

Post Edited By Moderator (scaredy cat) : 7/25/2005 11:01:27 PM (GMT-6)

Hey jmo : )

I usually hang out in the Chronic Pain forum but have definitely had my share of anxiety issues over the years.  When I saw you were a new member, I wanted to take the time to welcome you to Healing Well and in particular to our Anxiety/Panic forum.  I know exactly what you mean about how comforting it is to know there are a lot of people experiencing the same thing.  Of course, you wouldn't wish it on them - but if they are out there already - it sure is good to find them - isnt' it?

Did you talk to your therapist about not having a safe place?  Most people that experience anxiety end up creating a "safe place".  There is nothing dramatic about it nor a secret formula that I am aware of.  This is a place that you create for yourself in your mind - it should be a place that you think is totally beautiful - a place that if you were there, you couldn't help but feel relaxed because it was so peaceful. 

For some people, this might be a beach with the feel of the sun warming their face and the sounds of the waves lapping at the water's edge.  For someone else, this place might be a special room filled with all of their favorite things.  I always think of my safe place as being a place where I am alone but I imagine others who feel more at peace being with others rather than alone might have special people or pets in their safe place.

Once you have created your perfect safe place, you learn to recognize the very earliest signs of anxiety or a panic attack and as soon as possible you go to your safe place.  Ideally, you would be able to sit down somewhere quiet and close your eyes and really focus on deep slow breathing as you visualize being there.  But, I have heard of people being able to utilize their safe place while they are on the subway and start feeling claustrophobic.  They simply close their eyes and go : )

I hope your therapist is able to more with this at your next appointment.  Again, I am so glad you found our forum and I hope you keep posting ; )

Welcome!

sorry for moving this back up, but i also would like to add my story with anxiety and the fear of developing schizophrenia,

It all started when i took cold medicine, and got really sick that night and suffered a panic attack, that triggered my anxiety, which eventually got me to thinking that the medicine could have triggered schizophrenia, a mental desease in my family background, many cousins i have but only 1 has it, and 1 uncle,  out of 10 or so cousins, see they were into alot of drugs as well, me i never took... but the cold medicine really got me worried, i worried day in day out about this fear, and read up on the symptoms from every page i can imagen, mostly the hearing voices, and then eventually after readding and worrying i managed to start hearing voices through thought, this is like sudden and not really what im thinking about,lately ive been good and havent heard them often, only when i really think about it, so its pretty logical that my mind is playing tricks on me, although i wasnt very convinced at the start. im not sure if anyone ever experienced this but i thought since we all think were crazy :-P i should look for your opinion,

my therapist said i just think all the time, and too much research, personally im not paranoid, the only time i feel paranoid im worried that im paranoid, so people who are paranoid cant point that out, so thats never been a real problem for me, anyways since people who have anxiety are usually shielded from finding out what it actually is, i'd like to see your opinions, and to let you know, your not alone if you feel your going crazy, even in the moments your allmost 100% sure, realize your mind can do many things, unless you physically see things, and i mean like easy to make out things, thanks in advance for any replys i may get, and stay strong.

Post Edited By Moderator (scaredy cat) : 7/25/2005 11:09:28 PM (GMT-6)

Hopeful honey, have you ever thought about maybe trying out some counseling for Substance Abuse?  It may help you to get over your craving for pot and to sort things out.  It sounds like that is causing a great deal of your anxiety and panic.  At least that's what I'm interpreting from your posts.

Sounds very much to me like you need guidance in that area of your social life and getting some counseling now, even if you think you don't need it, may prevent you from taking a devastating wrong turn down the road.  I've been there, so I'm only speaking to you out of experience and concern.

Hugs,

Beth