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Posted 3/3/2014 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
I was disgnosed with panic attacks when I was 19 years old. Never took any medication for it just chose to dive into book and discovered many ways to learn to cope with the issues....years have passed Im 45 now and rarely ever have any anxiety up until I had a episode with cancer that caused me to lose my right kidney. I know that God has healed me of all of that I have been cancer free for 8 years now. My yearly testing is coming up. Last friday I simply went for blood work and  a chest xray and had a full blown panic attack right there in the doctors office. Causing my blood pressure to shoot up high...of coarse it came down before I left to head home but all the way home I had all sorts of thoughts and fears of dying and started experiencing shortness of breath....which I recognized as a anxiety attack.....I came home and was by myself and took my blood pressure again and it was back up...so I called my doctor and he called me in a light blood pressure pill that really does seem to slow my anxiety way down and cause me to relax a bit to where I could sleep. Is there anyone out there that has ever experienced this kind of fear? Some times I feel like im simply hanging on by a thread....any additional advise would be great!!!

Sincerely, Sandy

 

Posted 3/3/2014 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Sandy,

Welcome to HealingWell and the Anxiety forum. First of all congratulations on your 8 years as a survivor. May I ask if you are worried about the tests or have you already received the results?

Low and behold you get me as the first one to respond to your thread and my new friend, I was dx in August of 2012 with Colon Cancer - Stage 4.  Everything scares me but I know all I can do is keep pushing forward fighting all the way.

I had a tremendous panic attack in my Drs. office  one day when I was there for my chemo; the Dr. came in and was so kind but I did lose the end of my rope and crumbled in front of everyone.  My Dr.  told me what he was seeing was a very despondent lady whose body reacted badly to all the chemos and that was the first time I got a 3 week break from my treatments.

It has been 17 months of treatments and I must be on maintenance chemo for ever unless I get a break.  Next week is my week for tests so I know that awful feeling you get in the pit of your stomach.

I feel you have every right to panic as anyone who has battled cancer knows the fear of the what ifs? that run through our minds. Now your home and things are better, you are safe and you have found us.  We are here to support you and everyone that comes here looking to share their anxieties with us.

I look forward to getting to know you better.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt

Posted 3/3/2014 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
I am right there with you as well, except the cancer part. My anxiety is health anxiety, that dreaded feeling that SOMETHING is wrong with me , even though all the tests have came back negative (minus GI issues). I personally think, the fear of death/dying/health anxiety is probably one of the worst anxieties, because unlike most other's, there is no way to really "face" your fear. And one's health can cause so many anxiety issues, and in turn the anxiety itself, can bring about "symptoms". I've been doing A LOT of research on anxiety in the last few months I've been dealing with it, and have read from many research studies, that our anxiety can actually MAKE symptoms come about. We can "think" symptoms to where it feels like or actually does happen. For me, deep breathes with my hand on my stomach feeling it rise and fall will sometimes help bring the anxiety down, but one of the best things that I've found so far in my research, is physical activity. Anything that gets your mind off the "what if's". Taking a walk, a favorite book, a favorite TV show, calling a friend and just chatting. Those are things that seem to help me when my anxiety starts revving up.
Posted 3/4/2014 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you both so much for sharing your stories with me....so nervous just wish I could get a hold of myself and just stop thinking everything to pieces!! Just gotta push through and keep going I know God is watching over all of us...some times its just hard dealing with the flesh!!! Thank you for your prayers they are greatly appreciated...my new friends who have some kind of idea of what im feeling...such comfort!!! thanks again will be on here for support and to offer it! God Bless until we talk again! Sandy
Posted 3/4/2014 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
And no I haven't received any results yet...just waiting...which sometimes is the hardest part!!!
Posted 3/4/2014 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi SMH and welcome!

Just wanted to add my hello and say that we are glad that you have joined us!

Also wanted to encourage you to check out our Resources here:



https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

It sounds like you have a good set of coping skills already in place...but it never hurts to check out new ones! You may find some fresh angles when you take a look at the info provided there.

Post often!

Scaredy Cat

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