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Posted 4/2/2014 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all,

I have read healing well for a long time, but decided to finally post. My name is Anna and I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks.

I have battled with depression most of my life. However, within the last few months anxiety and panic has taken over my life. Prior, I had never had a panic attack. It started with extreme derealization (at the time I did not know that this was a form of anxiety). The derealization kept happening under certain conditions (dark rooms, loud environments). Eventually this led to panic attacks, and worse and worse symptoms.

At my worst, I could no longer leave my house or get out of bed for about a week. The feeling of derealization consumed me for days on end and left me feeling horrified, constantly scared of dying, and I thought I was going crazy. My heart was constantly tense and sore, and I couldn't stop focusing on my breathing. I could no longer sleep at night and was having panic attacks daily. I felt as if I was going to die or get a severe mental illness.

As soon as I was able, I went to the doctor. He prescribed me Ativan for my panic attacks and Celexa for my anxiety. Since then, I have incorporated various anti-anxiety vitamins (melatonin to sleep, Vitamin B, C, Magnesium, and one other...) Into my diet, removed excess sugar and caffiene (I found these cause me to be much more anxious), educated myself about my problem (which I have found helped me the most) and have began seeing a therapist to help me overcome this hurdle.

Is there anything else I can do to make a complete recovery? Since my mental break - as I call it - which was a month and a half ago, I am leaps and bounds better. I am able to function again but still have reoccuring negative thoughts that worry me. I know recovering is a process but I am just looking for any additional advice. Thanks for reading :)
Posted 4/2/2014 6:09 AM (GMT 0)
Anna,

It sounds like you're doing incredibly well! This is a wonderful story to read of how pro-active you are in taking control of your life. This is magnificent.

I'm especially fond of how you identified culprits and addressed them swiftly. Your post is actually quite motivational!

It would appear you've got quite a good handle on this.

The only thing I would add (which, since you've been reading here for a while, you probably know what I'm going to say),....exercise. I so strongly identify with the power of exercise in helping to balance the physiological fluxes that occur.

You're addressing the nutritional issues....

All in all, you are doing a bang-up job! Very nice.




M.
Posted 4/2/2014 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi AnnaNic,

Yes! I agree...well done on actively going after your recovery!!

For more tools and self-help tips, make sure and read through our Resources here at the top of the main page. They can compliment what you are already doing for your anxiety management nicely.

I am sure that you will do very well, and we look forward to hearing of your progress.:)

I hope that you will keep posting for encouragement and support.

Scaredy Cat
Posted 4/3/2014 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi AnnaNic,

Welcome to the forum! The moderators have pointed out the Resources link, which is good info. What I wanted to single out though, as a reminder, don't forget to do deep breathing exercises when you feel like an attack is coming. It helps (I say this because I don't do it enough!)

Also, meditation might help? Thing which will help you relax...

Hope you continue on your path to wellness!

Ruhr
Posted 4/3/2014 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hello! Thank you for your replies. I read the resources, just wanted to get any other special advice from other anxiety sufferers who have found other ways to better themselves. Thanks so much guys! I do do deep breathing excercises but have not thought about meditation. I am going to check it out. :)
Posted 4/3/2014 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi AnnaNic,

I'm very new to meditation though I have gone on YouTube and found some very good follow-along videos to get started. Just search on "meditation" and "beginner" or something like that. Some videos are easy to follow--going through them, I've felt relaxed afterwards. I figure, anything that helps me to relax and makes me feel better--how bad can that be? Give it a shot. Good luck!

Ruhr
Posted 4/3/2014 5:13 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you! I will look that up tomorrow and begin meditation! It is probably good for everyone, really. A lot of the anxiety remedies, I found, I should have already been doing.

Merrida, are there any exercises you believe are better than others? Currently I walk every day with my dog, and every other day go for a run. How long would you say works best for you? Thank you for your words of support. They mean so much to me!
Posted 4/3/2014 7:24 AM (GMT 0)
I've been away for awhile again and I'm glad to read from someone who has a motivational and positive post since being able to log in here last January. I'm happy to hear from someone who's getting better. For all those people who often tell themselves that it's hopeless, I was also there before but believe me there's hope. You shouldn't just give up finding ways to cope and overcome anxiety. The fear of dying or constantly thinking your days are numbered because of a serious health condition can really make you feel hopeless. Everytime a negative thought crosses my mind I always try hard to forget what's it's all about and immediately replace it with a positive thought. By doing that I can remain much calm and relax. Before I usually felt sick and reminded myself that I was already dying which made me even feel worse. I always worry like if my blood pressure gets high I would likely get a stroke and die and when my heart pounds, gets skipped beats, shortness of breath or chest pain, I would end up having a heart attack. Now everytime I encounter those symptoms I wouldn't think anymore that I'm gonna die soon and before I know it the symptoms are already gone. Before I became afraid to exercise, to laugh out loud, to go out and hang with my "normal" friends but I realized it ain't what they call "living your life to the fullest". One step at a time I tried to get myself to do the things a normal person would do and not live life like a zombie. There were times that something would send me to a panic thinking my life is going to be over, it happened several times but here I am still breathing, with that now I can remind myself everytime I'll experience those dreadful feelings again "I'm not gonna die!". So the fear eventually became weaker and finally got more good or "normal" days back.

All I can say is that it helps a lot to stay positive and be thankful for each extra day given to us and do our best to "live life" meaning try had not to limit yourself in doing things that you fear that will send you to a panic, don't deprive yourself of laughter, don't restrain yourself on finding ways to cope that will help you improve and don't suppress or hold back any feelings cause it will not kill you, it's always better to laugh than fake a smile and cry whenever you're sad which is not a sign of weakness. Drinking a lot of water helps. Getting enough rest and healthy sunlight. Exercise if you can. Talk to others than constantly talking to yourself about anxiety issues. Find your way around in things that brings you stress rather than giving up and staying stranded all the time in the same spot that makes you feel bad. And it also helps to be here in healingwell reading other people's story and somehow helping them out a bit!
Posted 4/3/2014 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Anna,

When it comes to exercise, without knowing the particulars, just generally speaking,...I think you're doing something grand by being outdoors in the fresh air with you dog and going for a walk.

Especially now, with the weather turning, being in the sunshine may do wonders for you too! :)




M.
Posted 4/3/2014 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Anna,
Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P Forum. This is the place to come if you have questions or concerns about anxiety/panic, related medications and their side effects and recovery. Some of our members have been living with anxiety and related disorders for years, while others are new to this disorder.

You have made huge stride on your own and it is truly inspiring to read your post.

What works for me is "staying in the moment", writing in my online journal, and positive affirmations. Of course coming here and talking with others is a huge help as I find in helping others, I am helping myself.

I am going to post a link for you to a free online journal - write in it when you feel like and remember to write the good things as well as the not so good things

Now you have been flooded with ideas - don't try to do all of them but start with one or two and keep doing what you have been that is working for you.

I was dx with anxiety and depression in 1982 and 80 % of the time I have done well.............the 20 % has been tough - but hey nobody promised me a rose garden......I just thought I would have one. smile

Again, a warm welcome and keep on talking with us.
Posted 4/4/2014 6:36 AM (GMT 0)
THank you again.

Just a little update. Today I tried meditation. It really helped relax me. While I wasn't able to fully stop my inner dialogue, I did feel at peace. I know with practice I will be able to silence my mind and enjoy the quiet eventually!

While I am doing much better than I was one month ago, I still have to deal with bumpy days like everyone else. Today I felt a bit nervous in the evening, followed by shortness of breath and a tight chest. The meditation definitely helped soothe my nerves. :)

Meeting with my therapist tomorrow. Can't wait to talk about the new suggestions you all have given me and discuss an issue that seems to unsettle me:

Does anyone know how to stop a tight chest feeling? It is really quite annoying when it hits!
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