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New here-just had a bad panic attack!!

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Posted 2/14/2012 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm new.  I just came home from picking up my nieces from school and taking them to play practice.  I started panicking as soon as I pulled away from my house(even with taking medication).  I got worse as I drove there and had to pull over a couple times.  I feel extrememly nauseated when I have a panic attack(experience 'globus'). 

I knew it wouldn't start going away until I got back home.  I was completely miserable!!  I didn't tell anyone but just wanted to get online and find a forum of people who could understand what I was going through.

My history of panic attacks:  They started when I was in 7th or 8th grade-I'd call them puke attacks, as I didn't know what they were at the time, just how they felt.  This lead to strange behavior, later realizing I was experiencing agoraphobia.  They would be bad for a while, then subside.  about 6 years ago they got really bad(after dealing with some stress) and I felt like I had the flu all the time.  I was put on xanax at that time(my miracle) and it made me feel so much better and after about a year and a half I felt good enough to get a job.  I felt good for a couple years then they came back, again surrounding some stress in my life.  That stress is gone but my panic attacks aren't-they seem to be getting worse.

My panic stems around feeling nauseated or the thought that I might throw-up(emetophobia).  I don't know what to do.  I can't seem to change my thinking-my thoughts while I'm having them.  I currently have 2 cleaning jobs and desperately want to quit them and hold up in my house for a while.  I've been dealing with agoraphobia for many years but figure out ways to still function and do things in life.  But as I was driving today(in my own town, not even 15 minutes away from home) I felt it was becoming too much and this one would definately affect me.  Would this be the one that finally paralyzes me?  They are soooo bad and I don't want to go through that again. 

Anyway, I just wanted to post my history of panic attacks and talk about my one today.  I will read through some other posts and try to respond to any that I can.

Thanks for listening.

 

Posted 2/14/2012 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Orchid and welcome!

I am so sorry to hear of your attack! It is pure misery, and I understand exactly how you feel.

My first attack, I thougt that I was coming down with the flu...and one of my first symptoms of anxiety was globus, so you are not alone.

If you find that you are losing the ability to get out and do the things that you need and want to do, perhaps you should look into further treatment. I am glad that you responded positively to medication, but have you considered therapy?

It is a very effective long term solution to anxiety attacks and agoraphobia. By solution, I don't mean that it is a cure-all, but rather that it will give you the skills to manage your anxiety on a day to day basis.

I still have anxiety even after therapy, but it does not rule my life. I no longer have attacks, and am able to deal with daily stress very well.

You can consult your regular doctor about a therapist, if you think that you would like to try it.:)

If you would like to check out our Resource Guide, we have lots of great self-help links that you could get started on today. If practice daily, things such as breathing and relaxation exercises can really help in reducing panic and symptoms!

Keep posting, this is a great place for support and understanding!:)

Talk to you soon!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 2/14/2012 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Scaredy Cat for your response.

I actually am in therapy(forgot to mention it, sorry) but I honestly don't feel any of them are qualified to deal with what I'm going through. I know that sounds mean because I love where I go, it's professional and relaxing but I haven't gotten any real help, nothing that I couldn't have come up with on my own, from resources I've read. But it's nice to have someone to just be able to talk to. So I'm sticking with it for now and just seeing where it goes. My current therapist says she deals with CBT but we haven't gotten into any of that. I have an appt. in a couple weeks so we'll see how that goes. I'm looking at some books to buy online that seem like they might help-Hope and Help for Your Nerves by Claire Weeks, and The 10 best ever anxiety techniques by Margaret Wehrenberg. So we'll see how those books are, looking forwarding to reading them.

Thanks again for your support.
Posted 2/15/2012 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
I am glad to hear that you are in therapy...try to give it some time, especially if you haven't been going for very long, it can take time, but is ultimately worth it.

I found that I did benefit from supplimenting my therapy with self-help type books, so definintely follow up on those that you mentioned!

We also have a link for CBT download worksheets available in the Resource Guide...kind of like self-guided therapy homework that may be of some interest;)

Keep posting, I am glad to see you finding your way around the forum...great job!

Talk to you soon,
S.C.
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