Hi, I'm Samantha :)

hey guys i am new here. i wanted to get a little input.
i have been having anxiety/panic attacks for the past three and a half years. it all started two months after i lost my father. not only the loss got to me but i now had a house and every single responsibilty dropped on my plate.
from what i have read up on, it seems to me i have a panic disorder. i had been to a psychiatrist previously and was on paxil and xanax and klonopin. i took myself off all my meds about two years ago.
i had gotten into some pretty heavy drugs, which i guess distracted me. but i hadn't had an attack or series of attacks for a good year/year and a half span.
out of nowhere now they are coming back. i went to my primary and got paxil and xanax until i can get in to see another psych.

i was wondering if anyone had any good tips on what i can do to help myself in the meantime. because when i'm having these attacks in my mind i swear i'm having a heart attack and i'm going to die. i have to force myself not to go to the hospital which i have before for some of my attacks.

i'm just looking for some advice and a little support because not anyone i know really seems to have the same thing going on as me. and it's always nice to have someone who knows what you're going through. and reading what i have on here, it seems very supportive.

Hi Starism and welcome!

Well it seems that you have made a great start in looking for help again with the anxiety issues that are bothering you!

Good job on getting into your doctor, and looking to find another p-doc...and for reaching out here as well.

Until you can get into see a psychiatrist, you may want to consider the self-help techniques that are found in our Resources here. (main page, 1st post) I don't know if you used any in the past, but they can be highly effective.

The breathing and relaxation techniques are especially great at shutting down a panic attack. I would recommend practicing these everyday, that way if anxiety strikes, you will be ready to deal with it!

I would also recommend looking into CBT, or other kind of therapy that is effective in relieving panic. Your new p-doc should be able to work with you, or refer you in this.

Keep posting with us as well. It is really helpful to talk with others who understand and care. We are here to support each other.:)

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat

Hello.
May I just say that everyone experiences stuff very similar to you. If you look at some of the posts you'll find alot that may seem similar to you. But I also agree with you in that it's different from most people too. With anxiety we are all similar but different in that our mind manifests anxiety in countless ways it's unbelievable but yet it's still anxiety and one disorder so we are technically the same and that coping mechanisms used to control should work for anyone not matter how different ones anxiety is. Normally just keeping your mind busy and off the anxiety helps me. Exercise is great to do and if you ever feel anxious just do some deep breathing:)
Wishing you the best:)

Breathing and relaxation techniques are excellent for calming yourself down. Ask your therapist about them, maybe you can learn them. They are skills that need to be mastered and then you will be able to do them on your own.

Hi Star

If you haven't dumped the drugs. Do it. I know too well what that is all about.
Also nicotine (my other vice) and alcohol will ratchet up anybody's anxiety levels. Smoking seems so relaxing but it is actually am anxiety contributor.

I recommend getting some mind blowing exercise in, not the casual evening stroll around the neighborhood but some vigorous sweat inducing exercise. It is a fantastic release.

But the singular most import element to overcoming anxiety and panic is CBT. Panic comes from two places 1) you think you are in danger or 3) repressed anger.

I discovered my anxiety and panic comes from how much a deliberate a-hole o think my dumb m*******er boss is. In fact I demonized him so much I was terrified to go to work. Now I look at him like the piece of crappy he is buy I'm not scared anymore. I just accept that he has behavioral issues and I take none of it personally anymore.

So dig deep into your emotional pocket, fish around - what are you scared of? Are you pissed off about something lately?

Tell us....for me I feel better when I write stuff.

Joshua

Sometimes there is no recognizable pattern or trigger for our anxiety.

Although it is often helpful to know the source of the panic, it is even more important to just focus on the treatment and work on getting the tools to manage the anxiety.:)

Great job on getting clean and moving on toward recovery!!

Keep posting so that we can be alongside for support.

S.C.

Dear Star, a lot of us don't know where or why, more important is how to shut it down, 95% of mine blind
sided me, I don't have them much any more, but a few, they catch me unaware and get pretty much out
of control before I can start fighting back.
The past is not as important as the future and what you choose to do with it. Peace.

Larry ***