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Posted 6/9/2013 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I'm new to the anxiety/panic section on the forum...

I'm a first-year university student. Every time I go to work on an important assignment or, at the moment, study for my exams, I start to panic. I feel that horrible rising sense of despair in my chest and I start hyperventilating. Then I do one of two things: have a full-blown, incapacitating panic attack OR distract myself by doing something else not related to my studies (reading a book, watching TV, cooking something, writing on the forum, etc.). This is okay to do sometimes, but in the last couple weeks I've been avoiding my work so much that it was part of the reason I failed an assignment (this was also partly due to a fibro flare-up, but I know I could have scraped a pass if I hadn't been panicking so much about this 40% assignment - why did it have to be worth almost half the unit??). How do I deal with the exam stress so that I can study? The first exam is in one week from tomorrow...

I'm also finding that I stay wide awake till about 2am each morning now... even though I'm exhausted, I just can't seem to sleep because as soon as I stop doing things the panic descends...

Please make suggestions or at least let me know I'm not alone...

Posted 6/9/2013 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
You probably already know you need a medical professional, they can give you some guidance and practical
advice. about your sleep I have recently learned that over the counter benadryl will give me a very good
nights sleep and no morning grogginess. You will win this fight! Peace!

Larry ***
Posted 6/9/2013 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't reported my anxiety to the doctor because I'm afraid that will make him not take my physical symptoms seriously... But I have been seeing a psychologist recently because that is one of the services my university offers (I can only get to see her once a month) and I only have a couple free sessions left. Then I don't know what I'll do.

I might look into Benadryl.

Thanks.
Posted 6/9/2013 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
try some of the coping methods breathing ect. check the links section, just until you can see a health professional. I am having a bad time of things right now and need to see a dr. but no insurance at the moment but made a apt. with primary care dr. but is a month away. I need to get back on the zoloft. Still had episodes on it but they did not last this long. I have been trying the breathing techniques they work, someone suggest heating pad on the upper chest, and the one I used last night was that I told myself nothing was going to happen it is just a panic attack. Hard to do when your getting hot flashes, tingling feeling, and legs shaking, but it worked. I have been dealing with this a long time and they still suck, but nothing bad has ever happened. They just pass with time. So I am trying to get to a point were I do not care if I have one. All this I have learned here. Hope this helps. Good luck with the exams.
Ed
Posted 6/9/2013 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ed, I'll try the things you mentioned.

Hope the doctor's appointment goes well
Posted 6/9/2013 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Jasmine I have noticed that there are many College Students that visit here pretty often, so being
away from home and under pressure to succeed can be a stressful life style. Please remember this you will
not die from PAD, it can make you miserable but thats about all, it will not damage your body or mind.
You can take some comfort in knowing that the intelligence level of PAD sufferers is in the upper 10% of
the population. We don't have all the answers but we will ride this scary roller coaster of fear with You!
Peace.

Larry ***
Posted 6/10/2013 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Larry
Posted 6/10/2013 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
You will one day be an Angle of Mercy to all you touch! Peace be with You always.

Larry ***
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