Newbie here <<< HELLO ALL!!

Hello everyone. I was browsing the net for anxiety & panic info...poof then this wonderful forum popped up and I had to sign up.

I've had anxiety & panic in some form for the better part of my adulthood, starting with the onset in my final year of high school. I have had attacks intermittently and several years of a dormant period where things seemed to be resolved--yet here I am again in this familiar space. My main issues (panic, food abuse, & health anxiety) manifest through fear which has been internalized since childhood. I have come to know myself and this place of fear very well, yet I can not always control when it rears its ugly head. This is the cyclical nature to my issue ( fear begets more fear and a loss of control which I try to overcompensate for, which in turn, leads to stress and panic). I cope through humor & self-deprication, yet oftentimes through the abuse of food--always a battle. I try to calm this frenetic & dizzying monster that is my anxiety/panic.

I'm a work in progress and happy to find anyone who can relate & understand. Hello out there...

(typing on my phone, sowwy for typos)


-MindFULL

Thank you for the welcome, mysweetpanda. It's good to know there are many others who share an understanding & experience of anxiety/panic. I appreciate you reaching out for more info. Well, I'm 37, happily married to a very supportive & loving mana. We recently had a baby about 7 months ago. It's a happy and joyous time, we are very grateful. We have a teen as well. I have seen therapists and doctors at my most difficult arcs ( three periods over the last 20 years)--sometimes reaping the benefits for years with no relapse or issues. I was prescribed medicine in the past from Paxil to Klonopin but was only on a regimen for less than a year with little effect. The main breakthrough came about 8 years ago when after about 10 yrs with no symptoms I had a summer of recurring panic attacks. At that time I went in again for CBT and passed on meds in favor of self-reflection, yoga, and vitamin therapy which helped tremendously. My attacks subsided and only returned for 1-2 episodes in 2011 where I had a high blood pressure/tension headache ER episode that led to bp meds & an extremely helpful ancillary benefit coming from my beta-blocker (reduced physiological symptoms to no symptoms) until the last month or two when I have been waking to anxious feelings, panic, perceived racing hr/unsubstantiated pvcs, and and resurrgence of my health anxiety preoccupation. After many trips to drs, er, testing my tests show no major cause for concern.

I have to add, that I know i have been through a recent REAL health scare in my pregnancy ( an ideal pregnancy until month 8 & preeclampsia set in) where I had a very stressful few months running to ER & bp in stroke range. Thankfully, baby & I made it through an emergency c-section and baby is perfectly fine. I had to deal with post-partum preeclampsia for the last fee months and many variations of bp meds & dosages have now led me to a nice equilibrium with those issues and they are under control & my #s are stellar (110/70) most of the time. Perhaps the stress of all that combined with it reviving my health anxiety issues have me back in this place ( my best guess). I find that the more healthily I try to eat & be present through stressful situations the more anxiety ad panic surfaces ( probably due to my abstaining from food abuse as best as possible so the coping mechanism is absent thereby allowing me to really feel and process the fear--which I would stifle with food etc). I have many, many theories, but currently just taking my bo meds which include a beta blocker as well as B vitamin complex, and several other minerals.

I have to say that my personal experience has shown pharma meds to be no more effective than placebo & furthermore my current intake has been extremely effective for me in managing everything besides these waking panic episodes.

Hi MindFull and welcome!

Sorry, I was on vacation when you first posted here, so we have not yet spoken.

I am sorry to hear of your struggles...and yes, last night's events and today sounds like too much for anyone...so I can see how you must be on anxiety overload!

Have you had a chance to check out our Resources yet? Here is the link if not:https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Inside you will find some great stress relief exercise links to help you decompress. These will lower your overall anxiety levels, as well as your physical symptoms.

Also, there are book recommendations for self-help for health anxiety (and more) since you mentioned fixating on this.

We are always here to understand and care. We are a supportive group...and are glad to welcome you among us!

Sending prayers and well wishes for you, your family and your fur-baby!! I do hope he makes a swift and full recovery!

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat

I am so sorry for all you have been through the past days.  Absolutely you had a right to fear for your dog's life but look how well you handled it.  My dog is my best friend and the thought of ever losing him I keep out of my mind as this dog is the greats therapy dog and I need a lot of therapy these days.

Trust poison control.  AS a nurse working 26 years in an ER I know Poison Control is one special service.  WE would call them to report an overdose and they would always have the info right at their fingertips.  Also they would call back later to ask about the patient and how they were doing.

I am not going to post the max amount of Tylenol in your thread as someone may read it and know how much to take intentionally.

When your dog was in crisis your body most likely responded by flipping into the fight or flight response  by producing stress-related hormones and adding them with high pressure to our blood stream, sending them to every muscle with high-speed in order to enable us to react in a very short time and to mobilize all the reserves we have.

Once the crisis situation is under control most of us "crash" or feel overwhelmed with fatigue because our body is return to it's normal state.

I would ask you, for now, to just cuddle your pet and take care of your family and yourself.  You don't need anxiety hanging around whispering in your ear, " Dr. Google's office is open 24/7. Kick you anxiety to the curb and do your best to stay in the moment.

Hugs,

Kitt

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M.

Haha lol!!! Superb! @Merrida all we need is the product, hehe!

Thanks for the advice @ScaredyCat I will definitely follow-up with my pcp about those abnormal numbers. I know what you mean about trying not to do the physician's job--major issue with health anxiety.

Yes, awesome news!! Pup is readjusting and having a grand ole time in the yard with his brother. I'm relieved to see my dogs living well and enjoying themselves...so grateful to the Vets!!

Thanks for the info @MissGiGi I don't take hormonal contraceptives due to blood pressure issues per my ObGyn but good info to know!