HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

How did your anxiety / panic / depression start?

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/26/2006 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to this whole anxiety/depression/panic attack situation and have many questions I am constantly worry about everything, most things are not very serious and am convinced that it is just the anxiety, but would like to get others take on them, since this is all so new to me.

Does anyone get/have:

* The majority of their panic attacks when they are relaxed and not stress out, usually after a stressful situation, but not during.

* Clenching teeth at night

* Left thigh numb in the morning when I wake up (immediately goes away when I move it around a little bit)

* Seems like there is a lump in my throat all the time that won't go away, I had this checked out years ago and they couldn't find anything.

* Somewhat related to the lump in the throat (came out the same time), I seem to throw up, or at least dry heave in the mornings when I brush my teeth.

* If I try to take a nap during the day (after work, very rarely) I usually wake up sweating like crazy, and my racing heart.

* (This is a weird one) Every once in a while I will wake up in the middle of the night convinced there is a snake in my bed (sometimes I have a nightmare about one but sometimes not, I am not that scared of snakes) and I will literally jump out of bed and turn the light on and search my bed and of course not find anything, but I cannot get back into that bed even though I know it is all in my head, I always have to sleep on the couch.

* about once a day I will think of something that I have done in the past that was embarassing or of accidentally hurting myself really bad (with a saw usually) and this will make me literally shutter/shiver (shake uncontrollably) for just a second.

* Little or no appetite.

* Waking up in the morning on my day off and not feeling like doing anything. I don't want to get up and I don't want to stay in bed.


Also, if anyone could comment on how their anxiety/panic/depression started I would appreciate it.
For me, I had a panic attack out of the blue after a very stressful day ( my first, it took everything I had not to go to the emergency room) and ever since then I have not been the same.
Thank you for any responses to this, like I said before I'm new to all this and the more I learn about other people who are dealing with this the better I get.
Posted 11/26/2006 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Welcome to healingwell, this is a great place and you'll find a lot of support here.

*in answer to your questions, I do usually get a panic attack after a stressful situation, but from all my research and reading and talking to my doctors, they tell me that it's because when you are stressed, you are building up the adrenaline in your brain, when you then try to relax afterwards, the adrenaline cannot be absorbed because there is just too much so it reacts on your brain by making you feel extrememely scared. (I hope that makes sense, but do always check with your doc for an interpretation, because I am not a doctor, just telling you what I've been told :))

*I clench my teeth at night and during the day, especially when i'm really stressed out, and my shoulders are being tense.

*Don't have numb thumb in the morning, but my arms and hands get numb ocassionally during the day, but I think that's because I work at a computer all day

*I usually get a feeling of a lump in my throat whem my anxiety levels are up, it feels like it becomes hard to swallow

*I dry heave a lot, usually when my stomach gets upset, and it's usually upet when I am anxious

*sounds like you could be having panic attacks in your sleep , when you try to take a nap, you should check with your doc to make sure

*I don't have a fear of anything in my bed at night, but you could be afraid of something else, and thinking it is snakes? I'm not sure, just my opinion

*I do worry a lot about nonsense things, some that could have happened years ago, I do have little to no appetite when my anxiety is on a rampage, and I do sometimes wake up on my days off, not feeling like doing anything, I know that I don't want to stay in bed and I don't want to get up, but I'm confused as to what I want to do.

My panic attacks started after years of having anxiety followed by a lot of serious life changes and events that happened to me. It seemed to happen out of the blue at first, but now that I look back at it, it was years of pent up anxiety that just exploded. I hope this helps, I wish you the best.
Take care
:-)
Posted 11/26/2006 9:45 PM (GMT 0)

Hi

all sounds very familiar to me, meds and CBT relaxation methods will help a lot, do you have any meds

a football mouthguard or splint made by a dentist can reduce probl;ems from teeth clenching

feeling lump in throat when none is there and swallowing problems are common, often with a fear of choking on the food in public and becaming embarrassed

dry heaves are common, especially on waking

Posted 11/26/2006 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I've experienced a lot of the things you've mentioned. I'm also more likely to have a panic attack in a quiet time rather then when I'm running around keeping busy.

I've suffered depression and OCD for years and had had some panic attacks before. Earlier this year things had been going well for ages and I was actually slowly weaning off my meds when I had an attack (disrealment) which I'd never had before. That started the ball rolling into more and more as it really scared me making me think I was really losing it. It's been 8 long months but I pray I'm finally getting use to what is happening to me and the meds are now helping most the time. I've now been told I have panic disorder and it's a part of me so acceptance and learning ways of not allowing it to take charge of my life are what I'm working on.
Posted 11/26/2006 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
I've had panic disorder on and off since I was 8 years old, but it mostly started at the age of 12 and from then on.

* I typically have my panic attacks when I am relaxed (out of the blue) or when I have to go somewhere that I'm not comfortable going.

* I clench my teeth at night and grind, as well as throughout the day.

* No numbness, some tingling, sometimes a lot of leg pain

* The lump in throat is what I've experienced on and off, I just drink lots of water when I do experience it.

* I don't throw up myself, or dry heave, but that is related to anxiety.

* I used to wake up every morning sweating and panicking but that has subsided a bit, but I still do sometimes.

* Before I go to bed I typically wake up and look around for spiders in my bed or spiders on the ceilings  LOL... I don't wanna wake up with one crawling on my leg! EEK... no snakes tho

* If you think about something embaressing a lot or something where you hurt yourself then I suggest you try CBT, to stop thinking about those things, and to think more positive. 

http://www.angelfire.com/planet/cbtonline

* I don't have much of an appetite either, but I force myself to eat.  I tend to not want to eat at all when I'm panicky.

* When I wake up I never want to do anything but I feel I have to get out of bed but don't get much farther than that half the time.

Twiggygal~

Posted 11/27/2006 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome dolppl.  You seem to have a lot of common symptoms relating to anxiety and depression.  I often vomit in the mornings (worst time).  Research show that most people panic AFTER a stressful event.  I use a mouthgard at night to stop the grinding.  I find it important to get up and exercise in the morning.  I might still cry on the way to the gym but I'm up!!!! And the endorphins from exercise really help.  No problems with numbness, but I do have to force myself to eat.  CBT therapy is great, and surrounding yourself with fun really helps.  Best of luck and keep us posted.

Posted 11/27/2006 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hello dolppl

 

Welcome to HW sorry I'm running a little behind here this weekend. I already see your getting pleanty of support here and making new friends.

 

I suffer from other illneses along with the anxiety and depression so I don't know what symtems go with which illness so I won't write them all down.

 

I hope your feeling better soon hun and please post us and let us know how your doing.

Posted 11/27/2006 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
You have been given great input so far
I have suffered with A/P since 8
I get them relaxed or streeses
I get the throat thing as well
Vomitting is not to often unless in a flare with crohns as well
I have woke with vomit in throat and nose .....put on meds for this cannot eat any dairy anymore at night
I think thats basically all except I have no fears of anything in bed .........Take Care
Lyn
Posted Yesterday 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
My first panic attack was out of the blue about 12 years ago (I was 30). But with my personality (contant worrier, perfectionist) it was bound to happen some time.

I am usually okay during a "crises", but afterwards is when A/P may kick in. Medication (SSRIs) can really help eliminate or reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.

The dream about the snake sounds like a bad nightmare complicated by anxiety when you awake.

I dont get nauseous or vomit - but I do get bad acid & heartburn. And I must be strange cause my worst time is at night after I'm done with everything and can relax or go to bed! Most people on here seem to have more problems in the morning.

I definitely recommend therapy - relaxation, CBT and self-knowledge are powerful tools.

Karen
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply