all panic-attack sufferers:

alice_down_the_rabbithole · 10-19-2009, 02:44 AM

My name is Alice, and I've been suffering panic attacks for maybe three weeks now. I know it doesn't seem a very long time and I probably shouldn't be complaining, but I have them almost everyday, or at least a couple symptoms of them. I went to the doctor and recently discovered I have Mitral Valve Prolapse, which causes panic attacks.
I've gotten over the initial shock of the panic attacks, but I still can't cope with them. Yesterday was one of the worst, I ended up on my boyfriend's back porch crying my eyes out and calling my mom because I thought I was dying and I wanted to tell her I loved her. I know its all in my mind, but it's still veryyy scary and realistic. And to everyone dealing with them currently or who has gotten over them, I really look up to you all. And I'm sure you all need support as much as I do, especially during a panic attack, so feel free to e-mail me or send me a message whenever you feel scared. I can understand how you feel, and we can just work together to get to a better place where there isn't something as fiendish as fear taking over our minds at the most terrible moments.
The first time I got a panic attack, I thought I was pregnant, and I suppose the fear of disappointing my family was making me very anxious and worried. When I found out I wasn't, they didn't still go away. I began to take on different fears, like I think I'm dying, or I can't breathe, or I'm going to completely lose control of my actions and stab someone. Its scary because I'm not even a violent person! I quit smoking because of what its doing to my heart and it just stresses me out even worse.
I don't mean to unleash all my fears onto everyone else, but i'm really scared that i'll never become better. So please just talk to me. :]

thanks, your new friend Alice.

Noca · 10-19-2009, 02:52 AM

I've had about 20 panic attacks throughout my life. They are all caused by my blood injury phobia.

What triggered the start of your panic attacks may I ask?

alice_down_the_rabbithole · 10-20-2009, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noca

I've had about 20 panic attacks throughout my life. They are all caused by my blood injury phobia.

What triggered the start of your panic attacks may I ask?

well, the first few panic attacks i had were little ones, probably can't even be considered a two on a scale of one to ten. But they were triggered because I thought I was pregnant. After I knew I wasn't, though, the more hardcore ones came around. I remember I was at my house, doing my usual thing, sitting upstairs in my room reading a book, when the most horrible feeling came over me. I started shaking a sweating, and I felt like my head was going to explode because either I was thinking too much or not thinking enough [now that I think about it, that was probably because I was barely breathing I was so terrified.] I had the most crazy feeling that I was just going to die, and nobody would care. I ran outside because I was having a severe hot flash and I told my stepmom, but she didn't really know what to say. I just moved in with my dad and stepmom about a year ago, and I never really talk to them about anything ever. So maybe at that moment I felt isolated and that set it off, I'm never so sure why mine are triggered in the first place. Its actually ridiculously scary, and I'm starting to become claustrophobic as well. I think the panic disorder and that go hand in hand.
what usually sets off yours?

NickyNacker · 10-20-2009, 06:12 AM

I can relate to this: "or I'm going to completely lose control of my actions and stab someone."
I hate it! It terrifies me. I'm really scared of going crazy, losing control, and hurting someone. It scares me so bad because I don't want to obviously.
My panic attacks started after I abused Ritalin. I got really high and did 4 hours of cardio. That night I couldn't see anything, my vision was blurred. My legs were bleeding, and I eventually passed out feeling like I couldn't breathe. The next day I felt like I had been hit by a bus and that's when the panic attacks started. That was June of 08 and I'm still having them. :(

Remus · 10-20-2009, 10:10 AM

Alice, look into Exposure therapy, I had panic disorder for years and out of all things that worked the best

PunkRotten · 10-20-2009, 10:36 AM

I recommend a book that will help you out so much. Its called The Anxiety and Phobia workbook.

Sinopia · 10-20-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alice_down_the_rabbithole

My name is Alice, and I've been suffering panic attacks for maybe three weeks now. I know it doesn't seem a very long time and I probably shouldn't be complaining, but I have them almost everyday, or at least a couple symptoms of them. I went to the doctor and recently discovered I have Mitral Valve Prolapse, which causes panic attacks.
I've gotten over the initial shock of the panic attacks, but I still can't cope with them. Yesterday was one of the worst, I ended up on my boyfriend's back porch crying my eyes out and calling my mom because I thought I was dying and I wanted to tell her I loved her. I know its all in my mind, but it's still veryyy scary and realistic. And to everyone dealing with them currently or who has gotten over them, I really look up to you all. And I'm sure you all need support as much as I do, especially during a panic attack, so feel free to e-mail me or send me a message whenever you feel scared. I can understand how you feel, and we can just work together to get to a better place where there isn't something as fiendish as fear taking over our minds at the most terrible moments.
The first time I got a panic attack, I thought I was pregnant, and I suppose the fear of disappointing my family was making me very anxious and worried. When I found out I wasn't, they didn't still go away. I began to take on different fears, like I think I'm dying, or I can't breathe, or I'm going to completely lose control of my actions and stab someone. Its scary because I'm not even a violent person! I quit smoking because of what its doing to my heart and it just stresses me out even worse.
I don't mean to unleash all my fears onto everyone else, but i'm really scared that i'll never become better. So please just talk to me. :]

thanks, your new friend Alice.

Dear Alice,

I have social phobia in my whole life. I have also panic attacks, but for me it's not neccesary to use medication. It's like every time when I see children, teenagers, adoloscents, rude people... they just scare me. I'm just often too scared that they will say something unkind to me. Like for example: They'll say something racial to me. I've been discriminated and harassed by racists in my whole life and most people who make racist comments are young people. I know I sound like exaggerating things, but the anxiety comes back every day. Because of the anxiety I didn't want to join sports or other activities when I was a child. My parents forced me to join swimming and typing course when I was at primary school. I've done both things, but every time, before I went to the swimming pool and typing course I always felt so sick. I really had to vomit every time. I think it's so disgusting and embarassing. I was always hoping that other children wanted to accept me for what I am. I was so insecure about that. I still am. My parents were often angry at me, because they didn't understand why I had to vomit when I was nervous. Also they didn't understand why I didn't want to have contact with other children. When I was 14, I was bullied by a classmate, cuz she thought I was too boring. I didn't eat for 2 weeks, because I knew that I would vomit because of the anxiety and stress. At the end of the week I thought I was dying. It took so much energy for me to stand on my two feet. Nowadays I do join sports or other activities, but I'm still not a social butterfly and I will never become one. I just I wish I could be more normal.

Yours sincerely,

your friend Sinopia

alice_down_the_rabbithole · 10-21-2009, 03:13 AM

Thanks for the advice, Remus and PunkRotten. I'll certainly look into that, anything for a cure. I'm totally gonna kick panic disorder's a**. =P
& NickyNacker, I totally understand how you feel. My panic attacks didn't stem from taking pills, but i used to abuse them, and frequently. I used to take Coricidens, about eight or nine, they're cold medicine for people with high blood pressure. But they eff you up like you wouldn't believe. And every time I have a panic attack I feel like I'm tripping on them again, and I feel the same way as the last time I took them, like my head was gonna explode and I would die. The panic attacks are actually better than being on the pills, because I now know its just a panic attack and there's nothing to die from. And the hurting-people feeling is the worst, I know. I was at my boyfriend's band practice, and they were all jammin in the basement and I was sitting on the floor. I started feeling a panic attack coming on, and I thought I could handle it, but then I just thought, what if I just got up and stabbed someone? And I couldn't get that thought out of my head. I eventually starting crying and had to run upstairs outside, and I was fine after that. Oh, its a terrible sensation though, maybe the worst part of a panic attack.
&Sinopia, your story seems so sad and unfair. I know how it feels to be picked on to a certain level. I dress a little differently, and everyone has something to say about me. But I'm not exactly bothered by that enough to have a panic attack. The racism sounds just awful. I would never pick on someone because of the color of their skin. & the vomiting, ugh. that must have sucked the most. god, i can't even imagine. but i hope you find a little security in knowing that I will be your friend and will never, ever make a rude remark about you. you're normal to me, at least. :]

PunkRotten · 10-21-2009, 06:11 AM

That book I mentioned covers every angle of panic attacks. It is really awesome.

Remus · 10-21-2009, 09:21 AM

yep self help books helped me far more than meds or shrinks

Remember always, despite the panic attacks and how they fill you with terror they will not kill you