Your pastor made a thoughtless comment. You are not crazy you have anxiety and panic attacks. Many people think they are being helpful when they offer you advice or comment on you anxiety and panic attacks,but in reality most of these people only make things worse. They have never dealt with these issues and have no clue what it is like or what it is about. Some really are trying to understand and others just don't care how much their comments and advice hurt and distress you.


So please don't worry about going crazy. Do you know that everyone on the face of the planet experiences anxiety and that everyone will experience at least once in their life an anxiety attack. So you see if everyone experiences it then no you will not go crazy and land in the mental ward from it. People who are in the mental institution are there for much more serious problems then what we deal with.

I agree with Rachel. I have had several panic attacks and felt just the way you described. I don't think I'm crazy. I watched a biography show a few nights ago about Donny Osmond who suffers from panic attacks and anxiety. His sister Marie had suffered from depression. They are both successful. No one thinks they are crazy. I heard that Paula Dean the lady cook show host didn't leave her house for 2 years due to panic attacks and anxiety. Look what she's doing now. Think positve, even when you're having a panic attack. I tell myself, this sucks, I wish I wouldn't be like this BUT, I'm not going to die, it will pass soon, I'm so lucky that people care about me. I pray God help me, I'm giving myself over to you. Watch over me and give me peace. If you haven't seen a dr. for you panic attacks please do so. Talk to him/her about your concerns.

he said if i keep up the negative thoughts but i'm not sure , but i thought i was loseing for sure and the body numbness scary

Oh absolutely can do these things to you.I have had bad anxiety at times for over 20yrs and I have never ended up in a mental hospital from it. Ignore the pastor and talk to us, vonny x x x x

I just started an anxiety group therapy and some of the stuff we covered was things anxiety can not make you do and this was the list:

Myths of Panic Attacks

1. A Panic attack cannot cause a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

2. A panic Attack will no cause you to stop breathing or suffocate.

3. A Panic Attack cannot cause you to faint.

4. A Panic Attack will not cause you to fall or stop walking because of "jelly legs".

5. Panic Attack cannot cause you to lose your balance.

6. You cannot "go crazy" during a panic attack.

7. Panic Attacks cannot cause you to lose control of yourself.

I had an panic/anxiety attack that made me unable to move. I hyperventilated so bad that I felt the pins and needles feeling all over my body and then I got cramps everywhere. That was the first time and I didn't know what was happening, which made it even scarier.

yeah i was hyperventilating like crazy

Absolutely not. No one has ever gone crazy from anxiety or panic. The two aren't connected.

You CAN become physically run down and sensitized, which slows your thought process and can lead to emotional trouble, confusion and despair. But, you will NOT go crazy. You can also arrest this process right now if you start making changes and understanding the disorder. You can get back to normal.

I suggest you visit AnxietyGuru.com. There is a podcast this week on this exact topic. Literally, he just put it out and it's free.

Whoops, I meant anxietyguru.net

Look at the blogs and podcasts section. The latest is called "Anxiety will not drive you insane."

I have said this to my therapist many times "I'm afraid I'm going to go crazy" and he asked me how many times I've "gone crazy" since I've been having panic attacks...Of course I said "never" and believe me, I've had as bad a panic attack as I think is possible in the 24 years I've had panic...you will not go crazy, people who actually have those problems or who you would think as "crazy" do not know they have problems, in fact, they think everyone else does! It's scary, it's difficult, and it's uncomfortable, but it does pass, and so just try and let it wash over you like a wave and try to remain calm. I know it sounds dumb and silly, but sometimes you just have to sit and let it wash over you. Feel free to add me as a friend, I'm always willing to talk about it, because I am still fighting it every day! You aren't alone!