Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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My Story

BigTuna
BigTuna

Hello all, I am new here. I'm 25 and have been dealing with anxiety and panic disorder for 6 months. I had a panic attack at a red light that changed my life. The main thing that has worked for me is to challenge myself daily. Force myself to drive long distances, force myself to drive on the highway, force myself to sit in traffic. It has been an incredibly hard 6 months. And I know that a lot of people out there have been dealing with they’re anxiety and panic for years, so my opinion or experience may not be as meaningful or valid to you as someone else. But at least for me, it has gotten easier. I can drive again. Granted I still struggle at times, but I can drive again. Highway, lights, at night in the rain. I can do it all. I still have a ways to go, but I am getting there. And if I can do it anyone can. I knew absolutely nothing about anxiety management 6 months ago, but I was willing to try everything and anything to get my life back. I see a therapist weekly, I tried 3 months of Cognitive Behavioral therapy, I exercise often, I meditate daily, and im learning to allow and accept my anxiety for what it is. I still have bad days don't get me wrong, but thats ok. Through all of this, I have still managed to start and maintain a healthy relationship, and I have not allowed the anxiety to rule my life. I think that is a big part of why I have made so much progress in only a few months. Anyway, thats my story for now. I hope my experience, while brief compared to many of you out there, can help you in some way. Stay strong and never give up. It WILL get easier. 

Community LeaderMid
Mid
Welcome to the anxiety board at DS.

You've taken the important first step in writing it out.

Best wishes as you continue to work on techniques to help you find your better balance and calm in those moments of anxiety helper needing to be back within normal range.
arfie
arfie
Hello Big Tuna. Welcome to DS.

Acute, sudden onset anxiety does seem to have some unique elements from chronic anxiety, but they are similar enough that I believe it is fair enough to treat them the same. The most consistent diff is in the acceptance. You seem to have already found the acceptance and serenity to take the proverbial bull by the horns and whip it into line. Peer support can make a huge diff in that camp.

Gentle support while you work ^it^ through. May your dance with the disorders of anxiety be brief and light.
mtd
mtd
You nipped it when it first started. You probably don’t realize what anguish you saved yourself from. But I am impressed to no end. And grateful that you came here and shared your story. It will be an inspiration to anyone who comes here for support. Thank you!
maria718
maria718
Wow I like your positivity and the methods you used for controlling your anxiety are great. I do something like that too, I force myself to clean my apartment. And it has a double-plus to it, I have the cleanest apartment in New York! I noticed if I keep busy, it's under control, that's kind of what you are doing. Good for you!!
BigTuna
BigTuna
Thank you all for your kind words. Though short in retrospect, this has definitely been a hard journey. One that I am proud to say I am working through. I appreciate you all
mayg
mayg
This is wonderful to hear and like mtf said you nipped it once it started. For me on the other hand, I haven’t been able to drive myself anywhere since 2013 - the year my life fell apart. I suffered my first panic attack while driving. I was used to anxiety attacks but my first panic attacked happened behind a wheel. I felt like I was having a stroke, pulled over and called 911. Ambulance came vitals were ok. My husband came to meet me and drove me home. Rested that night and woke up in the morning thinking everything was fine, pulled out of my driveway and boom another attack. I’ve stopped driving since. It’s been up and down since, in and out of the ER, feeling handicapped unable to drive myself anywhere. I learned to accept it early on. I took medication to treat the panic attacks but never continued. I just recently decided to seek professional help (7 years later). I was given lexapro - it’s been sitting in my bag for 2 weeks - haven’t started. I want to say that’s a progress but the other part of me says I won’t get better. I realized no one (family or close friends) really understands me (no fault to them)... really hope this support forum helps (I’m sure it will) ...
mayg
mayg
I forgot to say, I wish I was you and did exactly what you did. I’m trying to not feel regret. I applaud you tho, your determination and strength! Very motivating
hyperpgal
hyperpgal
Good for you! You recognized it and got right on top of it.....very proactive. I think that is key....it gets worse if you let it take over your life. And if and when it rears its head again...you will know what to do.
BigTuna
BigTuna
I left out in my initial story that I was suffering from about 15 t0 20 panic attacks a day before I started seeing a therapist. At least for me, all my progress was made without medication but I do realize that not everyone will have the same experience as me. Part of the reason which I feel I have progressed so rapidly is that i’m forced to drive hundreds of miles a day for my Job so I didn’t exactly have a choice as to whether or not I could drive lol. Experiencing panic attacks behind the wheel of a car is hands down the scariest and most difficult thing that I have ever been through. However, each panic attack was a learning experience for me. Yes, every single one was absolutely terrible, however, I’m still here aren’t I? Not once when I was panicking, thinking I’m going to slip off the break pedal at a light and plow into the car in front of me, thinking I was about to lose control, did I ever actually lose control. Every time I thought I was going to die, I didn’t. Once I had this realization the panic attacks started happening less and less. I still do feel impending doom on occasion with a hint of panic here and there, but the attacks as a whole have vanished. With hard work, pushing myself every day, I have arrived 6 months later with a new, mindful perspective on life. Trying to accept and appreciate every single moment, good or bad.

Good luck to everyone out there suffering from anxiety and agoraphobia. I hope your recovery goes as well as mine has.
Emerald0743
Emerald0743
I refuse to get on medication because I do not want to become dependent on it. I also battle my Anxiety and Panic disorder with CBT, Talk therapy and forcing myself into or through uncomfortable situations and it does seem to work and it does take ALOT of work and inner strength . I will caution you not to stop when you feel better thats what kept happening to me . I stopped and then would spiral and each time after was worse thanthe 1st ( I'm talking years between episodes). Keep practicing CBT and meditation even when you don't feel anxious anymore. Because it can and in my experience will come back out of the blue and feel incredibly crippling and on the verge of a mental break down. I believe I tend to pile on and bottle up stress until I explode. It's something I'm working on now... good luck
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