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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Panic Attack

adwitte77
adwitte77

I was awoken last night to a full blown panic attack! First one I've had in several years. At least a bad one. Felt like I couldn't breathe and I just felt that intense feeling of fear in my stomach. I was able to self soothe and calm myself down. July has been a rough month for my anxiety. Been anxious more then I've had peace. All the changes in the last 6 months have been insane. From the pandemic, to half my co-workers being laid off, to working from home for 2 months, a breakup, to starting to date a new guy. 2020 has been ALOT to handle for everyone, especially those of us with anxiety issues. 

Thor2008
Thor2008
Good that you self soothed and recentered yourself after the attack. I am still learning that skill and how to do without freaking everyone else around you. I had one in the ER and got sedated and then admitted to the psych ward.

I hear you on the number of changes in 2020.
arfie
arfie
Dunno. . . A theory I am hearing more and more is that those of us who have lived with intense anxiety enough to have a few coping tools in their repertoire might end have the advantage in the anxiety pandemic.

So far I think that advantage frightens me far more than it flatters me. . . So far. Who knows what the future may hold. Que sera sera. For sure, 2020 has been a year of radical change.

For now, I hope your being gentle with yourself on recovering from the panic attack. Don't rush the recovery. Ply lots of extra self-care.
adwitte77
adwitte77
Thor- Self soothing takes time to learn and sometimes I still struggle with it. I am sorry to hear that you had that experience in the ER. (((Hugs))))

Arfie- I SO hear you on the radical change! I think if you asked anyone on 12/31/19 what they thought 2020 would bring I am sure none of us said THIS! I am taking it easy today. I work from home on Thurs/Fri so I have been doing a lot of praying and breathing today. Had myself a good long cry this morning and that seems to have helped!
Community LeaderMid
Mid
That you are doing well today, taking it easy, giving yourself time to cry (much needed to release those panic attack moments), and writing it out, says a lot about the tools you are using and the way they are working!
arfie
arfie
My New Year Wish this year was that 2020 be a year of clear vision.

Should I have added an addendum that clear vision show me lots of good stuff? Nothing too shocking, if you please. . .

Sigh. . . Those pesky details. . .
boston_terrier
boston_terrier
I also suffer from panic attacks, they usually occur at work when something happens which is beyond my control and if they're not "caught" they don't end until the next day. A helpful technique I have found is to excuse yourself and quietly breath in and out slowing to the count of ten. If this is done early on the panic attack can be stopped, but if it is allowed to continue the severity of it will intensify, which then the focus becomes the anxiety and not other people and the task at hand.
sugar_spice
sugar_spice
July has been a tough month for me too so I am in the same boat with you. The pandemic has really taken a toll on my anxiety as well. It’s great that you were able to self soothe, I was unable to calm myself down recently so if I could ask what sort of strategies you use? I agree 2020 has been a year to forget for a lot of us, but sounds like you’ve got a handle on getting through it. So keep going strong!
adwitte77
adwitte77
Boston_terrier- Yes, breathing helps SO much! Thanks for tip :)

Sugar_spice- I need a quiet, dark space. I will rub the top part of my chest while breathing in and out. I also will recite scriptures and if I get a clear enough head, I'll pray. Some other tricks I use is listening to Audible ( helps distract the mind) or listen to a Podcast. I just recently found a podcast called The Anxiety Coaches Podcast and it's GREAT! Her voice is SO soothing! These are just a couple of self soothing tips I have. Hope they help! :)
adwitte77
adwitte77
Thanks for all the responses! This is a great group. Today I made the decision to seek out therapy. I've gone before and I think it's time to start up again. Specifically to treat my anxiety and depression.
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