Panic Attacks Support Group
A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...
At the moment I am suffering from severe anxiety/panic/nausea, I just cant seem to relax at anytime, day or night. Today we've been to the opticians and I was anxious,my heart murmur was loud, and I was scared. It seems to be all the time now day or night, in the night I am reliant on Vallium to get to sleep, I wake frequently, have nightmares etc, I find my husband who is quite healthy, hard to cope with, he just doesnt get it. I find it is worse at night, which it didnt used to be, it used to be better at night, but, now come the morning I find it hard to get out of bed, in fact I pull the duvet over my head for a while. Can anyone help?
The first thing I want you to know is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. It's a horrible feeling to suffer, especially from panic attacks, and feel as though the people you love don't understand and can't help you. I'm not married, still a teenager, but I had a similar situation going on with my mom. The first thing you have to figure out is the source(s) of your anxiety. Ask yourself what it is that is making you so scared. Why are nights worse? (also google nocturnal panic attacks, may possibly shed some light on the situation) Believe me when I say you'll feel significantly more hopeful when you figure it out.
Panic attacks are part of the fight or flight response your body naturally has. It's helpful in potentially dangerous situations (and dear god it pains me to say that as a person with a history of anxiety) but a constant influx of epinephrine causes adrenal fatigue. You will be tired, it will be hard to get out of bed, and it's going to suck. The upside of this situation is that you can fix it. Please, please, please do not give up hope. I know it's scary and horrible but it will get better, slowly but surely. Once you learn how to put a stop to the intense panic attacks, you'll start to feel more alive. More aware. Your appetite will return (if it's gone), sleeping will be easier and the nausea will subside. You can get through this, I believe in you. Try to explain to your husband what's going on, in simple terms. Tell him you're having nightmares, you're not sleeping well and your scared. Ask for his support instead of his opinion. Try and let yourself relax, in any way possible. Clear your schedule for the day, read a book, take a long bath, get some sleep and don't let yourself think about the ramifications of anxiety. It'll help. Once you get your body to relax, out of the fight or flight mode, life will be easier to deal with.
I hope this helps in some way, even if it's just moral support.
good luck <3 x