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...
Hi Everyone! I'm new to this group and somewhat the world of frequent anxiety attacks. I've had depression since I teenager but the anxiety attacks didn't start until my late 30s. Initially, I'd have an attack once every few months, then weeks, then days, then daily. About month ago, I was sent to the emergency room and then inpatient therapy for a week. I learned some coping mechanisms and had my drugs changed. After being home for three weeks, the attacks came back. Now I am learning how to use my meds and other means to calm down. Yesterday , I took a walk to calm down . Today I took a shower to calm down. My cat sits on my chest and that helps (weird). I'd love to connect with some people who are experiencing similar things. I have to believe it will get better.... just in the middle of an anxiety attack, it's kind of hard ...
AnxietyFreak40
It will get better. It takes a while to train yourself to be able to calm yourself. Hugs
peavelovehappiness
I feel the same, you can always inbox me to relate
harcan
Yes. This is completely normal for us humans to feel anxiety and in a state of panic when living in a dysfunctional world that excludes certain people from society or makes its seem as if some people's issues aren't normal. We have to understand that it is okay to be open and honest about our issues(whether we think it's rational or not or people may or may not understand) and figure out exactly what it is that causes and triggers our depression and anxiety and tackle the underlined fear that's causing that. A lot of anxious and panicky people are big worriers. We're often deeply afraid of the unknown. A lot of us have fled situations that would've caused us to panic in the past and are dealing with it now. What we must do is learn to accept what can't be answered and let things be. We never did this before. We never accepted the issues we couldn't find answers to. So we swept it under the rug. But it still bothered us or bothers us. We'll have to challenge ourselves. We'll have to push ourselves to be in situations that fear us the most. We have to live. This isn't and won't be easy but every risk you take is a step towards success. A lot of us don't think rationally when we're anxious and panicky. So we subconsciously assume the worst thing in the world is about to happen... until you look around and realize nope I'm just in my room. The same room I was in when I was happy a few months or years ago. We have to learn how to tackle fear. That's what mainly causes our depression. Whether it is we think of the past and we are afraid of certain things happening to us again or where it is we think of our future and subconsciously assume something bad will happen because of our past. Whatever it is we're afraid of, it's causing us to not live and enjoy the present moment; Which is safer than safe can be and beautiful. We must learn to accept who we are and what has happened to us and KNOW we will be fine. This is a big word for us; Know. Because we're so indecisive and uncertain about things and the "realist" in us tends to keep undermining our certainty and questioning it. The thing is we're so used to things going bad or wrong in our lives that all we understand is misfortune. But don't let your subconscious mind lure you into this realm of unfortunate events. Why? Because it's all fake. The things that you think are about to happen aren't real. And it isn't realistic. What's realistic is you being happy again and not letting things bother you or fear you anymore. It's gonna take a lot of self studying and self love. And it might be difficult in the beginning but it will happen. Having said all this, I challenge you all who are reading this to tackle one fear that's holding you back from being happy or great. Tackle one fear each week. Until you have no more fears in your mind to think of. Be 100% honest with yourself too *important*. Whether it's admitting something you're afraid of admitting to someone, or it's going to a social event and talking to people even though you're afraid of catching an anxiety or panic attack(I did this and had a lot of anxiety. I was lightheaded and drowsy but I stood my ass up and dealt with it. It felt weird as hell and uncomfortable but I challenged myself. I went home feeling loopy but I smiled. I smiled because I took my first step in overcoming this bs.) This isn't going to be easy. But I promise you it will help. And it's only a first step so don't expect no big weight to be lifted off of your shoulders. Your happiness and anxious/panic free life will come. You will be happier than you were before. Also, I HIGHLY recommend taking therapy. Especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. **HIGHLY RECOMMEND** A lot of us panicky people are afraid of the actual anxiety and panicking itself. Professional psychologists are experts in helping people become desensitized to those two feelings. There's looots of cases where people say they've even felt less anxious and panicky than a normal person without any anxiety or panic disorders after taking CBP. If you feel that at any point your therapist is not helping you in an immense way, CHANGE your therapist. Don't just give up. I need all of you to fight through this lightheadedness, sweaty palms and face, discomfiting stomach and loss of apetiite feeling. All these symptoms we endure, we must fight through and do what we have to do to help ourselves. Don't be engulfed by the thought of having a mental illness. That can make us subconsciously feel bad for ourselves and assume we're doomed forever which is NOT true. An illness is a period of sickness that affects the body or mind. Like a cold or flu (physical illness). They go away and leave our minds and bodies. It's NOT permanent! Understand this! Not to sound paradoxical, but stop reading into people's stories. Stop searching for answers on google, WebMD, and from people who are not psychologists or doctors. You are not crazy and are not going crazy. Having anxiety and panic disorder is very common and you don't need to be hypochondriacal or afraid you'll be put in a mental institution in a straight jacket(what I thought.) In a subconscious state we might not realize that because we already feel like we're doomed and "bad things always happen to us," but reading somebodies story who has the same issue and hasn't found a solution might deepen our fear of not overcoming anxiety and panic attacks. Don't be influenced by people and their lives. We have to dig deep. Find out what's truly entrenched in OUR depression and what is it that's fearing US. What's holding us back from being in the moment or causing us to feel depersonalization. You will overcome this! Do you hear me?? If you didn't, I'll say it again! YOU WILL OVERCOME THIS! I PROMISE YOU! You are a fucking CHAMP! That's why you're on this site and that's why you've took time to read this! Cause you've got fucking heart. That heart that's beating in your chest is purpose! And you don't want to give up and you won't. Face your fears. Don't worry about who's watching or what they're thinking. The same people who laugh now will copy you later. Understand that! Be a leader. Do not worry about being happy tomorrow. Find ways to be happy now. Everything else will fall into place.
Join the Conversation