I know how frustrating it can feel when you think people don't understand you - even more so if you are upset about something.
I get frustrated at my husband and when he annoys me and brings my anxiety levels up i could scream.
Nobody but another sufferer will understand how you are feeling. Not now, not never. That is my opinion anyway.

You are not alone. Anxiety and panic attacks are a medical condition. It is not your fault, you did not choose this, and it is not because you were supposedly babied and overprotected when you were a kid.

Some people will understand and some people will never understand. Some people will try to understand and some people are so closed minded and biased that they won't even try.

Don't beat yourself up or feel embarrassed. When you come right down to it and everything is said and done, you have a medical condition. You shouldn't feel embarrassed for having a medical condition.

When i was in therapy the other week, my therapist and I were trying to work out why my anxiety was brought on.. I did mention that my mum was a worrier and tended to wrap us up in cotton wool..He said that could of given me the message 'be careful out there'..or words to that effect.
It doesn't really matter what brought it on (im beginning to realise that now)..just try to focus on getting better. That's the main thing.:)

Some of us suffer from panic attacks and anxiety and unfortunately that's the way our life is. I think to some extent how we are raised can affect this situation; however, I think much of it is our genetic make up. People who are not plagued with these suffering can't understand what we go though and that "just toughen up" doesn't work. I need to go to support goups for depression but the group therapy sessions cause me to have panic attacks. I like to read self-help books at home. I try not to put myself in situations that I know will make me nervous. You are not alone. I understand how you feel. I don't think your boyfriend means to be cruel, he just doesn't understand. Please holler at me if you ever need to talk about your situation. God bless, Rhonda

hey, i know exactly how you feel. i think most people with anxiety do. people say "just relax" or "calm down" as if it's as easy as turning a light on and off. what they don't understand is that it's not really a choice--no one in their right mind would choose constant anxiety or panic attacks.

when i have bad times, my husband will tell me to just control my thoughts. i explain to him that i understand that i know he doesn't know what this feels like and therefore gives me oversimplified advice on calming down. then i tell him exactly when i need so he knows what to do, whether it be a hug, shoulder rub, or kind words. be very clear with your boyfriend because he may not even know what to do. it's hard for people to understand sometimes because the cause of anxiety is so abstract it almost does seem imaginary! it may help you to bring your boyfriend to one of your doctor appointments and have the doctor explain the physiology behind it (the brain chemistry and such)--people tend to listen the doctor more. in general, it couldn't hurt to involve your loved ones with your treatment.

also, keep in mind that he may never understand, but if he loves you he needs to be supportive and willing to listen. if you feel in any way that he is putting you down, why be around that? having negativity around you can only make your esteem worse.

good luck and try to take it one day at a time!

Healing tears, it's not relevant what caused your PAD, what is relevant is you have it and deserve to be recognised as a sufferer. Our disorder doesn't excuse all our behaviors and doesn't always rationalize our fears, we decide though what is and is not part of our disorder, we are the only ones who can recognise when our emotions or actions are out of our true self or our disorder. It can be very difficult for others to understand this concept, they either totally blame you or totally blame the disorder, others need to be educated their is a difference. We too though, must try to be tolerant of their confusion when it's legitimate.

You are not alone huni, panic disorder is actually genetic it runs in my family and ended up with it and depression, at first my husband didn't understand what it was i was going thru, I went to see a theripist who put me on meds to help control it and he gave me a little booklet on it and once my husband read it he began to understand more of what was going on with me and has tried everyday to help me and is understanding. of course not all men will understand unless they have the same condition. my advice is seek out a therpist to help you and get some booklet info on it and have your boyfriend read it, it may or maynot help but it is worth a shot. my husband has noticed a diffrence since i have been on meds and he has also talked to my friend who has PAD and my aunt who also has PAD. Heck have him go to the theripist with you after your first visist of course. Good Luck huni and hugs your way.