Stress again......
It's something to do with the car. The stress, I mean. You see, when I was having my HA, I was at work. I knew what was happening and I went out to the car, I didn't want to be inside. So I sat in my car, waited for the ambulance, etc.
I have been given permission to go back to work for a couple of hours per day. 10 til 2. I'm okay when I'm at work. I just get on and deal with what I have to deal with. It's when I get in my car. That's when the stress starts. That's when the panic and anxiety steps in. Dear Lord, by the time I arrived home, I was a mess. My chest hurt, I was tingling all over, my heart was racing and I was sweating. Just felt like that HA. And here I was again. In the car.
Well, tomorrow I get back in the car. My little blue convertible. Face the fear, don't feed it. I need to get back to normal.
Alli
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I have been given permission to go back to work for a couple of hours per day. 10 til 2. I'm okay when I'm at work. I just get on and deal with what I have to deal with. It's when I get in my car. That's when the stress starts. That's when the panic and anxiety steps in. Dear Lord, by the time I arrived home, I was a mess. My chest hurt, I was tingling all over, my heart was racing and I was sweating. Just felt like that HA. And here I was again. In the car.
Well, tomorrow I get back in the car. My little blue convertible. Face the fear, don't feed it. I need to get back to normal.
Alli
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Replies
Sounds like a good dose of anti-anxiety meds should be just what the doctor ordered. That is exactly what klonopin (A Benzodiazapine) is prescribed for. Anxiety is one of the intangibles that doesn\'t come up on an ECG or during a stress test, unless you are in your car when they perform them, of course. Go Girl.
Just joe
Hey Alli,
That\'s cool that you\'ve figured out the association between your car and your anxiety. It totally makes sense, doesn\'t it, why your anxiety gets activated when you \"return to the scene of the crime.\"
In addition to being a heart attack survivor, I\'m a psychologist. You\'re totally right that facing your fear will eventually \"densensitize\" you to it. The more times that you break the association between being in your car and having a heart attack, the sooner you\'ll start to feel ok again about being in your car.
To help yourself be able to be in your car, you can do some deep breathing, and try to do some soothing \"self-talk\", saying things to yourself like, \"I\'m fine now- I\'ve gotten good treatment and I\'m on the mend. I\'m going to be fine.\" etc.
If you find that you\'re having a hard time breaking this association, you can always try to go for 2 or 3 sessions with a therapist who should be able to help you with this.
Keep us posted.
Oh, thank you both so much. I\'m sitting here , willing myself to get in the shower because I know I\'ve got to get in the car. But get in the car, I will. The cycle needs to be broken because otherwise, it will get worse. I need my car and I need to be mobile. I need to get back to normal.
Thank you both for your wise words and excellent advice. I feel better just reading your words.
Here we go and wish me luck......
Alli
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