attacks when waking up need advice

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:26 am

Thanx Chica
I found out today that I got the last job I interviewed for. I am so excited. I know that will make me much better in all areas. Can finally get out of my head for a change. Been in there too long

I think once I go back to work the waking panic attacks will go away too. I did not have them before I stopped working. I left work in December of 2005. They didn't start until Spring of last year. Just got worse as time went on. The program has done wonders.
Bible study has been a huge help too. It's got plenty of good therapy also. Don't overdo the xanax-been there did that-It was bad. I know I won't go back there although there are still days when I think-eat xanax and go to sleep. But I don't. I take .5mg 2-3 times a day if I really need one. Always at bedtime though. I'll be awake all night without one. But when I get back to work I know-hopefully-I will eventually begin to get physically tired enough to sleep without help. I just think working again is going to take care of a lot of this because I think most of it is due to being home to long. Thanks for your support. Keep in touch.
God bless you also

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:21 am

I know that we're all in different places on the program, but session 12 talks about "Secondary Gains" - the things we get from having anxiety. And I'm seeing that a lot on these posts - we get to avoid the other things that make us uncomfortable - like jobs we don't like!

I used to have the waking panic attacks on Monday mornings...guess that should have been telling me something sooner, huh?

Blessings,
Dawn

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:25 am

Hey Anne,
I don't know you but I am sooooo proud of you!! Congratulations on your new job!!! That is a big step in and of itself. Oh honey I know about the eat xanax and sleep routine LOL!! Yeah not the healthiest way to do with anxiety. I would just take anything to know me out at one time in life but I am so grateful and thankful that I don't walk down that path often anymore.

I would encourage you to also take some walks whenever you get time. It is refreshing to get out and release some of that excess energy that we seem to carry with us. I woke up this moring with excess energy or anxiety and i put my sneakers on and did a 30min walk!! Kudos for me!!

One thing that I am working on is trying to be more social. I am a very very social person but when I am in high stress depressed mode I get scared to even say my own name. So I am learning to speak positive words to myself and get out. So what if I blurt out the wrong answer in front of others (oh I would freak about that all night) at least I had the strength to open my mouth.

One step at a time baby girl and you are doing it!! Please keep in touch!

I will praying for you!!

Carlie

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:06 pm

I am so relived to hear that I am not the only one who has panic attacks first thing in the morning...I felt like a freak, wondering why would I wake up into a panic attack??? I wake up every morning worrying and streesing about my work day ahead, when there isn't anything to worry about yet. "What ifs" keep replaying in my head and they never happen. Once I am at work I am okay. I used to just lie there trying to go back to sleep to escape the panic attack, but this escalates them into full blown, throwing up etc. episodes. So i have tried the relaxation cd and it helps sometimes, but getting up, even though it very hard, does help. Need to force myself to keep busy. Any other methods that have helped avoid the morning attacks, please share!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:04 am

Thank you Carlie. I really appreciate the positive feedback and prayers. I used to be totally social. Not so much anymore. I know it will improve now that I'll be getting out and back in touch with new people. I can't wait! I will keep in touch as I need a pat on the back every now and then to remind me I am doing better. Keep up the good work!
Prayers for and blessing to you too!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:21 am

Camencita-
Hi Girl! We are so not alone. I went to the online general chat area. Now, it brings me down sometimes, but It's where I found out just how alone I'm not. A lot of people log in there and you may not enjoy chatting. They've been chatting with each other for years. But I was shocked at all the issues so many people have to deal with everyday. Much worse than mine. It may help you feel better to know just how many people are having our same issues that many are much more difficult than ours.
I wish there were a cure for the am panic, but I haven't found out yet how to sleep with happy thoughts and wake up with happy thoughts. But I really believe when I get back to work this will stop. I'm counting on it. It didn't start with me until I had been home for so long. I had a hysterctomy in July of 07 and horrible mood swings came alive. No cure for those. My doctor told my to talk to my psychiatrist about something to even them out a litte. I'm taking Lamictal and it definately helps. I dont know how long menopause is going to last-hopefully not too long-so I'm kinda stuck with this for a while. I have 2 extreme mood swings about once a month that lasts about 4 days. It starts to go down first and then goes up-WAAAY up. It feels like I'm pugged into the wall socket and all of my wires are crossed. I can't think straight or focus and get just bananas. I have to take a xanax to chill it out because I just cant deal with it. It makes the anxiety and panic attack so much worse. But knowing what it is makes it easier to deal with. I have been looking for someone who can relate to this and found something to help but I haven't found anyone yet. It has made me Bi-Polar. I just wish there was something natural to take that really works for this, but my doctor told me there isn't. I will accept any and all feedback regarding severe menopausal mood swings.
Take care and God bless.
Anne

EMMAtophobia · Post by **EMMAtophobia** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:41 am

Originally posted by gkay:
for me its about sweating or feeling hot
and I get acold ice pack to cool me down

Do you get hot flashes? A few months ago, someone mentioned that only older women get them and it was weird that I (age 24) should describe feeling something like that when I have a panic attack. (Of course, I didn't tell them it was panic, I told them it was stress

but I think their comment kind of depressed me.)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:54 am

Lena-
I started having hot flashes in my early 30's. I noticed they weren't frequent but always happened when I got overly excited about something. I have always been hyperactive and easily excitable. I thought that's what they were from. I never asked a Doctor and everybody told me I was too young for hot flashes, but I had them. When I got anxious I got them also, just not as bad. But when I looked back I realized that that's when anxiety actually became an issue with me. It was work and home stress. They came out of seemingly nowhere as did the anxiety. So in my opinion you aren't too young for hot flashes. Hot flashes are chemical reactions. My neurologist told me that the body really starts to get older and you have to work harder to keep in shape and stay helthy in your mid to late 20's. That threw me for a loop! But stress can trigger so many things-anxiety, panic, depression, hair loss, rashes, stomach problems and I could go on-Those are all chemical reactions. Just try and decrease your stress and keep working on anxiety and panic and remember you aren't weird. My hot flashes did not go away until last year after my hysterectomy and it's suppose to be the other way around. I am 46 now. Keep up the good work. It sounds like you're doing well.
Be well and God bless