anxiety/panic attacks

kkt · Post by **kkt** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:43 pm

It's 3:30am, I just woke up with an anxiety attack. Never had this before, I never knew this could happen until I heard it on the program. I just started session 7, I have definatley seen progress, but I still don't have total control over the anxiety. I'm following the program, but sometimes I just start second guessing.

jdog499 · Post by **jdog499** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:48 am

hope ur feeling better. i know its scary. i've woke up before and started feeling like that. i know how it is. its not fun. i had a panic attack during my softball game tue night an hadn't had one for a long time there and starts getting me second guessing too. hope ur feelin better

Hot Rod · Post by **Hot Rod** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 5:54 am

I have had anxiety for more than 15 years and never had trouble with anxiety during the middle of the night until this year. Like you, I didn't even know it existed until I heard about it on the tapes. Funny, I remember thinking to myself when I heard it, "Those poor people! Glad that isn't me!" Ha, famous last words, right?? lol

Mine started during an illness and always seems worse around my cycle. The point is, after my illness starting subsiding so did the night panic. I also noticed that it was worse when I was angry about something. I would wake up, panic, then start getting p.o.'d about everything.

It was transient and I bet yours is too. Just ride it out, breathe and let it pass. It only gets bigger and badder if you feed it with attention and worry.

Congrats on the program! You are doing fantastic! Just the fact that you realize that you are second guessing is huge! Before you would have taken those doubts at face value and allowed them to undermine you. Not anymore! Go on with your bad self! lol

BookOfPsalms · Post by **BookOfPsalms** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:43 am

Hello Hot Rod,
I wanted to say that I was the same way at one time. My mother dealt with panic attacks and anxiety for years and I would think, "poor mom". I was at work one day and had the worst things happen to me. I went to the ER and diagnosed as having a panic attack, and from that one a series of others followed for several weeks. That was a scary time of my life. I had never ever had that happen. I had always been somewhat of a nervous person and I think I dealt with anxiety since I was a small child, but I was 27 years old and BOOM---major panic attacks hit. It was really strange because I never imagined in a million years that I would have panic attacks.

I also notice that around my cycle time that I experience more anxiety. Some months I am very emotional about 2 weeks prior to my cycle, and sometimes I have had a mild panic attack. I guess it just all ties in with hormones and anxiety!

Well, try to just relax and know that it will pass. I have dealt with it off and on for 6 years and nothing has ever hurt me. The feelings sure can be scary though!

12dozroses · Post by **12dozroses** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:13 am

I wanted to share an experience which has helped me deal with past sexual abuse. I have always asked this question "Why?" After so many years of asking "Why" I decided to ask myself what is it I am looking for? After all my other "Why questions" I realized I wanted to know why these people sexually abuse small children, what kind of brain could be so so horrible? Then I thought about the book of Genesis and how the angels came down and took women "all that they chose" as wives. Something God never intended angel to do. A perverse act against all that was good in God's eyes. When I saw where the thoughts to do such ugly things comes from I finally had my answer to "Why"

I now have a peace about myself, first knowing I did nothing to deserve this treatment. I have never accepted my beauty or prettiness. Those words are difficult for me (not that I'm all that)LOL. I now can dress, fix my hair, face because I have the right to be me.

One therapist said "When you invite someone over for dinner it doesn't give them permission to go into your bedroom and steal your jewelry." That is what sexual preditors do they think they have the right to steal your jewelry.

My point is that the Bible has been my constant friend, my God has always and continues to hold onto my right hand. I need to always remember that.

Just because I now understand the "Why" doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt yet but I am now getting on with my life and dealing with other matters.

Psalms 119:165 is a favorite of mine.

Larissa · Post by **Larissa** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:44 am

12dozroses, I like the way you put how you're working through your thoughts. It really helped me put things in to perspective. I started having night panic attacks in August of this year and have gone from them being a constant thing to one every few weeks (which is a huge improvement). I notice that if there are a lot of stressful things going on in my life or I've been under a lot of pressure (even watching too much t.v.) I won't have a "good night". I never gave much thought to the balance we need to keep in our lives but now I see how very important it is. I am thankful for the skills to help me.

12dozroses · Post by **12dozroses** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 3:36 pm

Hello Larissa, nice to read your reply. Stressful things sometimes you don't even recognize them. When I was well and it is said of all woman "We can handle many things at one time" but since I have gotten sick I can only do one, sometimes two things at the same time. Because I am working on focus it is best to do only one thing and get it done otherwise I am setting myself up to fail.

I am careful when I watch TV even News events can stress me out. Events with many deaths such as the Federal Building, Colleges, Airplanes and the Twin Towers made a mess out of me. When I can I try to help others get some comfort. I read a brochure named "When Someone You Love Dies" and it was and still is a great comfort to me. When I began to read it several years ago I sat in bed at a hotel and got my towel because I knew I would begin to cry. Well I didn't finish the first page and I was crying like a baby. No worst than a baby.

I had a 5-1/2 month old son who died in his sleep and wondered for many years if I could have done something different so he would not have died. It has been 44 years this past Dec. 13th and I still don't handle that one well. I lived with guilt for many years thinking it was my fault. If you notice when some does die you'll hear things like I wish I could have done this or that. Or if I had only known. We want to fix everything. This year on Dec. 13th I thought I was handling pretty good but after some other stressful situations and one morning waking up from a nightmare where I was morning my sons death, I seem to be somewhat down again. Like I said those stressful situations just pop up without warning you.

If you want to talk about what makes you panic, I'm here to listen. Sometimes listening is all a person wants for a beginning. Just know we all help each other in one way or another. One scripture that helped me after many years of not sleeping well (this had to do with my son dieing at night while I was sleeping) I found that reading Phillipians Chapter 4 verses 6 thru 8 were the key. One night I was repeating these words as I tried to fall asleep. The next morning when I woke up I realize that I had actually slept. My mind was not racing and awake with thoughts all night. I now sleep better. Better because for about 40 years I was not sleeping always worrying that something bad would happen. The last 4-5 years have changed and I do sleep better. Thanks for your reply and hang in there. We are here for you.

From the southern part of Kentucky.