Stress Center Peer Support

I just wanted to know if anyone has not had a Panic attack/Anxiety attack in a long time.

When was your first attack?
When was your last attack?
Did you fo for awhile without and did it ever return? If so, why?
What did you do?
Are you fully functioning again normally?
Did you take Meds and are off them now?
What Meds did you take?
How long did you take the Meds?
How did you get off them?
Are you back at work?
Are you stronger now than before?
Do you remember your first attack?

Jayson,

I have been in the program for a while. It has changed me in so many ways, and continues to do so as I discover new issues that I need to deal with. In answer to your questions, though.

I've had anxiety since the age of 7.

I think that I must have had panic attacks as early as that, but I don't recall them specifically enough to say for sure.

The first one I really remember was about six-seven years ago.

By the use of this program and the help of the books of Dr. Claire Weekes, I don't think I've had a full blown attack in about two years.

I function, but I still have my moments where I have to grab onto my skills from the program very hard.

I am still on meds and am ok with that.

I take Xanax, Zoloft and Neurontin

I've always been able to work, so I still am doing that.

I believe that each time I face a new hurdle and get through it, I'm getting stronger.

The program is worthwhile. It DOES work...but only if YOU work it.

There are some worksheets I skipped and exercises I've become lax on...so now I'm going baack again to work on those through different lessons.

I can't even remember the last time I had a panic attack. I'm going to the dentist today and have absolutely no anxiety at all over it. I'm on session 9.

When was your first attack?
When was your last attack?
Did you fo for awhile without and did it ever return? If so, why?
Are you fully functioning again normally?
Did you take Meds and are off them now?
What Meds did you take?
How long did you take the Meds?
How did you get off them?
Are you back at work?
Are you stronger now than before?
Do you remember your first attack?

1. I'd have to say I have been suffering with anxiety since I was 8, but truth be told, I probably did not know what a panic attack was, it is quite likely I had them because I was always afraid I was going to be sick.

2. My last horrible panic attack was Feb. 13 - 1st time I ever went to the ER. Since then I have felt anxious, but I have worked through the panic attack or maybe not quite let it get to that point.

3. In my life I can recall many instances without true anxiety or panic attacks. I have always be a nervous person, trying to please everyone, never wanting to be the center of attention, however, Panic attacks for me really started in 2004 I believe.

4. I can't say I never fully functioned or had to stop any activities. So, yes??

5. I am presently on Xanax (generic) as needed.

6. See above

7. Never had to leave work

8. I believe I am stronger than I was a month or so ago, but not the person I was pre-2004 attacks starting. I think he is buried a little deeper still.

9. The first bad one I remember was going to a fire call - need for a rescue truck. I was riding the back of the engine and I thought I was dying. I felt alone and as if the world was coming to an end. This was shortly after I turned 30 (actually when all of this started again was about 2 wks past my 30th b-day in '04.

I am not sure I knew it was anxiety or panic attacks mentally yet, but I had just had a Stress Test and ECHO and was told my heart was fine. (It was still scary)

We got to the rescue scene, I jumped off the engine and did what I always do. To this day I am not sure which gear turned over in my head, it was like auto pilot when we arrived, wish I could find that switch some other times.

~ Hope this helps you out.

MARY B4 THE PROGRAM IF U WERE GOING TO THE DENTIST WOULD U BE ALL UPTIGHT

fearkills - Yes I would be nervous and thinking about it beforehand even if I knew it wasn't going to be a painful procedure. In fact I had the work done yesterday without the lidocaine injection! It wasn't a big procedure but before I would never have told the DDS to try it without the injection. I still can't believe I was that calm before the appointment.

When was your first attack?
I've had anxiety as far back as I can remember. Even my mom said I was an anxious baby...of course mom has anxiety also. I could have had attacks before and not know what they were, but the first one I remember was being at midnight mass when I was in high school so probably 16 or so...I'll be 30 in 2 months.

When was your last attack?
I can't even remember when my last true panic attack was. Probably sometime going through the program so 5 or so years ago give or take.

Did you fo for awhile without and did it ever return? If so, why?
I've had overwhelming anxiety rush over me from time to time because of stressful situations (fear of flying) etc., but they don't last more than a minute or so now and I can talk myself out of most anything quickly.

What did you do?
Positive self talk, review some program tapes if needed, get out an enjoy life to distract, etc.

Are you fully functioning again normally?
Absolutely! I have never felt better.

Did you take Meds and are off them now?
Never took meds.

What Meds did you take?
n/a

How long did you take the Meds?
n/a

How did you get off them?
n/a

Are you back at work?
believe it or not, work was never an issue for me. I knew I HAD to be here, therefore I went. I work pretty much by myself (our office consists of me and my boss...TADA) so it wasn't so bad.

Are you stronger now than before?
Extremely! I still amaze myself with things I do now, that I wouldn't do before. Small things like pumping my own gas or going to the store by myself. Walking up to the deli counter or the meat counter, etc. Anytime I had to socially interact with anyone w/o my "safe" people. Now I do what I want w/o having to have my mom or my fiance as my crutch, its so freeing.

Do you remember your first attack?
The one I mentioned above, yes, I remember it vividly. A few friends of mine opted to go to midnight mass Christmas Eve. We were lucky enough to get a seat. Then the heat hit (hundreds of people squished together) which started to make me dizzy, which started me into feeling sick. I tried to hang on because "how embarrassing to have to leave" but I had to get out. I made it to the gospel and that was it...some guy rudely said "Merry Christmas" as we were leaving because we left early and he had to stand in the back. As soon as I got home, I was fine.

Originally posted by Mary Wargo:
fearkills - Yes I would be nervous and thinking about it beforehand even if I knew it wasn't going to be a painful procedure. In fact I had the work done yesterday without the lidocaine injection! It wasn't a big procedure but before I would never have told the DDS to try it without the injection. I still can't believe I was that calm before the appointment.

I would almost think it is normal to be nervous before some appointments. I was nervous before my first Endoscopy which I had last week. Isn't this a normal reaction? Are you telling me when I go for my second one I shouldn't be nervous because my first one went so well?

I think anytime someone is going to do work on your body you would be nervous. I was nervous before my Lasix surgery and I wanted that.

I think some sort of nervousness is normal, maybe the dentist is different, espeically now since I have one who doesn't hurt me, but things like Endo's, Colonoscopies, Lasix, I'd have to think there would be nerves associated with those uncommon things.

BTW - It took me 10yrs to get back to the dentist and it was due to severe pain, but my new dentist has done right by me and I don't fear "the dentist" any longer.

I'm sure it is normal to be nervous before certain procedures but I would actually cancel DDS appointments a few times due to the anticipatory anxiety and this time I didn't do that. What felt good was the fact that I wasn't stressing or obsessing ahead of time.

WOW jayson. Lot of questions.

I've had anxiety for at least 15 years. It went away at the end of last year. It did come back breifly, but that's normal. It's called having a growth spurt. I didn't take meds. I did it the hard way. I didn't want to deal with the side effects.

Anyway, I am much stronger than before. I don't feel afraid now.