Stress Center Peer Support

Hello all....

I am a 29 year old man from Indianapolis. I am going to share a bit with you in hopes of some advice on gaining control over my recent panic attacks. I am starting the Program and currently in Session 2.

I first experienced what I thought was a heart attack shortly after graduating college. turns out it was not...but it wasn't for another several years that I experienced them more frequently. I have noticed a gradual withdrawal from doing things that I never thought twice about in the past. Driving on the freeway is out for me unless I am with someone after a panic attack while on the interstate a year back. Flying requires klonopin and I am still nervous. It's gotten worse recently as I am having trouble leaving the house on my own. My girlfriend (God bless her) has been staying at my house as I am more afraid to be alone. I have a regular supply of klonopin (I take .75 a day and am trying to wean off) and keep a few on my key chain in a tiny nitro pill bottle just in case. But I need some advice! How is the program working for you all? I feel these first few days like it had made things a bit worse, but I also expected that as I am forcing myself to address the root causes of my anxiety (reopening old wounds, so to speak)...I want the life I used to have! I have always been a bit of a worrier since childhood, but never to this extreme! I work in the medical field (addictions specifically) and am well versed in GAD, panic disorder, anxiety and addiction, depression. Perhaps too much! I tend to over analyze things...

Anyway, my main fear is that I am going to have a heart attack when no one is around to help me. I smoke (trying to quit), but my blood pressure is normal. I also take a daily aspirin as well. I quit drinking altogether a month ago as it was only making my anxiety worse (I was a former partier in college and probably carried a bit too far into my 20s...)

I do believe in God and pray every day, though I need to get back to church....

Can anyone offer some support as I am going through this program? I just want my life back! I never used to be scared to fly, or drive alone, or leave the house, or ride rollercoasters, etc....

cmgww - You are not alone in this, our stories seem to be almost exactly the same. I am going through the program as well, and once you realize that you will not have a heart attack from the panic attack, it will start to loose its power on you. Not wanting to be alone is the number outcome after having panic attacks, and for me, is still the hardest to overcome. But as I learn the skills in the program, and you will also, I know we will overcome this as well. Good Luck with all you do, and also be very thankful you have great suffort from your girlfriend to help you win this battle. My wife is my strength, and the reason I am able to push forward.

You want your life back. what a terrific starting place. knowing you want positive things for yourself that you know you can have. it takes remembering that, when you are having an attack. just remember that you are getting your life back. relax into that thought. your life includes fears that you can live with. I ask god to help me, consciously ask for help, when i am afraid. as i breathe deeply, i say please help me. there is a slight shift in the way i am feeling and i try to focus on that shift. it is peaceful and calm. it takes focus which i am able to have if i ask for help. knowing that you are not alone and always have help is the key. do whatever you can to strengthen your relationship with god. it will take time to heal your anxiety. give up fighting it and accept it is something you live with right now. you will find ways to lessen it's affect on you. slowly. progress is made slowly. the relaxation tapes are so important to this process. you develop a memory of calm that you can breathe into when you become anxious. it is something that you are teaching yourself to do. learn this first. you are working the program because you know you need help. it is a great thing to ask for help.

the basic six essensials of life will help you dramatically. I am just back on line once again, so find many older issues to touch base with. Are you still there this date of April 27th,09? If so we can exchange a few thoughts. My panic attacks are way in the background of my life now, mostly gone. Dewdrop

I really know what you mean. I have accomplished so much in my life and wasn't scared of anything. And right now my panic/anxiety is so bad, I had to take a week off of work and went to see a therapist today and phychiatrist on Thursday which is a first, (after the emergency room visit last night, knew I had to make a change) I just went on xanax xr, all seems like it is going down hill fast! However, I believe in this program, It has helped me reconize so much about myself and my ways of thinking. My biggest problem is implementing it when I am running on HIGH anxiety. So hang in there, as will I. It is great that you have such a good support w/ your girlfriend. Have a good night. Tee

CM...I strongly suggest that you read the thread which I posted in the General Comments section of this forum. It is called "As I look back upon my life, I laugh"...God Bless