Anxiety/Panic relapse

Stress can keep you down. Stress can also help you create. Learn to make stress a positive force in your life.
SaRaHv.
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:15 pm

Post by SaRaHv. » Sun Jun 29, 2008 6:41 am

Hey everyone, I have had a horrible weekend starting friday night at a baseball game. I had an anxiety attack i guess b/c of the crowd of people, I think. There were signs now that I look back. I was fustrated earlier that day with work and annoyed. Anyway, I'm writing b/c I have been doing so well lately(months). I had a relapse for an unknown reason this weekend and have been crying in the mornings. I just exercised since the rain let up for the first time in two days, which now I feel so much better. Does anyone have relapses without catching it in time then it turns into a panic attack? I mean, I just got a new job, registered for grad school classes, going on vacation...these are good things. Yet, I had felt so depressed, like there was something wrong with me. I just get so caught up in living and let my guard down and BOOM, it suprises the crap out of me. I am female and am also wondering if PMS has anything to do with the relapses every few months. Anyone have any similar stories or advice to give.

debra2005
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:40 pm

Post by debra2005 » Sun Jun 29, 2008 7:54 am

Hello Sarahv
i have been great for 3years then it hit, panic and anxiety like i have never had before it has scared the living hell out of me. i really don't know what has triggered it but it has control my sleep, my eating,interacting with family, i have become a hermet and has made me suffer tremendously. I also cry in the morning or when i know i have no control. i feel like a total different person i have no control with my breathing i have it all day the shortness of breath, may be you can help me too with this feeling, i would really like to know if you ever had panic so bad that your head feels like its very hot,and you lose every bit of your concentration i am very afraid and hope that you may help me thank you so much and bless you i really do hope you get well..

Guest

Post by Guest » Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:24 am

Hi SaRaHv and Brooklyn 121, I just read your posts and wanted to reply. I do understand what you both mean. I've had panic/anxiety for over 30 years and there have been times when it was under control and then hit again out of the blue. When I look back there was always an underlying reason. Life changes, such as divorce or moving or job change has re-triggered my disorder every time. However, since last December it came on very strong when a friend of mine had heart surgery. I started getting all depressed and panicky that this was going to happen to me. My biggest problem is fear of diseases and dying. Well, from December until May I was in a living hell. My syptoms are lightheadedness, dizzines, heart palps, shakiness and anything else my body decides to throw at me. I made the rounds of every medical specialist, had all sorts of tests and the verdict was anxiety/panic. I am on zoloft right now with xanax as needed (usually a half of a 2.5 each day). I know this is a small amount but I feel it takes the edge off so I can work and go out and stay in control. I have also been working the program and I'm on week 6. That together with the meds is definitely bringing me back again.

SaRaHv, yes, your hormones around your period definitely will increase your anxiety.

Brooklyn, I have that head feeling. In fact it is one of my initial symptoms. My head feels very full (like there's a baloon in it), then I get scared and feel shaky inside and it used to be that BOOM I'd go into a full blown attack. Now, though, I can head off the attack. I use my positive thinking and repeat to myself that I'm okay and it's just anxiety. It does pass, but it's still a bit scary to me.

Keep doing your relaxation tape every day and work hard with the program. I know you will both get back on track. It just takes time.

When our personality types with anxiety and panic have stress we physically and mentally spiral out of control. It has everything to do with our disastrous thoughts. Keep working hard on them. Change them to positive. Keep practicing. It really does work.

Much luck to all of us in beating this. I know we can!

Donna

R.T.E.
Posts: 59
Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 2:10 pm

Post by R.T.E. » Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:04 am

Hi SaRaHv, I haven't been online much but logged in today because I'm experiencing something similar and wanted to post. I started the course the end of May and was progressively feeling better. I was able to work through situations that previously caused me anxiety or even panic attacks. Just this past week though I've had a relapse, although not full panic attacks it has held me back. For example for period of time I couldn't walk to Starbucks near my office for coffee(decaf now). Using the six steps in session two I found gradually I was able to overcome the anxiety to the point I would even linger there. This past week though my old anxiety came back and without any apparent reason. It happened several times on Friday I turn around mid-way there leaving a colleague behind with a feeble excuse. I felt the same way not knowing the reason. The only thing I can think now is when I first had the relapse earlier in the week I was thinking "Oh no what if I have a panic attack" and each day it's that thought has gotten worse. I went back and listen to session two again hopefully this week will be better.

Guest

Post by Guest » Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:27 pm

I just wanted to share that I think this is a very common occurrence. It has happened to me several times where the "whammy" that is discussed in lesson 15 hits me, seemingly out of the blue. But when I stop and reflect, I see that I had let some of my guard down, and wasn't taking time for me, or had fallen back into some old habits, or it was an anniversary of a major panic or something. For me, the trick is NOT to let it scare me. In fact, the last time I sort of welcomed it (WHAT!!??). I said to myself that this anxiety coming back was a sign that I needed to pay attention to my positive thinking, and it was OK if it came back to visit me every so often: I can handle it now. Always before when I felt that anxious it spiraled into something much worse, but this last time...it went away! Even with insomnia, I did such a great job under-reacting to it, I couldn't believe it just went away. So it may come back again...so what! We just have to keep at it. We can do it!
formerly SleeplessMom

Guest

Post by Guest » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:59 am

Hi thanks for responding everyone. I just went to the doctors and found out that my thyroid is underactive. Also the doc thinks my lack of ovulation can affect the PMS and anxiety. They want to put me on Yaz and synthroid, but I'm going to try something homeopathic first. I just and too anxious about prescription meds. I want to thank you for all of your support. Sleepless mom, i can relate to what you are saying. I do let my guard down and realize i don't spend time for me when the relapses occur. I just need to slow down overall.

Guest

Post by Guest » Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:30 pm

;)Hi everyone I am new to this but I need to chat with people that i can identify with me.

Guest

Post by Guest » Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:49 am

Welcome Neicy:)
We always have room for another person here:)
This is agreat place for help, and encouragement:)

Guest

Post by Guest » Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:13 pm

I don't know if anyone is still active on this post, but something that has helped me in overcoming panic attacks is remembering that it is often just a memory of anxiety. For example, I was just walking down the hall at school and started to feel very nervous. I forced myself to pinpoint the feelings, then realized that the smell in the hall I was walking down was reminding me of a difficult time the previous year... I was standing in that exact spot when I had an awful panic attack.

Try to pinpoint when this is the case. Say 'this is a memory, this is not how we do things anymore'.

Guest

Post by Guest » Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:32 am

hello everyone im new to the site..ive been having panic attacks. my symptoms are really scary...my heart rate speeds up i get really dizzy and get sweaty it feels like im having a heart attack and i seem to worry about it all day..i feel like im going crazy!!! any suggestions..and is it normal to have that dizzy feeling hours after the panic atttack? i have a med called MECLIZINE 25mg,the doc gave me for dizziness but im scared to take it,has anyone ever taken this med and if so did it help with the dizziness..i just feel like im losing control.please help

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