Stress Center Peer Support

Hi everyone. I just got my program yesterday and finished with the first session today. I feel a little silly, but I'm going to go through the whole thing regardless.

I'll give everyone a quick-ish back story on me. I'm 24, have 2 cats, and am planning my wedding in August, that's stressful all in itself! My birthday is in March and around the same time my grandpa got really sick and had to be hospitalized. Everyone was really worried and consequently my birthday came and passed with only my fiance remembering. No big deal. Grandpa didn't get any better but worse. Then in April a really good friend of ours died overseas. That was really hard. It was a very stressful week. Then Heath Ledger died, which sounds weird, but does come into play, I promise.

My first attack happened one night while I had a really bad cold I caught from visiting my grandpa. I took Niquil and a Zicam nose swab and went to bed. I woke up that night with my first panic attack and it was a doozy. The worst I've had. I know I don't need to describe the symptoms and feelings; we've all been there. I was scared and could barely call out to my fiance. Heath Ledger had just died from taking OTC drugs that shouldn't be mixed, and I thought that's what was happening to me. I was really scared. I wanted Josh to call 911, but didn't want him to leave the room. He got frustrated with me, but stayed with me til I calmed down. The next day I was fine and we thought nothing of it. Over the next couple months, though, they happened more frequently. We found out (after a trip to the ER) I was having panic attacks. I very adamantly refused to take anti-depressants. I have friends on them and know their horror stories and don't want to go through that. My mom saw an info-mercial one day flipping through the channels and wrote down the name and website.

The free email sessions I got really helped. Especially when my cat ran away a few months ago. We got a new kitten btw. When I went four weeks w/ out an attack my fiance and I decided to buy the program. I'm very optimistic. My biggest worry is that I'll have a gripping attack my wedding day and I'm hoping this will help me get better because I am so ready to be done feeling like this. I'm ready to kick this thing in the butt and I'm looking forward to helping (and being helped) everyone else do it too!!

jlilangel,
Congratulations! I wish I had realized how much help I needed when I was younger, like you, before I got married & had kids, etc. I am new to this program, also, this is actually the first time I logged on to the chatroom!!! I got the set about 1 wk ago, but was out of town for work the majority of the week & was too busy to really start the program until this weekend. I have listened to the Start-up video & the first cd session, and am already having a difficult time finding the time to get it all in. I purchased the program to deal with depression, not really even thinking I have ever experienced a panic attack, but after listening to the syptoms, I can relate all too well. I have been off depression meds for only a couple of days, so am going thru a bit of withdrawl, so I find myself over-reacting to things at work & getting angry over things I have no real control over. I won't go into my all of my issues with you, I really just wanted to say: Good Luck, and it is so important that you get the help you need and take the time for yourself that you need to heal. It wounds like your fiance is very supportive & that is just amazing, just don't let yourself feel like you are alone in this at all.

I've actually found this website the most help. I love being able to talk to people who are going through the same thing.

My cat died a year ago and I was a basket case! I cried for 3 days straight. My fiance has been getting better over the years at realizing when I'm having a panic attack (although hyperventilating is really hard to miss) and help me calm down and breathe. My big thing is when I'm having a panic attack, I don't want him to touch me. I feel so down on myself and depressed that any physical contact practically hurts. At those times any touch reminds me he loves me and I don't feel worthy of love. He almost laughs and says "you think you're too good for ME? Yeah! Scratch that. Reverse it." He's extremely supportive and doesn't let me apologize for having an attack or waking him up in a panic.

I'm glad you have someone supportive like I do. I think everyone should have a live-in counselor like us! I hope you're successful in your quest to end your anxiety and I certainly hope your wedding day is beautiful!