What is happening to me??

[Guest]

I too am in the medical profession as a physician assistant. Over the past three years, my anxiety has been through the roof. It actually drove me to the ER about 1 month ago as I swear there was something wrong. I was told that I was "dehydrated" and sent on my way with a script for Xanax. I am currently out of work as I relocated to a new state. I worked in long term care and rehab and again, for the last 10 years, worked with countless patients without a twinge of panic. But when it hit---it hit like a ton of bricks. Fortunately I was still able to work but towards the end it was unbearable. I, too, was received with the cold shoulder by my colleagues. I can appreciate all you say. My worst symptoms are the dizziness, unreality, and terrible numbness/tingling--all the real scary things. I am terribly afraid that I am just going to die. We all must stay strong and continue to press forward. Good luck!

[Guest]

Ah, Yes, the definite disdain by members of our profession who should know better truly bothers me. I KNOW that I cared for young women particularly who were in a state of panic and stress and I never, ever, not once, negated them or threw them to the wolves. Like you it took years and years for panic and anxiety to hit me and when it did I was terrified. I am a tad better than I was for the simple reason that nobodys' human body can keep up that level of 'fight or flight', and nature will kick in and settle it before it kills us. For instance we cannot hold our breath forever can we?? Our hypoxic drive will set us to breathing and we have no control over it. So it is with panic. You will never die, you may just want to, is how a friend described her bout of this to me. I truly do hope and pray that we all learn from this and are able to use our compassion to help others along our road, along our lifes' journey. Hang in there--there has to be an end to this misery and a way back to a productive and healthy life. Amen to that!!