You Know You Have Panic Disorder When...

stinkyminky · Post by **stinkyminky** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:52 am

wow everyone's contributions to "you know have panic disorder when..." are absolutely hilarious and i can relate to almost all of them! i check my pulse constantly and focus so much on my breathing it drives me nuts! i always try to pretend i am just leaning on my arm while my finger rests on my pulse....lol. i know it prob looks weird but i can't help it. i have also been envious of my pets because they never have to leave the house...
i am glad we are all in this together and can find some light on the subject. i have been laughing way more today at these posts and the scenarios than i ever have, and i think it is good when you can come to the realization that there is some humour in anxiety. it also feels great to know so many of us experience the same things. thanks everyone.

gardener · Post by **gardener** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 1:00 pm

Loved the "You Know You Have Panic Disorder When..." Just today, I went to vote and walked into the voting place, read the directions on the sign and AS SOON as I walked into the large room where the voting was set up, I had to grip the end of the table while waiting for them to check my registration. Felt really foolish, but asked one of the workers if she could hold my pinky just to get me to the voting machine, because (I didn't tell her why) I felt like I would keel over if I didn't have something to hold on to. Then they gave me "special dispensation" by letting me sit on a chair! Can you feature how embarrassing that was?!! On Sunday I did so well --- I went to church and walked all the way down the hallways (long because we have a huge church) without holding onto the walls; went after church to a grocery store and walked in without grabbing a cart for moral support; went to Wal-Mart and came back out without a cart and walked all the way to my car without any problem. I was thanking God for being so good that day. Then, BAM, that evening my heart started to race for no apparent reason and I just KNEW my blood pressure was sky high and I went into a full-blown panic attack because I was afraid I was having a heart attack! Three steps forward and two steps back!! Then today, I awoke an hour and a half early and couldn't sleep anymore and laid in bed getting more and more upset -- thus the incident at the voting place. I tried to get a lot of relaxation time today and also some workout time -- cutting the grass/mulching the leaves -- which helped. I had to go out and my husband asked me to pick up a sub for him so when I parked the car, I got out, locked the door and stood by the back bumper breathing slowly and deeply and telling myself to relax and that I would not walk in a zigzag line. I feel pathetic at times when these things occur. I'm new in the program (3/4 weeks into it) and it's helping a great deal. When I read the problems that others have, I feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel because we can't ALL be wrong! We can ALL climb the hill and get to the top and have a victorious life if we stick to it! Thank God for Stress Center!!!

Draakprinses · Post by **Draakprinses** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:09 am

Hahahaha, is it sad that when reading those, I said to myself on a few of them, "Oh my God, I totally do that!!!"? I also have to sit on the outside of a booth, or at the end of the table when at restaurants. I feel like I don't have an escape route if there's even one person blocking my path, lol.

worrygirl · Post by **worrygirl** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:27 pm

I can relate to almost all of your statements. It reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy. You know you're a redneck. Our moto is you know you have anxiety when.....

I can add to your list.

You know you have anxiety when you know where every bathroom is in every grocery store and mall.

You know you have anxiety when you have thousands of dollars worth of samples of mood and depression medicine in you cabinet and you won't take any because your afraid of the side effects. Just how small can you cut a pill into. I even take half a tylenol.

Worrygirl

chukar · Post by **chukar** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:16 am

ChukarWow, you were right on the mark! I was first diagnosed with anxiety disorder about 9 years ago and I think I have done almost all the things that you had listed and probably more.
Before I was diagnosed, I thought that there was something physically wrong with me. I just wanted the doctors to be honest with me and not treat me like was not NORMAL; whatever that is.
When we have anxiety, we sometimes forget what smiling and laughter can do to lift our spirit.
Chukar

Richard Ortega · Post by **Richard Ortega** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:37 am

I know I have panick attacks when I know I am going to the basement of a building and waiting for it to fall on me. I feel like there's no way out when I am in a building that I have never been before. I get panic attacks when I get on planes like there is no way out and I start sweating and breathing hard. Same thing with getting to elevators I get these panic attacks like the elevator is going to stop between floors or stop and I can't get out. It wasn't like this before just recently in the past 2 years. My wife says I need to see a doctor and so here I am. I need help.

wynni · Post by **wynni** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:12 am

Reading these I laughed then almost cried. This is me. I haggle with almost all of these things. And I am saddened by the fact that there are so many of us who suffer this but relieved that I am not alone...

Thrasher · Post by **Thrasher** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:10 am

I read that someone was talking about the way Lucinda says "frregent", here in the south we say Frayyyyggggrrrant! So about the second day that I had severe bloating, and all the stuff that goes with IBS, I layed down that night to due my Relax CD and right about the time that Lucinda said Frregent...I let a small fart out, and started laughing hysterically!!! Needless to say that was all the calming I needed! My husband asked if the CD was funny, and when I explained it to him we cackled like there was no tomorrow! Ha, Ha, Ha!! Also, if you want to laugh...granted I just started my second week today and have been singing and dancing around the house! But there is a new show on Channel 11 here in Atlanta, called "Howie do it." It's with Howie Mandell and comes on Friday nights. I laughed so hard I almost peed in my pants! It felt really good to laugh again, seems like years that I even smiled. In some respects, it has been. I don't go very much, but when I have to it's the hardest getting to where I need to be. On there though, I can go with the flow, Fake it til you Make it is my motto! Anyway else just starting out? Seems like not to many people on the forums. Good Luck to everyone! May the road rise up to meet you and the wind be at your back!

angella · Post by **angella** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:01 am

this was great.

Mary Wargo · Post by **Mary Wargo** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:22 pm

Don't forget to check out the "soft rocks" on the relaxation CD too. I wasn't aware there were soft rocks anywhere. ????