dgiirl Posted April 25, 2005 Posted April 25, 2005 I'm assuming this is normal... Any tips on coping with them?
ReluctantRomeo Posted April 25, 2005 Posted April 25, 2005 Originally posted by dgiirl I'm assuming this is normal... Any tips on coping with them? More common than people think. Distraction is a good tactic. If this is more than a one-off, you should see a professional.
Author dgiirl Posted April 25, 2005 Author Posted April 25, 2005 It's happening from time to time. Only started after the ex left. Usually pretty mild (I assume), but my heart starts pounding and I get an urge to run away. Usually when dealing with any form of stress. I cant seem to concentrate on anything either, like things I should be doing at work, so I'm finding it difficult to distract myself. (lol cept posting here).
IhavenoFREAKINclue Posted April 25, 2005 Posted April 25, 2005 Oh man they suck! The only think you can do is wait til they pass. They have meds if you have them frequently. Best thing to do is stay calm and make sure you don't faint somewhere. Drink lots of water (if your capable) to keep your body temp level. Otherwise, don't move and wait for hell on earth to move on!
st8toftheheart Posted April 25, 2005 Posted April 25, 2005 I have them quite often actually. So much so, that I have had to seek counselling and have even been perscribed Xanax. It has alot to do with you of course, and how you manage stress in every day life. For example. My ex-girlfriend had a somewhat of what *I* would consider a sorted past. It was my first relationship after ending my marriage of 7 years. I wasn't ready to deal with the fact that its not like it used to be. That I would have to deal with things I never thought I should have had to. So thinking about her past even visualizing it, sent me into such severe panic attacks that I had to pull to the side of the road when driving, or even go to the emergency room cause my bloodpressure would shoot up to point that I could have given myself a stroke. But anyway. Panic attacks happen to everybody. Some have them and never know that they do. Some people have them and they never come back. If they happen consistently the I'd have a conversation with your doctor.
whichwayisup Posted April 25, 2005 Posted April 25, 2005 I have an anxiety disorder...Deal with it head on now before it takes over your life and screws up your life! Trust me on this one...IF you can, find somebody who specializes in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Teaches you all the skills to fight this f**k'n thing and also some talk therapy. Anxiety has reasons and if you don't find out why and deal with those reasons it will continue to get worse. Do yoga, deep breathing...This is help you during your attacks. Anxiety can build up alot, but the actual panic attack can only last so long. All the symptoms you feel are just that...Symptoms! They can be really scary and this is where the breathing and relaxing comes into play. You want to be in control of it, not allow it to control you. It is hard to work through at times and if you can find a friend to talk to during the attacks to help you through it, Do it! Don't be afraid to talk about it and ask questions either...I'm learning this all the time and finding out how many people actually do suffer from anxiety and/or depression. Hope this helps.
Author dgiirl Posted April 25, 2005 Author Posted April 25, 2005 I've been suffering from anxiety for a few years now. Never realized it until now. (I knew something was wrong, never realized what. I went to a therapist and she was able to tell me what it is). I'm working on a daily basis to confront my thoughts, and just finding out the term for what I've been doing has been a huge help. Only now I'm starting to get panic attacks. It's annoying as hell. I'm trying to breath and calm myself down. And I'm actually trying to figure out what I'm exactly scared of, what brought up the panic attack in the first place. It's interesting the crap I'm putting inside my head lol. Talking to people definitely helps. But I dont want to use my coworkers as a crutch everytime it happens. They'll get sick of me
st8toftheheart Posted April 25, 2005 Posted April 25, 2005 Well keep talking it through with your therapist. If the problem is so severe you can't operate in everday life, you may want to consider taking meds. I really had no choice at the time. Mine were so severe and so frequent, that I brought panic attacks because I feared having them. I started taking Xanax, and I am much better now. However, once you're on them, there are difficult to get off of. So before going down this route, work with your doctor and discuss the options available to you. We are on this earth for a very sort time. To live like that indefintley makes for a poor quality of life. As much as I am disappointed that I could not deal with this without the use of medication, I have increased my quality of life ten fold. You're doing all the right things. Keep up the talks with your therapist. Confide your feelings with close friends. Be there for them like they are for you and they will never grow tired. Use meds as a supplemental treatment only. Good luck.
Illusion24 Posted April 25, 2005 Posted April 25, 2005 I don't miss those days for nothing in the world. I was sick for about 6 months. I had started college, was in the honors program, was in cheerleading traveling all the time, had a part time job, and a killer mother who expected so much from me. I'm an only child and it's stressful when all the pressure is on you. I use to take 800mg of meds and it brought me to a state of mind that was ugly. I felt drowsy, and I can feel my heart beat go slower and slower. I use to throw myself on the floor, crying for hours because I got a B on a test. I use to get in the car and drive around and cry until my eyes burned and I couldn't see anymore. I use to hate life and wish God would take me away because my father didn't want me when I was a child. I hated being who I was and lacked a lot of self confidence. My heart would beat so fast I felt it was going to come out of my chest. Then one day it hit me. I woke up and saw myself, like an out of body experience, taking a pill to make me feel better. Feel better, it made me a different person, made me calm and drugged up so bad everyone thought I was on heroin. It was the worst feeling in the world. So, I asked myself .."Do you want to live the rest of your life taking pills or do you want to stop being such a p*ssy and get your **** together." I stopped the pill and started facing reality and it made me stronger. I realized in life s*** happens, you grow up and have to deal with so much emotions. I was only 19 at the time and a whole life to live. I snapped out of it and since then I've learned how to talk to myself and take charge. I learned that life is to good to be worried about certain situations that in the end really don't matter. My health was more important, I needed to be strong for me. If not I was going to commit suicide, and that wasn't good. I learned to love me again, it feels good!!
ConfusedInOC Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 I've been having some anxiety that lately causes me to have trouble sleeping. I am sure this will go away when I am completely over the Ex. But how to do I diminish the anxiety so I can get a good nights sleep?!
whichwayisup Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 Don't drink coffee- Really try to cut back on it. Drink LOTS of water. Increase your vitamin intake and get a B Multivitamin too. Go for walks in the evening, do some deep breathing and if you're comfy with this - Try yoga. You can get the beginners yoga VHS/DVD and it's only 20 mins long. That will help with the peace of mind. When you feel anxiety - Write about it. All the symptoms you're feeling and why you think you could be feeling them. Just recognize that it's physical symptoms and it's all tied into your emotional state right now. Confused, you've been through ALOT and that emotional rollercoaster eventually takes it's toll. I guess you're there now. It sucks but the more you talk about it and don't hold it in - The better you will feel. Hope this helps.
ConfusedInOC Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 Originally posted by whichwayisup Don't drink coffee- Really try to cut back on it. Drink LOTS of water. Increase your vitamin intake and get a B Multivitamin too. I take a powerful multi-vitamin every day in addition to some suppliments (non-steroid!!!) for weight lifting. Coffee I do drink but I don't drink any caffeine after 12:00. Go for walks in the evening, do some deep breathing and if you're comfy with this - Try yoga. You can get the beginners yoga VHS/DVD and it's only 20 mins long. That will help with the peace of mind. I work out 3x a week. I didn't yesterday so maybe that's why?! I work out tonight so hopefully I'll be bushed tonight. When you feel anxiety - Write about it. All the symptoms you're feeling and why you think you could be feeling them. Just recognize that it's physical symptoms and it's all tied into your emotional state right now. Confused, you've been through ALOT and that emotional rollercoaster eventually takes it's toll. I guess you're there now. It sucks but the more you talk about it and don't hold it in - The better you will feel. That's why I am here. I've even been chastised for talking about it, so I am holding in more than I want to. I should write, write, write. Now's a good time to write lyrics for my songs. Hope this helps. Definitely, thank you!
Author dgiirl Posted May 12, 2005 Author Posted May 12, 2005 My therapist told me the first step was to cut caffeine totally out of my diet, and start some exercise. I dont drink much caffeine to begin with. The only thing I take is chocolate, and that was pretty hard to cut out when you're heart is broken
greenhorn Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 I missed this thread. Can you explain a bit more Dgiirl about this, 1.does this happens when you get some news related to your ex? 2.Does this panic attack and running away means, that you want to run out of office? 3.Do you also shake and start trembling ? And lastly, did it go away after taking the medicines.
Author dgiirl Posted May 12, 2005 Author Posted May 12, 2005 I'm actually doing a lot better. They seem to be going down in intensity. 1 and 2 = yes 3 = no, just my heart starts pounding like crazy, and I feel like someone's chasing me. It's definitely related to my divorce. I've been implementing NC with the husband and things are getting better. But everytime he emails me about settling the legalities, i go back into anxiety. But the length of episodes are starting to decrease. I'm still getting the attacks once in a while. They first started when I was shopping and got frustrated because I didnt like anything in the store. The next time, I was simply waiting in line at the bank. A few times when people ask me to do stuff at work, or when I hear people next to me talking about doing their own work. It's totally unpredictable, but I'm getting use to them.
greenhorn Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 well I asked cause I feel the same and yeah 100 % the heart pounding thing. I didn't know that this is called anxiety or panic attacks. How did it go or lessened ? are there some medicines for it. If caffeine is culprit then I need to control I atleas drink 10 to 12 cups of coffee during my office hours.
whichwayisup Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 That's why I am here. I've even been chastised for talking about it, so I am holding in more than I want to. I should write, write, write. Now's a good time to write lyrics for my songs. Yup! Pour it all out into songs! That's great! Feel free to PM me about your anxiety anytime. I know at times (on another site) when I post alot about my anxiety I feel like it's getting old. Most of the time I don't let that bother me. If I need to get it out, I do. Or have to anyway! Glad to help! Anxiety sucks most of the time, but even worse when the heart hurts too.
whichwayisup Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 Originally posted by greenhorn well I asked cause I feel the same and yeah 100 % the heart pounding thing. I didn't know that this is called anxiety or panic attacks. How did it go or lessened ? are there some medicines for it. If caffeine is culprit then I need to control I atleas drink 10 to 12 cups of coffee during my office hours. Oh yeah! THAT much coffee is going to make you have the jitteries which can turn into anxiety BIG time! Holy cow! That's alot eh! Cut down. Do half cafe or make it weaker. Don't stop right away cuz then you'll get the caffeine headaches -And those SUCK too! Drink more water, eat small snacks, yoghurt, fruit etc...
greenhorn Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 Originally posted by whichwayisup Oh yeah! THAT much coffee is going to make you have the jitteries which can turn into anxiety BIG time! Holy cow! That's alot eh! Cut down. Do half cafe or make it weaker. Don't stop right away cuz then you'll get the caffeine headaches -And those SUCK too! Drink more water, eat small snacks, yoghurt, fruit etc... Didn't realise it all these days!!, will start cutting slowly from tommorrow. And I always drink black coffee for the kick it gives, damn!!. Are there any medicines specially for anxiety, not exactly those anti depressants or diazepam?
BrotherAaron Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 My ex has horrible anxiety attacks. I'm sorry you're going through that, I know how difficult it can be. When you first start to feel the anxiety rush coming on, try completely changing your surroundings and then distracting yourself with something you enjoy. Also try relaxation techniques, and try to learn to calm yourself down through breathing excercises. Yoga can be very helpful. Also, excercise regurlarly and work to get enough sleep, eat well, take vitamins. Basically take care of yourself to help minimize the stressors in your life.
whichwayisup Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 Im thinking of trying Rescue Remedy. Apparently it's all natural and no side effects. Put afew drops of it on the tongue and it's supposed to relax and bring a peaceful feeling. Google natural remedies and anxiety, I'm sure tons will come up too.
greenhorn Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 Thanks BrotherAaron and WWIU, now that I know that this is called anxiety,I will work on it and yes I am doing google also as you said.
Author dgiirl Posted May 12, 2005 Author Posted May 12, 2005 Originally posted by greenhorn Thanks BrotherAaron and WWIU, now that I know that this is called anxiety,I will work on it and yes I am doing google also as you said. heh, I didn't know what it was either until i went to see a therapist. I didnt have the attacks before, but I was suffering from anxiety and depression for years now. The crap i was putting in my head, and I thought I was going crazy. When the therapist gave me the definition, I felt relief. The attacks started to come, but atleast I was noticing my thought pattern and started challenging them
greenhorn Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 Yeah I will also try now to challenge them, mine is bit worse, hearts starts beating at 200 beats per minute and I start to shake and tremble so much that I can't type or write. But I thought it is due to events not an illness, but now I know it and will improve on it.
ConfusedInOC Posted May 12, 2005 Posted May 12, 2005 Originally posted by greenhorn Yeah I will also try now to challenge them, mine is bit worse, hearts starts beating at 200 beats per minute and I start to shake and tremble so much that I can't type or write. But I thought it is due to events not an illness, but now I know it and will improve on it. Ok I guess mine isn't that bad. I just can't sleep. I toss and turn most of the night unless I take tylenol PM. When I think of the ex, I get that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach too.
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