Anxiety taking over/closing in

Hey guys. I'm new here. I was diagnosed with anxiety and panic attacks about a month or so ago. I am 11 1/2 weeks pregnant and am still seeking a therapist as my OB isn't agreeable with the idea of meds. Today is a REALLY bad day. I have been struggling with what feels like a constant, mild panic attack since 2:30 (5 1/2 hours). Is this normal? I feel as though I'm wanting to close in on myself and roll into a ball, feel like the world itself is closing in on me, and can feel my heartbeat, even though my pulse is at a safe level (checked) throughout my trunk, chest and neck, like my whole body is just throbbing, ya know? I'm really new to anxiety/panic and it's symptoms and all that it entails. I'm just scared, because I'm pregnant. I feel that there is a lot of stressful things in my life right now and it's all just piling up and I feel totally lost as to how to cope until I get in with a therapist.

MrsBro13, I'm so sorry you're going through that but am glad you came here. First let me say that yes, what you're feeling is very familiar to those of us with this condition. You are not alone and it is relatively normal. I know that heartbeat feeling, I know obsessively checking your pulse to see if you're ok, and I know the crushing weight of all of those external problems.

I'm so glad you're going to start therapy. I can't imagine not having the med option but at least there's therapy.

So getting you through until then. Try things that get you out of your head: movies, TV, music, books, anything that can get you to forget yourself for a time. Then there's meditation, deep breathing, stretching, that sort of thing. Exercise helps some people break the tension you're feeling. If you have a friend who you can sit and chat with, maybe even about this stuff, that can be a huge help. Personally I frequently turn to decaf lemon tea or a hot shower (doesn't stop it but it helps soothe a bit).

I hope this helps a little and I'm sure lots of others here will have advice too.

(((MrsBro13)))

Cyran0

Hi MrsBro. Welcome! I'm really sorry you're struggling with anxiety and panic attacks What you describe here about experiencing something which feels like a mild panic attack that lasts for hours is very familiar to me. And to many others too, I'm sure. You're definitely not alone

I think it's a positive thing that you have only recently begun suffering from these problems because that will make it easier to recover than if they'd been a pattern which had taken hold over many years. I hope you're able to start working with a therapist very soon.

I'm a big believer in the benefit of daily exercise and I also do some meditation every day. Perhaps you could look into downloading some relaxation CDs to see if that would help?

Let us know how you're doing (((((MrsBro)))))

Feeling somewhat better this AM, but woke up around 3 am and the second I opened my eyes the anxiety hit me again.

I'm going to attempt to go to work today and call my OB because this is just getting way too much and I have done research and while it's not really recommended, in a case where the anxiety is continuous and has a possibility of being a harm to the baby they can give you small doses of certain meds.

I hate to think that I am reduced to medication, but honestly, I am at a loss until I get in with a therapist. I have tried some of the techniques I have found on here. Deep breathing and ancient Buddhist hand gestures meant to rid your body of negative energies SEEM to help, for a short period of time, then my worry and fear takes over again. I can get on the computer, and as long as I am actively typing or doing an activity, that helps too.

I wonder if the anxiety is so bad because it's all so new and I'm still in the process of figuring out how I feel, how to react, and how to heal. I wish the answers were easier.

I think it is harder when it's new. I've always had anxiety but when a new severe wave hits (as it did three months ago) it is scarier than when you are used to it and have techniques to help you deal.

Cyran0

Well I did really good, all day long. Practically no anxiety, at least not bad enough to send me into a spiral/attack.

When I got home, I started feeling puny, due to the pregnancy and need to eat. Well, that got me anxious ofcourse, so I started to get that heart pounding sensation in my trunk area. Well, I had the bright idea to take my blood pressure, which at that point (158/89) seemed very high to me. Instead of saying, oh, I'm on the verge of an anxiety attack, I freaked, called the OB on call and everything only to have him tell me to calm down, and to not worry, that's it is probably attributed to my anxiety and to get in sooner for my appt. because it can't be preeclampsia or toxemia at this early on.

So, that helped slightly but nothing worked like my husband walking in the door. Just his presence was a big help. At that point I did some breathing (in nose, out mouth) and slowly calmed. So... I need to figure out what is going to help me calm when my husband isn't around, since he can't be, ya know?

Cyran0-

So is that pretty normal, for the anxiety/panic to come and go in spurts? Cause I'm just terrified it's going to be a constant in my life from now on.

I can only speak for myself of course but for me panic comes and goes, anxiety is always there. When my general anxiety get more severe, panic attacks become more frequent and that feeds into my anxiety and I have more panic and so on and so on. When I'm in a bad anxiety period (as I am now) it can go on for months but inevitably I somehow break the cycle and go back to just being my generally anxious self (still not fun but better).

I also suffer from depression but I won't confuse the issue with how that is fueled by my anxiety too.

For what it's worth, I have the same fear, that I'll always feel this way (even though I just told you I always break the cycle and things get milder). That's just the way anxiety effects my thinking, all sorts of worried and irrational.

Cyran0