[thetheft]

First time I noticed it was 5th grade. I had one panic attack that lasted probably a whole 24 hours. Then I don't remember anything since then 'til 7th grade, and from then on, really.
My panic attacks range greatly in intensity. Some could just be the whole "butterflies" lasting for hours. Some could be shaking, getting sick, feeling...like I'm going crazy. But each and every time they happen, I'm left exhausted and broken a little more than before (although depending on how bad it was, I can usually put myself back together).
The one panic attack that has me scared is the one that started it all.
January 18th, 2008.

[Cyran0]

thetheft, I can relate to a lot of what you're saying. I get so anxious I throw up from it and that's just the general anxiety, not necessarily panic. It can be a tough thing to manage. I struggle day to day to keep myself together, to work, to take care of my family. To help I do meds, therapy, and a handful of tricks that I've learned help me.

What do you do for your anxiety?

Cyran0

[Leed]

I suffered from anxiety for a long time. One thing that always helped me was I'd ask myself "What's the WORST thing that can happen?" while I was having the attack. And usually the only answer I could come up with was I'd faint. Well, so WHAT if I fainted?? If I was out & about, they'd just call the ambulance, and I'd be taken to the hospital. Big deal. I'd be awake before they got me there. LOL So if that's the worst I figured would happen to me, that's not all that bad!! I knew that having a panic attack wasn't going to kill me. LOL My hands used to shake when I was writing a check at a store -- well, so what? I'd just ask the clerk to finish the check for me.

If I was at home, I could STOP the panic attack by putting my finger on the carotid artery in my neck, and pushing on it for a few minutes -- that slows down the heartbeat, and stops the attack. OR, you can take a cold drink of water and afterwards breathe deeply.

Those were just a couple of things that helped me. Best of luck & God bless. Hugs, Lee

[Rose76]

It's odd to me how a symptom can come on out of the blue with no history of having had that. In March, 2004, I had chest pain. It felt like someone stepping on my chest. And I could not take a full deep breath. Turned out it was a symptom of anxiety, which I never had before, despite a long history of anxiety. (I went to the ER.) I get that once in a while . . . sometimes just low level pressure on my chest, sometimes more intense. Always, I can relate it to something causing me anxiety. Because I am convinced it is anxiety and not a heart symptom, I can make it go away , by telling myself that my mind is causing this. It takes at most 10 minutes now. I just wonder why I never got this for decades of my life.

[thetheft]

Thanks all of you.

Cyran, I really dont do anything for my anxiety. No meds, nothing special. I just try and breathe, but even then I end up hyperventilating or something. I did that once and my boyfriend thought I was dying d: lol.
I've tried the whole "what could be the worst thing" and its not my anxiety that scares me, its the situation causing it.. So it doesnt do much..

[Cyran0]

thetheft, I'm sure you've heard this a lot but you may want to try therapy. Maybe you can get to the bottom of why your anxiety is so intense.

Cyran0

[thetheft]

I actually had about 2 months of therapy last july and august.. We didnt have enough sessions before the bill was over 2 thousand dollars. It was too expencive, so I had to quit. I saw her, maybe 3 times, and saw a psychiatrists once. We were discussing the option of meds and she had me ask a bagillion questions to get me the perfect meds, but i never went back. /:

[Cyran0]

Yeah, it can be crazy expensive. I didn't have health insurance last year so I ended up giving up my meds (worst mistake I've made in awhile) and also my therapist. I ended up in crisis by the end of the year and here I am, still trying to recover. I'm back on meds again and I can say that for me they make a world of difference. I am seeing improvement (slowly but it's there).

Is there any way you can afford to go back to therapy etc. or would it just cause the same money problem? If that's the case you may want to see if there's any free or sliding scale providers in your area.

I hope you feel better.

Cyran0

[thetheft]

I dont know. I had a counceler, but i used up all my sessions in april and june of last year.. I only got like, 12 free sessions.
My dad doesnt have any kind of "mental health" insurance, so i guess its the same money problem.. Even with a 15$ copay, it was still over 200 dollars a session to see my therapist.
/: And thanks[: Feel better yourself, too.[:

[Cyran0]

Does your school or church have any resources you could use instead? I'm just trying to think of some sort of solution.

Cyran0

[thetheft]

I appreciate it[:
And the ironic thing about you asking that is for some stupid reason, my school district is cutting all councelers. How ridiculous is that?! I mean, with my school being huge, and the district as a whole is really really big! Why would they do that?
And the one counceler I went to before was part of a church.. And I used up all my sessions.
Usually I just talk to my friends. They're really good listeners.. Especially when I need them.
Thanks so much for your help tho.. [:

[Cyran0]

(((((thetheft)))))