[sabby]

Ever so slowly, the old anxiety attacks have been rearing their ugly heads again. Most times, I can work through them fairly easily by watching what I'm eating and drinking and doing breathing excercises. That is until this week! On Thursday night and Friday morning I thought I was going to crawl out of my skin!!!

I had to force myself to get out of bed and get ready for work. One of my jobs is working with developmentally disabled folks, taking them into the community, helping with shopping, housework, life skills etc. The job can be difficult enough on a normal day, but when suffering from anxiety, it makes it almost unbearable. I have to keep it from showing itself around my clients, and still go out into the community where it is the absolute LAST place I can handle being when I'm like this.

I reluctantly called my doc for an appointment for a refill on my prescription. It had been over a year since I had it prescribed to me. That's how little I take the med and how little I go to the doc for anything. Her questions to me were extremely irritating. There was no way that I wanted to answer any questions or hear any suggestions about other care available to someone without health insurance (that's right, I have no health insurance). It took every ounce of strength for me not to yell to her...JUST GIVE ME THE SCRIPT AND LET ME OUT OF HERE PLEASE!!!

When I finally left the office, script in hand, I headed for the pharmacy. I drove into the parking lot and quickly drove back out. I couldn't bring myself to go into the store and wait for the script to be filled. I went home and locked my doors, turned off my phone and cried for hours.

On Saturday, I knew I had to fill the prescription, but I just couldn't get motivated to get out the door. It wasn't until 4pm that I finally forced myself to go back to the pharmacy and fill the script.

Today, I am feeling better. I am having the family over for dinner tonight, so I HAVE to get up and moving and doing things.

I have a question of all you anxiety sufferers out there. When you are in the thralls of an attack, does anyone have terrible tingling throughout their body and face? It also feels like something is crawling on my skin and making me itchy. It's about driving me mad(der).

i feel like i'm coming OUT of my skin when i have one. i know what you're talking about. my job is hard at times and when i'm really anxious i can hardly bear to drive up to a house and go in and talk to the patients. i'm so afraid they will think i don't want to be there when all it is is my anxiety......which isn't about them at all.......

i've worked with the developmentally disabled and i know what you mean by the good days........hugs, if okay, for those days when you feel like tearing your hair out.

i am so proud of you for getting the meds......xoxoxo pat

[chichi]

hi there, bot do I know what your talking about, I myself was only diagnosed with generalized anxiety. I never had nothin until I had a major and my first panic attack DEc 8,2006 now I have been dealing with anxiety, i to was very reluctant on talkin meds BUT I couldn't go thru with this without them. I take Ativan as needed and was just persscribed with Zoloft 2 weeks ago although it doesn't kick in for 3-4 weeks they say. I have been feeling better and of all my body symptoms I had the tingling all over the body and the buzzing is what I have as well, and the itchiness is subsiding, I go out for walks and it helps relieve these. I have to say I do not take my ativan when I get my tingling face and hands, I just get out and power walk, this is the only thing I find helps, even if it's for 20 min. From somebody who can so relate to these symptoms, I also learned so much about my GAD that these symptoms sre something I apparently create so I am learning to say "ok, this is my anxiety it's what it is understand it and let it go" I found the more I focus on them the more it gets worse. If you have to take meds then so be it , I am gald they have something that helps especially when you really need something to take the edge off. I also have a relaxation c.d that I play at night to help me focus and fall asleep...good luck and God Bless

[sabby]

{{{{Pat}}}} Thanks so much for your reply....it really helped! It's nice to know that someone else relates to the same symptoms. That feeling of coming out of your skin is sooooo right on. This is the first time I've had these kinds of symptoms with my anxiety. They used to be just a head thing and maybe some sweating. I know that when my daughter has a bad attack, she feels like she is having a heart attack...the pain up the arm, profuse sweating, difficulty breathing, like something is weighing heavily on her chest. Thank goodness I don't have those kinds of symptoms either.

I so appreciate the {{{hug}}} Thanks a bunch Pat!

[sabby]

Hi {{{{chichi}}}} I'm glad you are on some meds now too to help you through the rough patches. I too take Ativan, but not on antidepressants. I'm glad you can go out an powerwalk...what a wonderful way to work through the symptoms. I'm not quite up to being able to do that, but I am getting a treadmill in a week or so, so I'm looking forward to walking nowhere fast LOL.

Thanks for posting chichi....much appreciated! I wish you well and hope things only get better for you in the future!

Hugssssssss
Jean

[Jojuli]

Along with my Bi-Polar I too have panic attacks. I have only just started having panic attacks within the last few months. When I went into the emergency room, the strangest sensation I was having was the buzzing in my head and tingling. The ER doctor was great and was adamant this had nothing, nothing to do with Bi-polar. Usually I would have gotten lumped under a title, but he did not do that and explained the tingling as part of the attack. I still get that strange tingling on my face and head, down my arms, and an itchy type of tingling down my right leg only. You are not alone. As far as you getting through the day like you did, all I have to say is I have never met stronger people in my life than those who have either depression or bi-polar, or panic attacks, whatever. We have to experience the horrors of an illness and still function with a smile because people count on us, especially in your job. You are incredibly strong!
Jojuli

[sabby]

{{{{Jojuli}}}}

Thank you so much! I guess we all do what we have to do when we can do it. Life doesn't stop for us, so we have to keep on plugging away at it.

I'm so glad you had such a great doc at the ER. So many times, they are too busy to give a decent dx and take the time to explain and help with an issue.

I wish you well and hope your anxiety subsides with help!

Hugssssssss
Jean

[1Larbo]

Hi there.....FYI....My first panic attack started with tingling in my hands and forearms then eventually in my legs below the knee. The overall attack got more severe than that. I went to the hospital because I thought for sure I was dying from some type of allergic reaction. I felt better as soon as I started talking to the ER doctor.....I got my heart checked, etc. I was told it was panic. Since that day I have had several more mini panic attacks. I say mini because I can recognize the attack is coming on because of the tingling in the arms and the racey feeling that strikes me. Because I know what it is, I immediately do the following which has worked everytime for me so far: 1) I tell myself: no one has ever died from a panic attack and no one has ever ended-up in a rubber room for the rest of thier life do to a panic attack 2) I let my body go completely limp and concentrate on swinging outside on a swing 3) I play the alphebet game, a is for apple, b is for banana, c is for cat, etc. Generally it passes. Maybe this will help you too! I realize that the longer I wait to relax and do the above things.....the harder it is for me to get a handle on the attack. For me, I use those things so that it doesn't get worst.....a full-blown panic attack. My doctor told me the tingle is from the large amount of addrenaline that your brain released....and your body is trying to get rid of it. It only takes about 2 minutes for your body to absorb the excess addrenaline.....unless you continue to throw yourself into panicing.....then you will continue to release addrenaline in massive amounts and the tingle will continue.

[sabby]

Thank you for your post 1Larbo.... and Welcome to PC! I appreciate your information and coping mechanism you use during your panic attacks. I have tried to do something similar, but without much success. I can now see that I didn't have a specific plan or a specific way of thinking when I feel an attack coming on. Great idea and I will try it next time. Also, thanks for explaining the adrenalin stuff too, very interesting

[sabby]

{{{{Pat}}}}

Thank you!

Hugssssssss
Jean

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((( sabau ))))))))

[Ginger1]

when i have an attack, i can feel it coming, too...i think mine are different though, i feel i'm being choked and can't get a breath but i know it's not true because i'm screaming about not being able to breathe...sounds totaly stupid. anyway when it starts it's like i want to go with it and have to fight not to just give in and ride it out. like approaching a waterfall and getting sucked in. when i feel it coming i try to get busy. something mindless is best. have you ever had a panic attack in public?

[sabby]

Hi Ginger1....Welcome to PC. I hope you enjoy your time here and get to know some of us. It's a very supportive network

Wow, I haven't had attacks like yours. They sound very scary. I can't imagine going through one.

I have had a panic attack in public. It usually happens in a store. I get totally overwhelmed with all the people around and I feel like I could crawl right out of my skin. There have been many times I've driven to the store, drove into the parking lot and felt an attack might happen if I go into the store, so I turn around and drive right home. I hate when that happens...LOL.

[sabby]

{{{{{{{{{{Fuzzy}}}}}}}}}

Thanks so much!!!

Hugsssssss
Jean