How do your anxiety/panic attacks manifest themselves?

[Swede]

I thought if we share a bit of how we experience our anxiety, maybe it could take the sting out of some of it, when we see that we are not alone.

I have had different kinds of panic attacks, some of which I've gotten rid of, thank God!

Once I was sick in our car, and after that I couldn't go by car without feeling severe nausea, and almost throwing up. At that time I was in therapy and when I brought this up,. my therapist helped me think in the right way, and so I got rid of my car nausea!

The panic attacks I get these days are more linked to my personality I think, and things that have happened to me and my family in my childhood. They come when I've almost fallen asleep. Then I get serious anxiety, heart palpitations, a feeling of unreality and I exaggerate every thought I have to the extreme. It's as if I'm going to die, almost.

Luckily I think I can manage my anxiety nowadays, and that gives me a lot of hope! So, even if you suffer from anxiety, you can live with it.

 

[Incsoc]

I thought if we share a bit of how we experience our anxiety, maybe it could take the sting out of some of it, when we see that we are not alone.

I have had different kinds of panic attacks, some of which I've gotten rid of, thank God!

Once I was sick in our car, and after that I couldn't go by car without feeling severe nausea, and almost throwing up. At that time I was in therapy and when I brought this up,. my therapist helped me think in the right way, and so I got rid of my car nausea!

The panic attacks I get these days are more linked to my personality I think, and things that have happened to me and my family in my childhood. They come when I've almost fallen asleep. Then I get serious anxiety, heart palpitations, a feeling of unreality and I exaggerate every thought I have to the extreme. It's as if I'm going to die, almost.

Luckily I think I can manage my anxiety nowadays, and that gives me a lot of hope! So, even if you suffer from anxiety, you can live with it.

I myself have been getting panic attacks for almost three years. Mainly because I worry about college and where my career is going.

I started doing a meditation class since last summer and that does seem to help out a lot.
Also I plunked up the courage to tell my family members about, I tought this would make it worse but it actually made things better.

My family gave a hert-to-heart on the subject and told me that my mental health is more important and one of my brothers also gave my afew books with techniques on how to deal with an anxiety.

Gradually it has started to get alot better and more manageable but from time to time I still tend to panic and worry even unnecessarily about things.

 

[Swede]

I myself have been getting panic attacks for almost three years. Mainly because I worry about college and where my career is going.

I started doing a meditation class since last summer and that does seem to help out a lot.
Also I plunked up the courage to tell my family members about, I tought this would make it worse but it actually made things better.

My family gave a hert-to-heart on the subject and told me that my mental health is more important and one of my brothers also gave my afew books with techniques on how to deal with an anxiety.

Gradually it has started to get alot better and more manageable but from time to time I still tend to panic and worry even unnecessarily about things.

 

[NinadeDios777]

i've only been getting panic/anxiety attacks recently, mainly when i'm afraid someone has found out something about my SI, Ed, and other things... whenever someone says they want to talk to me but won't tellme what its about, e.t.c i get really shaky, and i can't think. my heart races, i breath heavily. i cannot concentrate on anything. gas problems, i feel like throwing up... eh, i wrote down ALL my symptoms once, but i'm too lazy to dig them up.

 

[mercy0915]

I thought if we share a bit of how we experience our anxiety, maybe it could take the sting out of some of it, when we see that we are not alone.

I have had different kinds of panic attacks, some of which I've gotten rid of, thank God!

Once I was sick in our car, and after that I couldn't go by car without feeling severe nausea, and almost throwing up. At that time I was in therapy and when I brought this up,. my therapist helped me think in the right way, and so I got rid of my car nausea!

The panic attacks I get these days are more linked to my personality I think, and things that have happened to me and my family in my childhood. They come when I've almost fallen asleep. Then I get serious anxiety, heart palpitations, a feeling of unreality and I exaggerate every thought I have to the extreme. It's as if I'm going to die, almost.

Luckily I think I can manage my anxiety nowadays, and that gives me a lot of hope! So, even if you suffer from anxiety, you can live with it.

I HAVE HAD ANXIETY/PANIC/DEPRESSION FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS TOO AND I GET THEM BAD IN A CAR LIKE A SENSE OF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENING A TICKLY FEELIN ALL IN SIDE!I FEEL LIKE I AM IN A REALLY BAD UN REAL WORLD LIKE I AM HERE BUT I AM NOT HERE ,LIGHTHEADED,SHORTNESS OF BREATH ,THE FEEL OF PASSIN OUT WHEN I GO TO SLEEP AND WEAKNESS,TINGLY NUMB HANDS ,FAST HEART BEAT ,FLUTTERY FEELIN ON MY CHEST,I LIVE IN STRESS,EVEN ONE DAY WHEN IWAS OUTSIDE PLANTING SOM E FLOWERS MY HAND SWEELED UP AND TURNED RED AND I GOT SOO SCARD ,MY EYES GET PUFFY AND I GET SCARED MY LIPS FEEL TINGLY AND GET SCARED!THE PAST FEW WEEKS IT HAS BEEN BAD I MEAN I SUPPOSE TO GO HOME WED ON A PLANE WITH JUST MY DAUGHTERS AND I MIGHT BE GETTIN SCARED !!SO I HAVE WHAT YOU CALL GOOD MOMENTS AND BAD ONES THEY COME IN DAYS WEEKS OR MONTHS !

 

[Soulwings]

Ive been having been panic attacks for going on 12 years now, but they just got diagnosed as such. My throat closes up, so it feels like Im going to choke (have choked a few times), hyperventilating. My hands tend to play with each other, squeezing/scratching, but thats mainly to alleviate the panic. I dont know what triggers them, but Ive had them several times a day several days a week for years.

 

[emokid135]

mine have just started recently. im usually really angery or stressed out when they come, and i start to cry a lot and shack. it feels like i have a lumpy throat. i start to become hysterical and its really wierd. im glad it only last a few minutes though. its wierd saying all of this because ive never ever told anyone.

 

[5pointCalvinist]

I have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder and I have wierd symptons. When an episode occurs I can't concentrate on anything and have real obsessive irrational thoughts get stuck in my head for a long time, along with irregular breathing, I become so restless I can't do anything. I feel disconnected from my body like I am watching myself do things.I get scared and worried about such little things that seem like so much more than they really are. I am taking medicine which seems to help. I need people to pray for me that my symptons will lighten up.

 

[stealingheaven]

I have panic attacks hit me whenever/wherever. I will usually start off feeling a little dizzy or wobbly on my feet as though I'm going to fall over or faint, then I'll have heart palpatations, then my throat will close up, feel like I can't breath or swallow, I have that fight or flight feeling and I usually want to flight, just have to move, keep busy trying to distract myself from the panic I'm feeling.

Ive had anxiety disorder with panic attacks for almost 10 years now and during those years Ive become claustraphobic so for example if I get in a lift or on a crowded bus then I know I'll have a panic attack and so will avoid those situations but apart from that I could have panic attacks all day long and not fully understand why.

For all those with anxiety/panic attacks, I keep you in my prayers x God bless

 

[Krystina661]

I've had anxiety attacks since I was about 15 but they have come and gone. I've gone a few years without having any "panic attacks" but I've always had a sense of anxiety or thinking something might be wrong with me physically for a long time. Of course I've been to the doctors who can't find anything wrong with me. Recently though they have been really bad because I'm pregnant. What makes it worse is that I can't sleep at night and I've never had a problem sleeping before. I only get a few hours of sleep a night and some night no sleep at all because of having butterflies in my stomach I can't seem to get rid of. I'd do anything for my anxiety to ease up and my life return to normal again..

 

[Angieh]

I can certainly relate to all the posts above.... I too, get more of the symptoms when I drive... My first panic attack (which I call my fake heartattack) happened in the car, alone.... Especially if I haven't had enough sleep or have eaten badly... Also, even good and happy things will trigger my attacks! Four years and counting.. Would love to feel "normal" again!! I thank God for giving me strength when I need it the most.... Take care you all,
Angie

 

[Angieh]

I can certainly relate to all the posts above.... I too, get more of the symptoms when I drive... My first panic attack (which I call my fake heartattack) happened in the car, alone.... Especially if I haven't had enough sleep or have eaten badly... Also, even good and happy things will trigger my attacks! Four years and counting.. Would love to feel "normal" again!! I thank God for giving me strength when I need it the most.... Take care you all,
Angie

 

[kamikat]

When I'm coming up to a social function (such as walking into a party), usually my stomach starts to get sick, then I start to feel flushed and hot, then I start to sweat. If I can't manage to stop it or leave the situation, my heart will pound, then I kind of get tunnel vision, where I sor of lose my peripheal vision and can only focus on what's directly in front of me.
kamikat

 

[Zippythepinhead]

I am new to this forum area, but I have been dealing with GAD since I was a teen. Through God's help I have been able to survive and enjoy life. I look forward to meeting more of you.

Zippy

 

[mon_cherri_flower]

i have big time issues lately. it revolves around my job... fitting in... it revolves around going out, and in parenting.... being a parent is very hard for me.

 

[kamikat]

i have big time issues lately. it revolves around my job... fitting in... it revolves around going out, and in parenting.... being a parent is very hard for me.

Wow! Tell me about it! I bet we don't have the same issues with parenting, but parenting is hard for me, too. Because I have social anxiety,I have always had problems with meeting other moms for playdates and mommy groups. Now that my kids are a little older, in elementary school, I'm expected to be so involved. I had a panic attack right before a PTA meeting and just can't bring myself to go back. I tend to avoid all the night time school activites (pizza night, parties, book fairs, ect). I feel bad for my kids because they want to go to all these things, but I just can't bring myself to do it.

kamikat

 

[Zippythepinhead]

I have three teenage boys. Parenting is not easy, but it is worth it. I have been able to impart some of my experiences to them. I still worry about them. But I guess that is what being a father is all about.

 

[ANN2626]

i have had about 10 major panic attacks since july. it started when i moved last july. my panic attacks make me feel like i am going crazy and that there is nothing i can do. it makes me feel like i dont know the people around me, its just the weirdest and worst feeling. i do and always have had anxiety. whatever my anxiety kicks in i feel like i cant concentrate on anything except what im anxious about. i pace and my heart just starts racing.

 

[CaerMac]

I've had three really major panic attacks that scared the life out of me. I had a thudding and fast heartbeat, the feeling of being out of reality...or kind of like being in the air looking down upon myself. I thought I was crazy, and that I would never come out of it. Two of these ended me up in the ER and lasted for a couple of hours. After the initial panic attack, I was in a state I could call "euphoric"... floating, peacefulness, but still with an increased heart rate. Most of my panic attacks are very short, not like those in intensity. And usually they seem to be set off by my OCD compulsions. The OCD usually is constant checking, mostly checking on my kids to make sure they are ok - that they're still breathing. I've had times that I would have to count the rise and fall of their chests up to whatever number felt "right" to me. Then I would walk away and wonder if I really checked on them, or if they were really breathing or if I only imagined it. And I would have to start again.
A few years ago, I started going to college, and was able to focus my OCD on schoolwork, which eliminated my checking compulsions for the whole time I was in school... 4 years. It was during this time that I had the two really major panic attacks, and for no apparent reason. (Both were at home, thankfully) Then I had the third major one, in of all places, an Abnormal Psych class. This happened because I looked down at one of my legs and thought I saw a varicose vein. From that I stared thinking of blood clots, etc., and I had worked myself up really bad. I wanted to get up and run out of the class, but that would have embarrassed me further, and I already felt like everyone was staring. Fortunately the class was dismissed, and as soon as everyone else left the room, I took off and went to a restroom, sat down and lowered my head, afraid I was going to faint. After a couple minutes, I felt somewhat better. I looked in a mirror and I was ghost white, and my lips had hardly any color. I went to my car and sat for a few minutes, then drove home (15 miles) scared to death that it would happen again on the drive.
I ended up quitting school with only a semester till graduation (double major). I've only had the lighter panic attacks since then, although with the birth of my youngest 2 1/2 yrs ago, the checking compulsions have come back, although not as severe as they once were.
Whew! I'm going on and on, so I guess I will shut up now.

 

[jacquidube]

I too suffer with anxiety. Usually when things get too boring in life and its part of your life. I hate lifts and I cant fly because of the enclosed areas. I get really scared. I have even spoke to strangers just to take my mind off things.


Oh Father God I lift up all these people on here who suffer from anxiety. Lord this is not of you and I pray that you will lift whatever is controlling our bodies. Father we love you so much. Help us Lord. Your word tells us not to worry but we do as we dont understand whats going on. You Lord are there to clothe us and feed us and help us on our way. Take away this anxiety that is not of You. Heal us Father. I pray all this in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen everybody. I am so glad that we do understand each other. It does help us. We are not alone but we also do not have to suffer. All we can do is trust in God with all we have then we would have no need to think about what our bodies go through.