Will this ever end??

[KTKat]

I'm so sick of feeling like this. I've been anxious all week, and last night I had a horrible panic attack. I woke with anxiety and I feel on the verge of another panic attack. What is wrong with me? I don't know how to get rid of this feeling. I don't even know myself anymore. When I look in the mirror I don't recognize the person looking back at me. It's like someone crawled into my head and reprogrammed my mind. My body feels numb and exhausted. Help Please

 

[KellyLeigh]

Nothing is wrong with you. Just like the rest of us here, you are not crazy for going through this. I know just how you feel, like someone else crawled into your head. Some days I just don't know what happened to me and when I became so stressed and anxious. You are not alone

One thing that helps me get through the episodes of anxiety that come right before a panic attack is singing one of my favorite hymns in my head, focusing on the words. This helps me because I'm focusing on words not the anxiety, I have to think to remember the words (I'm not very good at remembering songs), and the words themselves help sooth me because they are usually about how the Lord helps us and loves us. Someone else recommended to me in another thread here to do brain exercises when anxiety starts to come. Count back from 100 by 3s, do long division in your head, etc.

I will be sure to keep you in my thoughts and prayers that the Lord helps heal you from your anxiety and panic attacks If you ever need anything or anyone to talk to, my PM box is always open

 

[FaithfulWife]

My dear hubby has diagnosed Anxiety Disorder too, and there isn't much we can do. He feels like his heart is pounding out of his chest!!

But one thing we do that I think helps him a little is that when he's feeling panicky, I hold his hand. Yep we just sit and hold hands. I think the physical touch helps a little but it's not "smothering" like a hug could be. Someone is there.


~Faithful

 

[KTKat]

Thank you so much. It always makes me feel better when I know I"m not the only one going through this. I'm so glad I found CF. I hate feeling alone.

 

[Daughter of His]

Really reading, praying, singing, listening to music, a bath, hot tea, a walk, talking with a friend----whatever helps relax you is worth trying. I think a gentle handrub from a loved one is comforting. Praying, for me is the most effective thing I can do. KNOW He is with you and have no doubt that God can help.

You are not alone in your struggles.

 

[zerodrone]

I have had Panic Disorder for 4 years now. Sometimes I can go weeks at a time without medication and without any anxiety. Sometimes I have it every minute of every day.

I have found that Xanax is not the best solution. It is too addictive and its effects are very short-term.

Valium works very well, as it is less physically addictive than Xanax by far and its effects can last up to several days.

Personally, I find that driving and simply having conversations with people, or being in a large group of people, calm me down a lot. Sitting still and concentrating on "calming down" only make it worse, because even if I'm thinking of being calm, I'm still basically thinking of the anxiety. So for me the best way to break the cycle is to simply do something that occupies your mind - play a video game, exercise, play a musical instrument, sing, anything like that.

Hope that helps.

 

[KTKat]

I thought I would come back to this thread. Lately I have been feeling depressed.
I feel like I go to bed feeling anxious, then I wake up feeling anxious. How do I snap out of this?? I've been having really bad depersonalization lately. When I look in the mirror, I barely recognize myself, I'm scared.

 

[Inkachu]

It can be truly frightening to feel like you're "not yourself". I know, I've been there, too. When you're anxious and miserable for so long, you forget what it was like to be "you". But you ARE still you. I remember one day, I was feeling so tense and freaked out while sitting on my porch. I was trying to relax, trying to regain some perspective, and I just started saying out loud "My name is Vicky, I'm 30 years old, I live in Delaware, I like such and such", and I went down a list of FACTS about myself. That was my way of fighting back, and telling Satan that I AM MYSELF and he will not take my self identity in Christ!!! FEAR will not win.

 

[KTKat]

Thanks silverthesprite!! I took that advice today. I made a list of things I enjoy etc. It really helped!
God Bless

 

[zerodrone]

The sad truth is that not everyone gets better from prayer alone. Sometimes brain chemistry is to blame, not Satan. In my opinion it is bad advice to tell someone to just keep praying and it will go away. Panic Disorder is a disease and not all disease can be cured by positive thinking or prayer.

Every individual is different. Some people can get over Panic Disorder by meditation, some by prayer, some by medication and therapy.

 

[goldenviolet]

hi sweet recovery peepers. just popping into remind you that recovery is a safe zone. safe from debates, safe from confusing spiritual warfare with medical issues. ofcourse we are a christian site and want to both offer support and prayers and encouragements: we are also not professionals, can't diagnose, nore should attempt to drive our points across. the recovery community is lead by loving support and practical care.

recovery guidelines are posted in each forum:
http://christianforums.com/t6617097-new-recovery-guidelines.html

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let's regroup and return to helping OP with supportive fellowship.

 

[Tenebrae]

I'm so sick of feeling like this. I've been anxious all week, and last night I had a horrible panic attack. I woke with anxiety and I feel on the verge of another panic attack. What is wrong with me? I don't know how to get rid of this feeling. I don't even know myself anymore. When I look in the mirror I don't recognize the person looking back at me. It's like someone crawled into my head and reprogrammed my mind. My body feels numb and exhausted. Help Please

Theres nothing I can say to make this sound untrite

However dont forget to breath.

Part of the problem with anxiety is that we end up breathing really shallowly and as a result, the whole oxegyn exchange thing doesnt work properly, and we get a build up of CO2 in our bloodstream which makes us feel totally wierd and light headed. when we are anxious we tend to hunch over, and roll our shoulders, which crunches our diaphragm and makes it difficult to breath.


The ideal is if you are able to breathe in for 3 seconds (count 1, 2, 3) and breath out (and count 1. 2. 3). Also, if you are able when you are feeling really anxious, sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor so that your diaphragm and lungs are as open as possible and you can breath easier.

 

[goldenviolet]

you know what? my doctor told me that too. he said sit up strait with feet flat on floor to bleathe and get oxygen through your system faster. good idea! xo

 

[Barnabas71]

You are certainly NOT the only person who suffers with this KTKat.

I have a similar problem. And notice I am about the only man posting here. I think there is a greater stigma if you are a man and suffer with it. I do not like talking about it that much - as I fear how people will perceive me. This is a bit of an anomaly, given the nature of what I have previously discussed and talked about within this forum.

It started many years ago, however it finally reached a head last summer at a Christian conference. I know the Lord is working in my life, slowly drawing me out of it, but often I just feel like giving up and walking (or should that be running) away from it. It has been especially hard the last few weeks at college. I love what I am studying, but find it really hard when this anxiety hits me. I should win an Oscar for my acting performance… the way I can keep how I feel reasonably will hidden. However, I am aware that lecture has become aware of my struggles in this department; and it has been made worse recently by another fellow student. A girl who fancies me. Yerr, this may sound funny, but it is not. She now sits next to me every single lesson. Often I just want to be left alone but she keeps engaging with me, trying to find endless things out about me. I do not know if I could trust her to open up about this. I know she is not a Christian by the way she blasphemes. If she WERE a Christian it would be a whole different ball game, in fact it would really help me. I am now convinced she may suspect about it, and I am worried that she will gossip or think I am mentally unbalanced or something. I am using higher education as a means of killing several birds with one stone. I need to get better qualified and the experience has certainly helped me improve other areas where the anxiety was previously a problem, but I just get so tired of these flare-ups. I think I am beating it then it returns with a bang! I am on half-term at the moment which is a welcome break, but am not particularly looking forward to going back the week after next. All I can do is keep focused on the Lord.

 

[KTKat]

Thanks Barnabas71 I know how you feel with school. When I was in class I always felt like everyone was staring at me and they knew I was on the verge of a panic attack. It was so bad I had to drop out early last semester. I decided to take this semester off to clear my head and try to overcome this. I know I"m slowly getting better, and I owe most, or even all of it to this forum. You all have helped me so much! Good luck to you with you're lectures!
God Bless!!!

 

[Inkachu]

I didn't see anyone say that a person should try to solve their anxiety problems through prayer alone. I just read each post again, and they all make various suggestions, and prayer is included among them.

God bless!

 

[KTKat]

Prayer is the only thing that has helped me personally. I tried meds, I tried exercise, etc. But since I started becoming stronger in my faith and praying more, my anxiety has gotten much more tolerable.

 

[3girls2dogs]

I didn't see anyone say that a person should try to solve their anxiety problems through prayer alone. I just read each post again, and they all make various suggestions, and prayer is included among them.

God bless!

The posts were deleted. Silver, please do not discuss mod action in threads.

KTKat, I am so glad that you have been finding your anxiety to be more tolerable. It's such a horrible way to live day to day, and I am thrilled that you have found something that works for you.