What about the DISORDER?

Hello,
I've read all over the place about the anxiety attacks and phsycial affects, but what about the actual disorder? The thing that causes the attacks, that is what is really resoponsible for disrupting your day to day life.

Most are familiar with anxiety attacks, and everyone, at some point in their life, will have at least one. But, Anxiety Disorder is different than a normal anxiety attack. The disorder consumes you with fear, with thoughts, your mind constantly going, can't sleep, or can't get enough sleep, and so on.

I've been managing my attacks for years now, and though I still need help with meds sometimes for some of the attacks, I find the disorder to be the biggest problem.

The neurons and chemicals in the brain are responsible for this. One source I read said that those of us with the disorder do not produce enough of a chemical (can't remember the name now, but it wasn't seritonin) which is responsible for acting like a tranquilizer. Without this, our brains are over-stimulated all the time, which will lead to the anxiety attacks, but my main problem is the daily results.

Anyone want to talk about the disorder with me?

Tess

Dear Tess,

I'd like to discuss this - I've had a problem since the beginning of this year and at first my problems were physical - some blood tests revealed some abnormalities (insulin levels for example). However after a great deal of pricking and prodding, the doctors decided that my problems were not physical, which brought me to the possibility that they were psychological.

Unfortunately, despite all my efforts (a rough total of about eight visits to psychiatrists and psychologists) no one was willing to name a specific disorder.

I believe that psychological factors are triggering physiological problems - such as the ones mentioned on this board; irregular heart beat (mine showed up as ranging from 55 to 110 in one go on the monitor), confusion, feeling faint, cramps, difficulties sleeping (it's past four a.m. here and I'm still awake despite my medication) and a frequent feeling of panic.

All I can say is that my condition is probably non-specific and does not appear to match any of the named disorders, yet has something in common with more than one. The closest I got personally, after some research and hesitant unofficial confirmation, was PTSS (I was in a building where a terrorist attack took place and I lost some colleagues just over a year ago) and am now receiving EMDR treatment but things do not appear to be improving (yet) and I am well aware that my symptoms are also linked to other childhood traumas (I have flash-backs).

Yes, I find that the biggest problem is not knowing exactly what I'm experiencing. Admittedly Tess, those closest to me have reacted with less sympathy because there is no proper diagnosis so far and I'm not officially considered unwell. The underlying attitude is one of impatience, and I have ironically begun envying physically sick patients for their "right" to admit they're feeling ill. The worst thing is the battle to control how I'm feeling and trying (unsuccesfully) to keep up appearances.

If a certain disorder were named, it could help me at home, and also I have still not been given perscription drugs, OTC medications are not having an effect and I am beginning to worry about the side effects of their long-term use (I was given insidon and then buspon).

How about you?

Dear Tess and Pearl. I have heard different theories, and I dont know which are true, except that the theory that it is in your head and you can just shake it isnt so. In fact that thinking makes it worse and makes you feel guilty when it doesnt work. I also realize there are a few things that help, such as realizing that not all your feeling are abnormal or part of your panic disorder, everybody gets nervous sometimes, tires, and other things. But no, not everybody get panic attacks. But realizing that you are also normal helps to reduce some of the nervousness inbetween the panic attacks, and please dont feel guilty. I have put myself through that and it just makes you depressed to boot. I do believe someday there will be a breakthrough in this disorder, but until then I think working together we can find ways to help each other with what works and doesnt. Pearl, as far as the criteria goes for panic disorder, it doesnt even make a dent in the actual array of symptoms that we really have and it sounds to me like you have it. I look forward to talking to you again.

Jen

Pearl,
At first I would have told you to really look into GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), but after what you told us, about your horrible experience, I would now say it sounds more like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as WELL as an Anxiety problem.

I can tell you that I have been officially diagnosed (a long time ago), have been on disability and much more, but STILL close ones do not understand...think it's all in the head. I've done research, printed out things from the National Institute of Mental Health and WebMD....but still they don't grasp it. The problem is that it is a mental illness, so it is hard for people to understand. If we had a physical illness that they knew something about, then they'd be more supportive. It's a vicious cycle and drives most of us crazy with always trying to validate ourselves. So don't worry, you're not alone!

Try (if you haven't already) getting rid of as much caffeene as possible. And sugar too, since they both will make the racing heart and anxiety much worse. Be careful with over the counter drugs, make sure they don't contain any type of caffeene or stimulate, as that will make it much worse.

JEN: thanks so much for your imput, and for you help. I was somewhere else on this board, can't find where I put my post! but there was the Lindy method, or whatever it's called, and they were talking about how it's in your mind and controllable...that's what set me off. That's why I wrote that post :D

Anyway, I usually check the board at least once a day...at least this thread of it. Take care and hope to chat with you guys again.

Tess