Hurting from Anxiety

Hi. My names Casey and I'm 18. I first had an anxiety attack about 7 months ago, and it took me to the hospital because I didn't know what was going on with me. My heart rate was 170, and I felt like I couldn't breathe and I was having heart palpitations. Since then I have had several attacks, all with the same symptoms as the first and each just as bad. Some are smaller, but no matter what they scare me. I know I can't die from one but its horrible. I don't know what to do. I need help.

My mom and dad just tell me to 'get over it', and I want to so bad. I've tried everything I could think of but they keep coming.

I can't really put a number on how many times I have cried over having these attacks, but it's been too many. I just.. feel shaky and my legs especially are jumpy. My breath is short and my heart races. My mouth becomes dry and I get lightheaded. I'm just sick of it.

Because of these attacks I have been keeping myself from doing things that I used to do all the time. I'm afraid to go out rock climbing, or playing soccer, or even seeing a movie. I don't know what to do, and I was hoping someone could maybe give me some advise. Or even just a little note saying you know what I'm going threw... anything would help, I think...

This is a forum that a lot of people understand and are going through the same exact feeling and other feelings that are hard for most people to understand. I'm 41 and have been suffering for years. At 41 my parents still tell me to get over it. Checking in here and reading what others have to say gives me comfort. I might not be any better, but I know I'm not alone. That's healing in itself. I have a good friend right now that won't speak to me, because I didn't go to her wedding. I would have loved to, but I couldn't - the thought of being around a lot of people I didn't know made me nauseous. Try to talk to others going through this and take helpful advice about things that have worked. If I'm with a friend I'm comfortable with, I can do things. Maybe you can confide in a close friend and ask them to go out and do things that you like. You don't have to become dependent, but it might help at first. My boyfriend of 1 1/2 yrs broke up with me over my attacks. Since I have shown this site to him and since he has spoken with drs. he's trying to understand. We may try to work things out, but I don't know. You are young and there are a lot of things to try. Learn breathing techniques and understand you will eventually be able to handle it. It's great that you've acknowledged the problem at a young age.


Lynn

Hi Casey

I too have panic attacks and have had them for about eight years now. I have got to the point where, even if I believe I'm about to die now, my heart rate rarely goes over 80. I guess you just get used to it, it doesn't make it any less horrible.

I would advise that you keep up your activities if you can. You will probably find that being absorbed in something more important will prevent an attack from happening - although I do understand that it's hard to just make your excuses and leave if you're rock climbing.

I have an older brother who is convinced that it's just me being silly when I have an attack and, to be honest, that would probably have been my reaction if I hadn't experienced it first hand.

You say you were taken to hospital. Did they do any tests or anything that would reassure you that you had no physical illness?

Chris

PS. Cinemas are probably the most scary place on earth to me. I am agoraphobic now but even when I did venture outside I wouldn't go in a cinema - it's like a 2-hour prison :o(

Thank you, Lynn and Chris, for responding and giving me courage and hope. I cried when I read your messages - silly, I suppose, but they were happy tears. I was wondering if you, or anyone else, knew of any good sites that I could look up some breathing techniques and maybe other useful information.

When I was taken to the hospital they did a test to see if my heart was ok, and it was. I need to stop checking my pulse every 30 seconds when I'm having an anxiety attack because it only makes it worse, but I can't seem to help it. I've also noticed that I have paranoid thoughts--all the time. Most of them are about having an allergic reaction to something and not being able to breathe. When I think this I immediately become anxious. I don't want to think these thoughts, but I suppose it shows my greatest fear; suffocation. Not fear of falling off a mountain or getting caught in a rapid, but not being able to breathe. Does anyone else feel this way?

I've been looking over the board and I was suddenly filled with two emotions that are on the opposite side of the spectrum: Joy in finding so many amazing people who care about what others are going through, and then Sadness at the thought that I too would have to deal with anxiety for 5, 15, 30 years. Saddened that so many nice people, you, would have to deal with such pain and torment. Because that is what anxiety brings (at lest what it bring to me).

Casey

P.S: I agree, Cinemas are very scary. But I used to love them.

Hi Casey,

I'm much older than you - almost 59 - and I've had panic attacks since 1985. They say that you will always remember your first one, and I definitely do. I've had periods of time where they are pretty much under control, and other times when they are full-blown again. People who haven't had one just don't understand why you just can't get over it. Those of us who have had them totally understand what you are going through.

Here are some things that I do that help me get through them. I hope they may help you as well.

Distract yourself in some way:

If someone is with you, ask them to give you a good strong back-rub until it subsides.

Get yourself one of those wraps that you heat up in the microwave. Heat it up and snuggle with it. It will help you relax.

Keep an ice pack in the freezer. Put it on your neck. Or, put it on your forehead, and put the heat wrap on your neck.

If you are driving in the car, open a window, or put on the air conditioning and blast it in your face, or both. If you have some water in the car, sprinkle a little on your face before you do this. Stop and pull over if you have to.

Your mouth gets dry because you are hyperventilating. Chew on ice chips. This will also help to distract you.

Sing something outloud, really loud. Try doing this while walking or marching at a brisk pace. If you want ... sing .... "Sandi said to march and sing, march and sing, march and sing. Sandi said to march and sing." (Mary had a little lamb).

Do some deep breathing - in through your nose and out through your mouth.

Splash cold water on your face, leave it there, and run your hands under hot water.

Brush your teeth.

I bought a really great guided imagery CD. I listen to it through a headset so that it blocks out all the rest of the noise. Helps lessen the amount of attacks I get. Also, helps when I feel I'm on the verge of one.

If you are a believer .... pray out loud. I pray the Rosary and it relaxes me. Sometimes I get myself so worked up I can't say the Rosary, so I just hold onto it and it brings me comfort .

Don't try to stop the panic attack when it starts happening. The more you fight it the worse it seems to get and the longer it lasts, at least for me. Try going with it and using some of these distraction techniques.

Hope I may have helped a little

God Bless,
Sandi