It's been a while. How are you doing? What's your cat's name? He or she?
I would really appreciate your take on this.
I have been up and down a lot in the last couple of weeks. My panic attacks seems more severe yet I am workinh harder than usual to help myself - Maybe I am not doing this cbt thing right? My doctor thinks I will benefit from a course of Lexapro but I am hesitant to try medication. I think it may be adding to my anxiety...
I think you may have something there - regarding conditioning. I dont get morning panic attacks when I am away from home. I was in Dallas last weekend and did not have any anxiety - well it was manageable. My chest felt tight a couple of times during the flight but that was it.
I dont feel depressed. I attend to my duties ie work, family, each day even through the anxiety. I dont sleep well but I never lie in bed - cant with a 7 year old. :-)
When I say it's been up and down I mean I have days of manageable anxiety and some really horrendous days. I am not doing the relaxation exercises as I should.
My doctor is a GP. My therapist is a little passive. I think she lets me get away with stuff - she doesnt get tough with me if I dont fill out my forms etc - I kind of need a kick in the rear sometimes
Davit
So I assume it's Theodore I see?? I used to have a cat called Katzan when I was younger. He was such a snob and very fiesty - We also had 4 bull matiff type dogs and a labrador but he ruled them all.
How do you win a battle with bears? Arent you afraid?
I so admire your ability to work through stuff - I wish I could do the same and not catastrophise so much. I imagine it's a result of years of work.
Thank you very much for taking the time to help me out. Very much appreciated. Wish I could bottle that wisdom and whip it out every time I feel the panic coming. You have been through so much yet you pick yourself up and keep going - in a positive direction. that's admirable. And you are right - I absolutely need to be determined and be courageous and believe that this will pass and that what I feel are really panic symptoms. I do struggle with that. I also struggle with knowing how to make it work - I think I am going back to start the course at the beginning. I know i can do this without medication.
There was a time I thought I had the panic beat - I understood what it was, I recognised it when I felt panicky and I could talk my self down but I got hit recently with a slew of new sensations that have made me panic again. I know there are many many panic symptoms but I guess I dont understand how it can change shape so much.
I am trying hard and working on desensitizing - I have to keep telling myself that feeling lightheaded doesnt mean a stroke or that my palpitations dont mean a heart attack. It is really difficult though.
My therapist says an explanation for my waking in panic could be that my body interpretes my relaxed state as some sort of anomaly and that causes panic. My question is this - What can I do to reduce the "waking up in panic"? When I am awake, I can usually calm myself down but when panic wakes me up it is almost impossible to do.
Gosh this seems so simple when you say it. I get it, I know the truth in what you say but when the panic hits - poof! It's all gone
As I am typing right now, I am feeling quite lightheaded and feel some kind of head and chest pressure which I am trying hard to ignore. I have to try to believe that these are anxiety symptoms but its so hard sometimes.
Thanks for your responses - I just feel incredible fear that something terrible is about to happen - Like I am going to have a heart attack. when I felt the panic rising I tried my calming breaths for about 15 minutes and it just kept spiralling and so I took 1/2 a xanax and even that didnt help. By the end I was shaking and feeling numb all over and I actually drove myself to the ER but I didnt go in. Something held me back and then I read your response and felt a little calmer.
I am back in the office now, still very shaky, my chest hurts like hell, my arms and legs are numb but I dont want this panic to drive me away from work.
Your "presence" made it a little more bearable but I am still very afraid
I didnt realize it but I was actually avoiding work a little. As soon as I got anxious at work I would flee home or to my doctor. I set a gaol for myself to stay at work no matter how horrible I felt. It hasnt been easy but I powered through it but today I was almost defeated but I am back at work - legs like jelly, shivering like a leaf, head and heart pounding but I am here...Any advice on what to do to make myself feel more comfortable?
I have to read this a couple of times to really understand but I get it - running away doesnt solve anything - it prolongs the pain ... I need to have a serious think about the work I am doing
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