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22 years ago 0 +0 / -0 33

Definitely I find that my general level of stress and anxiety makes a difference. I like to think about it this way. If you think of a scale form 1 to 10 with 1 being no anxiety and 10 being the worst anxiety you have ever felt (the worst of your worst panic attack), most days, on average, I would rate my anxiety as being a 1, 2 or 3. Those are good days and it may take quite a bit to kick me up to a 9 or 10 (panic attack). On the other hand if I am stressed out and my average anxiety level for the day is 5 or 6, it just doesn't take quite as much to get me to a 9 or 10, which makes sense, becasue there isn't as far to go. That is why I think that keeping track of my baseline anxiety level each day helps. I also think that that is why it helps to do things that help you reduce or manage the general level of stress in your life...yoga...meditation...trying to eat right...avoiding people who cause you grief. This is certainly one of the best lessons I have learned from my experience with CBT.

22 years ago 0 +0 / -0 173

Hi again, Mr. Bubble, It sounds like an identical description of my life..I had to do the driving de-sensitization because of this horrible car accident. But the social aspect has been OK for many years. I got over that when I was in my 20's and I think something snapped inside and I was able to look everyone in the eye. I think I go tired of feeling like I was a second class citizen, so to speak. I was real bad as achild, his under my Mothers' skirt when introduced to someone until age 1. Bad stuff..and like back theen it was not accepted to seek mental help. You just didn't do it, mention it or even entertain the thought. You are in the right place for support, but nothing takes the place of a doctor. Getting back to driving...after a while of driving and my confidence was being built up..I started to get aggressive..cuss out the bad drivers, but never drove like they did. I would drop back or acelerate to a spot in the road where they was little traffic. I like to stay out of harms' way. Why do you have trouble still meeting people?. Panis wise? Do you think that being wsell rested and not stressed makes it easier to do the "going out" things? I do not drive if I fel panicky. red

22 years ago 0 +0 / -0 33

Red Oh yeah I took the test. No big surprise there. I have been suffering from panic disorder and social phobia for a long time. Things have got alot better over the past ten years or so, after some good cognitive behavioral therapy and a lot of hard work. For example, in order to be okay with driving, I had to start by just sitting in the car in the driveway for an hour every day for a week , then sitting in the car in the driveway with the engine running, then driving around the block...then to the local store. Finally, after a couple of months I was managing to drive o the freeway by myself....An awesome feeling...It has been the same story for going to malls, the movies, and lots of other situations. One step at a time. There are still some situations, especially social situations that are really challenging for me. Sometimes I can push myself and sometimes I can't. Sometimes, such as when meeting new people, I still get really panicky. The struggle ain't over yet but I am going to keep pushing. I am mostly looking for a place where I can get a bit of support and hopefully some tips on how to keep challenging my fears.

22 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1062

Hi, Maria. Welcome! Sorry for your pain. Rejection hurts deeply. In times past, society rejected an unwed mother a lot more than people might do today. Hollywood is beginning to make films about mental illness, so there's hope. I'm hoping some of those very family members who are on the outside will join us and become informed. Who knows, but perhaps they can be helped not to reject? Through learning, many can be helped to find some level of comfort and acceptance of mental disorders. Thanks for your post. -- Anne-Marie, Site Administrator This message was edited by am on 2-2-02 @ 5:50 AM

22 years ago 0 +0 / -0 198

I only wish my family would have cared enough about my Mother, my sister and myself to deal with us, instead of, throwing us away. It hurts so deeply to be misunderstood. However, I am glad the medical community is giving out positive information to the general public, on television and other media venues, about Panic Disorders, so, we who suffer and present our disorder to the public at times, don't seem like real nut cases or ultimately insane. Hollywood should make a really dramatic movie about people with panic disorder. Might make them some money. Maria

22 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1062

Welcome to our site, Mr. Bubble. Nice to have you with us. -- Anne-Marie, Site Administrator

22 years ago 0 +0 / -0 173

Mr Bubble Did you take that fun test? Red

22 years ago 0 +0 / -0 173

You hit the nail on the head there. Are they all being supportive at the present time? Red

22 years ago 0 +0 / -0 33

I found that supportive friends and a supportive partner can be a big help in helping me to gradually approach my fears. I imagine that it could work the other way too. Sometimes even my friends and family find it hard to understand what is going on for me, so I am hoping that a forum like this will help both me and them cope better.

22 years ago 0 +0 / -0 173

Anne-Marie, This is such a wonderful subject. Including the family/friends. I have to say that years ago it was not "acceptable" spcially to seek mental health, and everything was hush-hush, as I am sure you are aware. Today, with things of this nature being out in the open, and mental health an openly discussed topic, one would think that everyone involved would be included in a treatment plan. Maybe this is why the suicide rate so so high. I think some pressue needs to be put on the responsibile party so that people are safer from themselves at a time when they can do harm. How would a family deal with a panic attack if they did not even know what a panic attack was?This sure is some food for thought. In my life of having panic attacks, my psrents took the "give her some candy" and it will pass approach. This was fun for me..but they never got me the help I needed to understand what was wrong with me. This site would be a valuable tool for helping people understand the problems and maybe approach the family themselves. There is no shame in having this disorder..I joke about my problem all the time. It is not the end of my world for sure..and I really do not know if there is a set answer to your question. I believe that people, ince diagnosed, should explain to the family thenselves. What do you think.? there are no deep, dark secrets like way back when I was young..and it wasn't discussed at all. Red ;)

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