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Are these panic attacks?

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Are these panic attacks?

21 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1062

Dawn, drop an email to the support address and we'll do our best to help you out. I had a recent difficulty with email but I'm getting caught up and the mail is going through now. So please write and describe what heppens when you log in, etc? -- Anne-Marie, Site Administrator

21 years ago 0 +0 / -0 21

whisper i have not been able to access the panic journal and things like that. i think i am just an idiot and dont know how to use it i have tried but cant seem to figure it out ha ha!!! i know that having this forum to connect with great people like yourself has helped tremendousluy. its hard enough to be isolated with the agoraphobia but feeling like no one out there understands the crazieness of this process of panic and agoraphobia is what really causes people to go over the edge. people who have not experienced the feelings of loneliness and fear just dont know how to deal with the problem no matter how much they want to help. keep in touch and continue the progress you have made. i am also taking meds that have helped with the bulimic episodes and fear. heres my email to anyone who wants to talk one on one i am always available remember i am agoraphobic i dont go anywhere ha ha ha!!! remember once you fell better, it worked for me to not own up to the panic. it seems once i started speaking of the panic in a past tense it helped. so instead of saying i have panic and agoraphobia i say i have had some episodes with panic and agoraphobia. i dont know it helped me not to own this. anyway heres my address... dwinborne@earthlink.net anyone can feel free to email me anytime love and prayers dawn

21 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1062

We can be overcome if we set out goals too high at first. Good for you, Whisper for taking it slowly. That is something we urge people to do. -- Anne-Marie, Site Administrator

21 years ago 0 +0 / -0 29

Hi Marianne. You asked what helped me the first time around with the panic. Well, I think a combination of things. First I found an endocrinologist that lowered a medicine that I was on that cut the panic attacks and some other physical problems that I was having in half. The therapist I saw was wonderful and was, when I think about it now, part CBT and part psychoanalytical. Another big difference is that back then I had some agoraphobic type of avoidances, but not like it is now with total agoraphobia. There was another difference two that I have yet to put my finger on. I went out anyway back then, to school, to stores, wherever really despite the fear. I can remember literally starting out for school, or to the therapist for that matter, turn back home, go back out, turn back, etc. etc. etc. But I somehow did it. It took quite a while. This time, the anticipatory stuff and fear is so great, that I can't seem to make myself try. The other thing is that even when I have a success (like making it to the therapist or on one of my mini-drives now, I discount it as a failure because I am unable to do it without feeling fear, anxiety or panic. I know that I have to somehow change that thinking (CBT) to get better again. The whole panic/agoraphobia feels more deep rooted or something this time. Sorry I got so long-winded. I tend to analyze myself when I am writing (which sometimes just makes me that much worse ;). I have to quit thinking so much!!!! You are a week ahead of me in the program session. It's taken every bit of restraint I have not to download the whole thing to read ahead. I keep picturing one of the sessions up ahead popping up and saying "GO TO THE MALL" and me just freaking out completely :8o: How's that for unrealistic thinking?

21 years ago 0 +0 / -0 90

Hello Whisper, I'm at session three of the panic program and yes, it's helping me a bit. Thing is, I had already learned about CBT when I did psychology at university. Then I read a self-help book about panic attacks based on CBT. Then I had some sessions with a CBT therapist. Now I'm doing the panic program. It's all helping a bit, and I'm much better than I used to be, but I feel I've got to the end of what CBT can offer me. It's good to go back to it in some from time to time, though, it stops you from falling into the same traps again. Although CBT helps I don't think it's enough for me. Ok, if you've got a very specific phobia it's great, I got over my spider phobia through exposure no problem. But I've had anxiety/agroaphobia/panic attacks/hypochondria for over 20 years now, and even before then I had all kinds of anxieties, and my head and my past and my self esteem are in such a mess, I feel it takes more than CBT to sort it out. I've been seeing an analytical therapist for over a year now and she's helped me no end. I'm also doing yoga and Tai Chi, and work on the exposure/self talk/checking for anxious thoughts thing. I'm also trying to sort out my life situation. With a combination of all these I'm definitely getting better, but I don't think I'll ever be completely free of all the panic/anxiety rubbish. I'm just trying to get it to as low a level as possible and learn to live with it. I'd be very interested to know what kind of therapy you did that helped you first time round. Would you mind telling me what method you used and what helped you? Sorry this has got so long. Marianne

21 years ago 0 +0 / -0 29

Hello MariAnn. Thanks for responding to my post. I've noticed that although it says there are 253 people registered, that it seems very few post. I was wondering how the program is working for you? You mentioned CBT makes it sound too easy. How far along in the prgram are you and is it helping?

21 years ago 0 +0 / -0 29

Hello Dawn. Thanks for responding. You mentioned that you too have agoraphobia but are evidently able to go out some and that you are doing better. That's good. How far have you progressed through the panic program and is it what is helping you?

21 years ago 0 +0 / -0 21

HEY WHISPER MY NAME IS DAWN AND I TOO STRUGGLE WITH PANIC AND AGORAPHOBIA. THE AGORAPHOBIA IS THE WORSE THING TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE A PANIC ATTACK GOES AWAY IF YOU GIVE IT TIME AND BREATHE A LITLLE.....OK A WHOLE LOT!!!!! I WAS ALWAYS SUCH AN OUTGOING PERSON AND ALWAYS THE FIRST ONE ON THE DANCE FLOOR YA KNOW. NOW I AM SHY AND WITHDRAWN EVERY WHERE I GO. I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GIRL I USED TO BE. I HOPE YOU WORK THROUGH ALL OF THIS AND COME OUT AHEAD OF IT. I HAVE BEEN DOING BETTER BUT ITS A STRUGGLE. WRITE BACK AND WELCOME DAWN

21 years ago 0 +0 / -0 90

Hi Whisper, Yes, mine can last anything from a few minutes to days, too. I do get the rush of adrenalin and restricted breathing and sweating and thinking I'm going to die, but it's never like ok, 30 minutes over, back to normal. After the initial rush it normally levels out a bit, then I get another rush and so on, until eventually it fades into the background. But it's really a gradual thing, it's never either on or off. I sometimes feel that only people who suffer from panic attacks themselves should write about them or provide treatment plans. There is so much rubbish being written, and it makes you feel even more of a freak to think that even for an agoraphobic you're not 'normal'! Especially CBT makes it sound so easy, you'd think every child could do it. But hey, if it's so easy, why are we all still here?? Anyway, you got over them before and I'm sure you can do it again. And even if you'll never be completely rid of them you can learn to accept them as part of who you are and learn to live with them. Best of luck! Marianne

21 years ago 0 +0 / -0 29

I'm new here. Started my first panic session last week and was reading through previous posts. Someone posted that their panic attacks last from 10 minutes to 10 hours. Everything I have read, been told, etc. states they last from 10 to 30 minutes. Mine last from a few minutes to hours and hours too and I cannot express how relieved I am to know that there is someone else out there that has the same experience. As a small introduction, I have had panic attacks in the past, sought therapy, got over them and moved on with my life. Started having them about two years ago again, this time accompanied with agoraphobia. I didn't leave my house at all for 9 months. I have started going back out (to the therapist), small drives in my car, short walks in my neighborhood and that is about it. I'm torn between wanting out of this prison and being too overcome with anxiety and panic to even want to try anymore. I'm here though, so I guess that is a postivie step. Hope this works.

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Are these panic attacks?