Jen, the racing thoughts are totally normal when it comes to this disorder. I have had them so bad that I actually forgot my son was in the car with me once, and I left him sitting in his carseat. I got as far as the door to the building I was going into when I realized what I had done and ran back across the parking lot. It was one of the most horrible days , but my mind was so consumed with everything I couldn't focus on anything. I became obessesed with going crazy and if I heard anything about someone suffering from a mental illness I would think on it and think on it constantly.I live in the Washington, DC area and I was in really bad shape during the trial of the DC area snipers and I had heard that one of them was pleading insanity and I immediately began to fret about snapping the way they had and becoming a sniper. If you knew me you would be laughing your butt off about me thinking I could lose my mind and become a sniper because I can't even kill a bug, much less a human being with a high powered rifle. But that's what this disorder does to you. If you are sobbing let it out. I use to try to hold it in and it makes the panic worse. I cried for a whole weekend once and it was very theraputic.Afterwards my anxiety level went way down. Just hang in there the good days will be back soon.

Good morning, thank you for the replies Hopeful and Melanie. I did take the anxiety test and it told me I suffer from panic disorder and a form of agorophobia. I already knew this, and so does my doctor. Today is a very very bad day. I wasn't able to fall asleep until 1:30am and I woke up at 5 with an upset stomach and a panic attack. I managed to talk myself out of it and fell back asleep until 6 when another "one" woke me up. I haven't fallen asleep since (its 10am) I just finished another attack (3 in a morning, a record, lol i'm trying to find some humour in this.) I had to call into work. I feel awful missing work over this but my boss is such a nice and understanding lady that she said it is no problem. What is scaring me though is that I'm actually sobbing. I sometimes cry but always silently. I can't seem to control them........ I made an appointment to see my doctor this afternoon and up my 75mg dose of effexor. It worked great for a while but now i'm just so so tired of dealing with this anxiety. I need something to take the edge off so i can deal with it better. There is a bottle of klonopin (clonanzepam) in my cupboard. My doc gave it to me back in september when I was in rough shape but I refused to take any once I realized it was a tranquilizer. I'm afraid he is going to suggest I take some right now. I'm so nervous about those drugs because they are habit-forming and i'm worried about the side effects. Apparently it can make you drowsy, uncoordinated and spacey. I don't want this :( This board is sooooooo helpful. thank you to everyone :) I just needed to talk this morning and already i'm feeling a little better. Jen

Yes, it seems that those kind of racing thoughts are very common around here! I have them myself! They race so fast that it makes me dizzy almost, and I can't concentrate on anything. To me, it seems like my mind is almost desparately searching for something to panic about! (Like your broken ankle!) That's just one of the very common symtoms of panic. And I have noticed too, that sometimes when I try to relax, it brings on panic! Panic just seems to be hovering in the background somewhere looks for a way to scare us. I also can be very fine and happy for a couple days and then feel on edge for no reason that I can pinpoint. This, too, shall pass!

Jen, It might help if you take the free anxiety test and print out the results to take to your doctor's visit. That's the reason the test was designed. While it does not diagnose, it can give some clues to your doctor to help in his diagnosis. All the best, Melanie

Hi everyone I just wanted to know, are racing thoughts a "normal" symptom of panic? I did great for two days, no panic or edginess and I actually had intense feelings of HAPPINESS! :) But the last day or so I've been on edge, my thoughts racing so fast I think I'm going to go insane. I can't even pinpoint what I am thinking about. While I was working in the stable today, my thoughts were going everywhere from upping my medication to going off it, to breaking my ankle (???? Where did that come from?) and other really weird thoughts. I'm afraid I'm going crazy. I dont hear voices or anything but my thoughts move so fast I feel dizzy. Sounds are bothering me and I feel like I keep getting head-rushes or vertigo. I'm thinking this is just anxiety (i'm feeling hot and panicky just writing this) and it is nothing to worry about. But i still am worried! UHHHHGGGGGGG!!!! Does this EVER end?? I have a few good days then back to feeling anxious. Today when i was doing my relaxation tape, I had a mini attack! It happened right about the time that I really fall into a deep relaxed state. I was just getting there when all of a sudden, its like I had a head rush and my eyes flew open and all my muscles tensed. It was so crazy! Its a feeling I have had during the night when my attacks used to wake me up (Thank god that stage is over!) It took a few seconds of deep breathing and then i could close my eyes again and continue with the tape. Has this ever happened to anyone?? Could this maybe be a positive?? Like my body is dealing with the anxiety?? I'm sorry, I probably sound off my rocker right now, but this is the best way I can describe how I felt. Tonight I returned to feelings of happiness but now since I'm talking about it, I'm feeling off again. BLAH!! I'm hoping work will be okay tomorrow :( On a positive note, I'm able to take my dog out every morning for a twenty minute walk :) Sometimes I feel housebound but I keep trying to tell myself, I work four days a week and seem to be okay doing that. In fact, I worked my first 7 hour shift last weekend (The first since August!) And even though I'm only able to do a 20 minute walk if I'm close to home, I am getting out there by myself. I actually felt brave enough this week