hey man, i know EXACTLY the feeling as im sure all of the people on here do.
ill tell you my similar story and hopefully this will make you feel better. Im 28 and had my first panic attack when i was about 21 or 22. It all came about because i drank too much one night in college and thought that i was going to die. The whole next day i felt my heart flip flopping and for the next year i was on and off all types of meds but the only thing that made me feel better was a few beers. Then i was worried i was drinking too much. It eventually worked out where i stopped drinking and went through HELL for about a month. i was constantly nervous and shakey. It was hard to go in public with the fear i was going to "freak out". But about a month into taking Effexor the meds started working. Since then I have been 99.9% better. Ive had a few minor anxiety attacks but nothing to bad. Then all of a sudden this past weekend I had another attack out of no where. Im working on shaking this one but its been off and on. I came onto this site for some help and just started on there 12 week program (its actually really helpful). I know exactly how you feel, and there are millions of others feeliung the same way. try to keep in your mind that no one has ever died of a panic attack:) you will be just fine. It may suck right now but there is light at the end of the tunnel. i can gaurentee that.
Here are a few tips/suggestions:
1. End all bad habits that bring on anxiety! If you drink stop or atleast cut down. Stop doing drugs (if you even do them), Quit tobacco or other nicotine product (try your best), and cut down on coffee or other stimulents.
2. See a doctor that can suggest putting you on some anti-depressants. They generally take about a month to work but you can make it. They have minor side effects so make sure you talk to your doctor about them if you experience any. It will all depend on your body and how they react. eveyone is different.
3. stay busy! If your at work, take your mind off it by staying busy. If your at home, read a book, watch a funny movie, (whatever you like and feel comfotable doing).
4. Be around someone you care about. Knowing someone is there that cares about you will help.
5. Try not to let it affect any other situations. Personally I think this is the most important. The more you let it affect your life and control waht you need or want to do, the worse t makes it. Force yourself the best you can to stick out that particular situation. Once you make it through you will feel 100% better! you will be proud of yourself and you will feel the anxiety lift off your shoulders. Anxiety is like Quicksand, once you let it get ahold of you it totally overwhelms you and the more you struggle the more it pulls you in.
6. Get out of the vicious circle. Anxiety and panic attacks are one viscious circle. The quicker you can get out of it the better. It goes around and around and around and you feel lke there is no out. One situation leads to another, then once you get past that on another one comes up. Do whatever you can ( i usually try to talk about it) to get out of cirlce. Talk to someone. your wife, mother, father, doctor, even a stranger on the street, I found that talking about it and realizing what the problems are helps. THe more you hold it in the more you think others are judging and the more you judge yourself.
7. also read about it ont he internet. knowledge is power:)
8. lastly, use this support group as ears to listen
your not in this alone and all of us are still here to talk about it. no matter how much you may think you are dying, your not. do your best to enjoy life. you deserve it.
