Anyone out there with panic/anxiety disorder?

Question

Hi there,

I am thinking of seeking professional help for my anxiety. I used to think i was over reacting about it but it's getting worse. I just want to know if this is in fact an anxiety disorder.

I have a lot of irrational fears and have panic attacks frequently. I hate windows that don't have blinds (at NIGHT time) because i worry there is a gun man who can aim for my head. I run past those windows to get to a room.

I am worried im infertile (i have no reason to think i am) and i cry about not being a mum. I wake up sometimes in the middle of the night about this.

I am also a hypochondriac. I HATE people who knock on the door if im home alone, i am worried they've come to kill me or rob my house. I

I get moments where i have palpitations and i cant feel my heart beating really fast , sometimes my fear doesn't even set it off. I just go into crazy panic attacks.

I know this isn't "normal" and i know the advice is go to seek help. My question is, anyone out there have similar thoughts/panic attacks?

Anyone have an anxiety disorder? How do you deal with it?

Thanks, try to answer both questions

Answer 1

I have it pretty bad.. I know exactly how you feel. I'm just trying to get through the rest of my life.. And learning how to cope with this.. That's all I can do. Some people can overcome it.. I can't though..

I have a million fears.. Ranging from cataclysmic natural disasters, societal breakdown, fighting, my friends and families' safety.. Fear of failure.. You mentioned wanting to be a mother, I've always wanted to have children myself but I have this fear that stems around bringing them into such a scary world..

The worst and most frequent fear I have though is fear of ridicule or being accused of something..

At first I tried seeing a psychologist but telling someone my problems in person was too hard for me, even a professional whom had probably seen more extreme cases than mine. This helps for many people, but I just can't do it, it's too painful. It's that fear of ridicule.

I realized that I needed to learn how to control myself once I begin thinking obsessively or irrationally.. I also needed to learn how to prevent them and that involved coming to terms with and resolving a lot of underlying issues from my childhood and that these were likely the catalyst for my fears and panic attacks.

I can trace most of it back to one event: I was sexually abused by a young man when I was four years old. I didn't understand what had happened to me, but I was extremely ashamed and kept it a secret from everyone(except my girlfriend) including my parents to this day. The impact this event has had on me is so profound, it adversely affected my development as a child and into an adult.

I held off on medication because I feared dependency, the financial aspect of it and the ridicule of my family and peers.. I still have these fears.. Eventually I started taking Prozac and Xanax(I only take this whenever I feel an attack coming, which lately has become less frequent).. I'm generally in a better mood.. Sometimes I feel that it makes me a little more "dopey".. It works though.

I also read a few books, the self help types, and found them to be completely useless. I decided I'd read actual psychology texts instead. They provided me with a general understanding of why I have obsessive thoughts and fears. The internet has also connected me with other people suffering from panic and anxiety disorders. The level of anonymity it has provided me with has helped me with my fear of discussing my fears.

My advice to you is.. Medical and professional help are great first steps. That alone works for some people, but for most it doesn't.. I've found that it can only make you forget about your fears.. You have to learn to get down to the core of what's causing your panic attacks and figure out how to resolve them.

Answer 2

hey i know someone who has pritty much the same thing but a bit different tho if you spook her she has these rily horrible attacks her hold body goes into like a cramp an hardcore stuff like that but all i think you need is a rilly close Friend to help you wen ur afraid of something someone you can talk to ya know you can add me to your yahoo or msn or something i dont have meny frends on yahoo

Answer 3

Hi, I am the author of http://panicattackresearch.blogspot.com

Do not worry, I am not spamming my site - my site don't sell products or anything. My site is solely dedicated to panic-attacks or people whom have anxiety. I give tips on how to sleep even if you have anxiety.

Please do visit and post any questions there or here so that I can help you further.

I have been a sufferer for 12-years and am doing well. My blog is dedicated to help. I will be updating my blog every 5-7 days on new ways to cope anxiety. I have just made few good entries on coping - I hope it will help you.

I started out taking prozac 20mg daily.. then it dropped to 10mg and now I am just taking 5mg and still doing very well. I might be considering taking medication off my life.

And most importantly, I am here to help you because I know how it feels to have anxiety or panic attacks.

Anyway, there are also free tips and free items on relaxation and such for you to download on my web! I even have an entry on how to sleep despite anxiety.

All the best,

Seng

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