How can I convince people that my anxiety attacks are real?

Question

I was diagnosed in May of this year with anxiety attacks and depression. I don't have that many attacks anymore but when I do, they are VERY scary and VERY real. I feel like I'm going to die and I literally have to talk out loud to myself to calm myself down. No one in my family believes me when I tell them that these are real attacks. I had an anxiety attack on Saturday while my family was over and my cousins came running over to me trying to hold me and pat my back I kept telling them to leave me alone and not to touch me and my cousin got really mad and now she won't talk to me along with the rest of my family. They all think I over exaggerate these attacks but I don't.

Answer 1

In case your family are really that ignorant of what anxiety attacks are:

Find lists of symptoms, first hand accounts, and if possible, YouTube videos.

Also, a doctor to back you up on this.

Answer 2

Anxiety attacks are very real. You may get some printed information

from your Physician. Your Family needs some education.

Since you have gone for help, I am sure that over time your attacks

will be less frequent and you acquire skills to deal with them better.

Things are looking up for you.

I wish you a good life.

Ingrid

Answer 3

I think the people in ur family are a******s.... they don't care about u!!! ne ways, if they don't believe you now, they are never going to believe you, you should talk with someone you really trust.

Answer 4

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.

There are free tips and free items on relaxation and such for you to download!

All the best,

Seng

Answer 5

With mental health issues there is still the stigma that it's all in the person's head so they are just making it up for attention.  This is a coping mechanism by the "normal" people who are close to the individual that gives them the illusion they are somehow immune to the illness because they have better "control".  

I had a fiance who yelled at me for having a hypoglycemic attack and falling out of a car as we arrived home from him picking me up from work.   Empathy is a hard thing for some people.   I could choose to cut that person out of my daily life.   Cutting off family is not that easy.

Humans are social and the first reaction when someone is in pain if you are kind and empathetic is to try to sooth that person.   This doesn't help  the fight or flight instinct of a person who is afflicted with heightened anxiety.  You know this of course.

Ask your healthcare professional for some literature to inform your family about your condition, they are in denial and it is further stressing you out.   Also be aware of yourself.   Are there any signs an attack is coming?  Remove yourself from social scenes if seems to be coming on.

Don't overuse caffeine or chocolate, both are stimulants and your system shortcircuts.   Take a good mulitvitamin and try extra B-vitamins and Vitamin C, these support healthy neural function.   Learn to breath out your mouth and in through your nose when you are stressed, the best way for destressing.

And be aware not every med for a given condition is right for every person, every human is unique.  If you are experiencing worse reactions since treatment and are on meds, let your Doctor know.

Answer 6

Make a habit of sneaking up on them and scaring the c**p out of them.

Not only will they become convinced that the sensation of fear is "real", you'll get to have a good time - counteracting your own anxieties.

Then, when everyone around you acknowledges that fear is a real emotion, you'll be known for having taught them something interesting in an interesting way and you'll be able to just be you, too.

Answer 7

Please take this into consideration. It worked for me, although I am not you.

I had overwhelming anxiety. It turned out to be my use of Splenda. Yup Splenda. How could something that taste so good, be so bad?



I like to say sucralose, not Splenda, because that is what Splenda is. And it is in a lot of stuff. Sadly, the package doesn't have to say Splenda or diet to have sucralose in it. You have to read labels. So, you might be using it and don't even know it!



Sucralose is poison. It ruined five years of my life. I had a laundry list of medical problems while taking it, including overwhelming anxiety, depression, mood swings, insomnia, gastrointestinal issues and more.

Go ahead, google: anxiety splenda or anxiety sucralose or insomnia splenda or insomnia sucralose



The slogan, "Made from sugar..." is very misleading. Splenda might be made from sugar, but it is far from sugar. The resulting chemical is an organochloride (chlorocarbon). Organochlorides are typically poisons.



carbon monoxide - made from oxygen so its like a breath of fresh air

Answer 8

I hardly fault the family due to a quote directly from your post:  "I had an anxiety attack on Saturday while my family was over and my cousins came running over to me trying to hold me and pat my back I kept telling them to leave me alone and not to touch me"

It certainly, from you own words, sounds like your family cares and tries to help you.  If you scream at them and tell them to leave you alone, don't be upset when they do.

Answer 9

let us other users who suffer from this to help you in the mean time