Who has had anxiety and panic attack and what were your symptoms?

Question

for the pass 6 month i been fighting depression and panic attacks i just been afraid of everything like going outside-doing exercise-being around people and starting work i tryed meds and had bad reaction to them.i started going to couseling for the pass three weeks and tomarrow is my next one but iam concern because my next visits i have to catch two buses and iam afraid that i am going to have a panic attack and geting to the therapies all panicky so if someone has the same codition what could i do besides taking deep breaths

Answer 1

I had an "attack" about three months ago. I thought I was going to die. I started seeing black spots in front of my eyes, couldn't take deep breaths and started getting numb around my mouth and nose. I wanted to "flee." I was strapped in a seat belt in a car at the time. I thought I was having an asthma attack, but didn't have any medication with me. I had to wait 10 minutes to get to my medication at home. However, I had a couple more attacks later that day. My doctors think that I had an asthma attack followed by an anxiety attack or vice versa. Anyway, it was horrible whatever it was. I am in therpy and learning to make myself relax when I start feeling like I can't breathe. However, now I've begun clinching my jaw and am having TMJ symptoms.

I know how you feel...When you're on the bus, try to think about something else than being on the bus. Whenever I am in really stressful situation that I can't escape from, I focus on something and replay whatever it is I'm focusing on over and over again.

For me it's music. I can recall music in my mind like a card catalog in a library. I mentally go through and pick out a song that it soothing to me and replay it in my head over and over again. I can put myself in an almost trance-like state. I did that one time when I had to have an MRI done. I was claustrophobic and was freaking out so I began singing this song, in my head, not out loud, over and over again. When the technician came back to check on me, she had to ask me two or three times if I was okay. I was in my "zone."

I got through it. You will too. You can do it and you will! Keep saying that to yourself. And, don't worry about what anyone else will think about you. You'll probably never see them again. Sometimes I think anxiety is just a projection of manifested fear that we have tucked deep down within ourselves. I'm not a professional psychologist so I don't know. But, I can tell you from personal experience with anxiety, you will get better!

Answer 2

Everyone gets worried sometimes, but if you have GAD, you stay worried, fear the worst will happen, and cannot relax. Sometimes you aren’t worried about anything special, but feel tense and worried all day long. You also have aches and pains for no reason and feel tired a lot.

Anxiety, the body’s reaction to a perceived, anticipated or imagined danger or threatening situation, is a common occurrence. Most people experience it before or after a stressful event, such as an important presentation or a traumatic loss. A little anxiety isn’t always a bad thing, either: it can help motivate you to do your best and to respond appropriately to danger.

In This Article:

Understanding generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Signs and symptoms of GAD

Causes and risk factors for GAD

Diagnosis of GAD

Treatment and help for GAD

Related links for GAD

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Sometimes, though, anxiety develops spontaneously, even when a stressful or threatening situation isn’t immediately apparent. When worry becomes so excessive and persistent that it limits or inhibits  a person’s daily activities, it becomes a disorder that needs to be recognized and treated.

Understanding generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

What is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)? It’s only realistic to be worried about your finances after losing a job or your health if you start having chest pains. And it’s natural to be anxious about a sister who lives in a tough neighborhood or reports of a local flu epidemic or impending SATs. But generalized anxiety disorder isn’t about realistic or natural worries. GAD is about chronic, excessive worry concerning events that are unlikely to occur; it’s minor problems or concerns that wrap around your mind like kudzu and won’t let go.

Generalized anxiety disorder occurs when normal levels of anxiety become severe, prevent everyday activities, and persist over more than a few months. Normal life becomes difficult for people with GAD because they experience high levels of worry, dreading the immediate future and dwelling on what can go wrong, but feel unable to take action or control events. Generalized anxiety disorder affects 3 to 4 percent of the population at any given time, with women twice as likely to be affected as men.

According to the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), persons with generalized anxiety disorder anticipate disaster and are overly concerned about health issues, money, family problems, or difficulties at work. A co-worker’s careless comment about the economy becomes a constant vision of an imminent pink slip; a spouse’s criticism of a new outfit becomes dread that the marriage is over. People with generalized anxiety disorder usually realize that their anxiety is more intense than the situation calls for, though some convince themselves that their worrying is protective or otherwise helpful. Either way, people with GAD can’t seem to turn off the worry. Sometimes just the thought of getting through the day produces anxiety. Most people with GAD don’t avoid workplace or social situations, but they go about their activities filled with exaggerated worry and tension, even though there is little or nothing to provoke them. For others, the anxiety and physical symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder interfere significantly with work, social interactions, and everyday functioning.

Signs and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)]

Sound Familiar?

“I can’t get my mind to stop…it’s driving me crazy!"  

“He’s late - he was supposed to be here 20 minutes ago! Oh my God, he must have been in an accident!”

“I can’t sleep — I just feel such dread … and I don’t know why!”

The mind of a person with generalized anxiety disorder is like a car motor stuck on too high an idle: the person’s thoughts keep running and running, with worrisome thoughts being repeated endlessly. Typical symptoms and behaviors associated with generalized anxiety disorder are:

Typical Symptoms and Behaviors Associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Psychological Physical Behavioral

chronic worry about events that are unlikely to occur

inability to shut off constant anxious thoughts

feelings of dread

restlessness and inability to relax

trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

lack of energy

twitching or trembling

muscular tension, aches or soreness

stomach problems (nausea or diarrhea)

headaches

chest pains

grinding of teeth

dry mouth  

sweating or hot flashes

dizziness or lightheadedness

trouble concentrating

irritability

easy to startle

procrastination



If you have generalized anxiety disorder, your symptoms may fluctuate. You may notice better and worse times of the day, or better and worse days in general. Several sites can provide more information about the signs and symptoms of GAD.  

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

ADDED:

Please take the poll - it is essential for my research as I think there's a connection on something!  

Answer 4

I've had a lot of panic attacks, over the years.  For me sometimes there is a clear trigger and other times there isn't any real clear reason.  Mine tend to mimic an asthma attack, with tightness of my chest, difficulty breathing, heart racing or pounding, nausea, racing thoughts but with the asthma I produce a lot of mucus that doesn't happen with the panic.  Unless I'm really unlucky and have the panic trigger a real asthma attack.

For you having to catch the two buses what I'd do is get the bus schedules and make sure of the times and route numbers you need.  Get a number for the bus company and that of your therapist.  When you go to catch the bus call the bus company and make sure if the bus is on time or if it will be late.  Do the same when you transfer, and ask if the bus driver can be alerted that someone will be at the pick up so that you'll be sure to get the bus.  If they say that they won't do that say that at least you'll know where the bus is.  If for any reason you miss the bus call your therapist, or call them before and say you're worried about the bus ride, they'll understand. Don't worry too much about having a panic attack on the bus, the drivers will have seen them before.   Being on the bus wouldn't bother me, I'm a bus driver.

Even if you are panicky when you arrive that is fine, you're being treated for anxiety so it's not like it's going to be a surprise!  As for trying to calm yourself you might want to try bringing headphones with soothing music, an object that is small that you can handle that relaxes you, a book to read that you like.  If possible you might be able to talk a friend or family member into going with you to help you relax or feel safe.

Good luck, anxiety is h**l

Answer 5

I've had panic attacks for nearly two years now, and the earliest ones were the worst as I did not know what was happening. It started off when I felt I couldn't breathe properly so I started to get emotional. Then because of all the panic, I felt a bit weaker, and I could feel a tingling sensation. Also, everything seemed brighter than usual, and I  started to feel really hungry. My heart also started to beat faster than usual as well. I had the feeling I was dying, because my breathing felt bad, so I went outside to get some air which did help after a while.

After a few months, my panic attacks started to be based around nausea. Even though I'm not ill, I get a feeling of nausea from time to time for no reason, which brings on the panic.

When you're in a situation that might cause panic, it's good to have a feeling that if the worst happens (a panic attack), there's a way of escaping that situation. For me, I carry a bottle of water and tablets with me everywhere (domperidone) that help with nausea. This does not prevent my panic attacks, but it does help in a way. Also, if you are in a busy place, walk to somewhere quieter for a while to give yourself time to calm down.

Answer 6

I deal with panic attacks almost on a daily basis.  When I get one I get dizzy, my heart races, my legs are weak, I start to sweat.

Answer 7

I used to suffer terribly from panic attacks and the fear of them re-occuring in certain places/situations. My doctor told me that they would lessen with time and he was right. Avoid alcohol.