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I'm jen.. I'm 22 and I deal with the draining battle of panic attacks and generally worrying about worrying, I'm happy to share my story and find reassurance at the same time and to make sure I'm not going loopy and I know that I'm not alone. I'm generally a confident person although I don't always feel like it, however the stupidest things become the biggest and most magnified. A few years ago I had a panic attack when having dinner with my partners family. I found this so.humiliating and I was highly embarrassed and actually was worrying more about what everyone else was thinking of me, which then made me worse. I'm tall and slim so you can imagine what they were thinking leaving the table.. Oh she has an eating disorder (actually I eat alot but have a fast metabolism) anyways when I get nervous or a.panic attack,.sometimes they are unexpected but sometimes they are just brewing. I hate filling up at the petrol station (I know i know) how ridiculous right? Fearful of panicking and drawing attention to myself I guess.. Even I don't have all the answers to my own anxiety. I sweat, I gag or dry heave, I shake uncontrollably, I apologise for everything or say I'm sorry over and over, I get dizzy I feel sick, I lose control of my breathing. The list goes on. I've been with my boyfriend over 7 years we've been together since I was at school and now we have our own mortgage etc and he understands me and helps me but even if get annoyed at myself because the truth is the only person who can help.yourself is you. Medication is not the best option however I do take propranolol but I try to be stubborn and strictly only take it when I have to as I do try to cope with it myself. But I always say its easy to sympathise with someone for example who broke their arm because you can physically see their pain or suffering they are going through, so you can understand, however it's much harder for people to sympathise with someone who has anxiety because you can't see it constantly. I recommend reiki this has really really helped me. Trust me I was willing to try anything to get rid of this anxiety and it does help. And swimming! after reading the forum it's nice to know thousands of people deal with this and some who suffer much worse than me however at that time you just need help. Sending positivity to all be strong.. Think of your anxiety of a child having a tantrum and demanding your attention. Acknowledge it's a problem but you'll deal with it later. Hope this helps just 1 person :0) PMA positive mental attitude xx
3 likes, 6 replies
brendababy jbella101
Posted
All the best to you hopefully your symptoms will ease soon 😄
jbella101 brendababy
Posted
Rainboy jbella101
Posted
What a powerful point you make about anxiety and panic attacks. Firstly let me sympathise, or rather empathise (as a fellow sufferer) with what you have endured and continue to endure.
Mental and emotional health is gradually emerging from the shadows. It's one of the last great taboos.
There is so much I could write in reply, but I hope you will forgive my brevity as it is Midnight now, and last night I didn't get any sleep at all. I would like to add my voice to all the people that support you morally and emotionally. You have a great blessing in your understanding boyfriend, and it's evident from your comments that you are devoted to each other. I'm sure you don't underestimate that for a moment.
I could not agree with you more about the perception of panic attacks. Unless you have experienced one, it is like trying to describe colour to someone born blind! A severe attack makes you really believe you are dying, and the distress and fear lingers long after it has passed because your system is so pumped full of those flight or fright chemicals.
This may sound rather macabre, but I imagine if our brains weren't inside our heads, but more like an external limb, and it was 'broken', bandaged, plastered and splinted, people would be falling over themselves to ask you what had happened.
The stigma still needs fighting. We see someone that is having a heart attack and ends up on the floor in pain, and grasp what is happening without a second thought. But see a person in dreadful emotional pain crouched in a corner with head in hands, the perception is that there is nothing 'really' wrong with them, because it's all in the mind, therefore it can't do any real harm.
We know of course that it can, and I sincerely hope that all the talk in government circles recently about creating parity between someone with a physical problem and a mental one receiving the same level of treatment actually becomes reality.
I would love to respond to more of your excellent comments. Forgive my early departure. Let me just say I really admire your grasp of your own problem, and your attempt to describe it for other readers.
Please accept my very best wishes. :-)
jbella101 Rainboy
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Rainboy jbella101
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skylakendall jbella101
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