Anxiety attacks, how about you??

it really is terrifying, it's bad enough having any form of anxiety but couple it with health too, and there is one evil circle.

I'm still up at nearly 1am, and touch wood this attack is nearly subsided, so hopefully I can get to sleep before having to be up for work!

my wife is the only person that knows just how badly u can be affected at times, as I very rarely have an attack anywhere else, I believe the general thought by close family and friends is that im just a bit of a worrier/hypochondriac.

I can live with that, it's hard enough trying to understand the nutty way over exaggerated thoughts of impending doom and death to myself at times when I have attacks, let alone others.

I do believe you should talk about Anxiety, and I do believe if I wanted to I could with few friends, but it's is a hard thing to do.

I also hear ya about maybe not saying all the crazy thoughts to your other half, I do the same I mean im sure she can deal with what I say now, but some of the nonsence thats goes through my head at times has me questioning if I've lost the plot.

tbh I think the wife does most if the time when I'm panicking about something seemingly minor, ie a headache that I think is some deadly disease🤣

that said I sometime thinks it helos to put it in perspective so I realise sooner that I am sorting over nothing.

But yes when I'm in the middle of a serious (for me at least) I think she realises that I just sometimes need to go through it.

it's amazing how much an attack large or small can take out of you.

I usually feel totally buggered the next day, and today is no exception,

However that said it turns out I am actually ill🤣. nothing serious probably some sort of 24 hour bug, I actually came home from work early, very uncommon for me as ive not a sick day for 6 years.

But that coupled with the panic attack the night before literally took it's toll.

May also explain why the panic attack seemed to have more symptoms than usual , because they actually were a thing this time 🤣 typical right!!

When you're body isn't in good health it def makes the panic/anxiety worse -_-

Anxiety takes a toll out of you so much already, and then add on illness physical symptoms lol. Definitely exhausting, mentally and physically! Use this as an excuse to get some much needed rest and relaxation!

I haven't. I have done a little bit of homework on it though, always happy to learn more.

I eat thinking if giving this cbd oil a try.?!?!?

I've not heard of it (just googled it now though).

How did your anxiety/panic come on? What was the history of it? When did you first have an attack?

I used to have panic attacks regularly but am pretty much over it. So if you need help let me know as I've learnt alot about anxiety over the last 5+ years

my earliest memory of a panic attack, is around 11 years ago not long after my eldest was born, and somewhere around 9 months prior was when id given up smoking weed.

I think the combination of both certainly played a big part in adjusting my thought pattern etc.

that said after being quite bad for a little over a year at that time,I had previously up until a couple of years ago had no hint of a panic attack or anxiety what so ever,

right now anxiety plays a big part in daily life, but actual panic attacks now only occur every couple of weeks sometimes can be every couple of months which is the biggest reason why I don't do anything about it really, as although it does have a knock on effect for a couple of days after of feeling quite bad, once that subsides I can be good for quite a while. it's like I easily forget how bad it is at the time!!

I initially self diagnosed as having "panic disorder" or "GAD, generalised anxiety disorder". I now don't think that panic/anxiety is a disorder.

I think the body gets conditioned, ie it links a feeling, (anxiety panic) to a stimulus (ie situation, location).

I think that the body is easily conditioned when it's highly stressed. I link the onset of mine to when i was going through a lot of stress.

a) Have you heard of Pavlov's dog?

b) are you familiar with the body's fight or flight response?

I understand the premise of a,

And am quite familiar with b,

The first step is understanding that the panic is just your f+f response going off when it shouldn't.

An analogy i heard is "that one car in the street whose alarm goes off when the wind blows". It's the same thing.

Trouble is, you need to believe it. When you start to get one, do you have a thought "oh no, it's happening" ?

yes nearly every time, my hands get tingly, butterflies that make me feel sick, almost gag like?!?

And a massive fear of dying, and while most if the time sleep does help I find it almost impossible to lie down, but all this is normal, as panic attacks are essentially your body dumping a load at adrenaline, for the fight or flight instinct, yet stupidly enough most of us,myself included have an attack at home for no reason. And consequently have no need to run or fight, and therefore end up sitting, standing, pacing with no way to get rid of the adrenaline, easy you think, do some exercise right? Or some such similar activity, but no, as while that may help, the overwhelming fear that the tingling and or palpitations are a sure sign you dying you therefore don't want to aggravate it?!?

Its a horrible circle to be stuck in, that's for sure, and most people find some way through it, sometimes it is simply exercising, maybe cleaning, walking, or some simply cry and sit through it( usually my option).

there is no easy answer that solves all. But there are a lot of people out there suffering the same or similar,

often times I find coming on here and reading of others struggles can help to take my mind off my own, or maybe just distract me enough to get through the next panic attack a little easier.

Hope you feel better.