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[Serious] Had the worse Anxiety Attack in a year

So a while ago I posted on this board about my Anxiety hoping that it would help others get help they needed.

I figured I would post a follow-up to hope others struggling would see it is "possible to live with", which at times it seems impossible.

I've been to see Therapist, and both types of Phycyratist (sorry can't remember the difference right now). I've done about 200 total "talk hours" all combined over a 3 year period. I am on an Anti-depressant drug at the moment for Anxiety and have a prescription for an "Anti-Anxiety" pill I have never used.

I have been through some very stressful events in the last year. I changed jobs, had another child, my mother-in-law died.

I was handling it well, I didn't notice I was gaining weight, and with the new born I wasn't exercising enough. Had an insurance exam and was told my blood pressure was a bit high.

Slam. Bang. Anxiety. Wow, forgot how you feel dude. Hello. Um... don't stay. Oh, um... can you leave please? Sugar On top?

It was surprising how fast it hit and how hard it hit. The hearing of High Blood Pressure immediately triggered one of my worse triggers - health issues. I realized how fat I had gotten, almost 200lbs (which for someone normally 160ish, that's a lot), and wow.

So I started walking this week again. Only 30 minutes a day, but I'm getting back use to exercising. I've cut down my Caloric intake, and thanks to a Wife who noticed my weight already well into a new diet with less processed foods.

I was panicking about my blood pressure, and I haven't slept well for a few days. I saw my doctor today, who bless him has been very supportive of my Anxiety issues. He explained that I wasn't going to fall over dead, and that yes, High Blood Pressure is an issue over the long run, but there were ways to treat it. I'm already doing the first steps by exercising more and looking after my intake.

But really I think, as I start to come out of this attack that surprised me so much, the best words I can have for you is... They may re-occur. It isn't the end. Just count the days since it last happened, vs the thoughts of "oh my god it's happening"... and see if you can get the number of days growing... when possible.
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»www.codecipher.com - Marking the way to tomorrow's solutions -- Did you know that Perl is not Dead? »perlisalive.org/

Exercise is good. I need more myself. Outside is even better, but that may be just my opinion, so the walks are good.

It is all about management, you know it may happen again, so be ready.

A few years ago I had an Anxiety or Panic attack. It was a terrible feeling which, unless a person has experienced, can never understand. My body went numb, a tight feeling across the chest, my eyes were glazed and I had difficulty in walking.
A trip to Emergency revealed no heart problems and a Xanax calmed me.
I went on Xanax for 2 years. for that period the attacks were bad, and could be debilitating. I was at that time in Union negotiations, being the chief negotiator. That was the cause of all my problems. Don't know how I completed negotiations.
Did not see any psychiatrist but Xanax and Paxil were my drugs for 2 years. The symptoms have now disappeared but I had one helluva time "drying" out. The withdrawal symptoms from from anti-anxiety tablets were worse than the panic attacks. Cold sweats, shivers, dizziness etc.
I did it in one week alone, at home.
Today I'm fine.
Hopefully the dark days will pass for you but the dark days will be dark.
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The best way to succeed in life is to act on the advice you give to others.

I too suffer from Anxiety, at times its been bad. The new job, the responsibilities, and now finding out my wife is pregnant and the anxiety of being a parent for the first time is really taking a bit of a toll.

eweazel, if you want to talk about it, feel free to give me a private message. I was in the same boat, but add on "unknown liver issue" to the picture that the doctor was checking me out for.

Being a new father is a scary ass job, and men tend to bat it down as "no big deal". But the responsibility can be scary, especially to those who who aren't driving the show (the men).
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»www.codecipher.com - Marking the way to tomorrow's solutions -- Did you know that Perl is not Dead? »perlisalive.org/

I will take you up on that. I have been through more stuff then I care to think about.

Devanchya.......there is a real good book out there that people swear by, "Claire Weekes" - Float Through Anxiety"........here is a few excerpts
but many people have been helped by her book....i talked to a couple

»www.anxietycoach.com/claire-weekes.html

The Anxiety Trick - Claire Weekes

»www.anxietycoach.com/anxietytrick.html

Thanks Jaberi,
Those pages are similar to what I have read in the past. However re-reading them after an attack like I had is a good reminder.

»www.anxietycoach.com/breathingexercise.html is a page everyone in the world should read and remember.
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»www.codecipher.com - Marking the way to tomorrow's solutions -- Did you know that Perl is not Dead? »perlisalive.org/

Did you have an actual panic attack where you felt like you were about to collapse from a heart attack, or did you just become overwhelmed with fear? I've had a few full-blown panic attacks where I've either collapsed or come close to it. One of them was at Computer Fest at the Metro Convention Centre a little over ten years ago. Exactly like capdjq described, but I knew what was going on so instead of rushing to the ER I just got the hell out of there. Wasn't fun either way. My wife, in contrast, has moments where she becomes overwhelmed by fear that paralyzes her but doesn't manifest in physical symptoms.

Years ago I had someone tell me that the best thing to do in the case of a full-blown panic attack is find the nearest person you can and grab hold of their arm - hopefully someone who won't think you're trying to molest them by doing that. They were right. It works very well.

I'm feeling very weird today. I think it's partly the weather. Of course it is also 3 days until I go away to look after my kids in an unknown house while my wife helps put away all the stuff from her deceased mother.

I'm feeling very conflicted and have to admit I haven't bounced back from this attack as quickly. I think the root cause is this trip.
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»www.codecipher.com - Marking the way to tomorrow's solutions -- Did you know that Perl is not Dead? »perlisalive.org/

Re: [Serious] Had the worse Anxiety Attack in a year

Sometimes it can take a while, especially if the underlying issue that caused it hasn't been resolved and you continue to function in a state of panic even though it isn't enough to cause an outright attack. The best description I have for such a state is feeling like you're detached from everything around you.

You'll be okay though. I assume you have people in your life to talk to? Utilize them - talk, cry, yell, do whatever. It helps tremendously.

Sorry for the loss of your wife's mother.

I'm sure that it's hard for everyone in your family, your wife lost her mom, the kids lost their grandmother.

You've taken a lot of steps already trying to move through this. I hope that you and your wife and the children can all support each other on this and help each other get through. And of course the baby needs lots of care.

You mentioned the need to do walks for your own health. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough for some family walks....

I hope that it will get a little better day by day.