A safe place for anxiety sufferers to share.

rgambs

4 years without a panic attack!
Best way to celebrate??
I don't know, but I know how NOT to mark the occasion...
That would be by exhausting yourself physically and emotionally with an epic vacation to Yosemite, getting pretty severely dehydrated, and then smoking a far too potent joint while driving through the desert at a mile of elevation.
Whooops!

I started having a panic attack and I tried to breathe my way through it...didn't work, I hyperventilated in less than a minute, pulled the car off the side of the road, and fainted off and on for 6 minutes.  Whoops!
Now I'm home safe and I am doing fine, but I don't feel quite right.  Unduly exhausted, depressed (not sad, just bleak and blank), anxious off and on... Nothing approaching panic since then, but it really makes me feel bad for y'all who deal with this shit every day.  Sucks.
Hang in there, there is always hope if you can only find your way to it and hold tight.

hedonist

rgambs said:

4 years without a panic attack!
Best way to celebrate??
I don't know, but I know how NOT to mark the occasion...
That would be by exhausting yourself physically and emotionally with an epic vacation to Yosemite, getting pretty severely dehydrated, and then smoking a far too potent joint while driving through the desert at a mile of elevation.
Whooops!

I started having a panic attack and I tried to breathe my way through it...didn't work, I hyperventilated in less than a minute, pulled the car off the side of the road, and fainted off and on for 6 minutes.  Whoops!
Now I'm home safe and I am doing fine, but I don't feel quite right.  Unduly exhausted, depressed (not sad, just bleak and blank), anxious off and on... Nothing approaching panic since then, but it really makes me feel bad for y'all who deal with this shit every day.  Sucks.
Hang in there, there is always hope if you can only find your way to it and hold tight.

That's the toughest part.  Sorry you went through that; you of all people shouldn't underestimate the importance of keeping hydrated!  Was it all overwhelming, that brought it on?

Rob, good news.  It must be a relief to know things are OK after such worry.

lastexitlondon

Man panic and weed i find happens to me a fair bit. I love weed but when any fear is here. It doesn't  mix. 
Yes i am very relieved but  isn't  it how health anxiety  works....im back to my other health fear. I hate myself. Even as i was waiting to go in the  theatre i was on my old illness fear. 
So i got stoned . Did help

Fifthelement

rgambs said:

4 years without a panic attack!
Best way to celebrate??
I don't know, but I know how NOT to mark the occasion...
That would be by exhausting yourself physically and emotionally with an epic vacation to Yosemite, getting pretty severely dehydrated, and then smoking a far too potent joint while driving through the desert at a mile of elevation.
Whooops!

I started having a panic attack and I tried to breathe my way through it...didn't work, I hyperventilated in less than a minute, pulled the car off the side of the road, and fainted off and on for 6 minutes.  Whoops!
Now I'm home safe and I am doing fine, but I don't feel quite right.  Unduly exhausted, depressed (not sad, just bleak and blank), anxious off and on... Nothing approaching panic since then, but it really makes me feel bad for y'all who deal with this shit every day.  Sucks.
Hang in there, there is always hope if you can only find your way to it and hold tight.

That’s scary.  I’m glad you were able to pull over and continue your episode safely.  Changes to semi-regular routines can really kick your ass beyond the physical aspects.  Give yourself lots of time to rebuild your stamina.

Thoughts_Arrive

lastexitlondon said:

Great news so far just out of the hospital.  All ok. They  take biopsies as a routine . But the lady discharged  me back to dr.

Awesome to hear!

lastexitlondon

Im so glad we can come here  and only kindness happens. Blessed to have this thread  thats safe. Good job everyone  of us.

Asterisk on the Street

lastexitlondon said:

Great news so far just out of the hospital.  All ok. They  take biopsies as a routine . But the lady discharged  me back to dr.

Good news! I'm very happy for you. Take care. Keeping you in my thoughts for continued good news.

Fifthelement

lastexitlondon said:

Im so glad we can come here  and only kindness happens. Blessed to have this thread  thats safe. Good job everyone  of us.

((((Hugs))))

njnancy

lastexitlondon said:

Im so glad we can come here  and only kindness happens. Blessed to have this thread  thats safe. Good job everyone  of us.

I'm so happy to hear that your health concerns are over and you are on a good path. It's always helpful to have a safe place when you (we) suffer from anxiety or depression - like minded people don't judge.

@rgambs I don't do anything anymore but when I used to party I never had a good relationship with pot. Every time I got high I got paranoid and would be in a panic if I was at a party or among people. I now know that pot just exacerbated my panic disorder that I didn't know I had yet.  Having a panic attack is horrible and I know how it feels to have a potent pot panic attack - scary AF. I'm glad that you got home safely and by now are probably feeling fine. 

HughFreakingDillon

spent a week at the cottage with my wife, daughters, and all our lake friends. it was ok for the first few days, but after that, i couldn't do it anymore. that's hard on my wife and girls because they want us to be 'whole' when the whole group is there (although this year, my wife was ultra-supportive of my needs). but, as an introvert, who can suffer from extreme anxiety when i don't get the emotional rest i need, 4 days of socializing noon to late at night was ex-fucking-hausting. it took me 2 days to recover, just being alone, playing ukulele, relaxing, taking walks, etc. then i got fucking sick. stomach sick. puking. on the last night that everyone was having a fish fry and watching the football game, which i actually was looking forward to attending. so that sucked ass. but after that everything is grand. another week off just me and my girls and we're having a blast. heading to our friends' cottage this weekend which i'm really looking forward to. 

lastexit, i'm so happy for you. i know it's not the end of the road. but it's a START. which is the whole point. so great to hear. it fills my heart to read that. 

Matts3221

Just stumbled upon this.

Suffer from very high anxiety and panic attacks , 40 years old , started around the age of 18 after my father passed away , at 22 I found myself taken a shower and being so riddled with panic I would get out and just sit on the floor naked for hours until I could move myself to the bedroom. Countless trips to the ER assuming heart attack or just death.

So many events missed because I would make up an excuse at the last second just to not have to be anywhere. I think the hardest part for those whom don't suffer or say "every one gets anxiety " is that they don't understand a real panic attack that no matter what someone tells me if I think I am dying I am really dying at that moment.

Have been on Zoloft since I was 24 , Clonozopain (sp) since I was 30. These were big helps for me and still are , I know meds are not for everyone but they honesty just keep me at an even level.

Did therapy for from 35-40 , learned that I was catastrophizing everything. More or less jumping 50 steps ahead of something. I find a small red spot on my arm , my first thought would not be wash it off and check it tomorrow or did I get bit by someone, I had cancer and was going to die. I must have imagined my death over 1000 times.

I have not been to therapy for six months , although I can go back at anytime I have felt pretty good , I still have my moments by my wife says she can see it eyes when it is happing ( the fear )

I have started to walk 5 miles a day since April , I put earbuds in and blast music I love and just breath in the fresh air , I find it so relaxing , my brain basically stops thinking and all I have is music and fresh air.

If anyone every needs advice or just wants to talk always feel free to DM me , not on here everyday but if anyone does need someone to chat with once and a while I am more than happy to give my personal email.

Either way if you are suffering you are far from alone , I think just knowing that can cause some comfort.

   

Thoughts_Arrive

^ ^ lovely gesture. Thank you for sharing your story.
I've had the same health anxiety, it used to be horrible in childhood and into late adulthood. I think I have grown out of it since starting medication.

lastexitlondon

Health anxiety  took my life  away and i find unless you've suffered  its hard to explain

lastexitlondon

Im back in the  lowest pit of despair

Thoughts_Arrive

Damn, sorry to hear. Hang in there dude. 

Matts3221

lastexitlondon said:

Im back in the  lowest pit of despair

Do you have a support network? Someone you can talk to ? Friend / Therapist.

Very sorry to hear , just remember there are good days as well , I know its hard to see them when you are in the lowest of low's but you will get there.

I wish I knew more or you lived close to southern New Hampshire in the US , I would let you just talk over coffee if I could.

Sometimes for me writing just going on and on , on paper can be helpful to workout my thoughts and then I end up just throwing it away.

Happy to go over other ways I deal with my high anxiety however I know we are all wired different and what works for me may not work for you.

Hang in there man.  

evsgjamm

Matts said something that resonated with me and I think anyone who suffers from anxiety should write this down, set a goal, and complete it at least once a week and build upon it from there. Here's what he said:

"I have started to walk 5 miles a day since April , I put earbuds in and blast music I love and just breath in the fresh air , I find it so relaxing , my brain basically stops thinking and all I have is music and fresh air."

You can choose peace. It's on your doorstep.
Loud Love

evsgjamm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqCjJM7-txc

This is what helps me.

lastexitlondon

I've  gotten so bad ive caved and tried a medication  but itd made me sleep all day  now i will be up all night alone. 
The  dr and everyone tells mr i do not have what i believe  i have. 
I know  they  are wrong. Ive lost my mind

lastexitlondon

Thank you  to everyone who  have cared. Here  is where  i have trusted people.