Anxiety

[pipnasty]

A few years ago, I developed a really, really bad sinus infection which eventually led to surgery to correct the problems. A few months before surgery, and due to the infection, my throat went into spasm and closed completely. I couldn't breathe at all, turned blue and as good as passed out. I ended up going to counselling to try and help get over this and, on the whole, it was fairly successful.

 

But, a few things have been building up over the last few months, nothing too bad, and I've not had a real holiday this year, so I've felt a bit run down. Anyway, I grow chillis and last week bit into an unlabled once and, f*** me, it was hot. Really hot. And it resulted in me having a massive panic attack. I'm presuming that it had something to do with the choking incident a few years ago and some kind of fear related to that.

 

Since last week, I've been an absolute wreck. Palpitations, sweating, feeling week, the lot. Today has been the worst day - thought something was stuck in my throat/chest and that I would never be able to eat anything again. That kind of nonsense.

 

I'm presuming that most people on here have had anxiety attacks at some point (going by the thread on depression a few months ago) - so what worked and what didn't? I can't be having these attacks for much longer, it's doing my head in. I'm still sleeping and all that, but it all feels a bit dark at the moment.

 

What say you?

[Dan]

Have you tried meditation?

[pipnasty]

Not yet cos it's all been a bit quick. Thought it would just go away but I'm not so sure now. Am open to it though.

[Eskimo]

Go see a quack... May help to get to grips with the root cause.

[Duncan Disorderly]

Go see someone ASAP or this will just drag on.

 

Seems like a post-traumatic issue and the anxiety is a by-product, but you're aware of the cause, so you're already half way to getting it sorted, professional help should help with the rest.

 

BTW, I know alot of alternative medicines are bunkum, but a few drops of mustard oil in a glass of water always worked a treat for me. Bach remedy, I think?

Edited October 13, 2014 by Duncan Disorderly

[dave]

I would agree with Eskimo, Pip, refer yourself go your GP.

 

Have you tried any breathing techniques for the panic attacks? Focusing on breathing in through your nose and exhaling through your mouth can help. Try saying "calm" to yourself as you exhale. Just doing this can distract you from panicky thoughts...

[Billy Dane]

The breathing exercises can help. Take a deep breath while counting to 7. Then count to 11 while breathing out through your mouth. Doing this 3 times will relax you. As already mentioned talking about the root causes with someone will help longer term.

Edited October 13, 2014 by Billy Dane

[Raj]

Buy the book Mindfulness and follow the exercises within. It's excellent and was recommended by a counsellor for anxiety

Worked well and has had a lasting impact

[Jonesy]

Agree with everything that's been said. Breathing right is key. Counselling and meds. Herbal remedies such as kalms and rescue remedy help too. You might even have to go down the beater blocker route. Propranolol is what most quacks dish out.

[D.Boon]

Never dreamed I would have an anxiety attack but a few years ago had a scary visit to hospital with chest pains. Several further visits and lots of tests later i was signed off by the cardiologist as having occasional missed beats but essentially fit as a fiddle.

 

Convinced myself I was a goner though and became utterly paranoid constantly thinking about my daughters not having a dad around abd how my wife would cope This eventually lead to a couple of full on panic attacks. Didn't see anyone about it and stupidly barely mentioned it to the wife and it seems to have passed. Definately a symptom of a fear of death for me.

Edited October 13, 2014 by D.Boon

[Stanley Leisure]

About three years ago, I had a pretty bad anxiety attack, I'd never had one before. Heart palpatations, dizziness, bitter taste in my mouth; horrible business. The trigger was some food arriving (I was in a pub, with Des, Gilps, Matty, Steve H and KAMF funnily enough), when I tried to eat it, I suddenly felt incredibly sick. I could feel the adrenalin coursing through my system and I had to get out.

 

I had others after that, (I actually couldn't eat in a restaurant, comfortably for a while) but they were lower-level and after a few months, they just stopped.

 

What helped that was knowing that it was situational (work, some relationship stuff and I hadn't been looking after myself for a few months before that). It helped talking through things as they were happening (I remember KAMF talking me down during that first one) and then with my wife, a CBT counsellor after that.

 

Talking was key. Realising it was my brain malfunctioning, being able to identify the 'hot thoughts', then separating them from the normal ones. Going into 'fight or flight' mode is basically your brain taking control, reverting to instinct when it senses danger and the process of recovery is about reconnecting the synapses so it stops happening.

 

It can take a while and it's really, really hard but it does get better. DM me if you'd like to discuss it further.

 

Edit: Just to add, I found individual counselling helpful, CBT, less so. The anti-depressants I was on evened me out in the short term but I found them damaging in the longer term, I actually stopped taking them completely about 3 weeks ago, after 7 months.

Edited October 13, 2014 by Stanley Leisure

[pipnasty]

About three years ago, I had a pretty bad anxiety attack, I'd never had one before. Heart palpatations, dizziness, bitter taste in my mouth; horrible business. The trigger was some food arriving (I was in a pub, with Des, Gilps, Matty, Steve H and KAMF funnily enough), when I tried to eat it, I suddenly felt incredibly sick. I could feel the adrenalin coursing through my system and I had to get out.

 

I had others after that, (I actually couldn't eat in a restaurant, comfortably for a while) but they were lower-level and after a few months, they just stopped.

 

What helped that was knowing that it was situational (work, some relationship stuff and I hadn't been looking after myself for a few months before that). It helped talking through things as they were happening (I remember KAMF talking me down during that first one) and then with my wife, a CBT counsellor after that.

 

Talking was key. Realising it was my brain malfunctioning, being able to identify the 'hot thoughts', then separating them from the normal ones. Going into 'fight or flight' mode is basically your brain taking control, reverting to instinct when it senses danger and the process of recovery is about reconnecting the synapses so it stops happening.

 

It can take a while and it's really, really hard but it does get better. DM me if you'd like to discuss it further.

 

Edit: Just to add, I found individual counselling helpful, CBT, less so. The anti-depressants I was on evened me out in the short term but I found them damaging in the longer term, I actually stopped taking them completely about 3 weeks ago, after 7 months.

 

Cheers, mate

[Stanley Leisure]

Cheers, mate :)/>

 

No worries, it still helps to talk about it. You'll never be able to forget a panic attack, you just have to adapt your thinking a bit. Or just avoid going to the pub with Des, Matty, Stevie H and KAMF

[billybunter]

I'd recommend considering seeing an NLP practitioner. Was very beneficial for me. It's a mixture of hypnosis and therapy.

 

I take a small dose of propranolol, if and when I need it. I also practice trying to slow down - whether in thought or speech, as hearing myself speak slower than usual calms me down, and makes me feel more in control.

 

Meditation is a real challenge for me, but I believe this is the key to dealing with the deep rooted issues.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

also other stuff people don't necessarily consider - diet & exercise - can have an impact. I do a fair bit of running, no music just me. An hour and a half of it & I come back remembering not too much, it's meditation to me; skiing is the same, after a day in the mountains I feel refreshed because I've been concentrating on just skiing (and not killing myself), again like meditation.. And when you get back you're usually physically f***ed but mentally buzzing (the high you get from exercise).

 

Not saying it's a cure but I firmly believe it's a big help

[melia]

I had a few anxiety attacks last week. I felt a rush of adrenaline and then spiralled into a panic. I thought I was gonna keel over a few times. I had the shakes, light-headedness, confusion, metallic taste in my mouth, constant belching, the works. I kept thinking that I was bound to have a heart attack. I tried the 7-11 breathing and it wasn't helping. I eventually had to get to a quiet room and go to sleep to shake it off.

On a couple of occasions I was with a few people and the sense of embarrassment just compounded the whole thing. I know that the root of it all is that I'm really busy at work and I also have a masters thesis to deliver in the next few weeks (which I'm way behind with).

I went to my GP and asked him for a short-term script of valium to nip it in the bud for when it kicks off again. Not the sensible thing to do in the long term but I reckon that, if it gets me through the next few weeks, then the reduced workload will take care of the rest. I'm also looking at mindfulness meditation again as that has helped me in the past.

[ChrisC]

also other stuff people don't necessarily consider - diet & exercise - can have an impact. I do a fair bit of running, no music just me. An hour and a half of it & I come back remembering not too much, it's meditation to me; skiing is the same, after a day in the mountains I feel refreshed because I've been concentrating on just skiing (and not killing myself), again like meditation.. And when you get back you're usually physically f***ed but mentally buzzing (the high you get from exercise).

 

Not saying it's a cure but I firmly believe it's a big help

 

Can't stress more exercise enough in my experience, even a short 20 minute or so walk can really make a lot of difference and reduce the panicky feeling and get your heart rate under control.

 

Knock the booze, fags and caffeine (or whichever apply) on the head for a while and focus on eating healthily and drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated, camomile tea is meant to be good in the evenings to help relax you if you want to stay away from the meds.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

aye - NB, when I say "not killing myself" I don't mean suicidal, I mean skiing off a cliff or into a tree....

[New York Red]

A few years ago, I developed a really, really bad sinus infection which eventually led to surgery to correct the problems. A few months before surgery, and due to the infection, my throat went into spasm and closed completely. I couldn't breathe at all, turned blue and as good as passed out. I ended up going to counselling to try and help get over this and, on the whole, it was fairly successful.

 

But, a few things have been building up over the last few months, nothing too bad, and I've not had a real holiday this year, so I've felt a bit run down. Anyway, I grow chillis and last week bit into an unlabled once and, f*** me, it was hot. Really hot. And it resulted in me having a massive panic attack. I'm presuming that it had something to do with the choking incident a few years ago and some kind of fear related to that.

 

Since last week, I've been an absolute wreck. Palpitations, sweating, feeling week, the lot. Today has been the worst day - thought something was stuck in my throat/chest and that I would never be able to eat anything again. That kind of nonsense.

 

I'm presuming that most people on here have had anxiety attacks at some point (going by the thread on depression a few months ago) - so what worked and what didn't? I can't be having these attacks for much longer, it's doing my head in. I'm still sleeping and all that, but it all feels a bit dark at the moment.

 

What say you?

 

You're doing the first step well. You've recognized the problem and you're analyzing it in detail. Most importantly, you're being honest with yourself and being humble about it.

 

The doctor is essential. I'm not sure of the technicalities in the UK, but get the ones who can prescribe medicine (psychologists can't in the US). Embrace the medication. The reason why you feel bad could well be partially because of an imbalance. Just look at the medication as being that it is righting a problem in your biochemistry. It's not a stigma. I've been on it for years and it is hugely beneficial.

 

Do yoga too. Seriously. It is f*cking fantastic. It's like an oasis that just makes you feel wonderful. It's very addictive, and that is totally cool.

[Dan]

Not yet cos it's all been a bit quick. Thought it would just go away but I'm not so sure now. Am open to it though.

 

I'm going through some pretty s***ty stuff at the moment and it's knocked me sideways. The biggest by-product has been anxiety. My GP has been useless so I'm waiting for another appointment. In the mean time I've been trying some meditation for the first time and I've been pleasantly surprised. I was very sceptical at first but it works if you're open to it. I just downloaded my own stuff rather than going to lessons etc

 

Hope you feel better soon mate.

[Molby]

I used to get about 3 or 4 panic attacks a year

 

i haven't had any for about 5 years now. The very first time I also ended up with chest pains and in A and E but they were nothing to do with my heart

 

I discovered two instant remedies:

 

1 immediately downing 3 large glasses of red wine

2 downing a triple dose of Night Nurse

 

either one would effectively end my working day but at least they stopped the panic and remedy 1 made for an impromptu day/night out

 

as a way of dealing with the root causes, one to one counselling is the best imo, but you want someone who knows NLP techniques as they will fix things quickly while you work on a long term cure

 

exercise/yoga/meditation and good diet will also help massively

a 30 minute run will do wonders

 

depends on what you can tolerate but if, for example, you can do without booze, meat, processed foods and junk carbs like bread and white rice and pasta, then do so

then reintroduce them now and again as treats

 

all of this will have a massive positive effect on you anyway, as well as dealing with the matter at hand

 

btw the diet/booze advice may seem a bit incongruous to those who have seen me 'in action' but I go through phases

at the moment I'm living quite well, with the odd wobble

[Swan Red]

I'm going to agree with those who suggest going to speak to someone first. I respect those who've done it without but I also think understanding it is a good part of dealing with it speaking about it will help understand it.

[dave]

If you're thinking of getting some counselling it's worth remembering to check that any potential therapist has a recognised diploma or degree in counselling or psychotherapy. In theory, anyone can set up shop as a counsellor with or without qualifications. Many therapists will also be a member of a governing body like the BACP which means they will practice to an agreed code of ethics and be accountable.

 

It's also worth checking out different counselling approaches and talk to a few different therapists to see which approach and therapist will be right for you. You might want to consider an integrative counsellor that uses person centred and CBT.

[Dan]

I'm going to agree with those who suggest going to speak to someone first. I respect those who've done it without but I also think understanding it is a good part of dealing with it speaking about it will help understand it.

 

Agree with this. When I say I'm waiting for another appointment I mean I'm waiting for the letter to arrive to confirm my appointment at the hospital (you probably weren't aiming that at me specifically though)

[Stanley Leisure]

also other stuff people don't necessarily consider - diet & exercise - can have an impact. I do a fair bit of running, no music just me. An hour and a half of it & I come back remembering not too much, it's meditation to me; skiing is the same, after a day in the mountains I feel refreshed because I've been concentrating on just skiing (and not killing myself), again like meditation.. And when you get back you're usually physically f***ed but mentally buzzing (the high you get from exercise).

 

Not saying it's a cure but I firmly believe it's a big help

 

That's definitely true. The gym really sorted me out, i felt much better about myself. Then I had a relapse, earlier this year (brought about by a personal situation), started on the Sertraline and they sapped my energy to the point I just stopped going. That's then main reason I stopped but as NYR says, the can be benefiicial. Depends what your brain chemistry is, really.

 

Talking and looking after yourself should be your starting point, Pip, then just see how you feel and go from there.

Edited October 14, 2014 by Stanley Leisure