Anxiety

[Guest AcrossCanyons]

A few nights ago (3 to be precise) I had a strange and unsettling (to put it extremely lightly) sensation which after looking into I can only assume was a panic attack.

 

I was lying on my bed browsing the web on the laptop waiting for my girlfriend to get home. I was tired (it was about midnight), but other than that and the fact I was slightly worrying about her being annoyed at me for not going out with her and her friend I felt absolutely fine, then suddenly I bolted upright and felt a powerful pressure in/on/around my chest, which I now assume was a heart palpitation. As well as that I felt it spread over my body (I remember particularly feeling it down my right arm). At the time I thought I might be having a heart attack (my dad died of one a couple of years back, coupled with me partially remembering something about pain shooting down your arm while having a heart attack?). I also experienced the most insane tunnel vision/trippy visual morphing I've seen. The fear of death I felt was unmatched and very, very real. I then remember slowly getting up and walking to the sink in my room (don't ask why I have a sink in my room) and filling a glass of water and drinking it quickly. I felt very, very faint throughout and walked into my brothers room having said nothing and just sat on the bed trying to regulate my breathing incase I were to pass out so somebody would notice. After a while I felt a little more in control and went back into my room and tried to control myself. It was difficult but I managed to wait up for my girlfriend and then get some sleep after talking to her for a while (god was I glad to have her to talk to at the time to distract me, altho I didn't tell her what had happened until the morning).

 

I have been having similar sensations on a smaller scale throughout the past couple of days since the attack. It feels like a rising sensation that I try to suppress as well as I can through slowly breathing and telling myself I'm fine (I honestly believe that other than the fact this is happening, I am fine). This can happen as often as a few times an hour. I notice my heart beat way more often than normal and I have a strange feeling in my stomach, as well as occassional burning in my chest, though these effects are likely anxiety brought on by the event itself other than the other way around.

 

Recently I've started to piece together a few things/events that lead me to believe I have a bit of anxiety, although for what reasons I'm not entirely sure.

 

Prior to this event I've experienced what seems to be described as "depersonalization" for at least 5 or 6 years. I feel floaty/spacey often if not 100% of the time. (I also can't remember if I've never felt like this/I often think to myself "is this how everybody feels?/is this how I'm meant to feel?")

 

I am generally a happy person and while my life has many struggles I get on with it fine and nothing in my conscious mind tells me I should feel this way.

 

Sorry this post is so long. I'm interested to hear from others about the subject(s). Also if anybody has any advice I'd really love to hear it.

[Guest Lindrum Larry Cocopipe]

get yourself checked out. seriously

[Guest AcrossCanyons]

I will do if this doesn't calm down within another couple of days, but honestly what more can they do than throw some pills in your direction? (excluding the potential there is something underlying causing it).

[Guest Lindrum Larry Cocopipe]

I will do if this doesn't calm down within another couple of days, but honestly what more can they do than throw some pills in your direction? (excluding the potential there is something underlying causing it).

 

I think the main thing really is to get an accurate diagnosis. If they try to throw pills your way you can always deny them but you will know what you're dealing with.

[Atop]

I have had many a panic attack. Some natural stuff has helped. e.g. Passion Flower, a mix of herbs named Happy Camper. Some unnatural stuff always helps, e.g. any anti-anxiety meds: valium, clonapin, xanax, but they addictive so that sucks. Anti-depressants did not work for me and made me feel like a zombie. Things that set me off are stress from work, pretty much stress in general. I use breathing deeply and rhythmically often to calm myself. Going outside and just chilling helps as well. Reconnecting with nature instead of trying to fight an anxiety attack indoors always works better for me. Not being around people helps as if they try to talk to me it unfocuses my mind and can make the anxiety worsen. Weed does not help if I am the throws of a panic attack, makes them worse. It normally relaxes me but when I start coming down from weed I can get a little anxious, so I usually only smoke before I go to bed, if I smoke at all which I haven't been lately. Alcohol can help but is very temporary, unless you get drunk then it works but also can lead to dependence on something. Breathing and going outside seems to be the answer. Having a script for anti-anxiety meds also is a good idea. Abusing them may feel good but is not the way to use them correctly. Using them only when you need them is the smartest way to go about it. - Dr Atop

[Guest AcrossCanyons]

I have had many a panic attack. Some natural stuff has helped. e.g. Passion Flower, a mix of herbs named Happy Camper. Some unnatural stuff always helps, e.g. any anti-anxiety meds: valium, clonapin, xanax, but they addictive so that sucks. Anti-depressants did not work for me and made me feel like a zombie. Things that set me off are stress from work, pretty much stress in general. I use breathing deeply and rhythmically often to calm myself. Going outside and just chilling helps as well. Reconnecting with nature instead of trying to fight an anxiety attack indoors always works better for me. Not being around people helps as if they try to talk to me it unfocuses my mind and can make the anxiety worsen. Weed does not help if I am the throws of a panic attack, makes them worse. It normally relaxes me but when I start coming down from weed I can get a little anxious, so I usually only smoke before I go to bed, if I smoke at all which I haven't been lately. Alcohol can help but is very temporary, unless you get drunk then it works but also can lead to dependence on something. Breathing and going outside seems to be the answer. Having a script for anti-anxiety meds also is a good idea. Abusing them may feel good but is not the way to use them correctly. Using them only when you need them is the smartest way to go about it. - Dr Atop

Do these feelings just happen suddenly and unexpectedly or will they rise and fall with time?

[Eggs]

what the hell you have a sink in your room?

[Atop]

I have had many a panic attack. Some natural stuff has helped. e.g. Passion Flower, a mix of herbs named Happy Camper. Some unnatural stuff always helps, e.g. any anti-anxiety meds: valium, clonapin, xanax, but they addictive so that sucks. Anti-depressants did not work for me and made me feel like a zombie. Things that set me off are stress from work, pretty much stress in general. I use breathing deeply and rhythmically often to calm myself. Going outside and just chilling helps as well. Reconnecting with nature instead of trying to fight an anxiety attack indoors always works better for me. Not being around people helps as if they try to talk to me it unfocuses my mind and can make the anxiety worsen. Weed does not help if I am the throws of a panic attack, makes them worse. It normally relaxes me but when I start coming down from weed I can get a little anxious, so I usually only smoke before I go to bed, if I smoke at all which I haven't been lately. Alcohol can help but is very temporary, unless you get drunk then it works but also can lead to dependence on something. Breathing and going outside seems to be the answer. Having a script for anti-anxiety meds also is a good idea. Abusing them may feel good but is not the way to use them correctly. Using them only when you need them is the smartest way to go about it. - Dr Atop

Do these feelings just happen suddenly and unexpectedly or will they rise and fall with time?

 

Usually suddenly and unexpected. Hence the word attack. I have been able to fight them off before but it is never easy and like I said, I need to be alone, outside, breathing deeply and rhythmically. At the same time trying to focus on one idea. A simple idea to where I trick my mind into not thinking about anything else. Anti-anxiety meds are a short cut to ending the panic attack but they are habit forming and one can become dependent on them very easily. I think it just matters how often you are having them, if you have them often you should probably have some sort of either natural or pharmaceutical anti-anxiety meds at your disposal.

[Guest boo]

i used to have a sink in my room

[Atop]

I use sinks everyday.

[Ivan Ooze]

heyheyheyhey............smoke weed everday

[Ivan Ooze]

i had this happening a few times 2, i think it will pass don't worry, its just in the mind

[Guest AcrossCanyons]

what the hell you have a sink in your room?

it's actually rather handy.

 

drinks of water in the night, easy access to your toothbrush, easier thank going to the toilet, etc.

[Guest couch]

I had a sink in my bedroom once (dorm room). I would just piss in it because I didn't want to go out to the bathroom. lol

 

 

ew >_>

[lumpenprol]

yeah, me too, heh.

 

I used to get them, and still get closed to getting them when I'm in unfamiliar social situations (but haven't had one in years). I would recommend getting some meds as spot treatment for a panic attack. I used xanax (anti-anxiety) at first and then zyprexa, which is a fairly potent anti-psychotic. Probably not the intended use exactly, but when i felt a panic attack coming along I found it leveled me out quickly. The good thing about developing a "bag of tricks" to combat panic attacks is the less afraid you are of them, the less likely they are to recur (in my experience).

[jules]

I went through something so similar a few years ago canyons. the depersonalization was really scary for me and the panic attacks followed. I would almost talk myself into having them. the first one I had was the worst. I was actually driving and started to freak out so bad that I lost vision in one eye. I made it to my house and got inside and was completely and unequivocally convinced that was about to die. I thought I could see my heartbeat in my shirt and I thought it was going to explode. my wife wanted to drive me to the hospital but I couldn't bear the thought of being trapped in the car and would not let her take me. my vision slowly came back as I started to come down.

 

I had several in the days following but none that compared to the first. I immediately quit all caffeine, nicotine, weed and alcohol and went to talk to a psych. he wasn't too helpful at all and prescribed me Xanax. I took one during an onset of an attack and it subsided very quickly. so the pills worked for me, but just to have on me physically. I rarely ever took one but knowing I could stop any attack actually stopped them, almost like a placebo effect. the depersonalization was the worst/scariest for me, like i saud, but I was able to start to shrug it off and not really let it dominate and trigger another attack after I had the confidence of having the pills. I was so afraid of having an attack in public or driving that having them on me meant so much.

 

I really feel for you as that was a horrible time for me but it did help me grow a little and taught me to not to cling to every single piece of stress like I used too. go see someone but don't think this is completely nuts or doesn't happen to tons of people. you will get a grip on it quickly if you want to. watmm is a great help for stuff like this too. if you have any other questions or anything, please feel free to pm me and I'll try to help in any way I can. good luck to you.

[Guest KY]

I'm generally an anxious person by nature, and have been planning on getting a small tattoo on my wrist that says "relax". not sure it'd actually change anything though.

[acid1]

I've had a lot of panic attacks since I was 16. Reading your post was almost a directly reflection of what its like to go through a panic attack. My first was in a movie theatre, I had heart palpitations that wouldn't stop and escalated into my fingers and legs going numb. I remember a school mate telling me that if this happens you are having a heart attack which resulted in me stressing out more and being driven to the hospital. Doc gave me a valium and I was cool again in minutes.

 

Over the years I have learnt that it has to do with your fight or flight response. For whatever reason, you convince your body that you are being attacked, and as a result your body goes into survival mode, basically turning off less essential systems (like hunger) and activating survival systems (like adrenaline). You can read about it online.

 

They are just about the scariest things in the world when they happen, because its impossible to relax, and you feel like your lungs are collapsing while having a heart attack. The worst thing that can happen is hyper ventilation, and passing out. You can easily crack your head open on something, so its a good idea to be near soft surfaces when this occurs, breath like you are doing yoga, and try not to do anything stupid.

 

Usually they can last about an hour, and depending upon how full your stomach is, it can take 20 minutes for medications to kick in. These can be the longest 20 minutes of your life. Medication for treating them is incredibly effective, however they are easily addictive. Its not a bad idea to have some around in case.

[Guest boo]

I'm generally an anxious person by nature, and have been planning on getting a small tattoo on my wrist that says "relax". not sure it'd actually change anything though.

edit: don't do it

[jules]

I'm generally an anxious person by nature, and have been planning on getting a small tattoo on my wrist that says "relax".

don't do it

 

when you want to go do it

 

[chassis]

I had some chest pains a few weeks back and thought it was heart trouble, but after a few days I was satisfied it was all in my head. So now if it happens I just stand up and walk somewhere, then its gone.

 

Ive gotten more stress lately, but from time to time I have to remember, fuck it I dont care that much. Thats easy to say in college though I suppose.

[Guest A/D]

I have many ideas about anxiety and how mine is better now. They are pretty new agey so I won't force them on you. Feel free to pm if you want though.

[Atop]

pranayama

[chaosmachine]

yup, definitely an anxiety attack. they crippled me for years. it really does feel like you are dying, especially if you get to the stage where you start hyperventilating, and tunnel vision kicks in... it's a terrible experience, for you, and the people around you.

 

so... a lot of people seem to turn to drugs... no offense to those that do, but my opinion is: fuck that.

 

if you want a cure, you have to treat the cause, not the symptoms. you need to get stronger, mentally. a pill is not going to do that for you.

 

really, all you need to do is recognize when you're starting to experience an attack, and fucking kill it before the feedback loop kicks in.

 

the truth is, the only thing attacking you is your own fear of death. so killing the attack means killing the fear. but how do you do that? well... i'll tell you how i did it:

 

i learned to meditate. specifically, vipassana aka "insight meditation". it's easy to learn, but i'll warn you up front, this stuff, if taken seriously, can change your life in unpredictable ways... so... here is the link that did it for me: http://www.budsas.or...fneng/mind0.htm

 

now i'm not saying start meditating when you feel an attack coming on. that's not it at all... what meditation will do for you is give you a level of comfort with your own mind and body, it forces you to learn how they're connected... so when you start experiencing that anxiety rush, you're ahead of the game, and you can deal with it, because you have that skillset now: the ability to stop that runaway mental train, before it becomes a trainwreck.

 

anyway, that's my opinion, and it's what worked for me. i suffered with that shit for more than 10 years... hopefully this helps you (or someone) avoid that.

[Atop]

become a Mentat

 

Mentat mantra:

It is by will alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of sapho that thoughts acquire speed, the lips acquire stains, the stains become a warning. It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.

 

Drugs have worked for me.

 

Meditation has worked for me.

 

Do what works for you.