Posted by Nate_Diggity on October 25, 2005, at 0:50:53
Hello everyone. I stumbled across this board while researching panic disorder and it seems informative and interesting and I have decided to make a post. I have suspected for the last 5 months that I have panic disorder. My research on the web has only shown support for my hypothesis. My trouble began one day in class when I felt my heart racing, my palms sweating and generally uncomfortable. I have since determined that original attack was triggered by a caffeine overdose as I had indulged in far too much coffee that morning **college :(** . Unfortunately, since that original incident things have only spiraled downhill. While my major attacks are themsleves sparse, I am gripped by a constant fear of their return. More specifally, they thought of of having another attack is never far from my mind at any time. However, on top of these attack I have also developed a stuffed up nose which has lasted for well over 5 months now. In all honesty, I am finding all of these syptoms overwhelming to deal with, especially since there sudden and unexpected onset.
Thankfully, I have a very supportive girlfriend who herself suffered through extreme anxiety a young age. She used to describe it to me when we firsdt got together, and while I offered my sympathies I never truly could understand these attacks until I have began to experience them myself. I had for a while reached the stage of virtual recluse, rarely leaving my home except to go to work, and let me tell you, geting there and being there was difficult enough in itself. I have since slowly developed a series of "comforts" that allow me to funtion at an almost normal pace. Theses include always a bottle of water, and always my cellphone. My phone in case I need my girlfriends support, and water in case I feel like I can't swallow or breathe. But I want to return to a normal state entirely, without these comforts. I don't really know what I'm looking for in way of responses, maybe just advice or similar situations people have fought through. I originally had planned to battle through this myself, but I have decided today that seeking rfessional medical help is porbably the best course of action. Thanks for listening.
-Nate
poster:Nate_Diggity
thread:571627
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20051021/msgs/571627.html