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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by partlycloudy on July 6, 2004, at 13:39:29
..and I don't know what board this falls into. Everything is going peachy-keen for me. Depression is in remission; anxiety greatly reduced; meds under control; therapy going well. So if I feel so good overall, why do I still get panic attacks for apparently no reason? Where is that "whoopsy, I'm teetering on the edge of the tallest building in the entire world" sensation coming from? It hits me out of the blue. Here I am, sitting at my desk, and I might as well be on a tightrope without a net, I'm in such a state.
I really am making strides in so many areas, and this one thing seems so primeval and animal. It seems so beyond my reach intellectually. How does this get better? Is it a matter of time or am I missing something obvious here?
puzzled and partlycloudy
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on July 6, 2004, at 14:46:39
In reply to Looking for insights into panic attacks, posted by partlycloudy on July 6, 2004, at 13:39:29
Partly,
Remember that anxiety is not just linked to adverse events in your life. It can also be a result of positive change in your life. And it seems that you are feeling pretty good lately which is something quite foreign for you recently. Your panic attacks may be a result of this new change.
I get this way sometimes. Sometimes when I can talk myself out of a depressive or irrational thought, I get short of breath and my heart races a little. I think this happens because this is such a new experience and feeling for me. Your body becomes anxious.
Does this make sense?
Posted by partlycloudy on July 6, 2004, at 15:13:41
In reply to Re: Looking for insights into panic attacks, posted by Miss Honeychurch on July 6, 2004, at 14:46:39
Yes, I guess that does make sense. Physically, though, it makes me feel like I have missed a whole piece of the puzzle that is partlycloudy. I do think that it's interesting that I can tell the difference between feeling happy and feeling manic - it's much, much better.
Posted by antigua on July 6, 2004, at 19:27:56
In reply to Looking for insights into panic attacks, posted by partlycloudy on July 6, 2004, at 13:39:29
I agree with Miss Honeychurch. I find that when I'm feeling better, and I become conciously aware of it, then I get very anxious. I'm really working on accepting the good, but in my past it seems that the good has always come to a screeching halt w/something bad happening, which in my mind totally wipes out the good thing. I wasn't deserving of those good feelings, so I had to be punished.
I've decided (well, I'm working on it)that I'm the one who makes those connections and they aren't necessarily true. The other day I had some really good news, and was very happy. Lasted about 3 hours when I found out a friend had been hit by a car and was critically injured. I started slamming around feeling that I shouldn't have ever felt good when my little voice said, "hey, those two things don't have anything to do w/each other; they don't cancel each other out. They are separate." So I could still be happy about the good thing and feel bad for my friend. I think it's that "holding opposing views at the same time" thing that my T is always making me work on--that my father was either all good or all bad, when in fact he was both.
Also, sometimes when I feel anxious it means something is coming up and I worry that I'm going to be blindsided.
Oh well, I wasn't much help, but I do know what you mean,
antigua
Posted by Elle2021 on July 7, 2004, at 3:38:25
In reply to Looking for insights into panic attacks, posted by partlycloudy on July 6, 2004, at 13:39:29
Hi,
Sometimes, even when I'm not feeling particularly anxious, I still get panicky. Biologically speaking, I don't think one actually has to be anxious to have a panic attack. My pdoc was helping me explore things that trigger my panic attacks, and he informed me that sometimes there is no trigger, they just happen. I'm not sure if you have been taught any breathing exercises by your therapist, but those are very helpful to me. Next time you have a panic attack (or feel like you are going to), you might want to try taking deep belly breaths and pay extra attention to your breathing (i.e. fast or slow), if it's fast try to slow it down a bit. It also helps me to picture a serene scene in my head, like a calm lake during the fall time.
Elle
Posted by partlycloudy on July 7, 2004, at 6:46:05
In reply to Re: Looking for insights into panic attacks » partlycloudy, posted by Elle2021 on July 7, 2004, at 3:38:25
Thanks for your thoughtful replies. My p-doc was not concerned, since I'm making progress on the other fronts. I will let my body catch up to the rest of me!
Posted by AuntieMel on July 7, 2004, at 11:19:27
In reply to Looking for insights into panic attacks, posted by partlycloudy on July 6, 2004, at 13:39:29
I've had them for years, and most of the time they don't seem to be a result of anything else going on.
The first one was in college. I was sitting in a class when it hit. For no reason. I was relatively happy at the time. There was no exam, and I wasn't afraid of exams anyway. The class wasn't hard - psychology for dummies. It just hit.
Most of them do come from nowhere, though I also have a tendency to have them while driving. Almost always heading away from home. I have found a couple of things that help. 1) putting something strong smelling, like menthol, right under my nose and breathing deeply. 2) putting a cold, wet cloth on my legs, or behind my neck. and 3) blowing the air conditioning right in my face as cold as I can get it. Even in winter.
Ugh. Sad thing is I've learned to live with them, when I really would like them to go away.
Posted by partlycloudy on July 7, 2004, at 12:28:14
In reply to Re: Looking for insights into panic attacks, posted by AuntieMel on July 7, 2004, at 11:19:27
Wow. Those are great tips on what to do when they happen. I've been trying some of them (blowing the a/c on my face, for example) and the menthol is a great idea.
It's a bit discouraging to think that these are something I'll have to live with. It's kind of like having hiccups of adrenaline in your brain (except holding your breath does NOT work....)
Thanks again.
Posted by jay on July 7, 2004, at 12:47:33
In reply to Looking for insights into panic attacks, posted by partlycloudy on July 6, 2004, at 13:39:29
Thanks for your post...as it made me think of something interesting. I still recall the day I went to the doctor and he Dx'ed me with anxiety/panic and depression. That evening, I think I did one of the best things ever...and I treated and pampered myself. After picking up my meds, taking my lorazepam, I crawled into my p.j.'s and into bed early that evening. I took 4 sick days off work, because I knew I needed to immediately reduce *any* stress (and doctors orders too).
So, it was the combo of everything...meds, treating myself well, rest and relaxation..the combination of these things seems to make life that much easier. As a friend of mine said to me...try hardest to reduce that "invisible load"...all of that emotion and such that hits us hard and weighs heavy when we don't feel well.
Anyhow...just my two bits..:-)
Peace and best,
Jay
Posted by partlycloudy on July 7, 2004, at 13:01:11
In reply to Re: Looking for insights into panic attacks » partlycloudy, posted by jay on July 7, 2004, at 12:47:33
AGGHHHHH!! (That was the sound of a sore spot.) I have noticed that since my dx I've been trying really hard to be "productive" for others as what I really wanted to do was sit of the sofa and dry my tears. I also keep telling OTHER people to pamper themselves; loll in your pj's or whatever. And I can't get myself to do it, because right now I guess I don't think I deserve it. I think I see homework on the horizon with my T.
Thanks for your thoughts, jay.
Posted by AuntieMel on July 9, 2004, at 8:37:17
In reply to Re: Looking for insights into panic attacks » AuntieMel, posted by partlycloudy on July 7, 2004, at 12:28:14
Just because I haven't found a way to get rid of them doesn't mean it can't be done. Like I said, I've had them for years, but.....I've only been going to a shrink for 2 years, and only working seriously with them for about 1 (trust issues).
Don't give up.
This is the end of the thread.
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