The Horror of an Anxiety Attack

[smahala1991]

Tonight I had a horrible experience. It's hard to hide under a mask and deny the problem. But the truth is I have anxiety issues. I had an anxiety attack tonight at work after the manager called me down about a humiliating problem that I have. I immediately went into panic mode because I have lost two jobs before with no explanation, and I was afraid of losing this one after 6 months.

So in the break room I Started breathing heavily and hyperventilating. I had chest pressure and tingling in my face and left arm. What's the first thing you think of when you hear that? You usually think of a heart attack. So I asked to be taken to the emergency room. My supervisor took me after I explained the symptoms. The nurse took me back and did an EKG. The doctor come in and said I didn't have a heart attack but an anxiety attack. The doctor then said that the symptoms can often mimic heart attack symptoms. The doctor then said I need to seek medical help with a family doctor. I often worry about everything.

I worry about me holding on to my job, I worry about fitting in with my family, I also worry about my weight. Plus I'm going to be an uncle in November. So a lot of excitement and stress. Plus I also admit I do have a fear of not.being good enough. I feel like in am lagging behind others my age. I feel like I should have already had a good career by now, had a wife and family. Because about everyone I have went to school with is either married with kids, has a successful career,or has parents who are well off. I feel like most of the time i'm never good enough for anything.

I will admit I've never self harmed or considered suicide because let's be honest I'm afraid to die. I'm afraid of being a failure. But I hope to get help with my life to move on to help my negatives become positives. So I guess what I would like to say is maybe life isn't worth worrying about or keeping up with the Smiths and Joneses. It's about the choices you make and the support you have.

Stay classy GAG.

[bobair]

I've over come my own months and months of horrible panic/anxiety attacks a couple times in my life. So here's what I would tell my younger self that hopefully will also help you... and at anytime feel free to drop me a PM.

1) Anxiety and panic attacks are self induced. And even though our bodies mimic heart attacks and tingling and horrible chest pains and shortness of breath... nobody has EVER died from a panic attacks. The symptoms are completely harmless, outside of our injured ego's and the typical side effects of a ramped up adrenal system. Basically you're gonna survive any type of panic attack you can have.

2) Anxiety and panic are self created. This was the hardest for me to wrap my head around for months and months until I really paid attention... our THOUGHTS create our anxiety and panic. There was a time when I spend all my efforts seeking medical attention, getting blood tests, talking to doctors and natural paths, etc. And those are good things if only to rule out some hormonal triggers, like low testosterone or hyper thyroid... but those things don't CAUSE panic attacks, but they might add to feelings of uneasiness.

It's what we BELIEVE and what we THINK ABOUT that allows anxiety to get worse, or get better. Your "cure" will be found in what you think about. Basically we become self trained on generating our own fears and panics, which tells our bodies we're about to die, which amps up our adrenals, heart rate, adrenaline... basically our bodies prepare to run like we're about to be eaten by a bear.

When you pay attention to exactly what you're thinking before and during a panic attack you'll discover what thoughts you need to address.

3) It's YOUR responsibility to list those thoughts that trigger you, or make you feel worse, in order to recover, adapt, and grow.

And this sounds boring, and it sounds like it's not going to help... so most people don't.

And it works.

Listing the thoughts that trigger you, analyzing them, and rewriting more empowering beliefs will heal your anxiety.

4) If you could make yourself STOP thinking during an attack you wouldn't have an attack. Courses in meditation, or mindfulness, might help teach you how to disengage with your own thoughts when you most need to, and will immediately stop anxiety and panic.

5) Anxiety isolates us... being social and with friends helps heal us, and helps give us the perspective we lack when we're anxious.

~ Robby

[Stacyzee]

If you don't feel fear, you simply aren't living.
It is a part of life.
Life can be scary, especially when we are unsure.
So many people walk this Earth, being expected to have things figured out just because they are a certain age.
You are no different than them.
It makes you human.
If you are discontented with your life, strive for better.
It's never too late!
<3 Hugs <3
I am glad your at least okay.

[ginny_weasley]

Nice take just remember that fear is a part of life. If you don't experience fear, you may not be human

[SunnyCaliGirl]

I write my stress out in a journal and It helps to reduce my anxiety attacks and stress