Panic/Anxiety Attacks: Support, Advice, Help, Treatment Options (pregnant, thyroid, vision)

[handitak]

how do you guys do the double quotes from several people at once?

[mdtoaz]

Originally Posted by handitak

how do you guys do the double quotes from several people at once?

I haven't figured out how to do that, either. But if I did, I'd also quote your last post and let you know that my brain acts like that too. When I'm in the midst of something stressful, I'm fine - I do what I need to do, get the job done, etc.

It's at the end of the day when I'm trying to relax that it all creeps up on me. It starts with clammy hands and feet, I start to feel like I have something in my throat, kind of a choking feeling. Then I feel like I can't breathe and then the heart races and feel like it's going to fly right out of my chest.

I'm pretty well in tune with my body - I think it's the way with an anxious person... I'm highly aware when something's a little off. I know now that as soon as I feel the clamminess settle in... it's time to get up walk, play a game on the computer, fold some laundry... something, anything to get my mind on something else.

[Suzet2262]

Originally Posted by handitak

WOW, i didnt know today was going to be so rough!!! I feel like i just took 10 steps back!

I am sorry you had a bad day yesterday handitak. I dont even know what to say about your nephew. Wow. I hope today is better for you. We all have our set backs. I as well am having one of my own. The last 2 days have been pretty bad. I'll recover, we always do. As far as posting double quotes from several people at once...lmao, I have no clue. I guess I should find out how to do that.

Caffeine is a HUGE trigger for anxiety and panic attacks. I have pretty much cut out all of my caffeine intake, I do slip and have some chocolate everyonce in awhile. But then I do know, when I eat that it might cause me to get anxious. I live with.

Wisteria, welcome to our thread. We are a great group of people here. This is a great place as I have said many times before to come and share your feelings, experiences, or just vent...Walking is a wonderful stress reliever. I walk everyday, sometimes 2 or more times a day. I always feel so much better. Sometimes I have an attack while walking, I still do it, and just cry, as for me, it helps to release stress too.

[Wisteria]

Suzet2262: Wisteria, welcome to our thread.

Thank you!

handitak:
how do you guys do the double quotes from several people at once?

Block and copy (using the edit function in your toolbar at the top of the screen – Explorer) the section you want to paste, then move your cursor to the reply box and right click on the mouse to paste it into the reply box. You can copy or just type in the poster's name and place it next to the quote. You can keep repeating blocking, copying and pasting for whichever quotes you want, but you need to either type in the poster's name next to the quote, or, if you're copying a section from the top, you can even highlight their name at the same time. I don't know if what I did above is what you are referring to, but that's how I do it.

When you're finished copying and pasting, then on your reply box at the top with all the little icons, you'll see a little "quotation box" (like in a cartoon). Block your text and then click on that "quotation box" and it should put these HTML codes around it: {QUOTE} {/QUOTE}

It's a bit hard to explain in words, but I hope this helps a bit.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I gave up taking MOST anti-histamines years ago. Anything with a decongestant in it makes me hyper. Benadryl makes me feel like I could walk right up a wall and across the ceiling. I have the extra pleasure of being allergic to Yellow #5 which is in the dyes of medications as well as other places.

I have been noticing that even though my medication is helping me, my thought process is still the same. I am a worrier, when my mind has a moment, it almost searches for something to worry about. Without the medication, I stay in a constant state of worry and concern. With the medication, an upsetting topic comes to mind, my mind waits for my body to have a panic attack and nothng happens, I do alot of reasoning with myself inside my head.

I'm sure this is where the CBT comes in, re-training your mind how to think.
I also did some reading to find that there is no clear answer as to WHY some people are like this and others aren't, they said simply it is believed that some people have a lower threshold for stress, well duh...I have been saying that about myself for years. It also said that they believe being in an environment like I was raised could have played a part in it.

I am just thankful to finally understand and have you guys to talk to about it.

[Wisteria]

Lindsey_McFarren: I also did some reading to find that there is no clear answer as to WHY some people are like this and others aren't, they said simply it is believed that some people have a lower threshold for stress, well duh...

I definitely agree with the antihistamines. In fact, all of us in our family who have this can't take antihistamines! We're flying off the walls! It shocked me when I first heard someone say that they "fell asleep" on them! Whoa that was hard to believe! I later realized, of course, that I just couldn't take them and haven't for decades now. If I get a cold, I just sleep sitting up. No antihistamines for me!

Actually, there are some studies going on about genetic markers for this. In my family, there are 4 of us who have it (and our mother had it), so we know which parent we got it from. There was a study at Yale University on families with anxiety disorder (although I never did find out what they discovered). I really do believe much of it is genetic, and maybe, like anything else, our body chemistry changes at certain points.

In the meantime, all we can do is share ideas about how we deal with it -- and it sounds like we've all discovered very similar methods -- and just go on with our lives. I hope that some day it will be more identified like diabetes, or some other ailment, so that it doesn't carry the stigma that it has now. That is my wish.

[Suzet2262]

Originally Posted by Lindsey_Mcfarren

I gave up taking MOST anti-histamines years ago. Anything with a decongestant in it makes me hyper. Benadryl makes me feel like I could walk right up a wall and across the ceiling. I have the extra pleasure of being allergic to Yellow #5 which is in the dyes of medications as well as other places.

I have been noticing that even though my medication is helping me, my thought process is still the same. I am a worrier, when my mind has a moment, it almost searches for something to worry about. Without the medication, I stay in a constant state of worry and concern. With the medication, an upsetting topic comes to mind, my mind waits for my body to have a panic attack and nothng happens, I do alot of reasoning with myself inside my head.

I'm sure this is where the CBT comes in, re-training your mind how to think.
I also did some reading to find that there is no clear answer as to WHY some people are like this and others aren't, they said simply it is believed that some people have a lower threshold for stress, well duh...I have been saying that about myself for years. It also said that they believe being in an environment like I was raised could have played a part in it.

I am just thankful to finally understand and have you guys to talk to about it.

That is what I need to work on, and why I still get panic attacks. The way my mind works. At some point I will be going to The Ross Center for Anxiety and learn how to re-train my brain. It is the thinking that gets us into trouble.

I am not sure I have a low tolerance for stress. My younger life was pretty traumtic, and I didnt have anxiety or panic until later on in my life. Mine started after I had my thyroid surgery. If anything, I believe the opposet(sp?) I am able to handle more stress and more trauma since having this disorder. We are strong people to have to live with this crap every single day of our life. Most people couldnt handle what we go through in a day. I am actually a great person to have during a crisis...lol.

As far as meds go, I cant take all the allergy meds out there. They make me feel either speeded out or really tired. I use my nose spray, and that works fine for me. I use Nasonex. I love it. I have no side effects at all.

Wisteria, your welcome.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I can take Seldane which is not an antihistamine but it helps, I can take Zyrtec, Claritin and another one that begins with an "A".

Claritin doesn't really work for me and now that Zyrtec is available over the counter I will probably start taking that one.

I feel like my meter for stress gets depleted more quickly then normal people. But then there are times when I have been through overwhelming things and not had a problem. It doesn't make sense to me.

Suzet, thats interesting that your surgery for thyroid seems to be connected. Has your doctor looked into that? I keep reading that an imbalanced thyroid can contribute to this condition.

I know what you guys mean about feeling crazy, I have felt that way for so long, I am glad to finally understand.

[mystree]

Im curious, how many anxiety/panic attack sufferers out their also have

OCD
hypochondria

I find myself worrying about dying, and I can find symptoms out of anything, and that in itself with start a panic attack. I worry a lot about anything and everything.

I think most people have a bit of hypochodriac in them,but people with anxiety and panic attacks almost seem to have to worry about something...we just can't help it.

As for caffeine I quit that before bedtime because I would wake up gasping for air in the middle of the night and my heart racing this would also happen if I was extremely stressed during the day.Eliminating the caffeine and chocolate has really helped with that,I also feel so much more refreshed in the morning.

[Suzet2262]

Originally Posted by Lindsey_Mcfarren

I can take Seldane which is not an antihistamine but it helps, I can take Zyrtec, Claritin and another one that begins with an "A".

Claritin doesn't really work for me and now that Zyrtec is available over the counter I will probably start taking that one.

I feel like my meter for stress gets depleted more quickly then normal people. But then there are times when I have been through overwhelming things and not had a problem. It doesn't make sense to me.

Suzet, thats interesting that your surgery for thyroid seems to be connected. Has your doctor looked into that? I keep reading that an imbalanced thyroid can contribute to this condition.

I know what you guys mean about feeling crazy, I have felt that way for so long, I am glad to finally understand.

When you have felt that way for so long, you are almost scared to feel "normal". Atleast that is how I feel. It is like, what will I do when the anxiety is finally gone? How will I act and react to not having to deal with anymore. It has become such a huge part of my life.

I have my thyroid checked every 6 months or so. I had a complete blood work up like 2 months ago when I went to the ER with my hubby. Everything was fine. I have gone to a thyroid specialist for many years, and he always tells me my thyroid is in the normal range. I only have 1/3 of it left. It is weird though, that 1 year after having the tumor removed and most of my thyroid, I started having panic attacks.

I have tried both Zyrtec and Claritin, for some reason I get that really weird feeling when taking those meds. I feel safer using my nose spray. As you know, I really hate to take meds anyway. It is bad enough I have to take the Cymbalta and Klonopin. I dont want to add other things. It freaks me out. That is one phobia I guess I developed over the years, is taking meds.