Was Doing Great...THEN!!!!!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2004
Was Doing Great...THEN!!!!!!!
9
Wed, 11-08-2006 - 11:42pm
Well I have suffered from Anxiety for about 5 years and have been on Zoloft 50 mg with as needed Klonopin.
        
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 11-09-2006 - 12:41am

Hi, Amy! Nice to see you;) I am sorry that your panic has returned. Can you attribute it to a loss or major life change? Extra stress? Or is it the out of the blue kind that is really discombobulating for us?


Zoloft is a good medication. I hope the increase gets you back on track. Others have found therapy to be helpful. Have you considered that? We have a *coping tips & tricks* folder below. There's plenty of self-help techniques that you can learn. Belly breathing, repeating positive affirmations & meditation have helped me. Getting enough sleep, plenty of exercise & a good diet help as well.


I know the anticipatory anxiety can get the best of us, if we aren't careful. Distractions

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2004
Thu, 11-09-2006 - 12:55am

Thanks for the warm welcome Jan!!!!!!!

        
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2003
Thu, 11-09-2006 - 1:10am

My sympathy in the passing of your friends. Sudden deaths can affect us on a subconscious level & stir up all sorts of problems.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Thu, 11-09-2006 - 9:57pm

First, let me give you lots of ((((hugs)))).

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Thu, 11-09-2006 - 10:00pm
I'm sorry to hear about your losses.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2004
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 12:29am

Wow Sheri Ann..that must of been horrifying with you son.

        
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 6:53am
I checked out your myspace account, awesome family pics!

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2006
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 7:33am

Amy
My heart goes out to you. I have major panic attacks and know exactly what your feeling. As far as your fear of having one on the flight or at that same hotel. As far as the hotel thing if you can try just going to the hotel to visit. If the hotel has a restraunt -forgive the miss spelling-go there to just have a nice dinner. This might give to the chance to be there under a relaxed situation. Just enjoy your meal and the company of your DH. Then try sitting in the lobby after eating and have a nice chat with DH. And if all goes well then you have at least the confidence that by visiting your panic was under control so staying there again may ease your fear.
On the other hand if you start to panic just remember you are there to visit and can leave at any time. You will be in control of the situation and can proceed as you wish. Then maybe at a later time try going back to see if you become panicky again.

As far as flying I have lots of experience in the department.

First of all I use to be scared to fly. But I told myself I would not let this control my life. Prior to meeting my DH I was scared of flying but had a desire to travel. Therefore I braved it and boarded the plane. Many of times as the door was being closed I wanted to get off the plane. On one trip I was seated next to a flight attendant who was flying as a passenger on her way back home. She shared some ways to cope. First don't focus on your panic. Focus on why you are taking this trip ie: going to see family then think about who you will be seeing and what you plan to do during your visit. Divert your thoughts away from the fear.
I use to fly with one of those wide rubber bands on my wrist and would snap the rubber band and focus on the sting my wrist would feel each time I did it. Try it.. it worked for me.
Then get this on my honey moon I had a panic attack on the plane before we even began to taxi - oh I should mention I am now married to a pilot, DH does not work for the airlines but has a pilots license. I did not become a major one. The flight attendant was very attentive to what was going on with me and asked if we needed help. DH explained what was happening and man she went right into action. She began talking to me about the nail polish color I was wearing and some other things. She even talked to my DH and said if we wanted we could get off the plane and take a later flight that would not be a problem. He told her I should be okay that we had just gotten married and had been under some stress. I agreed I wanted to continue on the flight.
All during the flight she checked in to see how I was and to converse about where we were handed for our honeymoon ect.
So don't panic about the flight just think of who you will see at the end of the flight ie: family friends ect. Then on your way home reflect on your trip. What you did, who you saw.
Take a good book start reading it as soon as you get on the plane. You will get so engrossed in the good story that you won't have time to worry.
Now I fly several times a year and some of those flights are by myself. I have gotten over my fear and really enjoy flying.
Hope this helps.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 11:58am

hi amy,


i have no great words of wisdom, but wanted to let you know that you are not alone..i can totally relate to what you are going through.