i have panic disorder
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| Thu, 12-21-2006 - 6:35pm |
hi, my name is melissa and ill be 20 next month. since like the end of october i stated having panic attacks and ever since then i have become anxious just about the thought of having them. i have been on medication for a little over a month and i am starting to feel better i have started eating healthier and exercising and got a book on anxiety that has been very helpful too. i still at times feel anxious but i know i will survive because i have been through it so many times before. my boyfriend and family have been very understanding and supportive which makes me very hopeful and positive that i will get better in time. i just need to be patient. i start therapy january 8th and so hopefully that will help with some things too. i never knew i had too much stress until i started having panic attacks, i was always a happy person and always wanted to have agood time. i loved being with friends and going out and doing things. and up until recently when i realized a few things from my book, i would always be afraid to do anything that i would "loose control" and have a panic attack. so i told almost all my friends what i was going through so if i started to breath heavy and sit down in the middle of us doing something that i am ok i just need a few minutes. it used to be so sacry for me though, i had so many symptoms. i get blurred vision, spotted vision, heart racing, clamy hands, headaches, and dizziness. it was horrible i felt like i was "loosing my mind" but i now know that no one "goes crazy" from panic attacks. i have started yoga and meditation techniques to help me relax more. i am still unable to sleep a whole nights through but its not because i wake up to panic attacks, im not sure why, but the dr said it should get better with time and my medication.
Now i just found out i am preagnant and me and myboyfriend are schelduled to have an abortion tomorrow and i am so scared.i have had one before when i was 16 and i need some closure i geuss to know i am not the only one out there whos had more than one. and that i am going to be ok afterwards.i know it is the best things for ME right now at this point in my life. i just need someone with my experiences to give me advice or thoughts on this.

Hi, Melissa! It's nice to see you on the board. We can offer lots of support when it comes to anxiety disorders. Abortion isn't discussed much here. iVillage has a great Abortion Support board that will be able to help. Here's the link: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-bhabortion&msg=3237.1&ctx=0
I have panic attacks & have had them for over 36 years. I gave birth to 2 children. Lots of women on our board have given birth in spite of their illnesses. There's hope & help throughout pregnancy with meds or therapy or a combination of both. However, you & your health care professional KNOW what's right for YOU. That is a very private decision & if you need too, talking with your clergy(priest, rabbi, pastor) is an option open to you.
Please read our *coping tips & tricks* folder below for ways to reduce stress & cope with anxiety & panic. I use meditation, belly breathing & repeating positive affirmations when I panic. Please know that we care. Wishing you the best of luck. I am sending prayers & positive thoughts your way. (((hugs))) jan
hi there,
i can TOTALLY relate to what you are going throught w/the panic disorder....i have it too...and first got diagonsied w/it when i was 19 too.
Sheri Ann
It sounds like right around twenty is a popular time for anxiety disorders to be diagnosed. I was a few months past my 20th bday when my depression and anxiety were diagnosed.
I'd like to share a few thoughts of my own about therapy and counseling. These are things I'd tell anyone who's about to start seeing a therapist or counselor for the first time.
Being totally honest and open with your therapist is something that I think can't be stressed enough. I've only really learned this in the past year...I've been in therapy off and on for almost seven years. It's something I learned accidentally from my current therapist.
On his desk, he has a smooth rock, about four-inches across with the words "1st Stone" painted on it in red letters. That's as in -- let he who is without sin throw the first stone. It was given to him by a church he used to work at...as a reminder. It reminds me every time I see it that he's human just like me. That he has fears and worries and skeletons in his closet, just like me. He's human, just like me, and just like you.
I don't know your therapist, and I assume you haven't met him/her yet either. However, I can absolutely assure you that this will be a person who is 100% human, who has fears and worries and skeletons in the closet.
One more thing, "total honesty" doesn't mean that you have to say things you aren't comfortable saying. Part of therapy is to go beyond your comfort zone in a safe setting. However, it is ok to say "I'm not comfortable talking about that today. Can we come back to it another time?" If you can, it helps to explain why you're not comfortable discussing that issue. If your therapist pushes you too hard to talk about something you're very uncomfortable with, I'd recommend finding a new therapist.
Good luck! With starting therapy, with the new medication, and with all parts of your life. The people on this board helped me get though some tough times a couple years back. If you need them, they'll be here for you too. Hugs for ((melg))!
Shelley
thanks for the advice with therapy. i have met him once but he said it was to just get an idea of what kind of therapy he wanted me to go through. i was really nervous and some of the things he asked me i felt uncomfortable talking about. like my history and all, i know they are things he has to know but for instance, the first time i had sex i was forced to. i had forgotten about it for as long as i can remember since i was only 15 when it happened. i have been fine never had problems accepting it because there is nothing i can do about it now. but he kept asking me if anyone in my life reminds me of the guy and all these other questions and i was like i dont want to talk about it anymore. i kind of snapped at him but i dont like to think about it and if hes going to help me get better than i think that is not the right approach, obviously if i told him i have forgotten about it and never think about it anymore then that is not the "root" to my stress issues. GEEZ!
thanks for listening everyone and giving me your thoughts,
love,
melissa
Hi Melissa,
It's ok to get upset / frustrated / angry with your therapist as long as you let him know that you're upset and why.
I think I'd only seen my current therapist three times when I got majorly p-ssed because of something he said. And oh boy, did I let him know it! We talked about it and came to an understanding.
With one former therapist, I seriously called her to task on the lack of progress we were making -- pretty much told her that she was wasting my time (and hers).
Be up front about what you think you need and don't need and about what you are and are not comfortable with. If your therapist sees things differently, have him explain why, he may have a good reason, or he may simply misunderstand your situation.
I've spent full sessions doing this sort of "housekeeping" or "maintenance". The first couple times it was awkward. Some of those days, we didn't make a lot of progress doing therapy. However, they were very worthwhile in the long run because they've allowed us to work together much more effectively.
Once again, good luck!
Shelley