Guest guest Posted February 2, 2004 Report Share Posted February 2, 2004 , " ruby_mama2001 " <ruby_mama2001> wrote: > There are days when I'm totaly convinced that there was a higher > meaning with me finding this group and today is certainly one of > them. I have been thinking hard and long on whether to post a > question round this topic or not, cause it's kind of personal and... > But - I found to my amazement, that you wonderful people are already > out and sharing yourselves, I jump right in. > > First of all I wonder if your " panic attacks " and the thing we here > call " panic anxiety attacks " are the same? For me it's like I'm sure > I'm gonna die in the next couple of minutes - heart banging, doing > triple saltomortals, my lips and cheeks are getting numb, then my > lower arms and then - a freight train runs trough my whole body > screamin - I'm gonna die!!! Oh Ylva! I knew we had a lot in common, but I didn't think it was this bad! LOL! You are NOT alone darling!! From my understanding of dealing with this for 15 years now, is that there is anxiety disorder, where people get attacks triggered by anxiety. Then there is panic disorder where people can get attack for no good reason at all - or triggered by stress or anxiety. The difference is that panic sufferers react to the symptoms of the attack by thinking that the symptoms - high heart rate, tingling/numbness, hyperventilation etc. are going to kill them. It's a hyper response of the " fight or flight " reflex, or sympathetic nervous system. I always joke with my Dr. that my nervous system is hardly sympathetic to me... har har. > For me there is no family history of these attacks (at least to my > knowledge), but instead totaly caused by stress. The very first > attack I had on the plane to Greece five years ago, after working > like crazy roung 10-14 hours per day under enourmous preasure. I was > totaly convinced I was going to die, right there on the plane beside > my DH and Sam.... I didn't say a thing, to scared to talk - and > honestly hadn't got a clue on what had hit me... I still get these damned attacks - in the middle of the > night or in very early morning hours. Even though I now know WHAT > they are, they are still so horrible. It realy helps having Fiona > sleeping next to me (under the covers, my little 60+lb lapdog LOL) > and the other night I think I found a trick to make it go away > quicker. Instead of getting into this " ohhh, I'm gonna die panic and > total fraight (sp??)- instead I told myself - OK- you are getting > pannicy again, relax, go ahead and die then - in peace! It may sound > a little bit to drastic, but it helped and the attack stopped almost > imidiately. SOunds like cognitive behavoir therapy, and it really helps! From what I have learned about stress and hormones and > signalsubstances, I think that the fighting mechanism (aghhhh, I'm > gonna DIE " sets the whole system on alert. But if one manage to relax > and say - hey, die then, it gives the signal to stand down. Cause at > least for me, it's the dying thing that realy sets it of in full spin. MEEEE TOOOOO!!!!!! I often wonder how my heart can continue to function when it's beating and palpitating all over the place. Yet, when some kind of emergency happens - I am able to be really calm and collected. I spent years being a vet tech in ER situations and was always cool as a cucmber, and able to respond. So it's not so much external stimuli with me, rather INTERNAL stimuli. Hormones seem to be a big trigger for me. The week before my period I get more prone to attacks, once it's over, I seem to get less. > But guess what I'm gonna do now?? I'm going straight upstairs and > make myself a bottle of smelling salts with the blend that JenB > suggested. I was really amazed at how fast that blend calmed me down. It may not work for everyone, but I will no longer be without it in my purse. > > I must say, it is realy good and comforting to know, that these > things are so common and farspread = that I'm not alone. No way are you alone - I think more people have it these days then are willing to admit. As a culture, there is so much emphasis on being strong, aggressive and invulnerable. People see this as some kind of weakling disease - just like with depression. It's not the case. It's not curable, but there are treatments available and people shouldn't be afraid to try them. I laughed about how Fiona helps you with your attacks. When I have one in the night, I try to get Crab (my cat) to come sit on my chest and purr - I find the vibration soothing. My sister sings " Let it Be. " Anytime you need to talk about it, feel free to email me Ylva. We can talk about vanilla beans and shea butter and perfumery until the attack goes away! LOL!! JenB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 2, 2004 Report Share Posted February 2, 2004 Hey JenB! >Yet, when some kind of emergency happens - I am able to be really calm >and collected. I spent years being a vet tech in ER situations and >was always cool as a cucmber, and able to respond. So it's not so >much external stimuli with me, rather INTERNAL stimuli. <<SNIP>> >Hormones seem to be a big trigger for me. The week before my period I >get more prone to attacks, once it's over, I seem to get less. That is SO me, too! My hubby marvels at the way I react in emergency situations, but doesn't know what to do with me when I fall apart over " nothing " . This has been truly a great thing for me to see that I am not alone in what I have been feeling, either. Not that it's great that lots of other people are experiencing the same things, but it is a comfort to know we are not crazy. Maybe we should all just become a support group for one another?? >) Always in faith, Kati in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 Maybe we should all just > become a support group for one > another?? >) Hehehe, thought we all were already....that is what is so marvellous about this list. We can all be ourselves without any hype and discuss whatever we need/want to. Cheryl ===== Cheryl Smith A Heavenly Body Anchorage AK 9950* (907) 222-0886 http://www.aheavenlybody.com SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! http://webhosting./ps/sb/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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