Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

[BurghFan]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

I don't have a panic disorder, but I have had panic attacks probably stemming from a bad experience when having ear surgery the summer before my freshman year in high school. As I mentioned in the "Who hates having blood drawn" thread, it was mainly associated with that and for a while I would take a Xanax to calm me down before getting bloodwork done, but I am over it now.

I did have a major panic attack when I went to get my wisdom teeth removed. I think the main source of anxiety was the idea of having needles pushed into my gums. I think I was also nervous about the NO mask. I had chronic ear problems as a kid and had 10 surgeries all but one of which were on my left ear (2 were actually bilateral tube placements) between the ages of 2 and 15 and still have vivid memories of going into the OR and them putting the gas mask on my face to knock me out. Anyways, they had given me some tranquilizers to take beforehand to calm me down (I think that was standard practice for that office) but they apparently didn't touch me. I got there and no sooner had I sat down in the chair than I started shaking, crying, and hperventilating uncontrollably. They gave me some liquid tranquilizer to drink (it tasted horrible) and try to calm me down and finally I calmed down enough that they could give me the NO. However, apparently I was still having the panic attack even after falling asleep as I wound up with a gash on my forearm apparently because I started thrashing while they were trying to start an IV. I was pretty embarassed with myself over the whole thing.

I currently do take medicine for depression and ADD. And to the guy who said paxil killed his boners, SSRI's will do that.

[Bullit]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

Yeah, I don't know what they are either. When I started going out with my girlfriend, it opened my eyes to a bunch of things I had never even heard of. Panic attacks, anxiety, etc.

I don't know if I have them or not, or if I just chalk it up to just being normal. I know sometimes I'll have a strange feeling if I start to get to thinking about stuff (car accident, fear of something bad happening), but then I just start regulating my breathing and it goes away. Mind over matter, to me. I don't doubt that panic attacks and whatnot are real, but what exactly are they and how do they feel?

Panic attacks are really strange and I just started having them at a point in my life when I dont have stress. It is an overwhelming fear of dread that something bad is going to happen. Alot of the symptoms resemble those of a heart attack, which makes it worse because then you think you are about to die. your heart starts beating fast and hard you get palpitations in your chest, some people get the shakes and sweats. you feel like your going to throw up. They are weird because the happen out of the blue. I was in the Army, been in fights, car accidents never had a problem. I have reitred, i am financial stable. It is just my 14 year old daughter and myself. I have no real stress in my life though we are getting ready to buy our first house.I ahve qiut smoking and drinking have all sorts of test done, have been told heart is fine cholesterol is low and I have started working out and the anxiety attacks just started last soummer.

I woke up this morning and went to walk the dog. I spent the next hour and half feeling like I was about to die and that the world was ending. If i keep my mind occupied I can get through it but it doesn't make any sense.

[MassNole]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

I have had anxiety issues since I was preparing for the bar exam. Anxiety disorders are very, very common.

[slickdtc]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

Hmmm, so it sounds like it starts in your head, and from there spreads to everywhere. It's not "real" at first, then when you continue to think through it, it becomes real with real symptoms. I'm not saying that as a concrete definition, either, so don't take it that way. That's just what it sounds like.

I know I've had these terrible feelings before where I think the next time I'm in a car, I'm going to die. But it never happens. I just remind myself that it's just in my head and that there is no way to tell the future so I shouldn't worry about it. I don't know if that's a panic attack or not, but that's just my experience. And I don't think that's something that needs to be treated with medication (don't get me started on that...), I think that's just the human body. There's so much we don't know about ourselves, I don't think it's always wise to mess with the chemicals in our bodies without really knowing what will happen.

[Bullit]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

Hmmm, so it sounds like it starts in your head, and from there spreads to everywhere. It's not "real" at first, then when you continue to think through it, it becomes real with real symptoms. I'm not saying that as a concrete definition, either, so don't take it that way. That's just what it sounds like.

I know I've had these terrible feelings before where I think the next time I'm in a car, I'm going to die. But it never happens. I just remind myself that it's just in my head and that there is no way to tell the future so I shouldn't worry about it. I don't know if that's a panic attack or not, but that's just my experience. And I don't think that's something that needs to be treated with medication (don't get me started on that...), I think that's just the human body. There's so much we don't know about ourselves, I don't think it's always wise to mess with the chemicals in our bodies without really knowing what will happen.

Kind of I guess. I think its just weird how it comes out of nowhere. Sometimes it lasts 5 minutes sometimes an hour or so and it is usually happening before you really realize it.

I don't take any meds for it though. I am like you and try to keep my chemical intake to a minimum, I only take aspirin as a rule. I do take some tihings if I am really sick like Nyquil and such but that is it.

[jonpt]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

I have had anxiety issues as well. I was in a marriage for about 8 years and it started in the marriage. About 3 years in, I started getting sweaty palms and feeling like I just couldn't relax or sit still at times. I think most of it came from the pressure I put on myself to provide at the time during a rough period in my life.

I did get one panic attack and it was no joke. I don't know what I could have possibly done to stop it cause it happened out of a dead sleep. Woke up with my heart racing and then got light headed...didn't know what the hell was happening. I knew I was about to pass out and quickly found a paper bag to breath in and that worked.

Tried about 4 different antidepressants and couldn't take the side effects of most except one which I had no side effects. Strange thing is about 3 months after my divorce in 2007 all my symptoms started disappearing. Guess I'm not the marrying type I don't know. But it's gonna take a hell of alot for me to get married again...but who knows.

[NoDakHusker]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

I've never been diagnosed with a disorder, however I do suffer from anxiety from time to time.
Last year, actually almost to the day(I remember it was in July) I had a panic attack. That was the worst feeling ever, I saw a doctor a few weeks later and he did confirm it was a panic attack.
Since then I have had times where I feel really anxious, but no panic attacks. I've learned to control my anxiety, it just sucks that I still get those terrible anxious feelings.

I'm also kind of a hypochondriac, any little pain I feel makes me worry. I can't really help it, either. People(family, doctor, friends) tell me it's probably nothing and that I'm fine(which I usually am) but that doesn't prevent the anxious thoughts that tell me there's a chance there's something wrong and that worries me. EVEN WHEN I KNOW THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.

I refuse to take any form of meds, I also have great family and friends who support me and they listen when I need to get this stuff out there.
I used to suffer from social anxiety but that was only a quick phase and I got over it quickly.

My dad suffered from anxiety for a while, but then he started getting really active, exercising. Once he started working out, his anxiety went away.
That's one thing I do to keep the anxiety away, you release all that energy and you feel good about yourself. I highly recommend staying active, it's a great medicine IMO.

[MC Fatigue]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

I have what I'd probably call mild to very mild social anxiety. I've never talked to anyone about it. I avoid most social situations when I can. I prefer to be with family or people I know very, very well and I tend to be very quiet around people I don't know - to the point of hardly saying anything most of the time.

[Munkey]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

I have what I'd probably call mild to very mild social anxiety. I've never talked to anyone about it. I avoid most social situations when I can. I prefer to be with family or people I know very, very well and I tend to be very quiet around people I don't know - to the point of hardly saying anything most of the time.

That's pretty much how I am too.

[Scottdau]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

I know I have brought this up in other threads, but I am kinda looking for people(s) who suffer the same stuff I do.

I guess I am outing myself here. I know a lot of people don't believe in these types of disorders, or disabilities, so if you want to just tell me I am weak and need to man up then please don't post here. I got enough of that from my dad.

You are not weak and you can't just man up. You can take some steps to help though. If you take meds make sure it is a good one for you. Also take baby steps. Find the things that you have anxiety about and maybe go slow with those things. What is one thing you have anxiety about?

[allBthere]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

Panic attacks are really strange and I just started having them at a point in my life when I dont have stress. It is an overwhelming fear of dread that something bad is going to happen. Alot of the symptoms resemble those of a heart attack, which makes it worse because then you think you are about to die. your heart starts beating fast and hard you get palpitations in your chest, some people get the shakes and sweats. you feel like your going to throw up. They are weird because the happen out of the blue. I was in the Army, been in fights, car accidents never had a problem. I have reitred, i am financial stable. It is just my 14 year old daughter and myself. I have no real stress in my life though we are getting ready to buy our first house.I ahve qiut smoking and drinking have all sorts of test done, have been told heart is fine cholesterol is low and I have started working out and the anxiety attacks just started last soummer.

I woke up this morning and went to walk the dog. I spent the next hour and half feeling like I was about to die and that the world was ending. If i keep my mind occupied I can get through it but it doesn't make any sense.

I've for sure had a couple in that case. One major one where I pulled over on the highway and kind of collapsed.

Then tend to happen after a night or two of partying especially when I have to drive. For me I think I convince myself I'm going to have a heart attack and try to ignore it, but it's scary because it def has physical aspects to it. I know it sounds stupid, like it's just hangover symptoms or something, but it's very different. One particular semi-bad one, I wasn't that bad, ate KFC with some friends lol...and had to drive for at least 45 min. I had to play it off like I wasn't feeling well and warned people in the car that I may have to pull over to vomit when really it was really fear of heart attack.

why the hell am i afraid of a heart-attack!?!?!? I'm semi-young and healthy, like wtf? There is also nothing I can think of that would have caused any other them in particular. Scary though.

It is strange and very hard to explain...sometimes I've been alone and feel like there is no sound or it's all drained out a bit. It's too infrequent to see anyone about it and I wont take drugs. I can live with a few little ones, if I had more massive ones I'd go to the hospital.

[Whitesox]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

I know I have brought this up in other threads, but I am kinda looking for people(s) who suffer the same stuff I do.

I guess I am outing myself here. I know a lot of people don't believe in these types of disorders, or disabilities, so if you want to just tell me I am weak and need to man up then please don't post here. I got enough of that from my dad.

Having an anxiety disorder doesn't make you weak at all. I don't know how exactly someone can just expect you to "man up", when you have a medical problem.

I guess I could pass as someone who has Social Anxiety, I really don't like hanging around or talking with people save for some close friends and family. I also have a hard time trusting people I don't know extremely well.

[Scottdau]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

Having an anxiety disorder doesn't make you weak at all. I don't know how exactly someone can just expect you to "man up", when you have a medical problem.

I guess I could pass as someone who has Social Anxiety, I really don't like hanging around or talking with people save for some close friends and family. I also have a hard time trusting people I don't know extremely well.

That is a dad thing. Most dad over the age 60 will think it is a "Time to man up" It is what it is. You can't man up when your body is the one causing the problem though. My best advice PJ is get on some meds that work for you. Sometimes it take awhile to find the right one, but keep trying. I got a med call "Remeron" before. It was for depression, but it worked really good. The only thing is it will put a lot of weight on you. So you have to see if that is something that will depress you even more the added weight.

[BurghFan]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

Whitesox and Scott, this thread was from 4/2009 and was bumped yesterday (7/7/10) by another poster having a bad day.

[vernond]

Re: Does anyone here suffer from an anxiety disorder?

Panic attacks are really strange and I just started having them at a point in my life when I dont have stress. It is an overwhelming fear of dread that something bad is going to happen. Alot of the symptoms resemble those of a heart attack, which makes it worse because then you think you are about to die. your heart starts beating fast and hard you get palpitations in your chest, some people get the shakes and sweats. you feel like your going to throw up. They are weird because the happen out of the blue. I was in the Army, been in fights, car accidents never had a problem. I have reitred, i am financial stable. It is just my 14 year old daughter and myself. I have no real stress in my life though we are getting ready to buy our first house.I ahve qiut smoking and drinking have all sorts of test done, have been told heart is fine cholesterol is low and I have started working out and the anxiety attacks just started last soummer.

I woke up this morning and went to walk the dog. I spent the next hour and half feeling like I was about to die and that the world was ending. If i keep my mind occupied I can get through it but it doesn't make any sense.

Have you ever looked into Posttraumatic Stress Disorder? I did my masters internship at the VA and many of the ex military that were recieving care there suffered from PTSD.