Anxiety - Panic and a side of Depression

I just stumbled on this group, I suffer with the lovely trio of anxiety, panic and depression. I was diagnosed in 2003, it just hit me, all of a sudden I couldn't leave my house because I was afraid I was going to die. I couldn't drive, eat, sleep, work, talk or read for more than ten minutes at a time. I was basically a wad of suicidal flesh.
The thing that got me through those early days was an article written by Naomi Judd, she has the same disorder so I knew that I was not alone, then I was put in the care of an excellent psychiatrist. With a combination of talk therepy and medication I am now able to do most of the things I used to.
It is an illness that won't be *cured* and I do still have about one major panic attack a year, and an occasional down day, but all in all I am so much better than I was. My thoughts go out to all of us that have had to or still do suffer from this disorder.

welcome angelikat. Thjis is a good group

another panic attack is hitting me now. Her heart feels like its fluttering, I'm nauseous and I've been to the bathroom three times. A major sadness has desended upon me, even tho everything is fine. It helps to type it out

aww Pollysmith - I hope everything is OK - I know it helps to talk about it.

Does it help to do breathing while it hits?

Lie down, close your eyes and follow your breath in and out. Or follow your breath while breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Breathe slowly but not necessarily deeply (don't want to hyperventilate).

It helps me to do the above while saying to myself
(Inbreath) In this moment
(outbreath) I am safe
(Inbreath) In this moment
(Outbreath) I can do EXACTLY what is necessary

This time of year can trigger everyone badly.

I hate feeling this way! i know its silly but self deprecating thooughts just zoom in and out.

You are not silly, have you tried taking a break and walking outside for a moment?

Learning mindfulness/staying in the moment to quiet my thoughts has helped me a lot. Thich Nhat Hanh and Jon Kabat-Zinn are some of my favorite mindfulness authors.

I think there are quite a few people who experience anxiety, but just don't fess up. Know it'll pass.

I have taken my meds. It should start helping soon

The thing I've found with panic attacks and medication is that by the time I need my mediation, it's not going to get into my system fast enough to do much good.

I found the best thing is to not "fight" them and then they are over relatively quickly.

mm but thats hard to do in public morphy. I aways have a small bottle of some kind of nerve pill I can't remember the name and a small bottle of Levsin for the cramps. I need to try and remember my Paxil each day.

thanks everyone for the support

>12 pollysmith: pollysmith
Re: remembering the daily med: when I was first put on an anti-depressant, I put the pill bottle in the kitchen cupboard right in front of my mugs. I start every day with a cup of hot tea, so when reaching for a mug, I'd also take out my med.

I also found that sometimes, if I was eating breakfast and drinking my tea while watching TV or something, I'd finish eating and realize I couldn't remember if I actually took the darn pill! So then I started with ANOTHER reminder: as I took the pill out and put it on the table, I turned my bottle over so I KNEW I'd gotten it out. Then, I could actually enjoy the TV show or magazine I was reading, or whatever. Anything to help me remember my meds, yet be able to THINK LESS! :-)

I don't have panic attacks (maybe just during bumpy airplane rides), just depression, so I can't relate to everything you mention. But, I hope you start feeling better soon! As streamsong said, for some people it's a hard time of year, and that's certainly true for me. I say that November is my worst month, and that it lasts from about October 20 to December 15. Good luck to you!

The only thing I could add to the above message is that sometimes people can get counseling to help them recognize their own thoughts and feelings. It is nice to have a mirror, to help you see yourself, and a good counselor can provide that.

But most important...don't skip days. Dead on right advice.