What works ?

[MJG]

Hi, I'm 31 and have a pressure job in banking. I have always coped well with everything that has been thrown at me and am regarded as a very laid back person or 'cool as a cucumber' as one senior manager described me in a moment of extreme stress. My problem started a year ago when I had to give a small presentation to a small team in a private office. I hadn't eaten that morning and hadn't slept well due to the neighbours having work done through the night. I was slightly nervous about my presentation but it wasn't a life or death scenario, just a friendly update on what I was working on. Nothing mattered with the outcome and I could have skipped it and no one would have cared. I started the presentation and a few minutes into the presentation I lost my words, they just would not come. the words I was looking for was 'alpha characters' but I just couldn't think. Then I was out cold, I felt like I'd been suddenly been put to sleep and woke up with someone propping me up telling me I'd passed out. I put this down to tiredness and lack of breakfast and the hospital concurred.
2 weeks later I was in a similar team meeting and had to give a 30 second update on how far I'd got with my project, whilst waiting my turn I felt dizzy, sweaty and experienced pins and needles in my hands. I passed out again when it was my turn.
8 months on from that occasion I passed out at a funeral and then the other symptoms started. I get the dizzy feeling and sweats in any waiting scenario. Restaurants, supermarkets, pubs, any time I have to wait my turn. I also get the same in the cinema or any time it's quiet and I'm with a lot of people.
I think it's the fear of passing out rather than fear of the situation itself.
Now I do not attend meetings, avoid funerals, weddings, christenings etc and am not sure how to go about curing this. Ideally I'd have some pills that I could take when I feel the symptoms occurring so that I can get back to being me again. However I do not know what works, what doesn't and trawling through the internet there seems to be a lot of bad advice and attempts to part me with my money for miracle cures. I've also contemplated hypnotherapy but am not sure if this will work either. Even temporary cures would be better than no cuire which is what I have now.

[rozza]

I get very stressed when I have to speak in meetings, I've never liked it even at uni and now I'm a jibbering wreck before I go in! I think the most important thing to do is stop avoiding situations when you think you may faint, that behaviour is making it worse. Perhaps go and see your GP, he may want to give you anti-anxiety meds and you could be referred to a therapist who can do some CBT type work with you to change your negative thinking and behaviour.

You're in the right place to get help here as well!

Take care,
Roz

'All I want is to be normally insane' Marlon Brando

[MJG]

The weird thing is I've never been bothered by these types of situations before. I know the avoidance behaviour is exaserbating the situation but my fainting episodes cause quite a stir and I don't want to take the limelight off people in weddings and funerals etc as they are one shot deals so if I screw it up for everyone then there is no re-run. I have started going to meetings again and find it a help if I have a bottle of water with me and sip it throughout but again this is avoiding the core problem. All my local GP has told me is to concentrate on my breathing which I do but still get dizzy and faint.

[Karen]

Hi MJG

Welcome to the forum. It seems that you fainted a couple of times and now it is the fear of fainting which is bringing on the panic attacks.

Have you had any treatment from your doctor? You could ask for a referral for CBT or similar solution focused therapy.

Medication is helpful for some people and if this is something you want to conside, your doctor would be able to advise you on this.

7/11 breathing (breathing in for a count of 7 and out for a count of 11) helps with the symptoms of hyperventilation, one of the symptoms of which is dizziness.

Have a read of the information in the First Steps.



Karen



It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.

[seh1980]

Welcome aboard!!

"If life were simple, word would have got around"

[Meg]

MJG

What you are experiencing is through hyperventilation your blood gases are out of kilter.

When you breathe faster than usual, you are taking in too much oxygen and the balance between the cardon dioxide and oxygen gets upset and a faint is the bodys way of rectifying it, gets you horisontal and it regulates the breathing then for you and gets the balance right again.

Things you can do include self regulating your breathing:

Some people can master breathing slower and trying the 7/11 breathing that Karen mentions- the counts don't actually matter as you could just count faster.. what matters most is that its slow and controlled and the out breath is fractionally longer than the in breath.

Others find that its easier to hold your breath for a few moments both between breaths and once you've got a breath in.

Additionally you can cup your hands over your mouth and breathe through those as if it were very cold.

You might want to try getting some rescue remedy in your water bottle to sip.

Eat regularly and properly and always before an event however nervous you may feel.

Try to set up a 'informal' testing ground for these breathing exercises asap so you can get a handle on them in a helpful setting and break this cycle. Once you have shown yourself you can manage, it will get easier each time.

How Do You Do The Breathing
Breathing.. wow
Breathing Techniques
CONTROLLED BREATHING
Working to get better, have a few Q's to ask...

Rescue Remedy - Help needed
rescue remedy
Bach Rescue remedy Experience





Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?

[Sue K with 5]

Hi

Welcome to NMP! sorry to hear about your dizziness, I get very dizzy and have had what is called blackout sensations which are awful. I agree with what meg has told you and would take her advise on the deep breathing because it really does work

I hope this start to improve soon and wish you all the luck


Take care

Sue with 5

scknight

[clickaway]

Yes, welcome MJG,

I think you have received some sound advice here already.

Follow that, see your doc, and I'm sure you'll benefit greatly.

Cheers,

Ray

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.
~Mark Sanders and Tia Sillers

[MJG]

I was sent to a specialist by my GP to ensure it wasn't anything sinister. The neurologist made me hyperventilate with oxygen to see if the sensations were the same as when I pass out, which they were. He then brought me back with breathing exercises and adjusting the gasses, I guess to a more carbon dioxide mix. He told me that I am a very fast natural breather of 18 a minute rather than the usual 13 and I have a sensitvity to extra breathing, so it would only take 3 extra breaths to make me feel the sensations. He said that I probably won't even notice myself breathing 3 extra breaths in a minute so that's why the sensations are a surprise when they come. The advice was to breathe slower. This doesn't really help much as I feel I need to deal with the initial anxiety that is causing me to breathe faster.
It's a viscious circle really, I get anxious worrying about passing out and that makes me feel like I'm going to !!!

I've tried the holding my breath technique and although it stops the feelings of dizziness slightly, the anxious feeling does not go away and so my breathing quickens again. It seems more like dealing with the symptoms rather than the cause.

My name is Mark by the way, I didn't have a clue what to put as my sign on name so just put my initials!

[lainey]

Hi Mark

Welcome to the site, you've come t the right place.

Have you tried any relaxation techniques?
I find it very hard to relax but found that listening to a relaxation CD was very beneficial, I bought Complete Relaxation by Glenn Harold which helped me to learn to breathe properly.

Take care

Elaine x