seraone
09-08-06, 17:27
Hi Everyone~
I'm new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself. As long as I can remember, I have always been a bit of a perfectionist, needing everything to be orderly, and feeling out of control when things were not so. As I got into my teenage years, I began having anxiety, but nothing too bothersome. When I was 19, I lost my Grandmother to cancer. In the months leading to her death, I quit college, working, and my social life to help care for her in my parent's home. It hit me hard, and I had my first panic attacks then. It took some time, but I realized that I had to move on. The panic subsided and I have gone through many life changes since then, lost more loved ones, and began a family of my own.
A few months ago, I lost my Grandfather. I think that hit me even harder than I thought. I began to have wiered symptoms. Heart racing for two weeks straight, went to the Doc, did an EKG, nothing wrong. Thought it was wiered. Then a few weeks later, I began to get dizzy, light headed, tingly, short of breath, aches all over my body. I thought for sure I was dying. After a week of having it really bad, I went to the ER. They ran all the tests, chest x-ray, blood tests, EKG, blood clot test and nothing. Then they asked about my anxiety history and nicely suggested that I look into seeing a doc about a panic/anxiety disorder. They gave me an ativan and sent me on my way.
So, here I am. I've been educating myself on this as much as possible. I'm still in denial, but wanted to be proactive so I have been going to a therapist for a few weeks now to sort through my issues with all of the loss I have had in my life. I have also found a few message boards where I have found others like myself. I really thought I was alone in my struggle. It has helped me tremendously. There is something therapeutic about being able to share your story and learn from others as well. I'm glad to be here!
I'm new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself. As long as I can remember, I have always been a bit of a perfectionist, needing everything to be orderly, and feeling out of control when things were not so. As I got into my teenage years, I began having anxiety, but nothing too bothersome. When I was 19, I lost my Grandmother to cancer. In the months leading to her death, I quit college, working, and my social life to help care for her in my parent's home. It hit me hard, and I had my first panic attacks then. It took some time, but I realized that I had to move on. The panic subsided and I have gone through many life changes since then, lost more loved ones, and began a family of my own.
A few months ago, I lost my Grandfather. I think that hit me even harder than I thought. I began to have wiered symptoms. Heart racing for two weeks straight, went to the Doc, did an EKG, nothing wrong. Thought it was wiered. Then a few weeks later, I began to get dizzy, light headed, tingly, short of breath, aches all over my body. I thought for sure I was dying. After a week of having it really bad, I went to the ER. They ran all the tests, chest x-ray, blood tests, EKG, blood clot test and nothing. Then they asked about my anxiety history and nicely suggested that I look into seeing a doc about a panic/anxiety disorder. They gave me an ativan and sent me on my way.
So, here I am. I've been educating myself on this as much as possible. I'm still in denial, but wanted to be proactive so I have been going to a therapist for a few weeks now to sort through my issues with all of the loss I have had in my life. I have also found a few message boards where I have found others like myself. I really thought I was alone in my struggle. It has helped me tremendously. There is something therapeutic about being able to share your story and learn from others as well. I'm glad to be here!