Stuz
25-07-14, 22:24
Hello fellow sufferers!
I've been experiencing panic attacks for about 10 months now. I've had them in various situations- driving, work meetings, trains, planes, restaurants, in queues, theatre. Lots of places!! Its a daily battle using CBT techniques to try and rationalise the physical sensations to try and prevent panic attacks occurring.
For a while I felt I had it under control but in the last couple months the regularity of attacks have become a real problem at work and I have decided to try an SSRI. All these situations trigger panic symptoms and I'm finding my world becoming smaller, so must try all available options. So I'm 18 days in to taking 50mg of sertraline (zoloft).
Does anyone get panic attacks only in specific situations rather than randomly? As I've had several attacks in meetings at work and driving on motorways these two situations almost guarantee my anxiety skyrocketing. Leading up to meetings I feel the anxiety scale raise from 1/10 to 7/10, to literally 9/10 as i walk in the meeting room. Then inevitably 10/10 and I have to flee! Same with driving, the closer I approach the motorway the anx rises up. Also if I'm driving and there isn't anywhere to pull over, or going over a bridge, through a tunnel, this makes me panic too. I've had attacks on trains and the underground too that peaked the second the doors shut. :scared15:
Its crazy as I know there is no reason to panic and that i've been in these situations a million times but now my brain sees them as a threat. On the few occasions I cope I find getting angry with the panic and telling it to give me the worst its got helps dissipate it. Being passive and not fighting it is the key to success but its so difficult.
The feeling of not being able to escape seems to be the common feature of the situations I fear. Like going to the theatre and sitting in the middle of a row, or having a one-on-one conversation with someone where it'd be rude to just walk off.
Anyway, as I said I'm on sertraline now which sometimes feels like its having an effect. I'm standing my ground with the panic more often now although it still feels absolutely dreadful and leaves me drained.
Its such a messed up situation as its causing me problems at work and socially with friends and family. Apart from my wife no-one knows I have panic attacks - if I leave the room I tell them I just feel sick. Its a such a weird turn of events in life, 10 months ago I was fearless and "normal", now I'm showing signs of agoraphobia, risking my job/livelyhood and taking an SSRI.
Mindfulness meditation, no alcohol (i used to drink a lot), daily exercise and the SSRI are hopefully going to be my saviour!
But anyway, the purpose of the thread - do you repeatedly have panic attacks in specific situations, if so what are yours and how to do you cope?
Thanks
Stu z :flowers:
I've been experiencing panic attacks for about 10 months now. I've had them in various situations- driving, work meetings, trains, planes, restaurants, in queues, theatre. Lots of places!! Its a daily battle using CBT techniques to try and rationalise the physical sensations to try and prevent panic attacks occurring.
For a while I felt I had it under control but in the last couple months the regularity of attacks have become a real problem at work and I have decided to try an SSRI. All these situations trigger panic symptoms and I'm finding my world becoming smaller, so must try all available options. So I'm 18 days in to taking 50mg of sertraline (zoloft).
Does anyone get panic attacks only in specific situations rather than randomly? As I've had several attacks in meetings at work and driving on motorways these two situations almost guarantee my anxiety skyrocketing. Leading up to meetings I feel the anxiety scale raise from 1/10 to 7/10, to literally 9/10 as i walk in the meeting room. Then inevitably 10/10 and I have to flee! Same with driving, the closer I approach the motorway the anx rises up. Also if I'm driving and there isn't anywhere to pull over, or going over a bridge, through a tunnel, this makes me panic too. I've had attacks on trains and the underground too that peaked the second the doors shut. :scared15:
Its crazy as I know there is no reason to panic and that i've been in these situations a million times but now my brain sees them as a threat. On the few occasions I cope I find getting angry with the panic and telling it to give me the worst its got helps dissipate it. Being passive and not fighting it is the key to success but its so difficult.
The feeling of not being able to escape seems to be the common feature of the situations I fear. Like going to the theatre and sitting in the middle of a row, or having a one-on-one conversation with someone where it'd be rude to just walk off.
Anyway, as I said I'm on sertraline now which sometimes feels like its having an effect. I'm standing my ground with the panic more often now although it still feels absolutely dreadful and leaves me drained.
Its such a messed up situation as its causing me problems at work and socially with friends and family. Apart from my wife no-one knows I have panic attacks - if I leave the room I tell them I just feel sick. Its a such a weird turn of events in life, 10 months ago I was fearless and "normal", now I'm showing signs of agoraphobia, risking my job/livelyhood and taking an SSRI.
Mindfulness meditation, no alcohol (i used to drink a lot), daily exercise and the SSRI are hopefully going to be my saviour!
But anyway, the purpose of the thread - do you repeatedly have panic attacks in specific situations, if so what are yours and how to do you cope?
Thanks
Stu z :flowers: