Struggling with life

[mort1874]

Hi there,

First post so here goes! Not sure what I'm expecting out of this post but feel if i share my experiences with others that may have been through similar things it may be good to hear from anyone!

So I am 27year old professional male from the UK.

In Feb of this year i started having major breathing problems and chest pains every day, went to the doctors to get a physical check but nothing untoward was apparent. At the end of the month i had my first what i now know as anxiety or panic attacks. It was awful i genuinely thought i was having a heart attack and as i was in public at the time someone called me an ambulance and off i went to hospital to get checked out. So after being checked several times I know there isn't any physical problems which is great.

Since then i have been taking 80mg propranolol daily and trying to deal with my anxiety also topping up with 10mg when i need it so i end up taking around 120mg Prop per day. These are helping but not stopping the attacks. It has been the toughest 5 weeks of my life and no-one i know seems to understand what i am going through. It has also led to a break up with a long term girlfriend and moving out as a result of the anxiety issues taking their toll on the relationship.

I spend every day of my life on edge, freaking out that an attack might happen and i am scared to leave my house at the weekends. I struggle through my working week and rush home so i don't need to do anything. I do not know what brings these on or how i can stop these but i am so desperate to have my normal life back, go out with friends, exercise and socialise but i am too scared to be in these situations incase an attack were to take place.

Sorry for the long post guys I don't know where else to turn and i feel like I giving up on everything.


Cheers.

[Dan Wales]

I am sorry that your feeling like this. Don't let the panic and anxiety take over your life, I went trough a stage where I wouldn't leave the house, but talking to some helps maybe ask the doctor to book you some counseling. Also when you feel the anxiety taking over keep telling yourself I am in charge and it will pass.

[Pipkin]

Hi and :welcome:!

You're far from alone and I think a lot of us have been where you are. The good news is that you've recognised it early and got help. That makes your recovery much more likely. Propranolol will help with the physical symptoms - you now need to take on the psychological ones. Try your best not to give in to avoidance. No matter how impossible it seems, force yourself to go out and do the things you used to do. Small steps at first but I promise that it gets easier. If it's all way too much, discuss it again with your GP. A referral for therapy or antidepressant meds may also help.

The worst thing you can do is stay at home and dwell on your situation. It actually tells your brain that something's wrong which makes you feel worse. Think of some small things you'd like to do and make yourself do them. No problem if you can't now and then, keep trying. As for the anxious symptoms, they won't hurt you. Just accept them and carry on anyway.

I know some of this will sound simplistic and also unrealistic but my many years of anxiety have shown me that these are the keys to recovery.

If there's one piece of advice I could give, it would be to do everything you can to carry on working. Rest in between but your job will give you structure and force you to socialise when you don't want to. That is priceless.

Best wishes

Pip x

[Walshy]

Hi Hun, you're not on your own. Couple of things that helped me from my mum whose a psychologist recently were: when your head starts telling you that you are panicking and losing it and not safe. Think of it as doom and gloom radio station. Sounds stupid but it even makes me laugh sometimes in a small attabk. Oh here's doom and gloom radio again telling me I'm going to die, yeah great one, well I didn't last time so do you know what I'm not gonna freak out that your playing coz you do it all the time. Let it play, it's ok, you know what is. You don't need to get rid of it just learn to tune it out. Move into another room, out a song on that you really like. Force yourself to dance around n sing (singing is proven to help) distract yourself and laugh at yourself.
Sometimes getting angry with it helps. I used to say to my ex I'm getting anxious and he'd say no your not, don't be silly. I used to get so angry that my anxiety completely went n I was just annoyed with him instead haha.
Also: your body can only physically panic for a certain amount of time so when it happens just do deep breathes and remember you've never even passed out yet and it's going to pass like it always does.
Hope some of this helps xx

[MrTense]

Hi Mort,

I am going through the same at the moment. I actually just had a panic attack whilst sitting at my desk at work. Sounds ridiculous but after a while you get used to them and they don't become such a problem. The more you get used to them approaching the more you know how to deal with them.

Next time you have one try your hardest to ignore the "flight or fight response", just sit still and stay in the situation, it will be unpleasant but it will actually pass and then over time each anxiety attack seems a little less intense.

Want to know a weird fact, a girl at work just turnt around and asked how I am so calm all the time... if only she knew what was racing through my head at certain points! Just goes to show though we are not losing it as much as we think we are.

Good luck and remember it is only your body playing a trick on you!

[mort1874]

Thanks for the messages guys very helpful.

I have been offered citalopram by my GP however i am reluctant to take it as she said i would need to take it for up to a year which doesn't appeal much and hopefully i can do it without them as i am worried about the side effects and tablets that affect things mentally.

Trying to half my dose of propranolol at the moment but still struggling away each day and unable to do exercise or play football which i am finding very difficult as those are things that i love. It really does feel like it wont ever go away although deep down i know that it will one day. Still having regular attacks most days even with the beta blockers but now seem to last only around 10-20 mins each rather than 1 hour roughly.

Tried to buy a vapour thing to smoke to try help the breathing and relax me but have read some negative things about them so might not use it very much, also signed up for counseling but there is a 3 month waiting list so just have to wait it out.

Hope everyone is doing good and improving, cheers.

[mort1874]

I am now on Citalopram which has turned my life around, best thing I have ever done was give in and take these. I am now slowly weaning off the beta blockers propranolol as well which is great as it means I will only be taking Citalopram once per day and that's it. Does anyone have any experience with both of these and alcohol? Would really like to try a few drinks, I know it can make anxiety worse but I miss having a few beers.