chrgibson
16-07-07, 13:00
:shrug: My names Chris and I began getting panic attacks after abusing cocaine. I've been a regular drug user of many different substances, even incorporating them into my spiritual beliefs (cannabis, ecstacy, LSD), especially hallucinogens. I've always prided myself on exploring the subject before taking the substance, and this became a pitfall waiting to happen.
I am not addicted to anything other than nicotine, although mentally I am addicted to the ability to change my own moods to suit the occasion. I mistakenly did no research on coke and lumped it in with amphetamines, mentally thinking of it as "posh" speed. It was a bit of a wake-up call when I began to fall into habitual use. I began to buy large quantities because the quality was better, I was sick of being ripped off by "friends", and it was cheaper. I was unable to stop taking the stuff til every last bit was gone.
I knew I was addicted but didnt know why I was taking it. This all happened in the space of 6 months. All I got was a slight high followed by major paranoia about every flutter and pain in my chest. Basically the high for me was waiting for the heart attack, something I sat in fear of.
I tried to get clean, but a close friend was stabbed outside his home by some idiot teenagers, and this gave me an excuse to go back on it for a weekend or two. This culminated in me admitting myself to hospital with panic attack symptoms.
I've been clean for almost a month now, and I refuse to go back to that. However my whole life has changed because I'm haunted by the fear of a heart attack. I admitted myself to hospital again this weekend after lifting something gave me a sharp shooting pain across my chest and set off another panic attack. It happened pushing something last wednesday too, something light.
I work in a manufacturing plant and Im the main software developer in charge of so many things it makes me dizzy thinking about it. The plant is constantly losing staff to ill-health and head office just want less and less heads in the place. This all directly effects what I am involved in, which at the moment is everything.
I am currently doing an Open University course, writing a book on religion, playing an online game which is extremely addictive, getting my daughter twice a week, and learning 2 new computer languages.
My chest pains are pretty much constant, sharp pains, aches, watery feeling, hot and prickly feelings, feeling of sweating galss, left side, right side, centre. The nurse in casualty said I had vague symptoms and to go relax. I need help understanding whats going on, if its really a chest pain or an anxiety problem.
I am not addicted to anything other than nicotine, although mentally I am addicted to the ability to change my own moods to suit the occasion. I mistakenly did no research on coke and lumped it in with amphetamines, mentally thinking of it as "posh" speed. It was a bit of a wake-up call when I began to fall into habitual use. I began to buy large quantities because the quality was better, I was sick of being ripped off by "friends", and it was cheaper. I was unable to stop taking the stuff til every last bit was gone.
I knew I was addicted but didnt know why I was taking it. This all happened in the space of 6 months. All I got was a slight high followed by major paranoia about every flutter and pain in my chest. Basically the high for me was waiting for the heart attack, something I sat in fear of.
I tried to get clean, but a close friend was stabbed outside his home by some idiot teenagers, and this gave me an excuse to go back on it for a weekend or two. This culminated in me admitting myself to hospital with panic attack symptoms.
I've been clean for almost a month now, and I refuse to go back to that. However my whole life has changed because I'm haunted by the fear of a heart attack. I admitted myself to hospital again this weekend after lifting something gave me a sharp shooting pain across my chest and set off another panic attack. It happened pushing something last wednesday too, something light.
I work in a manufacturing plant and Im the main software developer in charge of so many things it makes me dizzy thinking about it. The plant is constantly losing staff to ill-health and head office just want less and less heads in the place. This all directly effects what I am involved in, which at the moment is everything.
I am currently doing an Open University course, writing a book on religion, playing an online game which is extremely addictive, getting my daughter twice a week, and learning 2 new computer languages.
My chest pains are pretty much constant, sharp pains, aches, watery feeling, hot and prickly feelings, feeling of sweating galss, left side, right side, centre. The nurse in casualty said I had vague symptoms and to go relax. I need help understanding whats going on, if its really a chest pain or an anxiety problem.