Howler
22-02-08, 12:11
Hello people,
I'm so grateful to have found this website; its nice to know there are other people out there suffering in the same way I do!
My anxiety problems started with panic attacks and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in my teens -crippling anxiety about my health and wellbeing and that of my family, causing irrational behaviour, rituals and constant intrusive thoughts. I thought I had knocked this one on the head and hadn't suffered for years (I'm 21) until I had a panic attack a month ago.
Since then I have been suffering from dizziness (the 'walking on a ship' type that gets so much worse with anxiety and so much better with booze), blurred vision (mild and seems to swap eyes when it gets bored...), forgetfulness (doing something and forgetting I've done it, difficulty with recall of some people's surnames and general slowness to resolve things), lucid dreaming (dreaming before I actually fall asleep -very disturbing), nightmares, derealization, depersonalisation, tinnitus, mild hallucination (particularly when I'm falling asleep and mistaking things for other things during the day -not the seeing a pink elephant type) and some other weirdness I can't think of right now.
The impact on my life has been fair -I'm unable to concentrate very well at work, my relationship with my flatmates has deteriorated somewhat. I have however received nothing but unwavering support from my fantastic boyfriend, my family and my fellow Buddhist practitioners and for that I am so grateful.
Two visits to different doctors have assured me this is all brought on by severe anxiety and I am now on a waiting list to see a counsellor and possibly going to be put on beta-blockers. Blood test results due in about a week.
I grew up on a farm and the cattle crisis of the 90's left me with a massive fear of losing my mind/memory which is where this all seems to stem from, I have a hard time trusting doctors (which would be insulting to a GP with 20 years' experience) although have had no bad experiences so far.
I'm doing a lot better than I was and putting my faith and effort into my Buddhist practice to move forward, and any kind words or reassurance from fellow sufferers would be appreciated!
Ed
I'm so grateful to have found this website; its nice to know there are other people out there suffering in the same way I do!
My anxiety problems started with panic attacks and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in my teens -crippling anxiety about my health and wellbeing and that of my family, causing irrational behaviour, rituals and constant intrusive thoughts. I thought I had knocked this one on the head and hadn't suffered for years (I'm 21) until I had a panic attack a month ago.
Since then I have been suffering from dizziness (the 'walking on a ship' type that gets so much worse with anxiety and so much better with booze), blurred vision (mild and seems to swap eyes when it gets bored...), forgetfulness (doing something and forgetting I've done it, difficulty with recall of some people's surnames and general slowness to resolve things), lucid dreaming (dreaming before I actually fall asleep -very disturbing), nightmares, derealization, depersonalisation, tinnitus, mild hallucination (particularly when I'm falling asleep and mistaking things for other things during the day -not the seeing a pink elephant type) and some other weirdness I can't think of right now.
The impact on my life has been fair -I'm unable to concentrate very well at work, my relationship with my flatmates has deteriorated somewhat. I have however received nothing but unwavering support from my fantastic boyfriend, my family and my fellow Buddhist practitioners and for that I am so grateful.
Two visits to different doctors have assured me this is all brought on by severe anxiety and I am now on a waiting list to see a counsellor and possibly going to be put on beta-blockers. Blood test results due in about a week.
I grew up on a farm and the cattle crisis of the 90's left me with a massive fear of losing my mind/memory which is where this all seems to stem from, I have a hard time trusting doctors (which would be insulting to a GP with 20 years' experience) although have had no bad experiences so far.
I'm doing a lot better than I was and putting my faith and effort into my Buddhist practice to move forward, and any kind words or reassurance from fellow sufferers would be appreciated!
Ed