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karenb
09-04-08, 15:55
Hi everyone,

What a fantastic thread - I have learned more about panic attacks reading this than I have from anywhere.

My Story:- (Sorry to bore you)

Firstly have suffered on and off with anxiety over the past ten years or so and managed (or so I thought) to get "rid" of it.

Had a fantastic holiday in Cyprus last year with my Hubby - until the last day! We had a fantastic meal, were sharing laughs and jokes when all of a sudden I knew I was going to faint (This has happened for years BTW), so off I went into a deep faint which I have done loads of times before. Then as per-usual felt extremely tired afterwards and was violently sick. All that part wasn't totally unual for me, probably heat and dehydration being the cause.

Ever since then I have a fear that I am going to faint! (I think this is where my current state of mind stems from).

When I am in certain situations etc., restaurants, socialising, supermarkets sand even public transport! I get this awful feeling come over me, tingling hands and feet and hot feeling comes all over me and makes we want to wee urgently I feel that I just need to get out of that place (wherever it is). Sometimes it only last a short while but other times the feeling gets stronger.This is the same type of feeling when I am going to faint!

I know most people on this forum suffer an awful lot more than I do, but it still feels awful to me. I wondered if anyone can help me with coping strategies. I do not want to live my life avoiding these situation as I feel I am being unfair on the people close to me.

Had a Holiday booked for Mexico in January and we had to cancel it becasue I just couldn't cope with the thought of it! Hubby has now booked a holiday for 4 weeks time and everytime I start to think about it I panic! I also know that I have to face these places to learn to deal with them, but how to I start.

Please help, my heart goes out to all you sufferers! :hugs: and a big hug goes to each and every one of you.

Karen xx

andrewc
09-04-08, 16:21
Hi Karen
All you are going through is very common with anxiety which you CAN get rid of. You are caught in the "WHAT IF" syndrome. That is when your thoughts are playing havoc with you as a result of anxiety. I know this may sound stupid but have you had any therapy of any kind?
The way to beat this, is with therapy and its not embarresing to do. Forget about what people say there is nothing wrong with you and its not a desease.
There are quite a number of strategies to use and the most important is to admit to youself that you have got anxiety and start to think "positive" thoughts instead of "what if".
Say to yourself that you WILL have a nice holiday and that you can cope with this fainting as you have for 10 years.
Please feel free to PM me if there is any help I can offer.

Best regards

Andy

karenb
09-04-08, 16:40
Thank you for your reply Andy,

I'm not receiving any therapy at all I don't think I could cope with it. Only been to docs once as I find it difficult to even sit in the waiting room. I am trying my hardest to get myself out of this.

Karen