kai
08-11-08, 18:05
Hey everyone :flowers:, my name is Karissa. I'll share my story and I hope some can relate to me. I'm 20 years old and I've had anxiety for a lot of my life. I missed a lot of school because I would feel extremely anxious before going, but when I switched to night school it helped tremendously. But then I had my first panic attack a couple years ago, after I graduated high school. It came out of the blue and I didn't understand what was happening. My dad told me it was a panic attack because he's suffered with them for years. I thought my life was over and all my freedom and happiness was gone. I was prescribed Ativan for some relief. I took it for a couple of days but read the book From Panic To Power and was able to go without panic and without medicine unless on rare occassions I needed it. I'd carry my medicine with me just incase I would need it and it made me feel safe which I think contributed to the reason why I didn't have panic attacks.
Then one day I had another panic attack while I was alone and was also able to bounce back but eventually ran out of my one little bottle prescription of Ativan. Since then I've had a little more trouble doing things because of the fear that I'd have another attack. I developed a fear of being alone..I always need to have a "safe" person around me or at least my phone especially since I no longer have Ativan as my safety net. I got another panic attack in a casino one time, and had to tap one of the workers on the shoulder to help me find my boyfriend. Very embaressing. BUT it got better...my boyfriend and I love to travel and I was able to take several road trips, one for a month straight that was thousands of miles away by car. Somehow, not much panic. I survived.
I didn't have another full blown panic attack until a few days ago, but now I seem to be more on edge than I've ever been. They have been happening more frequently and I'm also getting new symptoms I've never had before. I'm getting tightness in the throat as well as jaw which is all new to me. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac too (ok maybe a big one) so every little thing I worry and overreact to. I have a good support system, my dad understands completely and my entire family is there for me when I need them. My boyfriend has been extremely patient with me and even wakes up during the middle of the night to help me if I'm having trouble, sacrifices time with his friends to be with me and I'm very thankful to him for that but I also feel bad because I want him to be able to enjoy his life more and not have to do everything with me. As far as understanding my problem, he doesn't. He's always been carefree and the best advice he can give me is,"You need to realize this is in your head and all you can do is deal with it. If you give yourself a panic attack, you need to just deal with it." Easy for him to say, but at the same time he is right.
Anyways, I guess I'm just here to meet people with the same problem get/give advice. It gets tough especially when it feels like the hole is getting deeper and sometimes I get depressed. Knowing I'm not alone definitely helps. I'm reading books and I'm going to get therapy soon, not sure what to expect with that because I've had therapy before and it didn't do much.
I am hopeful though, I believe all of us here who have anxiety or panic can overcome it together. Maybe we won't be panic attack free, but with every panic attack we become stronger and we will at least be able to find peace of mind. I'm looking forward to hearing your stories and talking with you! :hugs:
Then one day I had another panic attack while I was alone and was also able to bounce back but eventually ran out of my one little bottle prescription of Ativan. Since then I've had a little more trouble doing things because of the fear that I'd have another attack. I developed a fear of being alone..I always need to have a "safe" person around me or at least my phone especially since I no longer have Ativan as my safety net. I got another panic attack in a casino one time, and had to tap one of the workers on the shoulder to help me find my boyfriend. Very embaressing. BUT it got better...my boyfriend and I love to travel and I was able to take several road trips, one for a month straight that was thousands of miles away by car. Somehow, not much panic. I survived.
I didn't have another full blown panic attack until a few days ago, but now I seem to be more on edge than I've ever been. They have been happening more frequently and I'm also getting new symptoms I've never had before. I'm getting tightness in the throat as well as jaw which is all new to me. I'm a bit of a hypochondriac too (ok maybe a big one) so every little thing I worry and overreact to. I have a good support system, my dad understands completely and my entire family is there for me when I need them. My boyfriend has been extremely patient with me and even wakes up during the middle of the night to help me if I'm having trouble, sacrifices time with his friends to be with me and I'm very thankful to him for that but I also feel bad because I want him to be able to enjoy his life more and not have to do everything with me. As far as understanding my problem, he doesn't. He's always been carefree and the best advice he can give me is,"You need to realize this is in your head and all you can do is deal with it. If you give yourself a panic attack, you need to just deal with it." Easy for him to say, but at the same time he is right.
Anyways, I guess I'm just here to meet people with the same problem get/give advice. It gets tough especially when it feels like the hole is getting deeper and sometimes I get depressed. Knowing I'm not alone definitely helps. I'm reading books and I'm going to get therapy soon, not sure what to expect with that because I've had therapy before and it didn't do much.
I am hopeful though, I believe all of us here who have anxiety or panic can overcome it together. Maybe we won't be panic attack free, but with every panic attack we become stronger and we will at least be able to find peace of mind. I'm looking forward to hearing your stories and talking with you! :hugs: