Brunette
07-01-10, 16:22
Hi everyone,
I’ve been lurking around this brilliant site for a few months now and thought was about time I joined in.
I suffered my first panic attack last May and needed up in A&E. I knew I’d had too much caffeine (and that is what I told the paramedic) but didn’t know why I was still having symptoms the following morning. So I Googled until I found a list of panic attack symptoms and realised that was what had happened – maybe I shouldn’t have but this case it was a life saver!
Unfortunately the panic attack proved not to be a one-off so, in July I went to the doctor for a blood test and ECG both of which were ok. So, having had my anxiety confirmed, and been given a useful helpline number by the doctor, I decided to tackle it on my own without medication.
Since then may anxiety has improved steadily and I have not had a full-blown panic attack since early August. My anxiety levels increased over Christmas (like most people’s I imagine) but are now settling down again.
How have I managed this? Well, giving up caffeine (obviously!); reading lots of self-help books; listening to relaxation CDs; visiting this site whenever I felt a bit dodgy and finding that every symptom I had, someone else had had before me (just knowing I was not alone was so helpful); having massages and taking up Yoga all helped.
The two things that were absolutely key though were the knowledge of what was happening and the acceptance of it. Now, if I get an adrenaline rush and a racing heart my first reaction is to roll my eyes and think, “Tsk, what’s brought this on? Flipping nuisance.” And a few minutes later I am fine again.
I still have other anxiety symptoms -dizziness, heartburn, palpitations and nausea mainly - and I get fixated on my heartbeat and breathing sometimes but hey, I can live with all that!
Hoping to chat to some of you lovely, supportive people soon. :)
B
I’ve been lurking around this brilliant site for a few months now and thought was about time I joined in.
I suffered my first panic attack last May and needed up in A&E. I knew I’d had too much caffeine (and that is what I told the paramedic) but didn’t know why I was still having symptoms the following morning. So I Googled until I found a list of panic attack symptoms and realised that was what had happened – maybe I shouldn’t have but this case it was a life saver!
Unfortunately the panic attack proved not to be a one-off so, in July I went to the doctor for a blood test and ECG both of which were ok. So, having had my anxiety confirmed, and been given a useful helpline number by the doctor, I decided to tackle it on my own without medication.
Since then may anxiety has improved steadily and I have not had a full-blown panic attack since early August. My anxiety levels increased over Christmas (like most people’s I imagine) but are now settling down again.
How have I managed this? Well, giving up caffeine (obviously!); reading lots of self-help books; listening to relaxation CDs; visiting this site whenever I felt a bit dodgy and finding that every symptom I had, someone else had had before me (just knowing I was not alone was so helpful); having massages and taking up Yoga all helped.
The two things that were absolutely key though were the knowledge of what was happening and the acceptance of it. Now, if I get an adrenaline rush and a racing heart my first reaction is to roll my eyes and think, “Tsk, what’s brought this on? Flipping nuisance.” And a few minutes later I am fine again.
I still have other anxiety symptoms -dizziness, heartburn, palpitations and nausea mainly - and I get fixated on my heartbeat and breathing sometimes but hey, I can live with all that!
Hoping to chat to some of you lovely, supportive people soon. :)
B