Hi everyone

[John1987]

Hey guys, I joined this forum a couple of months ago but I was determined to try and work things out for myself so I haven't been in contact with anyone. I'm now convinced that I definately need to talk to people in a similar situation who understand what its like to live with anxiety because its getting a bit too much.
I'm 22 years old and have had anxiety which can lead to panic attacks for about 4 or 5 years now. I first had a panic attack when I was about 18. Since then the anxiety has just got worse because of the constant worry of it happening again. When it first started I could still go out and socialise but now it has got to the stage where I find it extremely difficult to go out at all. I'm also on anti depressants (Cipralex) but it doesn't really seem to be helping much.
I would love to speak to anyone who can relate to this and maybe we can have a chat about it. I've tried dealing with this by myself for too long now and I have to admit I need some help. I would also like to help other people on here and give them all the advice I can.
Sorry to sound so depressing but I just feel very down at the moment.
Thanks for listening and I hope to speak to some of you soon...

All the best,

John

[nomorepanic]

Hi John1987

A huge warm welcome to nmp.

You'll get loads of advice and support here and make some lovely friends along the way.

Best wishes

[Vanilla Sky]

Welcome to NMP, you will find it helpful and supportive here :welcome: Love Paige x

[Mr Parfect]

Welcome to NMP, hope you find the site useful.

[Carys]

Hi John,

...and welcome. I'm sorry to hear you are struggling so much. At your age I had dreadful panic attacks and although now and again, rarely, I still get a few a year, they don't really bother me that much any more. I guess over the years I learnt that they can go as quickly as they come, and more importantly they won't kill you or do any lasting damage at all. I used to run away from situations when I was younger, my world became smaller and smaller, it was very debilitating.

Easy to say I know, but learning to accept panic attacks and 'floating through them' worked for me. It took lots of practice, but I taught myself not to run and hide away and to instead talk myself through them....literally tell myself positive things over and over in my head....a running commentary.....

'Ah here we go, a panic attack. Next thing you will feel hot/sweaty/burny/breathless etc.but breathe steadily and it will pass, it will pass soon, it will pass soon...(repeated over and over)' Close your eyes if necessary, out your hand on your abdomen and breathe deeply and slowly.

Panic is caused when you allow your brain to repeat fearful things to you, so what worked for me was counteracting that by repeating anything positive and helpful I could think about. Even saying in my head 'OK, now you are breathing steadily, the adrenaline will subside and you are already feeling better (even if I wasn't LOL), you are already feeling better....' Basically, I didn't stop talking to myself inside my head, even out loud at first if it was possible. Maybe you could try this too, it might work for you ?

My second method if the above failed, was to get up and DO something physical; make a cup of tea, start cleaning the car out, sweep the drive, pull some weeds up. It is tremendously difficult to do something mundane, when you think you are about to die, but it helps to start using up some of the adrenaline that is throughout your body and it distracts the mind. You can talk yourself through the panic attack at the same time as doing the physical activity.

In time, you can retrain yourself in your responses to panic, so that when one appears it is just an annoyance rather than a terrifying experience.

All the Best

[99% dead inside]

Hi John,

I feel compelled to reply 'cause we're quite similar and in the same boat. I'm 22 aswell, and have agoraphobia (I very, very rarely leave the house). I have had panic attacks since I was 16, and have been a prisoner in my own home for far too long now.

I joined this awesome site just before Christmas and have been making big steps forward ever since. The people here are nice and very understanding, unlike my family. Anyway, I'm actually getting myself together and am going out the house for the first time since 2008. I pretty much spent all of 2009 in my house, except for a few days. So yeah, I'm glad that you're here and hopefully you will post more often and maybe get more out of this great site.

It's really good that you're on medication, that's something I can't quite bring myself to do yet.

I completely agree with what Carys said, my panic used to be a terrifying experience (still is a bit), but more than anything nowadays it's just an annoyance. I'm tired of being controlled by this crap and haven't the time for it anymore. I mean, I still get panic attacks and that horrible nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I can control it better and do the things I need to do to get on with my life; like leave the house, and look for work.

So, yeah, hope you get better like I have. :)

All the best,

Matthew :)

[Garibaldi]

Hi Everyone, I just found this site whilst googling for something else. I tend to quite anxious myself and at times I do find that it has developed into panic attacks which have been really disabling. Luckily my mother had had similar episodes in her early 20s and was really helpful. They are horrible and poorly understood by anyone who has never had one - calls of "pull yourself together" and also being labelled an attention seeker come to mind. Sharing and talking is great therapy for psychological problems and I really do value this website