Feeling odd

[richard]

good evening

I am a newcomer here and just wanted to say hello and explain how I had been feeling to see if anyone else has similar experiences

[Karen]

Hi Richard

Welcome to the forum. If you want to share with us how you are feeling we might be able to point you in the right direction.

In the meantime you might find the following information helpful:

First Steps (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/default.asp?t=cms&c=firststeps)

Symptoms (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/default.asp?t=cms&c=symptoms)

Links post: Links to posts about Common Problems (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7784)

You will find a lot of help and support here.


Karen



Happiness is not a state to arrive at but a manner of travelling.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough ~ Christine Cagney, Cagney & Lacey

[weepinky]

A warm welcome to you Richard

I'm sure you will find this forum really fab, just ask away.... you will receive loads of help and advice.

Take Care

Love Pinky

[richard]

Hi there

thanks for the welcome. Kind of you

I have the dubious honour of having a close family member who is a cardiologist so I guess knowing symptoms, when I felt ill while abroad a couple of years ago, I convinved myself I was having a heart attack in the middle of the night

I had tests in Hospital and they said things were OK. But intermittently problems seem to have been happening again. Tonight while walking up the road, I felt out of breath and had all the classic symptoms of impending doom and helplessness.

It totally messed up a planned dinner witha friend and in desperation, as I did not want to waste Hospital time in case it was just another panic or anxeity attack, I went to see my family friend who thinks it may have been me hyperventilating.

So tonight I have effected myself, my friend and two family members through my erratic and alarming behaviour.

Sound familiar to anyone ?

thank you x

[katyfitz]

yep u aint alone mate. u know when you say impending doom do u mean u felt lightheaded etc

[weepinky]

ooooohh yes Richard it sounds only TOO familiar. I hope you are feeling better now? If not there is lots of advise on the home page if you are still experiencing this.

Love Pinky

[sal]

Hi Rich

Welcome and we are all here to support you and understand how you feel.

Look forward to hearing more from you.

Love Sal xx


Dont mess up the best things in your life, just because at present you are unsure who you are.


"Life is a distance and to travel that distance you were given the strength and guidance to do so".

[richard]

Thanks to all for the responses. I guess I am by no means alone and I thought as much by briefly looking around this site. You seem a compassionate and understanding forum here. Thank you.

I am back home now and much calmer.

The thing us when I feel OK ish again, I feel a bit stupid and embarrassed like I caused a fuss about nothing.

Yet at the time, I know I was not imagining the feelings, they were very real, and I did think the discomfort triggered the anxiety rather than the other way round.

I was not sure if I was going to just keel over but felt very worried the pain was going to escalate into one major pain and that would be it.

I felt out of breath and cold and shivery and when I approached the restaurant that was crowded and noisy I knew there was absolutely no way I could wait for my friend and relax inside

I just did not know what to do. Whether to go across the road to the garage and call an ambulance. Whether to try to overcome it with mental strength.

In the end I walked back to my flat after telling my friend to meet me there. She drove me to my relative, the doctor, who took my blood pressure and tried to re-assure me it is panic and axiety

At the moment, subconsciously I may be worrying about my mother who has not been well. But intermittently since the first panic/ anxiety episode a couple of years ago, the triggers seem to have been numerous and difficult to exactly pinpoint.

It seems a disruptive disorder

[sal]

Hi Rich

Pleased you are back home. Dont ever feel embarrassed about how you feel it is natural with what you are going through and we all understand you.

Anxiety takes us to levels we have never experienced and can lead us to believe all sorts whether illness, madness but you have to remember this is temporary and however hard it gets we all understand.

If you want to talk pm me and i am will help all i can.

Love Sal xx


Dont mess up the best things in your life, just because at present you are unsure who you are.


"Life is a distance and to travel that distance you were given the strength and guidance to do so".

[arethaire]

Hi Richard,

If you feel you need to talk to someone who has had/having similar experiences, feel free to contact me.

Cath x

[Meg]

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/default.asp?t=cms&c=symptoms

First Steps: First Steps to overcoming Panic and Anxiety (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=942)

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/default.asp?t=cms&c=healthanxiety

Links post: Links to posts about Common Problems (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7784)


Chest pain
Dull ache (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3044)
chest pains (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3487)
Are these heart symptoms? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4805)
Chest Pains (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4462)
what does your chest pain feel like? (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5309)
Chest pains for weeks and ectopics (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5856)
Chest pains (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5886)
Nervous (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6498)
struggling... (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6901)
chest tightness (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6972)
Chest Pains?! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7314)
heart attack obsessed (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7471)
chest pain (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7440)


Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

proactiveness, positivity, persistence, perseverance and practice = progress

[richard]

A very big thank you to Karen, Pinky, Katy, Sal, Cath and Meg for your words of support, advice and comfort.

It is so very strange that feeling "normal" again today, I am beginning to reflect on all that happened last night and to wonder how and why I let myself get into such a state last night. I feel like my mind was not strong enough in toppling the discomfort, shivering and intense anxiety etc

Everyone tells me that a healthier diet and exercise will obviously be helpful for me in overcoming most problems in life.

This seems completely sensible and logical and I hope I can find the discipline to apply it.

Out of interest, are those who can claim a particularly healthy diet and exercise regime also prone to similar attacks ?

Richard x

[arethaire]

Hi Richard, I'm so glad that your feeling much better today.

I have just bought a book by Dr Claire Weekes called 'Essential Help for your Nerves' lots have recommended it on here. Maybe it will help you too!

Cath x

[richard]

Thanks for the tip. I just ordered the book

than you

[Jason37]

Hi Richard,
Hope you are feeling well today.
Read your post with interest. Happily you now know you are very far from being alone or isolated in the way you feel and the symptoms you get. I hope you are getting some support and encouragement from this little community - I know I have. Everything you've had, someone on here understands, from the onset of symptoms to the embarrassment afterwards that you described.
For my part, I'm very sympathetic to your situation insofar as anxiety about your heart is concerned, having had to learn to live with tachycardia.
I just wanted to answer one of your lines of questioning as far as my own experience is concerned. Regarding diet and exercise:
Diet - Last Christmas I effectively used a very bad period, during which I wasn't eating at all, as a kick start to embracing a new way of eating. For me it was based very much on the G.I. Diet. I don't know if that will be ideal for everyone, but it's been very good for me. I've lost weight and that in turn has helped make me more comfortable about my own health, and more confident in myself and my future. It also makes me feel better able to control myself and things around me. I've also been taking a decent multivitamin and some omega 3 supplements, which reassure me even if they do nothing else! (lol)
Exercise - In the last few weeks, with the help of a kind friend to get started, I've begun running, for the first time in 15 years (true!). In addition to many of the same benefits of the diet (greater feelings of control and self-esteem, and more relaxed about my state of health), the running has also helped me to sleep more deeply and productively at night (I became a bad sleeper during the period I referred to earlier). I also do some simple, light weight-training at home - just your basic Argos dumbbell, really. Nothing major or serious at all, but it makes me feel better. (Since I started the exercise, I don't think I've had a single tachycardia episode.)
Breathing - one more thing. I learned on this forum about 'diaphragm breathing'. In essence, you consciously push your diaphragm outwards when breathing in, and inwards when breathing out. Maximises the capacity and efficacy of the lungs. Slightly counter-intuitive at first, but effective. It was recommended as a method to aid falling asleep, which I have found works. But I now also incorporate it into my running, where it's very useful in getting rid of the inevitable stitch. I also find myself doing it at other times, it's starting to become a habit nearly. I hope so!
Richard, I do hope something in this will be useful to you in some way. I wish you the very best of luck. Please send me a PM message any time you like.
All the best,
Jason

[richard]

Just a quick update

was fortunate enough to get seen for ECG, blood test and treadmill exercise tests today

apparently all OK. Thanks again to all those who expressed messages of concern and support in forum and private messaging.

S next time if I get the ol chest symptons, I guess I will indeed have to out down to good old fashioned stress, anxiety and panic !

Thanks again to all

Sure I can beat this

best

R

[arethaire]

Hi again Richard ..... Good to hear your tests were all ok :) ..... I hope your feeling much better now ......

Did you receive your copy of the Claire Weekes book after?

Cath x

[richard]

Dear Cath

apologies and thanks. I only just spotted your message of 5th April - did not realise that messages has gone onto a second page !

Yes I have Dr Claire Weekes' book sitting on my desk as I write - thank you. Fortunately I do not seem to have had similar panics since the last one.

Unfortunately, however, I discovered a couple of weeks ago that my mum is not very well and so trying to stay strong for the family

thanks again for your wishes

hope you have a good easter break etc

R x