Help - I think I am going mad

[Help Me]

Hi,

I'm new to this site and not sure what to do, but I am desperate to get some help/advice from people who 'understand' what i'm going through.

I've suffered from panic attacks for years, but lately they are becoming more frequent, and the last four days they have been constant .. I feel like I am going mad and I am so scared. Today has been horrendous, and after two valium and my second glass of wine i've found the strength to type this.

I start getting short of breath (I keep trying to yawn to catch my breath), then my fingers go numb, I feel disorientated as if I am not actually here, I'm looking at myself, but I feel the third person.. earlier I was hallucinating, and everytime i would move my hand I would see a trail of hands following it. I feel like im going mad.

I feel so scared and I just dont know where to turn.. I've tried to telling my partner, but he doesnt understand what's happening even though I try to explain wat is happening.. Im getting really stressed out, and i'm taking valium from someone which seems to help a little.. its becoming a vicious cycle. I have a 2 year old child and I cant afford to let this get me

PLEASE HELP.

[karlwirral]

Most important thing you need to realise that these symptoms CANNOT & WONT HARM YOU they are not going to hurt you keep telling yourself that.. You need to try and relax and take you rmind away from the anxiety. Have a read through this forum there is plenty of advice

[Help Me]

Thanks Karlwirral, I've been reading other people's threads and its scary how many other people feel like this.. its not just me hey..

[karlwirral]

Nope, You're definatly not alone :)

These feelings will pass and you will be back to normal very soon!

[PoppyC]

Hello
You are not going mad. I am sure a lot of us have felt how you feel to a certain extent at times. I have, with the panic attacks.Have you been to see your gp about how you feel?
You wrote that you had been getting Valium off someone?
Im getting really stressed out, and i'm taking valium from someone which seems to help a little..
maybe I misunderstood that? Do you get it off your gp and are you being monitored whilst taking it? Valium is such a strong drug.
Hugs to you. Let us know how you go on.

[macc noodle]

Can I just say that valium and wine are not a brilliant mix for anxiety/panic :unsure:

Why don't you just go and see your GP and tell them how you feel about the panic and let them prescribe you an appropriate medication, rather than take the valium which were not prescribed to you (valium is potentially an addictive drug).

Being brutally honest, you say that you have a 2 year child and cannot let this illness get to you - well it already has if you are self medicating with other people's drugs and alcohol. You owe it to yourself and your family to seek medical help for this - I know that partners sometimes find this illness exceptionally hard to deal with and appear to be little or no help when we are feeling at our worst, so please don't get upset if you think he is not being supportive - he probably does not know what to do and feels useless. But if you go the GP and ask for some help - CBT is great for panic attacks because it gives you coping strategies that means that you are in control of the panic rather than the other way round in the end.

Be brave and make the appointment - what have you got to lose?

:bighug1:

[Help Me]

Hello Poppy,
Cute picture.
No my gp doesnt prescribe them, I've been in such a terrible state lately someone I know gave me some to keep for emergencies.. I've had them put aside for a while and only used on the rare occassion, but lately im having to use more. Its diazapam, and normally helps me but today they havent.

x

[Help Me]

Hi Macc Noodle
Thanks for your reply. I've been to the doctors a few times over the last year and he put me on anti depressants, then my company doctor sent me away with some cd's on panic attacks to listen to... I have found them useless.
I actually have a docs apt tomorrow morning, so really want him to help me rather then brushing me off and saying I can only have the 4 mins of his scheduled time.
I'm 32 now, and at 18 was suffering badly from the same symptoms and was put in a psychiatric unit, I'm really scared that what is happening now will end up how I was back then and I cant end up like that now I hve a chid..

[macc noodle]

Honey, you really must not worry about what happened when you were 18. They will not put you in psychiatric unit because you are suffering from panic attacks.

Be brave - you have suffered this before and you have recovered - remember that :) Please tell the GP how you are feeling and how scared you are because of what happened when you were younger.

No GP should restrict you to 4 minutes - that is a disgrace. Do you have a list of the GPs at your practice and what their speciality is? I am very lucky at my practice I have a lovely lady doctor who specialises in women's health and mental health issues and she never ever clock watches (for which I am eternally grateful). Try and see a GP who has an interest in and sympathy with mental health issues if you have one - it might make all the difference.

Stress to them the importance of a referral for counselling without delay as this will be an important aid to your recovery.

Are you still taking the anti depressants alongside the valium? You know, I really believe that the valium could actually be making you worse - it had a bad effect on me actually making my panic attacks ten times worse and my meds were changed.

Good luck at the docs tomorrow - try and be positive :)

Jan