I first experienced my first panic attack back in November 1999.I should have recognised the symptoms as I had been to my doctor who had said I was suffering with stress.
Who me ..stress I have run a very busy Banking department with over 100 staff for the past 8 years… surely not stress that's for wimps!!!……it hit me for six. I became too frightened to go out in case I had a panic attack and when I did it was an ordeal just to go to the local shops and get a newspaper
….. I was prescribed anti-depressants and I was off work for 9 months… I went through hell almost every single day and of course my marriage was suffering. My wife can I say at this moment has been an angel in the true sense!
I finally returned to work, albeit in a different role in the July of 2000 and although I was still very anxious I learnt to cope. However social events were still hard to bear ….but I did.
I am having a slight relapse at the moment and this is why I am writing to you all.
Stop thinking you are weak first of all.
I believe people, including me, sufferers of this anxiety disorder are the " strongest people" alive. How else do we carry on with this dreadful condition if we are not strong??
I know I will finally overcome this fear and you all will if you follow these simple rules:
1. FACE YOUR FEARS… DON'T AVOID THEM….
2. ACCEPT THE FEELINGS YOU WILL HAVE… IN FACT LAUGH AT THEM …
THEY ARE ONLY SENSATIONS YOU KNOW THEY WON' T HURT YOU.
3. WHEN IN A SCARY SITUATION FLOAT PAST IT DON'T FIGHT IT
4. LET TIME GO BY AND YOU WILL START TO OVERCOME THIS … I KNOW I WILL…… ARE YOU GOING TO ?… LETS START RIGHT NOW
Good luck everyone please be free to drop me a line and we can help each other.
Dowdykat.
Dowdykat@aol.com
