do i have an anxiety disorder?
I’ve posted a number of questions about my anxiety previously- you can view them on my profile
This evening i’ve been looking at some sites on anxiety disorders. the site describes panic attacks, and it says that a witness to a person suffering a panic attack will probably think the victim is having a heart attack. but if someone saw me in the middle of a panic attack wouldn’t think i’m having a heart attack. The might not even realize that i’m acting unusual.
here’s what happens when i’m having a panic attack:
my heart starts racing really fast
my skin tingles all over
i sometimes feel like throwing up- or i feel really nauseous
I feel totally hopeless, like i’ve lost control over my own body
That’s how i feel. Do you guys think anything is wrong? do i have a panic disorder? The panic attacks have been more and more frequent and are getting worse steadily.
please help- i’m nearly 16 years old and i’m getting desperate
I panic when i can’t get to sleep. I have a fair few friends. I haven’t told anyone i about my panic attacks except for my school Chaplain. I’m too embarrassed. I don’t think they’d understand anyway.
my school chaplain is a qualified counselor, but i haven’t even told him all the information, but i’m trying my very best to convince myself to.
I am aware of the fact that hese fears of not sleeping are TOTALLY irrational. I’ve been suffering panic attacks for about 5 years- since i was 11. They used to be rare until about 2 years ago when they became moer frequent. Each year they get worse and more severe. People on yahoo answers have told me to get medication and see a doctor, but i don’t want to coz i dont wanna tell my mum. She won’t understand. But i would need to tell her if i was to see a doctor.
There you go, Renee. More information.
Articulos relacionados
- No related posts
Thanks, Britney.
The physical symptoms you are having are very characteristic of panic attacks. The frequency suggests you may have panic disorder. Causes of panic attacks include genetics, stress, changes in brain function, big changes in life, a history of child abuse, or a traumatic event. Therapy and/or medication are used as treatment. I know you don’t want to see a doctor, so here are some things you need to do at home:
Do cardio exercises (something you enjoy), stay away from alcohol and caffeine, limit sugar, and follow a healthy diet. Practice yoga, meditate, and/or do breathing exercises every day – especially when it gets time to go to sleep. Create a soothing atmosphere (relaxing colors, pictures that make you happy, no books/computer/etc on bed, clean up clutter, nice music, etc). Find an outlet – writing, painting, singing, etc.
Videos about panic attacks (including breathing exercises):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59igpiE0-vY
Tell somebody. I know, I know – it’s an uncomfortable thing to do and you don’t want you mom to find out. I understand how you feel because I have been in a similar situation, though not over panic attacks (eating disorder, a long story and a long time ago). Keeping this secret is only making your anxiety worse. Tell the counselor, and you may be able to see a therapist without your mother finding out (client confidentiality may be on your side, I’m not sure). Discuss the mom situation with you counselor as well and see if he works with you. Your panic attacks could very easily become so severe that she finds out anyway.
Good luck.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pmyou should told somebody and take a theraphy.. that should be help a lot..
November 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pmI tried to view your other questions but it says they are private. Coming from someone who has an anxiety disorder, it does sound like that is what it could be. You need to see your doctor to know for sure and so they can determine how to treat it.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pmThose are the exact symptoms I used to get suffering from panic disorders myself adding to them numbness in my legs and hands some times. I had to be rushed to the ER a couple of times were they did a physical on me and told me every thing was fine which made me more stressful feeling the way I felt until my doctor told me I was suffering from panic attacks and I didn’t believe him at first but when I did my own research I found out that both anxiety and panic attacks are one with the same symptoms. You could be really anxious about some thing or going through a phase in your life which can be causing them so sit with yourself and try to out your thoughts in order and deal with them or you can just try going on some sort of medications which help with panic attacks (which I don’t recommend cause u will get hooked on them). Talk to a family member or a friend about what’s making you sad or anxious.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pmPANIC ATTACKS USUALLY HAVE A SPECIAL REASON FOR IT,PROBABLY A KIND OF PHOBIA,WET HER CLAUSTROPHOBIA,ITS FROM CLOSED PLACES,AND SOMETIMES IT REACHES PHOTO PHOBIA,SCARED FROM THE LIGHT!IT HAVE NOT GOT A REALL TREATMENT AS FAR AS MY KNOWLEDGE,BUT THE ONLY WAY TO OVERCOME THIS ANXIETY OR PANIC ATTACKS IS TAKING BENZODIAZEBEMES,LIKE VALIUM OR XANAX OR ANY OF THAT..BUT YOU BETTER CONSULT A SHRINK FOR IT,MORE ACCURATELY HE MIGHT MENTION ANOTHER REASON…
November 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pmYes, that is what it sounds like. What you need is a therapist that specializes in CBT (congnitive behavioral therapy). I’ve included a couple of links below that describe how it works. You need to tell you parent or guardian that these attacks are negatively affecting your life, so that you can get some help. Please, go see someone now before an attack lands you in the hospital. Kay??
~midwyfe
November 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pmyou don’t have social anxiety disorder because it doesn’t actually exist. It was made up by the drugs companies as a reason to sell you pills that turn you into a zombie.
It sounds like you’ve just got regular teen angst but are working yourself up into a state over it. Most of what you describe is simply the results of hyperventilating. you are breathing too fast and too shallowly which is messing up your body chemistry. Take an empty paper bag and breath slowly into it. You will feel much better and all of your physical symptoms will go away within a minute or so.
you may or may not have some underlying issues that are causing this, such as stress at home. Book in to see your school councilor and see if they can help you to get to the bottom of it.
Just remember these few things
1) You’re not physically ill, there is no actual medical problem
November 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pm2) DON’T TAKE ANY PILLS. They just make you into a zombie. You don’t feel so screwed up because you will only be half there
3) Most of this is normal for a teenager
4) You’re panicking over the thought of having a panic attack. If you can get a grip on your panic attacks then you will get a grip on everything else.
I believe you have a panic disorder .Your symptoms are like what I have experienced in the past , people around you wouldn’t have a clue what you are feeling .The more your heart beats the more you panic and your feelings of unreality increase .The thing is it will never hurt you ,you wont have a heart attack or faint ,it’s a nasty cycle .You must see a doctor as soon as you can. I wasn’t aware of what my problem was for years .Do something about it now . I am getting on top of it you will to .I was just given this site .I haven’t tried it yet but it may help See a doctor
November 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pmhttp://www.panicaway.com/forum/
It sounds like it could be anxiety. An anxiety attack, panic attack, can vary in symptoms, from the heart attack symptoms (that is usually a pretty severe attack) to many more different symptoms. Your heart racing, nausea, the feeling like you’ve lost control over your body, all sound like anxiety, you can also have flushing of the face and or you can’t concentrate if someone is speaking to you. One of the most important things is to not concentrate on thinking that everytime you go out in public that you are going to have a panic attack, don’t psyche yourself out before you’ve even started, the more you concentrate on thinking you might have one, the odds are, you will. If or when this starts to happen, or when you are starting to feel a bit strange like a panic attack is coming on, if you are with a friend, tell them about your symptoms ahead of time, warn them that it could happen or simply tell them that you are not feeling well, whisper in your friends ear or have a signal or something or just leave the room until things have calmed down. The thing with panic attacks is to take the power back that you feel you have lost, the more it is a secret in your life the worse the attacks usually get, the fear is, that people will look at you strange etc, but when you tell people, then it is no longer a secret and you may even find that the attacks lessen or just stop, and you may find that others in your school, etc, will come up to you with the same symptoms, you are certainly not alone with this problem.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pmThis is a great course/product which helped me basically CURE myself of anxiety/panic attacks and stop them for good, check it out below:
http://saim.notlong.com
I highly recommend it, good luck.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pmFrom reading what you wrote, it does sound like you’re having panic attacks..
I have had them for many years.
Only people that have known me for many years can tell that I am having
one.
You are talking to your school Chaplain. That’s a great start now, you need to talk to him about everything you are feeling and you must be 100% honest about all of it.
This is the only way you can get the help you need.
You have to let your mum know what is going on, the Chaplain can help you with this.
A visit to your family doctor is needed to check you thyroid levels,a simple blood test because, if this hormone is off it can mimic panic attacks, and is easily fixed through medication.
If you need more than that the doctor can refer you to someone a Therapist or a psychiatrist.
Do not let the thought of see a psychiatrist frighten you. They are just more specialized in the treatment of these things.
Your goal should be in getting these attacks under control so that you can enjoy your life.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pm