Fuck you, stupid anxiety attack.
I hate how you make me feel like I’m about to die even though I’m in no danger, I hate how you make me short of breath, shaky and sweaty even though I’m sitting in a chair. I hate how, even despite my best efforts to have a routine, you seem to ruin it.
So much for a seemingly normal day.
–It’s gonna be okay, right?
This article appears in Jan 21-27, 2010.
just had one sitting here reading about drug addiction.
No its going to get worse…asteroids are getting closer…diseases are mutating…the economy is going to hell in a handbasket, the end of the world is right around the corner !!!
But on another note , I’ve got something to eat today, cold beer in the fridge & I’m not going to bother going into work …I’ll just send off some e-mails, make a couple of phone calls & watch the river rise from all the rain,through the window, while enjoying a cold one ~:)
http://www.amazon.ca/Anxiety-Phobia-Workbo…
Buy it. Use it. Pay it forward.
For those ignorant fucks who don’t understand anxiety I will let your ignorant comments slide. OP you need an understanding hand, I am a sufferer of Anxiety, and have been for many years. there’s no cure, barley treatment. Its not something you pick up like an infection, it stems from either birth or early childhood. However, for those who don’t get it We with anxiety are not scared of everything, most of us suffer these attacks, which has been compared to how dying feels.
Imagine this, you are in a forest, its beautiful, everything is calm and serene, until you spot it, a bear, glaring you down, approaching carefully.
That first sense of utter and total fear, knowing you must distance yourself from the animal, knowing you need to get out of this situation NOW, Your body prepares you for it, pumping adrenaline, energy, distorting thoughts, All you know is you need to get away from the situation! that’s all your body knows. Now imagine that happening for no reason, could be in the middle of breakfast, a movie, a party, you have no focus to get away from, no solution to your mind and body overtaking you, filling you with this unexplained fear of nothing and everything at once, like the whole world is folding in on you. You cant understand it unless you have been through it. I understand OP, and although I hate hearing others suffer this, its good to know at least one other person understands it.
I’ve had anxiety attacks before too, but I can also see the humour in it just as I can see the humour in just about anything! Sure, they suck at the time, but later on you can look back and think “hey, that wasn’t so bad,” have a bit of a chuckle about it, and become a stronger person because of it.
OP, it’s important to really talk yourself out of them before they get bad. When you feel one coming, go outside into the fresh air, do some push-ups, put on some happy rockin’ music, etc. And remember, as bad as you think things may be, at least you’re not in, say, Haiti. (I know I know, I’m getting sick of it too – “think your mother suddenly dying is bad? At least you don’t live in Haiti. Some people have lost their whole families, you should be thankful only your mom was killed in a freak car accident you selfish son of a bitch!”
IF you kit are referring to me as an ignorant fuck in regards to anxiety/depression/bi-polar whatever you want to call it believe me i know all about it spades; you name a med i’ve tried them including heavy doses of respirdol(that shit will fuck you up) so before you you go shooting your judgemental mouth off make sure you think about it; to make light of something doesn’t mean someone is disrespectful; as a matter of fact to joke about it can be therapeutic
Its not that easy qpmzwonxeibcruv, there are varying degrees of this condition and myself (possibly OP) suffers from something ore extreme then what you mentioned, a few anxiety attacks here and there VS not being able to go to parties or a movie because of them, cant really laugh that off. “I had to leave work in the middle of the day because I felt like I was dying” is not looked back upon as a chuckle.
There is NO humor living with this condition, it effects home, job, social life (doesn’t leave much of a social life actually).
Now I’m not saying all attacks are like this, anyone can get an anxiety attack, its the constant sufferers who cant function normally because of it that im talking about.
Yes, I am a stronger person then I was years ago but the problem never goes away.
Very few understand the hell anxiety disorder brings about. It becomes a hindrance, and at least as far as my situation goes I am struggling to support my family, balancing a full time job, a child and a mortgage, all the while dealing with weekly anxiety attacks, after having been on over 20 different meds in the past 12 years I have basic control over it, they Don’t hit as often as they use to but when they do it really does feel like the end of the world. Its impossible to explain to one who has not experienced a full blown attack.
OP reached out for help, and was giggled at and made fun of which is not uncommon, but I want OP to know YOU ARE NOT ALONE, and reading these responses (plus the ignorance like this Ive dealt with for years) shows me just how important it is for us to reach out to one another. I’m also an example on how these problems, no matter how debilitating, can be worked around and a real life can be lived, and feel I should help others who share what I go through.
To be fair qpmzwonxeibcruv, You are lucky, I wish it was that easy for me. I really do.
If anyone needs someone to talk to about this, like OP, let me know, it helps me to talk to, educate, help, coach or talk to others who share this condition.
Kit
As I have said many, many times, if you come to a Bitch board looking for sympathy or understanding, you have a serious problem.
This board gets trolled heavily by the “I’m gonna end it / I got raped / My BF beats me” crowd, and some of the regulars totally lap that crap up.
When the Bitch ends with “it’s gonna be okay, right?” any compassion I have goes out the window.
Another creative writing student wanking in the dark to all the concern they are being shown.
Mr. Luthor you speak the truth.
OP touched a nerve and my sympathy juices started flowing. I jump too easily at times.
And Martym I mean no offense, the ignorant fucks are the ones who really don’t get it and think its some attention getting thing. You know whether or not you are one.
Kit, it happens to us all.
I remember the first day I had anxiety attacks… That was all kindsa fucked up; I had no idea what was happening, and I got them like every hour while at work…
Oh yea, fun times (<<Sarcasm)
Whole bunch of anxious fucks up in this bitch. lol
I find it best to remove yourself from your environment for a little while can help. This allows you time and space to reflect on these things that make a lot of useless noise in our lives.
Go up to a place like Meat Cove our Pleasant Bay on Cape Breton Island for a week. The beauty of it and the lack of things to do will level you out. Time is a healer of all things.
Drugs (Prescription or otherwise) is just a bandaid solution and will not get to the source of anything.
Actually the act of writing this could be considered as a coping mechanism. It’s either that, breathing exercises, or taking something like Valium. Valium itself is probably worse than the attack itself.
Drugs drugs drugs, which are good, which are bad?
Drugs drugs drugs, ask your mom or ask your dad.
Overall there is still a huge stigma and lack of understanding of mental illness. A lot of people still think it doesn’t exist, that people just do it for sympathy and attention, they’re just weak and lazy, etc. There are indeed people like this, though, but who knows, maybe that itself is another form of mental illness. I think it’s something tough to diagnose appropriately and those without it can never understand those who have it. In the meantime, there are likely many people with a mental illness who have never been diagnosed. Who knows, even I could just be CRAZY! LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA!
I have had anxiety (panic attacks) for many, many years, and it is no laughing matter. It can ruin your life, as it has mine. It can and does happen anywhere and anythime. People who have never experienced one cannot know how bad it is and should consider yourself very lucky. Yes Kit it is good sometimes to talk to people who share the same mental health condition but I have yet to find anyone who suffers from it the way I do. IGBOA – hope you can get through each time you have to endure one of this miserable things.
Try auricular acupuncture! It worked for me!
Klonopin or ativan are much better choices, Dr. F, than valium — it all depends on what you need: klonopin stays in your system a bit longer, but ativan can pack a bigger punch in some people.
TRY getting to the root of what’s bothering you; fuck the anti-depressants they are just band-aids at best;therapy with someone you trust is the way to go
i have pmdd and its no joke…w/o drugs and talkin to people i would be dead or someone else would be. weed works great but brain drugs can work as well.
and getting to the root of what’s bothering you can be easier said than done especially when it’s never the same 2 things that set you off and/or (in the case of depression) you just don’t know why you’re sad
i don’t remember saying it would be easy; beleive me i’m only scratching the surface of the shit thats gurgling in my belly; but the sooner you get started the better chance you can get at least a handle on it and even some true happiness(wouldn’t that be nice)
Whatever happened to just putting the crazies in the attic?
yea but they’re forever getting out and before you know it oh oh axe murder on a killing spree run away
It is going to be okay, I promise. Over the last couple of years, I’ve suffered from two major anxiety attacks….and man, were they brutal. The most important thing to remember is to: breathe. I know it sounds simple, but that’s the beauty of it. Remind yourself to breathe in and out, in and out, very slowly and deeply while you are having an attack. Then, phone or visit a friend or family member or someone who cares about you. That is what I find is best. Drink some water. When you are feeling better (if you are not already), maybe try talking to someone about it. Also, yoga and meditation are very helpful…as are most forms of exercise and artistic expression. You are not alone!!! Good luck, and please take care. 🙂
An interesting thread. Comments too.
The only thing that may be remotely similar for me was while being on Zyban, the smoking cessation pill. The same pill is called Wellbutrin as an antidepressant.
It gave me a tingly, panicked feeling in my mind. Maybe once a day or two and it lasted 2 – 5 minutes. Hard to describe. It felt like I was gonna crack up, have a complete mental breakdown of some sort.
It’s hard to imagine a full blown panic attack but I’m trying.
yes Weed does work in some people really good . Not as chemically polluting . I don’t have any attacks as such so I wouldn’t know about it . Just saying I think in Some instances , weed might help keeping people calm . I think the dope they give people for depression is a total chemical poison .
hey I don’t know if this was posted by you, my recently ex-GF, but if it was please don’t hesitate to reach to me out for help…I know, I know, you don’t WANT help but the truth is sometimes you need the kind of help a true friend can offer…just call if you have to…okay, Gucky?
And to those who scoff at taking medication for mental disorders, I feel the need to make this (personal) argument…
I was 16 and diagnosed with depression (wow, what a surprise!) I went on medication for a few months, then being a stupid teenager and not wanting to be controlled by pharmaceutical drugs, I stopped taking my medications…
I was fine for a bit…
Flash forward a few years (when I’m 21): I can’t sleep, I’m never hungrey, so I don’t eat; my doctor says I’m still depressed and should start taking meds… I ignored him
A year later: I start having crazy mood swings, throwing temper tantrums, and jus plain out wiggin out (no, it wasn’t PMS); I finally accept the fact the depression wasn’t “just a phase”, finally went on medication to save everyone else from putting up with me, and I’m slowly getting better…
Anyways, that’s my debate/sob story… Have fun picking that apart, and tearing me up 😀
I went back
Those attacks can be so scary, suffered from them for a number of years and finally went to a professional for help. He made me buy and read a book about this, wish I could remember the name or author for you, but, the bottom line is that I was able to figure out what was causing them and magically they have almost disappeared completely. Don’t know why. But, now a days I rarely have them compared to having them at least once every day.
What works for me may not work for you but go see a medical professional in this kind of stuff and it may help.
Good Luck to You, anxiety attacks are definetly not pleasant and very scary. A few years ago I had a heart attack and when i called 911, I told them that i thought it was a anxiety attack and it turned out it really was a heart attack so go see your doctor just to be on the safe side and that doctor may be able to help you find someone to help you
I had a full-blown panic attack a couple of years ago – came out of fucking nowhere – I was at work when I thought I was taking a heart attack and all I could think was: Leave it to me to die on a grubby carpet with my nose tickling the paper shredder. I went to the ER and now carry pills in case another ever trips me up. Totally scary shit, even for this grizzled ol’ hen.
I had one once as well. Same thing, at work…it seemed like a heart attack with the tight band of pain across my chest…only I was in twenties at the time. I was embarrassed when the doctor told me. The name, I guess…’panic’ attack. I don’t panic, and, in fact, I didn’t feel ‘panicky’ at the time.
Hey, any of you guy’s know of some good resources on anxiety attacks? (besides the professionals of course, they are already in the pic)
I know someone who is trying to help their child with these attacks and extra resources would be fantastic.
There are lots of forums on anxiety attacks – they were very helpful when I was going through mine. It’s surprising just how many people out there suffer from this condition.
1. “Meat Cove”…. heh heh. wonder how it got the name.
2. “As I have said many, many times, if you come to a Bitch board looking for sympathy or understanding, you have a serious problem.”
This has been happening more and more lately… what the hell can they be thinking?!?!?
It’s a BITCH BOARD by definition!
3. by sheer volume of people either having or knowing someone who has, I find it astounding! I haven’t even seen one let alone have one and nearly everyone here who’s posted is impacted by this illess/disorder… whatever it’s classified as.
Never did I think it was so wide-spread.
Y’all are a bunch of stressed mother fuckers out there. Shouldn’t this bitching you do every day alleviate some of that???
perhaps your prescription should state “must post 10 comments on LTWWB daily”
I think it all started when my mother took me to see Bambi. Who takes their 5 year old to watch a movie with a scene in it of a baby waiting in the thicket, alone and afraid, only to hear its mother get brutally shot down…never to return…
Sob!
…then the fire…
Shrike: wellbutrin is an antidepressant that works on dopamine and it known to increase anxiety in those who have problems with anxiety, especially in the beginning. However, it’s often prescribed in conjunction with an SSRI like Paxil or Prozac or an SNRI like Effexor to counteract sexual dysfunction those drugs can cause. Apparently orgasms on wellbutrin are freaking amazing. Also: wellbutrin has the same effect as meridia when it’s taken in high enough doses (450mgs I believe), however, standard doseage of the XR variety is 300mgs as the seizure threshold goes up quite a bit from there. But 300mgs can still suppress your appetite.
I think what a lot of people need to remember is, sometimes some people’s brains have chemical deficiencies that need to be fixed with medication. I know people who have tried the therapy route without medication after being on medication and felt that no matter how much work they did, they needed that medication. While situational factors can affect someone’s acquisition of depression and anxiety, sometimes it’s just a medical disorder that occurs in the brain and requires treatment through chemical balancing means (i.e.: medication).
I am a sufferer of GAD anxiety disorder who understands what your going through, the good thing is it.s just anxiety! It will pass, it does get better even if you don.t think it does, the right medication, will help tremendously I reccommend Effexor it.s worked wonders for me, I also find the more attention you pay to it even talking about it makes it worse, the best thing to do is distract yourself, read a book, watch t.v get a shower anything that will distract your mind for a while. Eventually you won.t have them as frequently, someone said there isn.t much help for anxiety there is alot of help, tons of great books, how to relax, distract, and treat the symptoms and that.s all they are symptoms brought on by thoughts. funny enough I did smile when I saw your post because I,ve been there not because it.s funny but because I can relate. thanks for your honesty, keep on reaching you will find the treatment you need if you keep looking.
hi, I,m a sufferer of GAD myself and I have to tell you, there definately is treatment, the right medication helps tremendously, I prefer Effexor, it helped me go from 3 anxiety attacks a day to none. so there is help available and light at the end of the tunnel. You have to remember to it.s just anxiety, it will pass, tell yourself that, the symptoms pass in about 15 mins, I find distracting myslef with books, tv. doing housework or anything at all is great to keep your mind busy and off the anxiety, excercise, walking anything to keep your mind off it. The more you do this, the more your mind relaxes, the more you forget about it. Don.t give the anxiety power it doesn.t deserve it! lol thanks for your posting and your honesty, it.s nice to know I,m not alone neither are you.
making sense of it all.
I think that many “normal” things in this modern world are extremely stressful and anxiety-provoking.
It is a wonder that anyone can be called “sane” at all when you consider all the stuff we have to face each day. (Is a flourescently-lit office cubicle in any way a “natural” habitat for human beings? Are zoo animals allowed to be housed like this?)
If carefully monitored prescription drugs can help a person reduce some of the harsher symptoms so they can get on with their life, then I think that is OK. If talk therapy helps uncover and resolve some of the root sources of these problems, that’s even better—but it is not always possible.
The world can be a hard place, it can grind away at even the “strongest” of us. If drugs can be of assistance in getting through the worst times, and provided they are not doing any harm, then I am all for the “whatever works” approach.