relapse

[moz13]

hello I am new to this site im 25 years old I had my first panic/anxiety attack at the age of 17. I was messing with some illegal drugs(crystal meth) and well on the drugs one day I had panic attack but I didnt know thats what it was at the time, I thought I was going to OD I thought it was a heart attack and I was gonna die from the drugs. I couldnt breathe my heart and mind were racing and i was scared stiff I didnt even want to move. I some how managed to make it through that night but the days and weeks that followed were not good, I felt weak,I felt disconnected everything seemed weird, I would have overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and bad thoughts like I have cancer or my heart was weak or the drugs messed me up for good and ill never feel normal again. I havent ever touched illegal drugs after that. but the syptoms I was having that I thought was from the drugs was still there. one day I was feeling really bad and ended up in the ER they checked me out did some blood work which came back normal and told me I was fine and released me.Thats when I realized it was panic and anxiety.I suffered with anxiety and panic pretty bad for a few years after that, But I tried to not let it stop me from doing things i needed to do like work and having a social life; It was hard and alot of times did stop me from going certain places or doing certain things but I noticed that it was slowly going away and by the age of 21 I barley noticed it was even there at all. I started feel normal again and did alot of things that anxiety prob would have stoped me from doing before. Life was good and I felt good.It went on like this for the next few years I would have some bad days here and there but I brushed them off and it really didnt bother me. But about a year ago I had anxiety/panic relapse and it hasnt gotten any better its like it started all over again and its really dragging me down. I dont leave the house much I avoid certain places My social life is almost nothing all the bad thoughts and feelings are back and everything just seems harder now because of it. So here I am trying to dig myself out of a deep hole. I found this site and thought maybe I can get some tips and info on how to rid myself of anxiety and panic again, take my life back  and keep it that way once and for all.

[sixpack]

Your story sounds pretty common around here.  We seem to hit a lot of walls before we start to come to conclusion that anxiety is a powerful thing.  A thing that takes a lot of work and patience to work through.

Welcome to the ZONE

[tigerpaw]

Check out the chat room for some 'live' folks to help you through your day!!