Relapse

[panic man]

I have been suffering from anxiety on and off for about eight years now.  The panic attacks started when I was a junior in college.  My friends and roomate could not understand what was going on with me and I just didn't feel comfortable talking about it to them.  To this day I still feel embarrassed by this and don't like talking about it to anyone.  Does anybody else feel embarrassed by this condition?

With the understanding of my parents I was able to figure out what my problem was and began taking meds (Celexa) and they worked wonderfully.  My mother and my grandfather both suffer from panic disorder so you can say it runs in the family. 

Now to the relapse.  About three weeks ago I went to Atlantic City for some fun.  I stayed up all night drinking and gambling.  After the long night I had an intense panic attack on the long ride home, which I haven't totally recovered from.  I have been suffering with some kind of anxiety for three weeks straight after being "well" for about eight years.  Has anyone else had panic attacks after drinking too much?

Today I had a meeting and on my way out the door I felt the intense feeling that I needed to vomit.  I went inside and tried to calm myself down.  It took to long and I had to cancel my meeting and now feel even more terrible that I am letting this condition control aspects of my life. 

The good news is I have an appointment with a therapist tommorrow to discuss CBT.  I have never been to anyone to talk to about this and I am hopeful that this will be helpful.  I read a book about CBT and tried to use the suggestions in it but was unable to successfully get my panic to stop. 

Does anyone else feel that panic attacks are a way that our bodies distract us from another issue that we are not willing to deal with?

[krisly1201]

I'm new to this sight and just wanted to let you know that there is hope out there. I had full blown panic and it started in DEC of this year. I won't repeat my story but it is on the panic advice sight. I started a therapy called EEG and neurofeedback. It has done wonders for me and without meds.My psycologist recommended it to me and I now have my life back and I'm in control. I hope this info will help you !  I tried to post the webb sights for this therapy but it knocks off the address. ( after 4 sessions of therapy my panic stopped ) My psycologist decribed panic as your body having all it can take with stress and finally letting it all out. Then having the fear of having another attack and you not being able to control it. It was to the point for me that I feared going out of my own house! You need to conquer that fear and move on to the next untill you are in control. I'm now fear free! Please look up this therapy. I really feel that it could help alot of people.

[JMM]

Panic has affected my job, I had to walk out of a interview they other day because of panic(horrible feeling) I have felt anxious/nervous about going to work, never knew I had anxiety/panic just thought it was stress?? Now it is time to treat it so i can get back to work and not worry about it!!  I hope this is not a long process!!

[JOHNNYC]

My panic disorder started in my early 20's and I did not get any relief until I tried Imipramine at 50mg/day about 5 years later.  For 5 years I tried to discern a pattern or find the cause or trigger without success.  It ran its own course like the weather.  The Imipramine worked like a charm.  After a month I could barely believe I had wasted 5 years in such emotional pain (and had tried meditation, journaling, jogging, yoga, caffeine reduction etc etc without result).  I was in  remission for about a year and then had a relapse.  I find that it just re-appears of its own accord with no real rhyme or reason.  The best advice I can give is to think of it sort of like an allergy or a flu- you know when it is happenning, but you don't exactly know what caused it.  Instead of twisting your head in knots trying to decode why it came back, or why you got it in te first place, treat it like you would another irritating persistent condition (like acne or an ulcer) and do not be too hard on yourself for needing a follow up treatment.  I found in my first remission that I waited a long time and suffered a lot trying to figure it out again or deny that it was happening again.

[mbabynz]

hey johnnyc what is imipramine and are you still on it????????
cheers mbaby

[panic man]

Thanks JonnyC

I am feeling much better but still not 100%  I'm trying to figure out what is causing my anxiety and think that I may have figured it out.  I still need to figure out how to fix the problem but I am working on it and makes me feel so much better. 

[corbs77]

Wow!

I am experiencing a relapse too and mine began in college ( im now 28) Embarassing is the worst part of it, while close family and friends know, its not like you can go around telling people! I totally get it. I have been trying to do things with people who are aware of my situation and don't mind if I have a breakdown somewhere, rather than worrying what a stranger might think.

Do you have  a close friend you can hang out with who is aware of your anxiety? Although my best friend doesnt have anxiety, she is supporitie and doesnt judge me when it comes up, which is really what you need soemtimes.

good luck, I keep telling myself each day is a new day and it won't last forever.