Panic Attacks - Al-Anon Family Group

Cathyinaz · ~*Service Worker*~

Panic Attacks

rehprof · ~*Service Worker*~

Actually...panic attacks are pretty common...and are quite understandable.

It is an evolutionary thing that moms protect their children...your son is at risk...it makes sense to me that you are feeling anxiety...

It's funny, anxiety is a such a paradox...the more you resist it...the bigger it grows. If I may suggest....Don't fight it...but accept that this is quite normal.

You are okay. You are reacting normally to stress, and I know that you will find ways to work through these feelings...

Give yourself permission to feel anxious...and it's remarkable how that act, in and of itself, can ease those scary feelings.

sending strength,

RP

PP · ~*Service Worker*~

They are scary....comfort in knowing "this too shall pass".

deacon · Senior Member

Cathy no wonder your mind is frazzled with all that you have gone through. You might benefit from seeing a cognitive therapist. A relative of mine had small attacks which became more severe. She was advised by her doctor and therapist to practice meditation but also to go to a therapist that dealt with cognitive issues. She bought a book that was called Mind Over Matter and enrolled in a three month course. It has done wonders for her and she can now manage any small attack without medication which was her goal.

milkwood · ~*Service Worker*~

I'm sorry that you are getting these feelings, I know that they are ghastly and unsettling. But after all you've been through they are also quite normal. I hope you can give yourself a rest and some treats and I'm sending you a huge (((((HUG)))))) to get you started.
Meditation tapes have helped me in the past.

Cathyinaz · ~*Service Worker*~

Thank you guys.... this will pass like everything else. I'm finding I'm also so tired....can hardly make it through the day. I've got the aches and pains going on and that's not like me.

Oh by the way.....not one panic attack today. I told myself this is not acceptable.

and asked HP to help. Well he must have said something to somebody because I was so busy didn't have time to panic..lol

Annual inventory tomorrow....

Tasha · Senior Member

You are not your fear. For me - the fear of having them compounded them. It is awful since it's so convincing that it could actually kill or cause psychosis. I learned to simply say "I'm not convinced, and 'you're' (the anxiety) not convincing me". Sort of the same way It works with addiction. "No 'you're' (the disease) not going to convince me that I can take this one drink no matter what you say to me or do".

I conquered the attacks by saying no to them, and not letting them convince me they were real or actually going to kill me or harm me in any way. Looking at them for what they were - an object of my imagination - made it somewhat easier to remember that I am not my anxiety. Just like I am not my disease of alcoholism, or my para disease of alcoholism, or my codependency or whatever. I suppose a sort of mindfulness in a way. Almost like speaking to my panic self from my real self. My alcoholic self to my real self etc etc etc.

This worked for me even before I had a 12 step program. The benefit of being here now is that I can also be gentle with myself and know I am loved no matter what by my HP. That I am not junky - or panicky - or addictive - or whatever. I am just me - Natasha - under it all. It helps me to remember these things are not my true self.

I hope you find your way through this. It is possible to find peace in the storm. Just not easy. We are here for you no matter what :) xxxx

Bettina · ~*Service Worker*~

I suffered Panic attacks periodically and they usually occur when things are pretty smooth going and there is no drama.

You might practice deep breathing, sitting up straight , drawing in breath holding it till count of 10 and release slowly.

They can be brought on by improper breathing and hyperventilation when your not even aware of it.

Dont let them get you down.

Hugs, Bettina

neshema2 · ~*Service Worker*~

rehprof wrote:

It's funny, anxiety is a such a paradox...the more you resist it...the bigger it grows. If I may suggest....Don't fight it...but accept that this is quite normal.
You are okay. You are reacting normally to stress, and I know that you will find ways to work through these feelings...
Give yourself permission to feel anxious...and it's remarkable how that act, in and of itself, can ease those scary feelings.sending strength, RP

thank you RP for this very informative post......when they say that if I can "deal with it" at levels 1,2, i can arrest it, w/self talk, and NOT fighting it but actually saing "ok you are having anxiety, its ok"

but if i let it get beyond (too many times w/ptsd its hard) those first 2 levels, then i am in trouble....

that is amazing...so accept it and kinda (i can't say embrace something that is pure hell) but kinda let it pass through w/out fighting it, this makes sense.....thanks for mentioning something i had completely forgotten about and really need to remember

neshema2 · ~*Service Worker*~

Hey Cathy,

boy I am learning a lot off your post, but had to tell you I am sending you comfort and peace hugs....all the S*** you have been through, its no wonder...it sits adn percolates in your subconscious and yea, u r gonna get frightened.........hugssss

grateful2be · ~*Service Worker*~

I generally have felt anxiety when I am trying to peer into the future. Grounding myself by doing something that requires my attention like laundry, etc, cleaning the house, etc. I become grounded in today and in myself. Feeling panicky usually happens when I'm outside by comfort zone. Knowing that's the reason for the panic helps me relax and understand I'm in a new experience and HP will guide me.

xeno59 · ~*Service Worker*~

I have PTSD which lucky me revealed it's self a little before I turned 50. Panic/anxiety attacks are very real. At first for me they started small and I was able to work through them. But after having a severe car accident the PTSD went full blown. I was chronically depressed and having constant panic attacks. I started taking disability leave thinking i just needed rest blah blah. Eventually I lost my job which I very much loved and ended up on Disability not for just the PTSD or injuried sustained but a severe health problem. I did therapy, meds etc. What helped me? I landed in alanon with a group of people who understood, didn't judge, a lot had walked in my shoes. It took time, I still suffer from PTSD but it is manageable
as long as I keep my recovery first.

grateful2be · ~*Service Worker*~

Xeno: That's such a testament to the goodness of the program.

Melly1248 · ~*Service Worker*~

I had a bout of these (for the first time in my life) a few months ago; I was having crazy heart palpitations and couldn't draw breath in and when the doctor said she thought they were panic attacks I looked at her like she was crazy and said "No, I don't get those". lol. They stopped around the time I joined here (interesting) and I haven't had one since

You are right, it will pass, and more quickly if you are kind to yourself.

(((Cathy)))

Debilyn · ~*Service Worker*~

sad to hear you are aching! I hope you listen to your body and rest, take nice soothing baths that smell good. Just no fun getting in and out! Hey just living in this world is enough to make anyone ache.

Still have not heard from my son. turkey. He always feels he should do something. I tell him no way I am fine.

So what are you doing for you? Hope you are eating healthy.

Its so true all we can do is take care of ourselves, and hope we get some good time with our loved ones.

hugz!

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