Lately I think I've started having anxiety or panic attacks, but I'm not sure. Twice this week my heart began racing out of control, like I was afraid of something but I don't know what. Along with that I had a sinking feeling. Kind of a very unworldly, lonely feeling. I was really concerned that I might be going crazy. I thought about seeing a doctor but am more worried I’d just be put on some medication. I found a list of anxiety symptoms at , which has calmed me down a bit as it's sounds quite like what I’m experiencing. Has anyone every tried that program? Or have any other suggestions? Does this sound like anxiety??
Help! Is this anxiety?
- Thread starter hesperia
- Start date
I would say ya that might be anxiety. but you did something diffrent to set this on lately. What he is trying to get at did you increase your caffiene intake? Notice you been drinking alot more cokes and such?
Take deep breath and relax and talk to someone that calms you down. that is what i did when i was having problems. But with me it was changing my way of life.
Take deep breath and relax and talk to someone that calms you down. that is what i did when i was having problems. But with me it was changing my way of life.
Madison069- what did u do that "was changing my way of life" that eliminated anxiety?
Hesperia- yes that sounds like anxiety - what they are saying about caffeine and weight loss pills is true though, they will produce feelings just like anxiety so 1) drop the caffiene and weight loss pills if ur doing either 2) Read all about anxiety ... i've been reading for years, i'll have times when i have a attack and will continue feeling anxiety-ish for the next week or two then it'll go away for the next many months ... what i've found that really helps is to be next to someone who makes u feel safe/comfortable to me its my best friend/ex boyfriend ... talk to yourself and tell yourself you are ok, nothing is wrong, you are nervous about (fill in the blank) and will calm down ...also i just learned this trick the last time i had problems about 2 weeks ago ... breathe in normally and exhale slowly ... like twice as long (i try to count to 8) ... they said that most people will take deep breaths when they have anxiety but that actually will increase it b/c increasing oxygen to your brain increases energy .. instead it suggested to inhale normally and exhale to the count of 8, that exhaling (releasing carbon dioxide) slows the heart/energy,etc .. i.e. exhaling decreases energy (which u want when having anxiety) and inhaling increases energy (therefore feeding the anxiety) ... this really is the best thing i've found personally ... good luck "relax" (hahah everyone says that ... well if i knew that i wasnt relaxing before it kicked in then i would!!) good luck ... take care of urself and make sure ur lilmiting caffeing, drinking plenty of water, and eating healthy!
Hesperia- yes that sounds like anxiety - what they are saying about caffeine and weight loss pills is true though, they will produce feelings just like anxiety so 1) drop the caffiene and weight loss pills if ur doing either 2) Read all about anxiety ... i've been reading for years, i'll have times when i have a attack and will continue feeling anxiety-ish for the next week or two then it'll go away for the next many months ... what i've found that really helps is to be next to someone who makes u feel safe/comfortable to me its my best friend/ex boyfriend ... talk to yourself and tell yourself you are ok, nothing is wrong, you are nervous about (fill in the blank) and will calm down ...also i just learned this trick the last time i had problems about 2 weeks ago ... breathe in normally and exhale slowly ... like twice as long (i try to count to 8) ... they said that most people will take deep breaths when they have anxiety but that actually will increase it b/c increasing oxygen to your brain increases energy .. instead it suggested to inhale normally and exhale to the count of 8, that exhaling (releasing carbon dioxide) slows the heart/energy,etc .. i.e. exhaling decreases energy (which u want when having anxiety) and inhaling increases energy (therefore feeding the anxiety) ... this really is the best thing i've found personally ... good luck "relax" (hahah everyone says that ... well if i knew that i wasnt relaxing before it kicked in then i would!!) good luck ... take care of urself and make sure ur lilmiting caffeing, drinking plenty of water, and eating healthy!
that is what caused it.
It sounds like you may be starting to experience panic attacks. Please see a doctor. Taking a medication is your choice. You do not have to take any. Getting a referal to a counsellor who can help you with anxiety reducing techniques may really help.
Good luck.
Sarah
Good luck.
Sarah
anxiety attacks happen for all sorts of reasons it could be diet, or something medical or it could be stress. but it can be more like a reaction after the event. what happens is your brain triggers the fight or flight response which increases the adrenilin levels in your body. normally if your going to run away from something or fight something (or some body) you use that adrenilin but if your just walking down the street it doesnt get used. thats were the fear and the racing heart beat come from.
I use to have anxiety attacks--was horrendoulsy bulled when i was a student nurse for about a month by this bitch of a sister. during it all i just rode it out, made a massive complaint and left after a month, it was about a week after i left that i began with anxiety attacks. i couldnt get on the bus because it was too busy and i was scared id freak out infront of strangers. so i would walk home which took an hour and a half, i couldnt go out and party because i'd feel overwhelmed and i mangaed to got to work but it was really stressful trying to keep a lid on things.
anyways i agree with the other posts, doctor and checkup needed. all i can tell you is what helped me. the more exercise i did the better i felt esp yoga i cut out coffee and anything with caffine in and i ate really well. ive been fine for about a year and a half despite stressful events. Good luck and let us know how you do!!
I use to have anxiety attacks--was horrendoulsy bulled when i was a student nurse for about a month by this bitch of a sister. during it all i just rode it out, made a massive complaint and left after a month, it was about a week after i left that i began with anxiety attacks. i couldnt get on the bus because it was too busy and i was scared id freak out infront of strangers. so i would walk home which took an hour and a half, i couldnt go out and party because i'd feel overwhelmed and i mangaed to got to work but it was really stressful trying to keep a lid on things.
anyways i agree with the other posts, doctor and checkup needed. all i can tell you is what helped me. the more exercise i did the better i felt esp yoga i cut out coffee and anything with caffine in and i ate really well. ive been fine for about a year and a half despite stressful events. Good luck and let us know how you do!!
wow thnx for taht website actually my father has pretty bad depression often, and he wont go see a doctor, because hes in denial. im gonna send him this website.
I am currently on the waiting list for treatment of psychosis, which is very broad medical term but in my case it means that I become extremely anxious and paranoid about things that are either completely out of my control anyway or things that I know will never happen. It leaves you with a constant underlying feeling of misplaced responsibility, guilt and fear. If you have recently or in the past few years been through problems that caused you a great deal of stress this may be a likely reaction.
Either way, I would suggest going to your doctor as there is no point in sufferering if you can overcome it with help. Just be as honest as possible with them and I'm sure they will actually help you rather than just put you on pills.
Either way, I would suggest going to your doctor as there is no point in sufferering if you can overcome it with help. Just be as honest as possible with them and I'm sure they will actually help you rather than just put you on pills.
ohh old thread.. mind as well participate. I had an anxiety attack a little over 4 days ago. It was by far the scariest thing I've experienced. It felt as if my next breathe wasn't going to happen. Heart felt like it was racing uncontrolably.. as if I kept descending into the ocean.. and wasn't stoppin.. each minute was each time I was going deeper.. and deeper. Went outside.. and just started taking deep deep breathes... tried to think of a blank room.. and relax my mind. I refuse to see the doctor about this.. since all they will do is perscribe pills. I will not take pills for any sort of anxiety condition. I guess you just have to learn self control when it comes to thoughts.
I used to feel like I was getting anxiety attacks until I found out my blood pressure was high. I realized that everything I was eating was loaded with sodium, so I changed my diet and cut out a lot of sodium and I feel great now. No more high blood pressure and the anxiety feelings went away.
Within the last year I too have experienced anxiety attacks. I noticed that when we were heading up north to ski/snowborad I would get sick. (Running to the bathroom) My husband and I just thought it might be nerves but then we noticed it happening when we were going to do other things like riding motorcyles, and going out to eat at a restaurant. My attacks were a little different. I would start to feel flush. A heat going all over my body and I would start to panic. My anxieties escalated when I started keeping track of my daily exercising and food log. I was stressing out over my food. Thank god I didn't get as bad as some people. I saw a tv show where a lady was measuring her food intake and then weighing her stool. GROSS! My family kept commenting on my stress and crazyness to log my food and let me know I was starting to take it to the extreme. I did go see a doctor and she told me that it sounded like I might be starting on a eating disorder. I have stopped keeping tack of what I eat and am eating much healthier than before but not going to the extreme. I am not seeing the results I saw before but my mental state is much better. I agree with others that you should see a doctor. Mine did not try to give me drugs. She was just a listening ear and confirmed what I already started to suspect. Good luck!