Panicking for No Reason

[Daitokuji]

I don't care about enough things to panic about them.

[Rated E]

I don't really panic about anything, though I've noticed that as I get older I'm more emotional, it's pretty gay.

[Mzo]

I've known a lot of girls that get their hormones scrambled by birth control and act like crazy people.

Some girls get them prescribed to regulate an infrequent menstrual cycle and the lovely SURPRISE periods.

[Drewbacca]

I have a newflash for you, MarsKitten, you do feel that way if you're experiencing all of those physical traits. You saying you don't feel a certain way in lieu of the evidence is called denial. Learning to accept that you're that way (a woman) will lead to you working through it more and finding a solution, and getting used to dealing with it. Saying you don't feel a certain way when your body is telling you that you do is mucho retardado.

[youandwhosearmy]

So I go talk to a prof today about a resume reference. I don't need it but I'd like to handy incase i apply to anyplace financial like. So I walk in and he starts discussing why I want him. (he's a hard prof in a hard class and i made a good grade). Middle of the conversation, he's going to say yes, (and eventually does) I begin to have a panic attack. Full blown, crying , feeling tense, sweating it sucks. And i'm inside my head thinking wait... why am I feeling like this.

It wasn't a big deal, no woulda been fine. I have other references. I can't even think on the whole thing without starting another panic attack. ATM my stress level is low, i'm generally getting enough sleep and i'm not on any meds (i take 1 and it doesn't do this) I'm thinking its some kinda anxiety disorder.

I mean I can be prone to this stuff around exam time, but never when there's not a ton of pressure on me. It makes me worry that I might be headed towards something worse, thoughts?

Its an age thing from what my doctor told me. A lot of people don't have (I know I didn't) even have a hint of being being prone to panic attacks, till they are in their 20's, then you just get one.

Really the psychological cause is just a trigger though, the truth is if you had one, you probably would have had one with something else as a trigger. Really getting to the root of why your having them, emotionally, does help, but it might not stop them in the end. I know I figured out the reason behind mine, long before they even began to subside.

I refused medication, though I admit entirely there are some people a lot worse off than me who probably need it. Everyone needs to handle them differently because even though a lot of people suffer from them, they are usually for completely different reasons.

I asked my doctor for something that would knock me out. He gave me atavan (and it knocked me the fuck out), The best thing you can do when you feel one coming on, is drop everything and sleep. Most people I know, are not in that situation but the problem is, if you don't make time for them they will only get worse.

After a few pills (I took em, maybe five times), and I never took one again. In the end, I got angry at myself for having them, and realized part of their intensity was my fear that I was never going to be like I was (Before the attacks) again, and I stopped being frightened by it, and started getting angry at it.

Long story short, they show up every now and again but never like they were when they first happened, and all I have to do is surround myself with other things to do.

The funniest thing about them though, is they tend to be strongest when your overly stressed with too much to do, or with nothing at all to do and too much time to think. I think avoiding those two extreme phases could be quite beneficial.

I have a newflash for you, MarsKitten, you do feel that way if you're experiencing all of those physical traits. You saying you don't feel a certain way in lieu of the evidence is called denial. Learning to accept that you're that way (a woman) will lead to you working through it more and finding a solution, and getting used to dealing with it. Saying you don't feel a certain way when your body is telling you that you do is mucho retardado.

And that, in and of itself, is the definition of a real anxiety attack.

Being stuck in a loop with an ever increasing adrenaline rush building in your chest, the symptom of which is your body's bad reaction to whatever thoughts or stress your putting on it, but since your ignoring it and disregarding it as fine, but at the same time still asking the questions "Whats wrong with me?" and "Why is this happening?" and coming back to the same conclusion, its cycling and getting stronger each pass.

Trying to ignore an anxiety attack is a pretty hopeless exercise, Mars, since the very point of an anxiety attack is that your mind is causing your body distress to get your attention because its trying to tell you something.

I don't really panic about anything, though I've noticed that as I get older I'm more emotional, it's pretty gay.

You will hon, trust me, you will.

[SpoDaddy]

So I go talk to a prof today about a resume reference. I don't need it but I'd like to handy incase i apply to anyplace financial like. So I walk in and he starts discussing why I want him. (he's a hard prof in a hard class and i made a good grade). Middle of the conversation, he's going to say yes, (and eventually does) I begin to have a panic attack. Full blown, crying , feeling tense, sweating it sucks. And i'm inside my head thinking wait... why am I feeling like this.

It wasn't a big deal, no woulda been fine. I have other references. I can't even think on the whole thing without starting another panic attack. ATM my stress level is low, i'm generally getting enough sleep and i'm not on any meds (i take 1 and it doesn't do this) I'm thinking its some kinda anxiety disorder.

I mean I can be prone to this stuff around exam time, but never when there's not a ton of pressure on me. It makes me worry that I might be headed towards something worse, thoughts?

Some tips for dealing with panic attacks:

A) Make sure you get at least 8 hours sleep every night and try to keep a consistent sleep schedule. Changes in sleep patterns and sleep deprivation can trigger anxiety.

B) When you feel a panic attack coming on close your eyes and breathe slowly. Breathe in and hold it for three seconds, then exhale and hold that for three seconds, then breathe in again and repeat. Doing this introduces more oxygen into your system (which helps a lot) and also forces your diaphragm down against your adrenal gland and turns it off (you don't want adrenaline).

C) A panic attack is a fight or flight response. Your brain thinks you're in extreme danger; forcing yourself to face your fears head-on will decrease your anxiety because fear is always the trigger for a panic attack.

[Satsuki]

I've known a lot of girls that get their hormones scrambled by birth control and act like crazy people.

yeah, that is me. doctors are ALWAYS trying to prescribe me birth control, and I've tried 6+ kinds, and they all make me act like a lunatic. Moreso than usual.

[PaCrappa]

Sucks, but what are you gonna' do?

My stock response is one I can't imagine going over very well and I know it won't be heeded even though it should be:

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Training like a wyld stalyn has literally crushed just about any anxiety I ever had. A sound body is the home of a sound mind imo.

[MarsKitten]

My stock response is one I can't imagine going over very well and I know it won't be heeded even though it should be:

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Training like a wyld stalyn has literally crushed just about any anxiety I ever had. A sound body is the home of a sound mind imo.

actually i began training a buncha free runners earlier this year. Sadly i'l fallen off the wagon on that. Time simply does not permit me to train with them and keep up.

[icarusfall]

My stock response is one I can't imagine going over very well and I know it won't be heeded even though it should be:

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Training like a wyld stalyn has literally crushed just about any anxiety I ever had. A sound body is the home of a sound mind imo.

Oh no, you absolutely right. Exercise helps many people with anxiety get their stresses out in other ways.

For me, it's not about a trigger; it's a broken brain.