Do you suffer from anxiety/panic attacks? Does it prevent you from doing things?

[phorsenuf]

I'm curious because in an earlier post of mine I said I don't fly because of them. I was told I was overreacting.
Well, one way I can cope is knowing I have a "way out" if I should get one. If I'm driving, I can pull over. If I'm in a store, I can walk out. If I'm in a plane, where am I going to go????? LOL

Do you find they prevent you from doing things?

How do you cope with them besides medication?

 

[Sonya]

I have had 2, both on an airplane. Now I don't fly. Prehaps if the Dr gave me something to take the edge off my fears of crashing I would be OK. Yeah, a medicated me would be a good thing!

 

[phorsenuf]

I have had 2, both on an airplane. Now I don't fly. Prehaps if the Dr gave me something to take the edge off my fears of crashing I would be OK. Yeah, a medicated me would be a good thing!

I don't worry about crashing, I guess its more of a trapped feeling. I used to fly all the time and it never bothered me. Now....forget it! LOL

 

[Charade]

You need to knock back one of the little airplane liquor bottles before your flight.

 

[Sonya]

You need to knock back one of the little airplane liquor bottles before your flight.

Yeah, but I hate the headache when I wake up!

I just had a really bad flight experience once, and that has made me edgy on all the ones after that. So at least I know where the PAs are coming from.

 

[always quiet]

When I was a kid, due to a horrendous nun in first grade, I got them all the time in school. Back then, I guess they didn't know about these things, and I suffered for years with it. I remember thinking back then I wished there was a 'pill' I could take to make me feel like everyone else. Nowadays, they would know what to do for me. Back then, I was just odd.

 

[Buckalew11]

I have them too!

I don't care for flying either. I am not afraid of the plane crashing either. That thought doesn't really cross my mind although I do say a prayer as we are taking off and landing! For me, it is the trapped feeling. Buses are the same way for me. Imagine my first trip to WDW since having these thoughts and attacks: flying down, getting on Meares buses, buses at WDW, and rides in which I have no control over! My pre-trip anxiety was hell and I didn't want to go. Once I saw I lived through all those things and had a good time, I enjoy going and feeling quite proud of myself for overcoming those thoughts and feelings. (Probably one of the many reasons I love going there!)

Anyway, yes, they do keep me from doing things I want to do. And I do have xanax that I can take it is really bad or it is something that I have to do. Deep breathing and positive self talk are biggies for me to get through certain things.

But, as you said, it is that "trapped" feeling that is so bad and having a way out that also helps me through. (That is why I always want an aisle seat on the plane. LOL, what? Where do I think I'm going? I have no idea but it makes me feel better!!

 

[Christine]

I suffer from panic disorder but, funny thing, flying doesn't give me a problem other than what I would call "normal" anxiety.

But I know what you mean by needing a way out. I have a problem feeling like I can't get out of where I am. Like I have a problem going out to lunch with co-workers at work because I feel if I'm panicking I can't let on and I can't leave. But I have no problems at home going out to dinner with my family because I know if I feel bad I can get up and leave at any time.

I do use medication at times when I need it. I probably need to go on an SSRI but the side effects are so bad I can't tolerate them.

 

[Cinderellagrl]

I have major anxiety. I'll go through periods of time where every day seems to be a struggle dealing with it. The attacks come on sporadically. Sometimes it doesn't even matter where I am or what I'm doing. It's awful. My anxiety prevents me from doing alot of things. Although I am a sociable person, I have panic attacks when I know that I am going to be socializing with strangers, for example, at a party or something. DH gets upset because I don't like going to wedding receptions, big parties, banquets, etc. He doesn't understand it at all. He thinks I'm just being anti-social. As for airplanes, I took a Xanax before we flew to Florida and it worked pretty well. I do not take medication on a daily basis because I am afraid of the side effects.

 

[jx3smom]

I used to be worse than I am now. I am hypoglycimic and pretty much have it under control but I usually carry some candy around. I flew for the first time since 9/11 this past October and thought that I'd be a wreck but I made out fine. We now have 2 more trips planned and will be flying both times.

 

[Crankyshank]

I get panic attacks, but not when flying. I would try taking meditation classes or tai chi - anything that teaches you breathing tricks. I've been having anxiety issues for 20yrs now and I have found that breathing techniques learned in meditation and tai chi have really made a difference when I get an attack

 

[goofyshell]

I feel for you. I admit the first time I heard of panic attacks (years ago) I thought that sounded so made-up. Then I started having them. Debilitating. That's the word. Yes, they've stopped me from many things I've wanted to do.
What helps? I know each person reacts differently to things. Aside from medicines(which are a fabulous invention) the thing that has helped me most is therapy. And my kids. I actually can force myself to do things so that my kids won't remember me as "disfunctional"-my word. Good luck and prayers to you.
(Actually-God gets all the credit for helping me. I don't know if you are religious-but God is my solution.)

 

[Immelman]

my solution is Effexor. cheaper than god, and less addicting.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

I began having them after my ds was born. We had almost lost him (and me) at 23 weeks pg, followed by many complications that led us to be told not expect a healthy baby. He did come perfect and healthy but for months afterwards I had panic attacks. They would not come on under stress but when I was most relaxed. I think (if I were to psychoanalalyze myself) that thats because the event (hemmoraging due to placenta abruption) that caused me to almost lose him occurred during an everyday routine event (picking my dd up when she was having a nightmare). Thankfully those have since stopped.

I am terrified of flying and the thought of it makes my stomach turn... although I am getting better through reading stuff about fear of flying in preparation for this summers trip (first time flying with the kids and I don't want my fear to rub off on them). But oddly enough flying does not cause me true panic attacks. Except for the one case (below) I have never let this fear stop me. It's my biggest fear, but traveling is my biggest love (after God and family, lol). So I feel like its a necessary "evil."

The only time I can say I was ever stopped from doing something out of fear was the trip to WDW that dh planned for us. I just could not get on the plane. That however was not a panic attack, just a really bad feeling.... mommy intuition. I posted here afterwards and many said they understood, but many said I just overreacted. But I've only had that feeling two other times in my life. One was a day where I felt it putting dd into her carseat and had to check and recheck her seat straps, then we were later rear-ended that same day. The other time was the day I almost lost my ds and I just felt something wasn't right. So getting that feeling and knowing I'd be on the other side of the country from my kids if I got on that plane, I just couldn't do it. And I had done it before, we do a trip away from the kids once a year. So it wasn't just typical leaving the kids feelings at all. We ended up surprising them at my moms and bringing my mom and kids on a spur of the moment Disneyland trip. So it worked out in the end. I know not everyone understands that, and there is no way for me to know if something bad would have happened had I made that trip but to have that feeling and ignore it and then if something bad had happened I wouldn't have been able to live with myself.

 

[Deesknee]

I sometimes get them. Usually in a grocery store, not sure why. Anyway when I first started getting them a few years ago, I went to my doctor, he told me I have asthma! That was after an EKG and some other tests. Meanwhile my DB had just recently died. As well as other circumstances in my life that were changing drastically.
Anyway, no they really don't effect my life to much other than maybe forgetting to pick up mild or something. I have very supportive people in my life that encourage me to talk things out. Since I have been doing that I find I don't have as many anymore. These people are not professionals either, but they all have wonderful sense of humors. I truly believe being with sensitive fun people - well laughter is the best medicine IMHO.