Fantastic.... How many themes have we covered in one thread

Nervous illness, alcholism, sex, drugs, religion, scottish cities, bereavement etc

Right, only politics to go now........ 'oops' thread closed

 

Hi

I get very worried about social things too.
Hence why i have pulled out of things like karting before.
I am forcing myself to go this weekend, but all i feel like is hiding at home. I can feel the stress already.

It brings on migraines... the stress of it all.
I went to hypnotherapy about it just over a year ago.
Before then I was on all sorts of drugs to prevent migraines.
I also started theraputic massage.

I went from 12 migraines a month to 4 a month within 3 months of starting the massage and 1 month of hypnotherapy.

I havent had a migraine since september... tho i fear that they may come back at any time. But theres an improvement there.

Hypnotherapy is purely a way to sort of the head. undo bad things that we have learnt.

I should really go back about my feelings for things social - like this karting.

Phil

 

Phil

So much more common than you'd ever imagine mate...

Hence..... all the late call-off's from anything I ever try to organise etc

I was that 'habitual social situation avoider' too mate and still sometimes I've gotta push myself to go... but hey

Glad to hear you got help etc

Cheers Si

 

I used to be a rather overenthusiastic born again Christian, but also a little timid. What gave me most confidence was realising that there was no basis to my beliefs, stopping depending on something intangible (faith being a construct I used to avoid asking simply whether what I believed was true), and realising you have to stand on your own two feet. After that a realistic self image which is not too arrogant and not too retiring has gone a long way and now I'm scared of nothing.

Never had panic attacks, just a shy/sheltered teenager, who felt awkward and embarrassed.

IMHO, work on your relationships and constructively on a career, reap the rewards and your confidence dramatically improves as you go through your twenties.

With my patients, many different things work for different people with panic attacks, need to find something that suits you

[Edited by john banks - 2/20/2003 2:59:54 PM]

 

Exactly John, it's just a shame that sometimes you need to go 'round the houses' to finally find what works best for you.

Doofus

LOL at the TEK 2.5 Could I have that on prescription please John

 

LOL

 

Well this thread has at least confirmed that my character judgement is working because I’m not surprised by some of the posts here. I’ve met both John and Phil and can see both of your backgrounds in your personalities (that’s not a bad thing btw). Phil, I know it’s easy to say but you really don’t have anything to worry about socially. I thought you were easy to talk to when I met you and enjoyed your company. Go karting and enjoy yourself I know it’s hard, but try to concentrate on the fun you’ll get from the driving and the socialising should fall into place naturally when you get there.

This is so true! Having a healthy relationship with someone you love and trust can make all the difference. At the moment I’m not happy with my career and I feel that I’m becoming more and more stressed as I don’t have goals to reach for. My next task is to look closely at what I want to do and to work towards it because I really do suffer when I’ve not got something to work towards and get enthusiastic about.

 

Doofus

Thought you were talking about Kenny for a minute there mate

Kenny

 

Ha figgin Ha

 

Couldn't resist it mate

 

AJ

 

Saxo Boy, I understand completly what youve been saying throughout this whole thread. I suffer with a similar condition but every once in a while it can be real bad. If I have something planned, I wake up in the morning (worst time for the condition) and if its reared its ugly head I will be sick. Over the years I have realised that my condition is more adrenalin orientated in that when I am really looking forward to something or have planned something and its on my mind I will get anxious or excited and that is the catalyst. I have been suffering from it since I was about 19/20 (now 29) and like you its the bain of my life and would pay anything for a miracle cure.

I have done the councilling thing which kind of helped and I also have the love of a great/beautiful women by my side, who although sometimes gets frustrated with me when i'm in a state, does understand and puts up with a lot in that I am not a great one for going out in the evenings and I know she likes to. I do push myself to take her out every now and then and I wish I could do stuff all the time but I hate feeling the way I do when I get anxious.

It has stopped me from doing a lot of stuff over the years but I am beginning to get much better. I am now chief mechanic for a karting team that my mate and colleague at work is number 1 driver for. I have never told him or any of my other colleagues or freinds about my condition as it is difficult for me to talk about. We go racing for whole weekends and this was a big step for me at the beginning. We have a 4/5 berth winnibago/camper truck and a Sprinter which I drive at race weekends. I was told by the councilor when I was about 23 that I have just got to get out there and do stuff again and I will soon get used to the situations but this was never as easy as she made out.

The condition is horrible and I understand completly with all of you. Dont you wish it could just dissapear as quickly as it appeared in the first place.

 

Kenny - I used to get almost exactly the same sort of thing as you - not to quite such an extent (I'm fortunate that nothing actually ever made it back out of my stomach ) - but basically the same sort of 'symptoms'. In my old age now... (31 ) they have virtually disappeared. What I worked out is what you already have seen - it's largely nervousness about what others may think of you, and thinking about what may be.
The what others think - well, that comes down to confidence, which I do think is very much a 'symptom' of age & matures as such - too much confidence at a young age is frequently arrogance. Not a good thing! And often open temporary... arrogance usually gets its comeuppance (sp?)
The 'what people think' is, I think, an angle of 'what could happen?' - for example, nervousness over the possibility of offending someone through doing the wrong thing, which would affect the future relationship (of whatever sort).
My thoughts here? Well, people who you want to know will see all this and will know that you are trying to please them/get on with them, etc. and will accept many things that you think may (and might!) have offended them, just because they can see that you're a good bloke behind it all. People who can't see that aren't people you want to know anyway.
With 'what will happen'? I eventually noticed that it was the 'anticipation' that got me, not the actual 'event'. Once there, talking or whatever (presuming that the above 'either they see me for who I am & like me or I don't want to know them' is accepted ), there's no problem. Much as your going to somewhere new - once there & the brain has finally accepted the fact, there's no problem. It's worrying about what might be is the problem, not what actually is. Just seeing through tht helped me more than I can say.
Anyway, that's my take on it
Haven't had too much bother from the panic attack stuff myself - I just have a very close friend who does. And, funnily enough, much of that was initiated/brought to the surface by a hypnotherapy session!; so as John says, each has their own way of sorting these things out!

 

Interesting about the LSD opening a tunnel in your head/mind thing, my cousin took LSD a few times and indulged in a bit of solvent abuse, tippex thinners/Hairspray so I wonder if thats the catch ?

I tried both also but only once for either, Tippex thinners really gets you off your head but its quite unpleasant and the merest sniff of the stuff now makes me heave, Tried LSD having read a book on it called Storming Heaven when going through my Jim Morrison/Doors/Long Hair/annoying bell end phase, really enjoyed it as it happens but have never repeated it as the curisity has been satisfied.

 

thanks for the encouragement

alot of good words here - just have to keep them close at hand when needed

 

This is so true! Lets take a theoretical example I'm out on the pi$$ with my mates and meet a young lady friend. I'm feeling good, had a few drinks, feeling confident and generally having a good day. I might be able to hold it together enough to pull her, go home, *ahem* and then go to sleep. I'd say this is probably cause I'm in a positive frame of mind and feeling good and in control. However, the next morning just as I start to come round I'd be stupidly stressed out This is because I find that sleeping can be like a reset switch. All my positive and 'in control' thoughts from the previous night go out the window and when I wake up I'm fecked.

It really does just seem to be with women that I have the problem I'm good at travelling now, accepting change in my life, socialising, etc. In fact, I'm quite comfortable most of the time. I just go to bits when I like a lass and I know she likes me! The real irony is that I know that most lasses will get on really well with me once I've chilled out as I've been told I'm very affectionate and careing (note: not gay) I just have difficulty getting over that first hurdle!!!

 

Same for me - train home in the evening is not particularly stressful but in the morning I'm tense almost the entire journey. Have to concentrate on my breathing and everything I could use my bike for the commute but I'm trying to battle this thing.

 

Jodster

You've got the right attitude re not giving up and fighting this thing

Claire Weekes book that I mentioned earlier will give you some brilliant advice as to how to make your train journeys a bit more bearable

Been there, and believe me it will pass and even quicker with the right help and your positive approach

Cheers
Si

 

See Sipie is cured, it's 17:05 - work is over and he's not rushed straight home to climb under his rock

 

Nae point in rushing mate when the car's still running in

Well cured

 

Hi I found this thread today after Rich told me on Friday that it was here.

I'm in desperate need of some help, i dont know what to do. I had a panic attack last night, 1 the week before and another the weekend before that and they are really starting to scare me, I feel like I'm going mad. Before this i only had 2 in my whole life, 1 at university (bout 4yrs ago) and 1 on new years day 2002.

I dabbled in drugs at university and i do believe that due to several bad Es that i have caused this myself, but i haven't touched anything for about 2 years (maybe longer) I want complete control over my mind.

I have 2 different kind of attack, i get ones when I'm awake and ones when i'm about to drop off to sleep (had alot of these really they are not as bad as the waking ones). The waking one: i feel like I'm about to throw up straight away can't control it and usually start gagging, i feel distorted like everythings suddenly not real, i dont feel like I'm going to die just like I'm going mad or I'm going to pass out (its terrifying!) The throwing up bit is really bad coz i have no warning (mind you i haven't actually thrown up yet).

There are a few contants in these attacks, I'm always dead tired really exhausted and they usually follow a night out (hangover).

I really dont know what to do and i think worrying about these attacks are going to cause more, i feel sorry for Rich too because he doesn't know what to do when I'm like this and knowing this makes me worse. I can't hear his voice or the TV or stuff because it makes me more anxious.

I'm at the end of my tether with these attacks

 

Mel

YHM

Regards
Si

 

It sounds almost obvious when you mention a hangover, I get nauseous (frequently) but I don't get panic attacks (Ever). I'm debating whether the nausea causes the panic or whether the panic causes the nausea. I suspect it's the former.

Fatigue is another thing I'm familiar with, always having been better at staying awake than waking up on time. Three days continuous typing for a rather worthless academic cause produced poor balance, irritability and hallucinations, both normally quite out of character.

Point being, inebriation and insomnia both play havoc with the chemicals in anyone's brain, some worse than others. To cut out the lengthy bits, perhaps a few weeks off the booze and going to bed on time would help? It's probably worth a try. Hope it works out, anyway.

 

I occasionally suffer picnic attacks - although my little buddy BooBoo is helping me through it, Bless him!

 

Mel, Turbo six is spot on.
My flatmate occasionally suffers from panic attacks, they are getting less frequent now.

Stay off the booze and gear for a while and get some good books on the subject.

Two things to remember:

The fear of an panic attack is much more debilitating than the attack itself.
You can't have a setback without having already made some progress!

Good luck.

Muf

 

Al, Muf

Your both right and I am gonna take it easy for a while till i get this in order. Thing is these factors are triggers and i want to be able to stop the attack from happening whilst its happening if you know what i mean?

I'm feeling much more positive today, started to get another last night (still haven't had enough sleep) but with some help of some Kalms and some breathing exercises i seemed to be able to stop it which gave me a lot of hope. Tried to think about nothing and not be afraid if my mind wondered.

 

well done mel

u have found the key... relax

perhaps even a massage.

the hypnotherapy may help to get ur mind to relax more...
its just like what u did last night.. but more so

dont worry, ull crack it

 

Cheers I will sort it, its soo hard though isn't it? i felt like i was on a knife edge and the wrong thought or word would send me spiralling back down!

Concentrate on breathing thats my tip for the day anyway

Its good to know I'm not alone because until yesterday i was calling what i was suffering from panic attacks without knowing if thats really what it was, if you know what i mean? Discovering other people with exactly the same symptoms as me (and knowing they came out of it) has been huge comfort!

[Edited by mel - 2/25/2003 9:20:45 AM]