panic attacks and generally anxiety - way forward??

[tink123]

Hi, I am new to all this. The problem: I am generally a happy person 90% of the time, but I am prone to panic attacks (getting worse), phobias, anxiety mainly about family's health. In fact I am supposed to be in Majorca this morning, but last night refused to go. I am petrfied of flying and am worried dd will get ill on holiday. I do know what has triggered each problem!!

Question: Is CBT or anti-depressants the answer. I would appreciate some advice. If I was to choose CBT I would rather pay for it than go via GP (odd, I know)

hi tink and welcome!

cbt would be a good idea i think. anti-ds only if it's getting unmanageable imo. i use xanax from time to time for my panic attacks (which are rare nowadays). they are absolutely great but get a bit of bad press as they can be addictive. i've never had that problem with them however.

actually went for hypnotherapy when going through a bad time sleeping. found it incredibly helpful. we went through coping skills and he encouraged me to have a worry half hour every day in which i'd write down all my concerns for the day and think 'how bad, realistically, could it be?'

if i found myself starting to worry at night i would then say to myself 'just think about that in your worry half hour at two tomorrow'.

sounds simple but really helped. hope you find something to help you cope, you poor thing. cant have been nice having to stay at home today.

Hiya Tink

My friend lost her dad last year to cancer and has really struggled to cope, displaying exactly the same symptoms as you. She went to CBT (paid for by her work) and she is a different person completely. The CBT showed her that it wasn't her dads death that triggered the symptoms as she thought, and also taught her ways to deal with the feelings going forward.

I was on anti-depressants follwing post natal depression and didn't find they helped at all.

You say you know what has triggered each problem, and you are generally happy, does this mean that you are also level headed about the triggers and what you can do to resolve the problems?

Good luck keep smiling

Message withdrawn

Hello Tink, I've got lots of phobias and fears. I've just started on Citalopram today. Am also terrified of flying, but have holiday in Spain booked this September. I honestly don't think I will get on the plane either. I do not want to be ruled by this all my life but it is hard to break free from the thoughts that control it all. I've got a phobia of food and am also very worried about health / sickness issues.

As you can see, I have no answers for you, but I just wanted to offer you my support because we're in a vaguely similar boat.

I am currently attending an anxiety management group, which is a 6 week programme and takes a CBT approach. Its very general however. It seems like it will be successful for me in managing my anxieties only if I am prepared to take responsibility for myself and adopt some of the techniques they suggest.

I think a lot of people in the group were expecting to come along and be 'fixed'. This is definitely not the case. I don't feel as if my case is severe enough for meds TBH.

Citalopram is great for anxiety

Oh, thank you for telling me that Bellyup.

Now all I have to do is actually swallow one, because I am afraid of eating new things. Sometimes I think I like making things difficult for myself.

I felt great cancelling holiday like a weight had been lifted. Stupid thing is I have been to australia and asia twice with no probs, but had a bad flight about 10years ago and have got worse since then, My anxiety from a health point of view comes from dh almost dying in ITU last year.

My hubby has just started having panic attacks this year and has found hypnotherapy very helpful in bringing him back down to normal.