Anxiety attacks.

[TheOriginalFAB]

Well it looks like this is going to be my life from now on, regular anxiety attacks even when I am not thinking about stuff I have that is going on that is stressful. It is really affecting my breathing - inhalers don't work - and I don't know what to do to help myself.

Not sure if I am teaching you to suck eggs here, but have you tried CBT?

I have a general anxiety disorder which at the moment is being controlled by AD's, but when it is less severe I find the CBT can help immensely.

I used to have panic attacks, breathing problems, palpatations etc. Those symptoms are gone now and I am just left with a crappy, depressed, worried feeling. Which is horrible but better than the attacks.

You can't give in to it though, keep trying. You never know, it may get better

Learn breathing techniques. might take ages, but will work eventually. I liked downloads from www.meditainment.co.uk (or.com - can't rem ember which). It is rubbish, but I very rarely have massive breathing troubles now.

What makes no sense is I am having the problem even when not thinking about stressful things.

Have you had all physical causes ruled out, e.g. thyroid?

My panic attacks used to come on when I relaxed, not necessarily when in the anxious situation. My therapist said that if you are rushing, rushing, rushing all day it can be when you stop that everything catches up with you. So it is when you stop that your body and mind keep racing iykwim?

Have you tried some counselling? Also exercise, I get anxious and have had panic attacks, I find exercise helps a lot. Some of the self help books have some good advice as well. Also doing some mediation/ relaxation techniques.

Its horrible but can be managed, my biggest piece of advice is don't let anxiety dictate anything, it really is a case of feeling the fear and doing it anyway - if you give into the fear it will keep growing (I learnt that the hard way )

Thyroid tests are a sore point. One GP said they were fine, one said they were over active and I should be thin if anything. I find it impossible to lose weight but the gp won't listen about it.