Return of the anxiety attacks. What's wrong with me?

[Floopytheloopy]

Hi everyone.

Things have(touch wood) actually calmed down with dd recently. For some reason though recently several times a day I just can't seem to catch my breath. I feel shakey and nausious. I get this huge feeling of doom and I don't know why.

Don't get me wrong, things aren't perfect at home and that includes dd, but I really can't pinpoint what triggered these off.

I just feel like I need to find some sort of release button to get rid of all the emotion.

Has anyone got any tips on how to handle these attacks?

Thanks for reading.

nerves can effect us strangly at times but you should go to the doc for the once over and try some calming techniques a relaxing bath with something calming in it , deep breathing exercises but get checked out in case youve high BP or are diabetic or something but it sounds like a panic attack i used to get them , get well soon

Hi Floopy

You need to go to your GP and be checked out. It could well be anxiety attacks, but breathlessness, nausea and a sense of impending doom can also be indicators for heart problems, so you really need to be checked over.

I suffer from nighttime anxiety attacks, where I wake from my sleep covered in sweat, unable to breathe and in a complete panic. Oddly they tend to be worse when I have less to worry about, probably because I am so used to running on adrenaline that when things settle I can't come down and there's nowhere for all that adrenaline to go.

My GP gave me the choice of anti-depressants (some of which are specifically designed to control anxiety attacks) beta-blockers - which are very good at controlling the physical symptoms of an attack or something like valium (which he didn't recommend and I didn't want anyway). He also referred me to the healthy mind teams for some Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

If you're feeling pent-up and in need of releasing all that excess nervous energy, the best thing I've found is exercise. Prior to breaking my ankle last year, I was walking 5 miles a day most weekdays and it made a huge difference, in fact the anxiety attacks only started once I was incapacitated and couldn't walk my stress off.

Its very difficult for advise the best way to handle the attacks when they happen, but for me reminding myself that its not serious or life threatening and will soon be over and concentrating on breathing deeply and slowly (long in and out breaths) are the main things that work.

Long-term, finding something that helps you to keep your stress levels steady, such as yoga or meditation can help minimise the chances of having an attack.

This article is quite good and has a fee tips.

Thanks betty. Will definitely be having a very warm bubble bath tonight. Possibly with a large glass of red too.

moosemama- Thank you for also for the advice. I have suffered from similar attacks before and i've always been a nervy kind of character(although some people wouldn't agree). Also suffered several times with depression, which i've mentioned on here several times actually. So i'm kind of used to this horrible feeling, that's not to say it makes it easier to deal with. The thing is this time like I said before, there hasn't been a trigger and that's what is concerning me. I actually had no idea that it could be linked to my heart. I always assumed it was only my mind that was doing this to me. Will definitely go to my gp now! With regards to going "simply" with stress, I have to say I am a bit reluctant. I think it's because whenever I have gone in the past they have suggested 2 things. Anti-depressants or counciling. Now I was on anti-depressants when I was 12(I know. Very young) and I had a horrible time coming off them. I know that there are a variety of pills out there, but either way I would be concerned about taking them again. As for counciling, I put my name down about 5 years ago and 7 months later I got a call, by which time I was "in a better place" so I let that go. The waiting list on the NHS is so long. I couldn't afford to go private so i'm at a bit of a loss.

Goodness! I've rambled! I sound like a right moaner. Maybe I am.

Can I ask if you do yoga or meditation? And if so, does it really work for you?

Thanks again.

I don't do yoga or meditation, but have friends who do and it really works for them.

I've tried meditation a few times, but seem to have a real problem with switching my mind off! My Mum does a lot of meditation and offered to try and help me get into it with some guided meditation - she ended up getting really cross and refusing to help anymore, because I kept having an uncontrollable desire to giggle.

That's why the walking works for me, I get a real good pace going and sort of count my footsteps as I walk (hard to explain). For me its sort of like an alternative mindfulness, iyswim. While I'm pacing I'm in the moment and not stressing or worrying, so it gives my body time to 'come-down'. The fact that its pretty much a solitary activity also helps - no-one shouting 'Muuuuum!' is a BIG plus. I take dd (aged 2) in the pushchair and we walk the long way to the next village through the park - its lovely in the spring/summer. It tend to work my errands into it as well, so that its doesn't eat up a large chunk of my day where I don't get anything done.

Unfortunately, I suffer from chronic fatigue and when I'm having an attack of that I can barely walk around the house, let alone go out for walks. At the moment, I am still not allowed to walk far, because my ankle hasn't healed properly. As a result of not being able to walk since my injury in June 2010, I've become really unfit and that combined with having lots of stress means that my CF has been particularly bad this winter - hence the night-time anxiety attacks.

It sounds like you're having a rather tough time of it too.

Everytime I post any of my problems on here, I always end up feeling guilty or self absorbed and sometimes rather humbled when I read some of the responses.

I would really like to go the gym actually, but again it's the money thing or lack there of I should say. I don't really feel comfortable walking alone if i'm being honest, due to a certain incident when I was younger. Where I live it's all so secluded and literally out in the sticks. So although the walks are very pretty , when you're on your own you can feel pretty vulnerable. It makes me so angry because it's all there but I feel like I can't take advantage of it. And it's free!!!

Sorry forgot my grrrrrrrrrrrr

Don't feel guilty, we all have our crosses to bear and actually, despite everything I am pretty cheerful at the moment - feeling like I'm actually on the upward slope rather than the downward slide, iyswim.

We have the same problem with the Gym, too expensive and the council one is dire.

I feel the same about rural walks, which is why I don't walk my dogs on my own, so I do understand. I'm lucky, because we live between two villages and there are lots of other mums around during the day, so its quiet but not completely isolated.

How about swimming? Personally, I haven't squeezed my backside into a cozzie for over 15 years, but I know it works for a lot of people.

Camomile tea and body balance usually helps me when I'm like this. (mixture of yoga,pilates and tai chi) Most sports centres run these classes now and I've also seen some run in church halls etc where you can avoid expensive gym fees.

I usually get it after DD has been through a traumatic period - I think it's an adrenilin crash as it's always after things get better.

Hope you feel better soon.

If you feel an attack coming on track back to see if you can identify what may have triggered it. If you recognise the signs then pick something that will help you manage it - a walk, bath, shower, some kind of exercise is good, something that will provide you with a distraction.

Mind Over Mood is a good book by Sara Padetsky (and I forget who else) it's a big, friendly book that has cbt techniques that you can use.