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Mild/Moderate Anxiety suddenly onset
Hi there,
I recently have experienced what I think to be my first ever anxiety attack and would like to talk about what I've been feeling and experiencing since and hopefully someone can offer advice. Some background: I am 19 and a student nurse who lives away from home and has done for 2 and a half years. I began my nursing course last year and I'm convinced it may be a trigger in my recent problems, I recently had a placement in a hospital ward where I witnessed lots of interesting and sometimes sad events. I've always handled death and dying pretty well however I think combined with a few friends tragic experiences over the last couple of years, subconciously what I have seen on the wards has affected me more than I realised. Anyways, about a month ago I had a few experiences of sudden dizziness almost like I was going to faint (I am used to fainting when really stressed! Its actually become quite amusing how it happens.) followed by breathlessness for a short while after. These weren't really like panic attacks however the third time it happened I began to panic because I was alone in my flat. Adrenaline kicked in and for some reason I bolted to my flat door and stood there for a few moments trying to catch breath, after about half an hour I was still unable to settle myself and decided to go to my boyfriends house so that I wouldn't be alone if I did faint. I felt completely breathless and my heart was pounding for the rest of the night however I knew after a couple hours that it couldn't have been anything too serious since my symptoms had never got worse. As soon as I searched panic attack symptoms on my phone I began to relax a little and this confirmed to me what I was actually feeling was anxiety and nothing to worry about. Nevertheless I booked an appointment with my GP the following day, to settle my mind and ensure everything was okay. I began to panic again while seeing the GP who was really kind and understanding and agreed to perform blood tests and an ecg as well as checking my vitals. She did all this on the day and everything came back alright. Though I was still shaken after the random bout of panic after the test results came back over the course of that week I slowly started to relax. I have to admit that although I've been feeling much better since this happened, I haven't really felt completely back to 'myself' since. Little niggles such as constant tiredness and sore eyes seem to panic me more than they would have ever done before and I've found on the two occasions I've been out and drinking alcohol I've started to feel really claustrophobic as the night goes on and I have had to leave early . At the minute I have no desire to go out and socialise at clubs and pubs with my friends which really isn't like me, I seem to prefer cosy nights in with my partner where I feel safer? Anyway last night for literally no reason I started to feel breathless in the car home from work. I didn't want to make a fuss but I was trying to concentrate on breathing steady and when my partner noticed and asked if I was okay I could liturally feel the adrenaline pumping through my body. The car ride was like hell and I'm convinced it was the reason I couldn't settle once we got home, later I'm sure I had another panic attack as I was shaking, struggling with breathing and aching. This one I cannot explain ! I had no reason to freak out the way I did just because the car was stuffy, I don't know if I'm just becoming really over sensitive but it was the most horrible feeling. I eventually settled though and today I decided to buy some herbal calming medicines to try before I speak to my gp.
I'm also going on a long haul flight in 3 weeks and am beginning to worry about what I will do if I was to panic on the plane. (I'd just be screwed I guess, whisky before?!)
So what I really need to know is do these symptoms sound like anxiety or am I being a hyperchondriac? And does anybody find alcohol and small spaces make their anxiety worse? Thanks for taking the time to read all this!
I recently have experienced what I think to be my first ever anxiety attack and would like to talk about what I've been feeling and experiencing since and hopefully someone can offer advice. Some background: I am 19 and a student nurse who lives away from home and has done for 2 and a half years. I began my nursing course last year and I'm convinced it may be a trigger in my recent problems, I recently had a placement in a hospital ward where I witnessed lots of interesting and sometimes sad events. I've always handled death and dying pretty well however I think combined with a few friends tragic experiences over the last couple of years, subconciously what I have seen on the wards has affected me more than I realised. Anyways, about a month ago I had a few experiences of sudden dizziness almost like I was going to faint (I am used to fainting when really stressed! Its actually become quite amusing how it happens.) followed by breathlessness for a short while after. These weren't really like panic attacks however the third time it happened I began to panic because I was alone in my flat. Adrenaline kicked in and for some reason I bolted to my flat door and stood there for a few moments trying to catch breath, after about half an hour I was still unable to settle myself and decided to go to my boyfriends house so that I wouldn't be alone if I did faint. I felt completely breathless and my heart was pounding for the rest of the night however I knew after a couple hours that it couldn't have been anything too serious since my symptoms had never got worse. As soon as I searched panic attack symptoms on my phone I began to relax a little and this confirmed to me what I was actually feeling was anxiety and nothing to worry about. Nevertheless I booked an appointment with my GP the following day, to settle my mind and ensure everything was okay. I began to panic again while seeing the GP who was really kind and understanding and agreed to perform blood tests and an ecg as well as checking my vitals. She did all this on the day and everything came back alright. Though I was still shaken after the random bout of panic after the test results came back over the course of that week I slowly started to relax. I have to admit that although I've been feeling much better since this happened, I haven't really felt completely back to 'myself' since. Little niggles such as constant tiredness and sore eyes seem to panic me more than they would have ever done before and I've found on the two occasions I've been out and drinking alcohol I've started to feel really claustrophobic as the night goes on and I have had to leave early . At the minute I have no desire to go out and socialise at clubs and pubs with my friends which really isn't like me, I seem to prefer cosy nights in with my partner where I feel safer? Anyway last night for literally no reason I started to feel breathless in the car home from work. I didn't want to make a fuss but I was trying to concentrate on breathing steady and when my partner noticed and asked if I was okay I could liturally feel the adrenaline pumping through my body. The car ride was like hell and I'm convinced it was the reason I couldn't settle once we got home, later I'm sure I had another panic attack as I was shaking, struggling with breathing and aching. This one I cannot explain ! I had no reason to freak out the way I did just because the car was stuffy, I don't know if I'm just becoming really over sensitive but it was the most horrible feeling. I eventually settled though and today I decided to buy some herbal calming medicines to try before I speak to my gp.
I'm also going on a long haul flight in 3 weeks and am beginning to worry about what I will do if I was to panic on the plane. (I'd just be screwed I guess, whisky before?!)
So what I really need to know is do these symptoms sound like anxiety or am I being a hyperchondriac? And does anybody find alcohol and small spaces make their anxiety worse? Thanks for taking the time to read all this!
Hello Lynne,
I know it has been 6-7 months since your initial post but just wanted to see how you are doing. I just landed upon this website tonight after doing a google search about anxiety. My experience with panic attacks started in August 2012 when I had one, seemingly out of the blue with no warning, as they seem to for most people or so I have read. I felt as though I could not breathe, could not swallow, and that my heart was racing. I am a nurse and believed my throat was closing up as a result of an anaphylactic reaction of some sort. Well, I raced out of my apartment and luckily my neighbor was home, as I had her speak to a 911 operator. The ambulance then came, I was briefly checked out, and asked if I had taken any drugs. I did not know what was happening but my body calmed down after about half an hour, thankfully.
The following day I went to the dr. as I felt another episode (of what? I didn't know at the time) coming on where I felt strange, like I was in some state of unreality. The dr then started me on celexa for anxiety/depression daily and also prescribed ativan for acute attacks of anxiety and to cover me while the celexa was building up in my system. Following, I had about two weeks of feeling somewhat fragile/vulnerable/not myself and thought I was going crazy and questioning if I would ever feel normal again. My stress response was out of control apparently and adrenaline and cortisol were having a hay day, making me feel hypersensitive and "off". Eventually, the Celexa really seemed to help me and kept me from feelingconstantly fearful that I would undergo another panic attack.
Looking back, I can see that there were major stressors that I was experiencing--divorce, making a career change, a foot fracture that kept me from exercising and therefore, no outlet for my stress. While at the time I did not feel acutely stressed, my subconscious reached its breaking point.
I do feel that that the medication I am taking has been helpful, though I hope to be able to wean off it in the future. Currently, I am going to a counselor who is helping me through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy so that I have some tools to help cope with anxiety and catastrophic/negative thought patterns. I do not want to feel as though I am fated to have an anxiety issue for years to come so I now must be intentional and deliberate about health, mental and otherwise.
I can empathize with your experience and am glad to have read it tonight. I hope you are feeling better and that your anxiety is at an acceptable, manageable level. Let us know. I find I am still having some anxiety about having a panic attack even though I have not had a full-on one since my first one. I know that this fear of having subsequent attacks is super-common and that it is important to learn strategies that de-escalate that apprehension. So, that is what I am currently trying to work on. Good luck to you!
I know it has been 6-7 months since your initial post but just wanted to see how you are doing. I just landed upon this website tonight after doing a google search about anxiety. My experience with panic attacks started in August 2012 when I had one, seemingly out of the blue with no warning, as they seem to for most people or so I have read. I felt as though I could not breathe, could not swallow, and that my heart was racing. I am a nurse and believed my throat was closing up as a result of an anaphylactic reaction of some sort. Well, I raced out of my apartment and luckily my neighbor was home, as I had her speak to a 911 operator. The ambulance then came, I was briefly checked out, and asked if I had taken any drugs. I did not know what was happening but my body calmed down after about half an hour, thankfully.
The following day I went to the dr. as I felt another episode (of what? I didn't know at the time) coming on where I felt strange, like I was in some state of unreality. The dr then started me on celexa for anxiety/depression daily and also prescribed ativan for acute attacks of anxiety and to cover me while the celexa was building up in my system. Following, I had about two weeks of feeling somewhat fragile/vulnerable/not myself and thought I was going crazy and questioning if I would ever feel normal again. My stress response was out of control apparently and adrenaline and cortisol were having a hay day, making me feel hypersensitive and "off". Eventually, the Celexa really seemed to help me and kept me from feelingconstantly fearful that I would undergo another panic attack.
Looking back, I can see that there were major stressors that I was experiencing--divorce, making a career change, a foot fracture that kept me from exercising and therefore, no outlet for my stress. While at the time I did not feel acutely stressed, my subconscious reached its breaking point.
I do feel that that the medication I am taking has been helpful, though I hope to be able to wean off it in the future. Currently, I am going to a counselor who is helping me through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy so that I have some tools to help cope with anxiety and catastrophic/negative thought patterns. I do not want to feel as though I am fated to have an anxiety issue for years to come so I now must be intentional and deliberate about health, mental and otherwise.
I can empathize with your experience and am glad to have read it tonight. I hope you are feeling better and that your anxiety is at an acceptable, manageable level. Let us know. I find I am still having some anxiety about having a panic attack even though I have not had a full-on one since my first one. I know that this fear of having subsequent attacks is super-common and that it is important to learn strategies that de-escalate that apprehension. So, that is what I am currently trying to work on. Good luck to you!
Yeah, you've got anxiety problems. Most often they come on with no apparent reason, doing things we've done so often before with not problem. Nobody really knows why usually, although for some there is some cause. I would try and find a therapist as soon as possible who practices CBT and see if you can't decondition yourself quickly from this kind of thinking -- getting on it quickly gives you an excellent chance of recovering quickly.
I started experience panic attacks last year, but I know what brought mine on. It was from a pain specialist trying me on 3 or 4 different strong pain medications for my chronic back pain last yr. When I came off them I started having severe panic attacks. I had to go on medication for mine. When I went back to work and got focused on something besides my panic attacks, I got so much better. Then 7 wks ago I had to have my fourth back surgery, and they are back. It is a scary thing, and everyone tells me I have to learn to try to control my mind. Well, I find that hard to do. I'm hoping to go back to work part time on Monday. Like I said, I found that staying busy helped me. The more I have had to stay in this house, the worse the panic attacks have been. I don't know if this helps, but the more you stay at home, the worse it may get.
Hi Lynne,
it does sound as though you are experiencing panic attacks and you likely feel like you are going crazy. learning a calming breathing technique will help very much. as a nursing student you know how hyperventilating will make things worse. you are likely very aware of yourself physically : such as rapid heart rate, quick breathing, tingling sensations, the need to urinate, the feeling of intense fear.
Try breathing in through your nose to the count of 5 an then out for the count of 5. go to a quiet place if you can or somewhere you feel safe. Even if its in your car. as you breath calmly you will notice your pulse rate lowers as well.
Im really glad you went to your GP and it sounds like your partner is supportive.
let me know how things are
sherry
it does sound as though you are experiencing panic attacks and you likely feel like you are going crazy. learning a calming breathing technique will help very much. as a nursing student you know how hyperventilating will make things worse. you are likely very aware of yourself physically : such as rapid heart rate, quick breathing, tingling sensations, the need to urinate, the feeling of intense fear.
Try breathing in through your nose to the count of 5 an then out for the count of 5. go to a quiet place if you can or somewhere you feel safe. Even if its in your car. as you breath calmly you will notice your pulse rate lowers as well.
Im really glad you went to your GP and it sounds like your partner is supportive.
let me know how things are
sherry
Advice would be reAlly appreciated :)
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