courtgood1
07-30-2013, 03:03 PM
Hey guys! I joined a few days ago but it took until today to put up my first post haha! Anywho, my name is Courtney. I will be 21 in December. I live in the INCREDIBLY hot state of Florida. I am a college student, a musician, and a cashier at a grocery store. I'm sure you can see where things can be a bit stressful.
Well I'm sure you're tired of reading about me and are now wondering why I'm here. A few years ago, my mom was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder. Within the past few months, I have come to realize that generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder run in the family. My first panic attack happened when I was 17 years old. I was in class and I just couldn't breathe, started crying uncontrollably, and shaking out of nowhere. I didn't think much of it knowing what I know about my mom and witnessing her panic attacks before. Also, it was the same day I had Drum Major auditions for my high school's marching band. I knew it was relating to stress from that. It was my first and last panic attack...that is, until a couple months ago.
Between about 18-20 years old, I was HIGHLY addicted to the Monster Energy drinks. When I was 19, I noticed that I began having heart palpitations, my face would feel like it is on fire, I'd feel short of breath, my stomach would be upset, etc every time I drank one, so I stopped. I still had my daily intake of coffee, mountain dew, diet coke, etc. One day at work a couple months ago, after having a cup of coffee and a couple sips of mountain dew, I had the worst panic attack I have ever had. This was my second panic attack. This time, I had no trigger. I was just bagging groceries when all of a sudden, my heart was pounding, I couldn't breathe, and I felt dizzy. Luckily, my father works in the same grocery store and walked by at the time I wasn't feeling right, so I followed him and told him how I was feeling and the next thing I know, I'm inside the manager's office hyperventilating, crying, shaking uncontrollably, and I literally thought I was dying. Within about an hour or so, I went back to working but I still didn't feel 100% there. The heart palpitations were still there. I told my father and he rushed me to the walk-in clinic nearby. By nighttime, they had taken my blood pressure and an EKG. My BP was at 150/99, which they had to check multiple times because they thought their machine wasn't working right but it had the same results on all of them, and the Doctor told my father he has never seen an EKG like that on a 20 year old who isn't a drug addict. As I said, this was my worst one. Due to my family history and that I have had a panic attack before, they immediately diagnosed me with Panic Disorder. They also told me to see my physician ASAP so they can get another EKG on me and even a Holter Monitor put on me just in case it is an actual heart condition.
I also have quite a fear of needles. It REALLY didn't help when my vein collapsed last time I got my blood drawn (to test my thyroid) and I had a grand mal seizure, not from losing too much blood, but from anxiety from hearing the sound the needle was making and watching the blood flow into the tubes. All I remember is feeling nervous, then I open my eyes to find I'm sitting halfway out of my chair with the phlebotomist holding me and waving an alcohol wipe under my nose to wake me up.
My most recent panic attack was the day I became a member of this website. Immediately when I began feeling better, I was googling panic attack treatments and saw that joining a support group was listed. This website looked like the most promising one. I found this in hopes of finding people who are a lot like me and know what I am going through. I am really excited about meeting all of you and hearing your stories as well and thank you for reading my novel of an introduction :P
Well I'm sure you're tired of reading about me and are now wondering why I'm here. A few years ago, my mom was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder. Within the past few months, I have come to realize that generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder run in the family. My first panic attack happened when I was 17 years old. I was in class and I just couldn't breathe, started crying uncontrollably, and shaking out of nowhere. I didn't think much of it knowing what I know about my mom and witnessing her panic attacks before. Also, it was the same day I had Drum Major auditions for my high school's marching band. I knew it was relating to stress from that. It was my first and last panic attack...that is, until a couple months ago.
Between about 18-20 years old, I was HIGHLY addicted to the Monster Energy drinks. When I was 19, I noticed that I began having heart palpitations, my face would feel like it is on fire, I'd feel short of breath, my stomach would be upset, etc every time I drank one, so I stopped. I still had my daily intake of coffee, mountain dew, diet coke, etc. One day at work a couple months ago, after having a cup of coffee and a couple sips of mountain dew, I had the worst panic attack I have ever had. This was my second panic attack. This time, I had no trigger. I was just bagging groceries when all of a sudden, my heart was pounding, I couldn't breathe, and I felt dizzy. Luckily, my father works in the same grocery store and walked by at the time I wasn't feeling right, so I followed him and told him how I was feeling and the next thing I know, I'm inside the manager's office hyperventilating, crying, shaking uncontrollably, and I literally thought I was dying. Within about an hour or so, I went back to working but I still didn't feel 100% there. The heart palpitations were still there. I told my father and he rushed me to the walk-in clinic nearby. By nighttime, they had taken my blood pressure and an EKG. My BP was at 150/99, which they had to check multiple times because they thought their machine wasn't working right but it had the same results on all of them, and the Doctor told my father he has never seen an EKG like that on a 20 year old who isn't a drug addict. As I said, this was my worst one. Due to my family history and that I have had a panic attack before, they immediately diagnosed me with Panic Disorder. They also told me to see my physician ASAP so they can get another EKG on me and even a Holter Monitor put on me just in case it is an actual heart condition.
I also have quite a fear of needles. It REALLY didn't help when my vein collapsed last time I got my blood drawn (to test my thyroid) and I had a grand mal seizure, not from losing too much blood, but from anxiety from hearing the sound the needle was making and watching the blood flow into the tubes. All I remember is feeling nervous, then I open my eyes to find I'm sitting halfway out of my chair with the phlebotomist holding me and waving an alcohol wipe under my nose to wake me up.
My most recent panic attack was the day I became a member of this website. Immediately when I began feeling better, I was googling panic attack treatments and saw that joining a support group was listed. This website looked like the most promising one. I found this in hopes of finding people who are a lot like me and know what I am going through. I am really excited about meeting all of you and hearing your stories as well and thank you for reading my novel of an introduction :P