Hi Guys, I'm new to forums but not new to Anxiety, Panic attacks and depression.

[Nicky Molyneux]

Hi My names Nicky, And back in 2011 i had my first bout of panic attacks coupled with depression which i wasn't aware i had until i looked back on it it was September around my 27th birthday i was at a friends house having a conversation about my work situation which wasn't good at the time as i was in construction industry as a plasterer and the recession hit it hard. anyway at some point in the conversation my head went really dizzy and i couldn't hold the conversation any longer, I found myself just getting up and leaving apologizing to my friend and left to go home which was just down the road lucky. anyway after about a hour in bed i came round and brushed it off as one of those weird things that just happen. Later that day at about 11 pm after watching banged up abroad on tv i went to bed to get some sleep, at around 1 am i woke up with a weird choking sensation like i was gasping for breath so i rushed to the bathroom to get some water and that's when my heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest i went all sweaty and shaky so i sat on the floor of the bathroom i couldn't focus on anything and my head was tingling down one side from what i remember i shouted and my fiance came to see what was going on, she was a bit panicky herself because she had never seen me like this before and at the time we had been together for 9 yrs. i eventually calmed down and went back to bed but every time i was just about to sleep i would gasp for air which set me back off on a panic attack, So the next day i went to the doctors to find out what was going on, they did some bloods and asked some questions and sent me on my way. About 3 days later i received my blood test and there abnormalities with my Albumin and Bilirubin levels not by allot but still enough for me to become a full blown hypochondriac. i found myself on Google checking out all possible causes to my symptoms which looking back on it now was the most damaging thing i could have done. anyway after about 9 months of weekly panic attacks, doctors visits and locking myself in the bedroom i began to withdraw from family and friends waking up only to look forward to going back to sleep sometimes i would wake up at 7 am and want to go back to sleep at 11 for the rest of the day, and when i was awake i would watch the tv and find myself watching the edge of the tv and not taking anything in i lost interest in all my usual activities like playing games on the play-station or pc i thought everyone was against me and would only see the bad in situations. i noticed my vision was acting weird as i would see objects out of my peripheral vision like blobs of color and when i looked at it it would go. i worked out i had something called palinopsia which was caused by my anxiety which i still have to this day but not as extreme. There's lots of other things ive overcome related to anxiety but i would need a book to write them all in. im 99.9 positive that if anxiety /depression crept back in to that point again id have the tools to deal with it

Anyway why im here is because those 2 yrs where the worst of my life and i clearly remember one night when i thought i was going to die that if i ever got back to myself i would promise to help the people that are going through the same i have had no medication for the last 1 1/2 yrs ive done it through targeting stressful situations and distancing myself from them, exercise, music at night time, diet
prioritizing health over money basically lots of little things that build the bigger picture and kicking that awful place into touch.. im hear for you, im no doctor but i am someone who has gone through this and have the time and passion to help.. there's always someone thinking of you. <3

[sologirl82]

Wow. I think I'm going through the same thing right now. Mine always comes when I have injuries or illnesses. I grew up with an anxious mom who often told me bad things would happen if I did this or didn't do that. It never really bothered me until I got really sick almost 8 years ago. Ever since then I've been off and on with anxiety. I have the panic attacks just like you mentioned. The sweats, the dizziness. Even the tingling of arms and for me, shortness of breath.

Any advice would help. I'm on bed rest now with some injuries and my thoughts are at their worst.

[Nicky Molyneux]

Hi one of the best things i worked out was that rest is key to recovery be it physical or mental im not sure what injuries you have so the advice im going to give you might not work at the minute due to the fact your body might be tense through injury but i would make a point to remind myself to relax my muscles as this restricts blood flow causing the heart muscle to work overtime eg fast heart rate which in turn causes anxiety symptoms to be at there most debilitating. so i would try and relax your muscles and if you can listen to some relaxing music if you have access to the internet go to you tube and check out "Music For Sleeping : Deep Sleep Long Night" it has a picture of a candle burning on the correct video... (id post the link but i need to make 25 posts first.) this one is what i used for when i couldn't sleep with my anxiety hope it helps. Also eat healthy and be as active as you can without over doing it. Hope you have a speedy recovery <3.

[sologirl82]

Thanks for the great advice! Music helped me get to sleep last night. I posted all my problems in a post about me. There's so much.

[xchrissiex]

Thanks for sharing your story gives others hope that they one day can be anxiety free :)