Gatergirl
06-12-2015, 04:54 AM
Hello everyone! I've been suffering from panic attacks / anxiety since 1999 (when I was 13). I went through a very rough patch in terms of panic attacks during my teens, but things got progressively better and while I still have some attacks every now and then, I can manage them mostly successfully and they don't rule my life as they used to. My anxiety is coupled with emetophobia, which was the main trigger when I was younger (I would be afraid of being sick, the panic would make my throat constrict, I would feel nauseous, panic would spike, and so on and so forth in this merry-go-round of terror).
Lately, the problem has not been related to full-fledged panic attacks as much as a generalized sense of anxiety and dread that whatever I do, something might go wrong. I get stuck on worst case scenarios and I react in two ways:
a) I freeze and 'avoid' the issue, wishing it would go away (Which it doesn't, and increases the anxiety);
b) I spaz because I want to get the issue out of my system, so while my brain is stuck in overwhelmed, worrying mode, I risk making mistakes because I'm not thinking straight.
I live and work in a 'judging' environment, which means that often things can get blown out of proportions. This contributes to putting me into the 'freeze' mode. I don't do anything because I can identify a number of ways in which whatever action I take can go horribly wrong.
Of course, I refuse to live with the proverbial sword of Damocles dangling over my head.
I also hope I'll be able to be of help and comfort to the other members of the forum :)
Lately, the problem has not been related to full-fledged panic attacks as much as a generalized sense of anxiety and dread that whatever I do, something might go wrong. I get stuck on worst case scenarios and I react in two ways:
a) I freeze and 'avoid' the issue, wishing it would go away (Which it doesn't, and increases the anxiety);
b) I spaz because I want to get the issue out of my system, so while my brain is stuck in overwhelmed, worrying mode, I risk making mistakes because I'm not thinking straight.
I live and work in a 'judging' environment, which means that often things can get blown out of proportions. This contributes to putting me into the 'freeze' mode. I don't do anything because I can identify a number of ways in which whatever action I take can go horribly wrong.
Of course, I refuse to live with the proverbial sword of Damocles dangling over my head.
I also hope I'll be able to be of help and comfort to the other members of the forum :)