Just saying 'hello'

[ghcowan]

Hi all,
Just thought I'd join this forum as I need to try every means to get my anxiety undercontrol. Its something I've only recently been diagnosed with. Up till then I thought I was just a bit wimpish and nervey about certain situations. It's good to put a name to this condition. I'm getting truly sick of its effects on my social life. They say its 'good to talk', or in this case type, so I thought I would join this forum. Who else can understand better what we often go through, than fellow sufferers. Here's looking forward to sharing experiences and better still ways of dealing with our condition.
Cheers,
Graham

[angelmum63]

hello graham, nasty thing this anxiety hey? i too felt somewhat better when i was able to put a name to what i was going thru. i did a lot of reading on line about it... thought i would get to know my enemy so i could work out the best plan of attack! they actually went away for a while. no panic attacks... was able to look forward again to going to sleep and facing a new day, but now they have come back and i don't really understand why. it gets scary sometimes... but as always i will soldier on. How are you coping? What do you find best (strategy) to cope with a panic/anxiety attack when u have one? do tell.... Diane

[ghcowan]

Hi Diane,
First, thanks for taking the time to reply to my posting. 'How to cope' is something I'm still searching for. I'm trying to imagine how I would advice someone else to cope, in particular a child. Since, anxiety to me is a very 'childish' condition. What I mean by that is I imagine small children being anxious about new situations etc. It's things out of the ordinary that tend to freak me out. The trouble is I could wax lyrical to a child about how going out with friends for a meal or show would be enjoyable and that there would be nothing to fear. But, and here's the big but, try telling that to myself and it just isn't getting through. It's a vicious circle isn't it, knowing deep down I'm sure that we want to do these 'normal' things yet just not quite managing it as our mind is clouded by anxiety, thus affecting judgement. For me the symptoms come on instantly but only subside slowly, however, to get rid of excess adrenalin I find a good run in the fresh air does the trick.
Diane, you say that you don't understand why your panic attacks have returned, well sorry to hear that, but I think we just have to live with our condition and learn how to manage it. That might sound pesamistic (it's not meant to...always look on the bright side!) but I remember at a CBT group having for the first time to introduce myself and acknowledge I had a problem was very emotional. It was I imagine similar to say at an AA meeting 'Hi my name is Graham, and I'm an alcoholic' but instead saying 'Hi, my name is Graham and I have anxiety'. I wouldn't worry too much about why your attacks have returned, just concentrate on getting better. I often think us poor souls with these conditions just think and ponder too much anyway!
Anyway must go before the boss arrives (I'm at work at the moment).
Chin up, and looking forward to sharing strategies to help us out.
Cheers,
Graham

[angelmum63]

hi graham, thanks for your post... thought this might be well worth a read. it actually has helped me in the past

http://www.anxietycoach.com/overcoming- ... tacks.html (http://www.anxietycoach.com/overcoming-panic-attacks.html)

good luck,

Diane

[wolfspirt1]

Hey graham greath to have ya

Chin up I suppose

I could be worse