New to this Forum, nevous ...

[GemmaxLou]

I am Gemmalou, I'm 20 And always been an anxious girl but this past year things have got AWFUL :-(. It all started with the chest pain and dizziness In May, and I started my new job in October so not good timing... And it just keeps getting worse, been rushed to hospital twice sent home from work constantly and now I am having to take Citalopram And beta blockers and sleeping pills from the insomnia it has caused... When my panicking starts I get pain ridiculously in my Chest then down the arm then into my ribs and I get dizzy, blank out and see sparkles and its just awful, it was getting so bad I was having chest pain just picking what to wear in the morning :-/ Now I'm At the stage I have been signed off work and don't want to go out alone.

[onebreathatatime]

Have the doctors said anything is wrong?

[GemmaxLou]

Well so far they have said I have a severe panic and anxiety disorder... And given me an appointment for a therapist. I have more symptoms every day and I just worry all the time and keep getting told to calm down and relax which never helps (I am a carer in a learning disability centre) and my panic attacks were constant at work so they had to sign me off. Now I don't even want to leave alone in case a panic attack gets to bad

[brian_s_21]

Well so far they have said I have a severe panic and anxiety disorder... And given me an appointment for a therapist. I have more symptoms every day and I just worry all the time and keep getting told to calm down and relax which never helps (I am a carer in a learning disability centre) and my panic attacks were constant at work so they had to sign me off. Now I don't even want to leave alone in case a panic attack gets to bad
You just have to relax take a deep breath

[Lin]

Anxiety and panic attacks are horrible and can cause you real problems at work and out of the house, as well as at home.
The only way to overcome anxiety and panic attacks is to slow down your breathing and breath from your stomach low deep slow breaths, because usually when you are panicking you are breathing shallow from your chest. Another thing to do is splash water on your face and lips this can be a quick stop to panic attacks.
I use essential oils to help - I make up my own essential oils and have them on a tissue so I smell them when panicking. I also have a worry stone and anxiety ball which helps to play with to stop my mind panicking. Also to stop panic you can use your right hand three middle fingers and your thumb and put your fingers over your left thumb and your thumb under your left thumb and squeeze hard for at least 15 breaths - the thumb stops fear - and it really works and noone at work knows you are doing it. Other fingers mean different things and it does work.
Hope this helps.

[GemmaxLou]

Thanks for the Advice I will try these ideas :-)

I have just gotten to the point I just feel lost and not myself ... All the medication I have been given to take doesn't help that, people around me try to understand but I don't feel anyone truly does know how terrible the pain is and how isolated I feel now.
Thanks x

[FearWontStopMe]

Hi. :) We are the same age. I can completely understand how you feel. You are not alone! Is anything specific stressing you?

[robocop01]

Gem,

I'm 28 and have been an anxious person my whole life. But this past month two of my friends have died from two different causes. My family who I haven't seen in 5 years showed up in my town for a surprise visit, I met my girlfriends parents, two funerals, and I work at an extremely tough job that I have to seen alot of bad things. So my anxiety has been very bad and I get dizzy, lightheaded, feel like I'm going to pass out, and chest pains with heart palpitations. This is very scary for me and I'm not sure what to do when I'm alone at home. I recently started going to a therapist and it helps and I'm taking xanax as needed to help with the panic attacks.

I usually just sit down, and start with a slow breathing exercise, followed by relaxing every muscle in my body starting from my neck and working my way down. This helps me sometimes. Also I like to lay face down on the bed and play with my cellphone and look at facebook while commenting on photos of friends usually takes my mind off the panic. Try a few of these that seem to be helping me in my bad times. Stay Strong.

[GemmaxLou]

Hi. :) We are the same age. I can completely understand how you feel. You are not alone! Is anything specific stressing you?

I am glad to find people that understand :-) thanks
Well it mostly seems to be sub conscious and I don't have control over it but there are some stressful things at work and in life but things normally people would cope with not end up in hospital for...

[GemmaxLou]

Sorry to here about your loss :-(. Hope you are coping well.
Yeah I am really hoping the start of my CBT helps , starts Monday and in counting on it. Thanks for the advice :-)

[Lin]

I am glad to find people that understand :-) thanks
Well it mostly seems to be sub conscious and I don't have control over it but there are some stressful things at work and in life but things normally people would cope with not end up in hospital for...

It is really difficult when people around us do not understand anxiety and depression and makes it all the more difficult to handle. That is why we often wish we had a broken limb rather than anxiety and depression because people understand pyhsical illness but not mental illness.
It is not unusual to end up in hospital with what you have been experiencing and it is good that your medical team have been making sure that there is nothing else wrong with you.
Good luck with the CBT - any course like that you take will help if you are able to give in to it and let yourself learn it and use it. But it is not always easy when your head is not very well to learn and use it. Hope you are successful. But not worry if you are not straightaway because it might be something you learn now and use better later.