Hello everyone

[charlesn]

Hi! I am a 24 year old guy and have recently been having problems with anxiety and panic attacks. About two months ago-out of nowhere-I had what I believe was a panic attack (dizziness, trouble breathing, heart racing, intense fear, nausea). I was terrified at what was happening, so my coworker took me to urgent care. The doctor there said it was vertigo.
Since then, I haven't had anything like that, but I have had feelings of smaller panic attacks several days a week. I'm just really confused about it all because I haven't had any huge stresses in my life and have no other health problems. I've got an appointment with a doctor for a full physical exam in about a week and will wait to see what she says. Until then, any advice is appreciated!

[Silmarwen18]

Hi! :) I know how you feel. What you are expirencing is panic attacks. I used to have them too. Don't worry they will pass but until then here's some tips:

1) Find out what it is that worries you. These are known as 'triggers' for the attacks. Work? Friends? Girlfriend? any of these can lead to a panic attack.
2) The attacks can not harm you. You can not be harmed by any of the symtoms, your just affraid and that's ok, just rememember to try and take deep breaths and keep calm.
3) The hardest part of panic attacks is not knowing what is wrong and the difficulty in breathing. The funny thing is you can breathe and when youre having an attack your intaking too much carbon. Your body has plenty of oxygen, your just worried that you don't have enough. Some techniques to help with this are deep breaths into a paper bag, covering your mouth with your hand or simply sitting down and taking slow deep breaths. All of this helps to reduce the amount of carbon you take in. When you take in too much carbon this when you get jelly legs, dizziness and you might even colapse. This is just because you took too much oxygen from your body and replaced it with carbon through your fast breathing.
4) Most important one of all: YOU WILL NOT DIE :P I know it feels like it but you will be ok and you will overcome it, all you have to remember is that its only fear and it's only in your head. Keep smiling :)

And believe me, I know it's easier said then done....... :)

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon

Silmarwen

[charlesn]

Thanks so much for the reply. It made me feel a lot better just reading that. You are right, though, it is all easier said than done. At times when I feel good, I think, "How could I be anxious like I was?" And then when I am in the middle of the anxiety I think, "How does it feel to not be anxious?" Do you know what I mean?