UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45
What's Hot
About this time of year, for about three or four weeks, I suffer from anxiety/panic attacks.
I have no idea why but most nights, when I go to bed, within about ten minutes of lying there, I can feel an attack coming on. Dryness of mouth, shaky, nervous and just a horrible feeling of dread are the only way to describe them They can last anything from a couple of minutes to about an hour.
Compared to others that I've read about on the www, they're not that severe but they still piss me right off and there's always that thought that they might not go away.
I'm due to go on holiday in a week and I don't want this to spoil it. Any tips?
0 LOL 0 Wow! 0 Wisdom · Share on Twitter
Comments
just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
There could be a lot of truth in that - I've noticed that there can be patterns to the times I get anxious and it's at times when I would expect to be anxious - the same situation without warning doesn't phase me anywhere near as much. I hope you find a way to manage it and it doesn't spoil anything you have planned! :-)
Sorry to hear that, Rob. I went through a short phase of them in my Mid 20's, although mine might have been through self inflicted reasons at the time. I don't mind being open about these things.
Only you can search within to find out why you get them at certain times of the year and analyse the period of time they have been recurring to see what you can narrow it down to.
Having said that, you need to not be embarrassed about going to the GP to see what can be done to stop the Cycle. GP might refer you to a Counsellor or whatever else, it's not a frightening or patronising experience I can assure you.
Procrastinating about whether to go can lead to more stress. Once you have made the decision to go you have cleared one hurdle.
One thing which might help in a DIY way (and at least it's cheap and cheerful) is to get some access to the subconscious. Writing. Do three pages worth, pure stream of consciousness thoughts, random whatever comes out. Don't stop until three pages are filled. Do it for at least four consecutive days. Mornings are good. Will probably take between 30-45 mins.
It's not really to get an “answer”. It really doesn't have to make sense in a conventional sense. It's to let your subconscious get a chance to be heard. Because at the moment I'm thinking it's keeping you awake at night.
:ar!
just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
That sounds like pretty severe panic attacks to me.
Breathing exercises are really helpful, and if you can recognise the symptoms early you can nip it in the bud.
No. That sounds a fair bit worse. I get similar symptoms but just not quite as severe as you describe. I sometimes get "shaky" too - but the whole experience never lasts more than about half an hour and I can usually get to sleep soon afterwards.
The feeling of dread is like the worst case of butterflies you've ever had. Like that feeling before a job interview when you know you haven't done enough preparation and they're going to rip you apart!
I read on Mumsnet (yes, really) about taking a whole load of vitamins to help combat anxiety - omegas+calcium+magnesium+B vitamins.
The story goes that Omegas help as mood stabilizers, Calcium & Magnesium work together as muscle relaxants and B vitamins work on the brain to keep everything cool and focused.
I've been taking the above for a couple of days and haven't felt have as bad as I did before. Placebo maybe, but I'll take that....
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
Lucky Man Rob.
It does sound like it's down to a routine change
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)