Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
Q:Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory?
If so, why?
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
Q:Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory?
If so, why?
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
Other comments:
I am in my 18th year of panic
disorder. I have never
truly overcome the anxiety. I did not convince
myself that I would ever
be panic free, but I know that I will always have
that shadow over my
head, not knowing when the next attack comes on.
I hate doctors who say
relax, excercise, take deep breaths, get up and
do something else, snap
a rubber band on your wrist, think nice thoughts.
Sorry, but I tried all
of that, and it doesn't always work. I would love
to say, "Doctor, you
take my seat and I will take yours for the next
18 years, and let's see
how you feel!!
Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
Q:Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory?
If so, why?
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
Other comments:
A stranger is a friend you have not made contact
with yet....... Admit your smaller flaws, and
they will think you are free of the bigger ones.
Don't try to be a perfect person-Nobody is!!
Expect in return what you give for free. It may
take time, but you will receive.
Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
Q:Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory?
If so, why?
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
Q:Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory?
If so, why?
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
Q:Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety ishereditory?
If so, why?
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
Other comments
...For those of us who suffer from p/d and agoraphobia--there is help. I read God's word and study devotionals through a
website each day. It is http://www.intouch.org. Also, I have learned patience and how to control my temper. Things used to really get me mad and I could overreact to everything. I'm learning through God's word that I don't have to fight these battles alone.
A: I come a long way, before I can't even go
inside the store by myself or
drive by myself.
A: I try to explain to them that I am not feeling
well and they usually
understand right away.
A: Dizziness and lighheaded...because sometimes it
feels like i'm gonna black
out.
A: listening to my relaxation tape
A:I don't think so
A:I been seen alot by a therapist--they all tell
me different. but I
discovered some tapes and now it helps me
understand about anxiety.
A: No.
A:Thanks a million!
A:I've received alot of advice from different
people. the ones that stay in
my mind are: a)it will pass b) it won't hurt you
c) i will be fine d) i can
do it
A:It will be different - I can do more by myself.
A: Not as far as before, after several years of symptom free relief, they,my anxiety/panic attacks have returned with different symptoms and are harder to fight now.
A: I don't have children of my
own, but just
explaining to nieces and nephews, and my fiancee
is hard enough. They do
not understand, and no person can understand
unless they themselves have
experienced it. They can empathize but they have
not been there!
A: The
impending doom feeling
that I am going to die or something wrong is
happening to my body.
A: Children, young
children, watching them play
and interacting with them, makes me realize how
happy they are, and how
much joy they have to offer to others.
A:Absolutely, a firm
believer. Many family member
down the line on both parents side, have had some
form of panic disorder
or depression.
A:The medical profession has not found
a way to diagnose this
as a disease. My doctor is understanding, but
will only prescribe
medication as long as I am in some type of
therapy. I feel no different
than the diabetic, the hypertensive patient, or
any other long term
disease afflicted person. But doctors do not
hesitate to treat those
diseases and do not require those patients to
join therapy groups or see
counselors, psychiatrists, or psychologists.
Truly a sad medical
profession!!
A: Absolutely not!! I would not wish this
on my best friend. I
only wish every medical professional could
experience these feelings
several times, not just once in their life, and see
what it really feels like.
A: I have the most understanding
supportive Mother, some very
good friends and family members, and they are
absolutely the greatest in
helping me cope!
A:I have the best advice
myself! We cannot be
stereotyped. Who ever said we had to be totally
non-functionable to
have panic disorder? Take one day at a time, for
yesterday is gone, and
tomorrow is waiting!
A:I would love to
be like so many of my
friends. Driving everywhere, flying to many
places, raising children,
and would have loved to pursue a career in the
medical field. 
A:
Quite a bit. I am now taking a computer-liscence
(a course) to maybe get a good job as support for
people with computer problems. My plan is to get
rid of this terrible illness, and get a well-paid
job.
A:
I do not have children, but my friends (the true
ones) I just tell them straight out that I am
having a hard time/difficult day. So it is pretty
much up to them how to react on it. Some back off
a bit, and some try to get me to talk.
A:Nausea, because I am an emetophobic. I fear
throwing up and nothing can ever scare me as much
as that. I am not afraid to die, but I am afraid
of t.u.
A:Sometimes watching a sad movie and allowing
myself to sink down and really cry it out, other
times it may be a song, a prayer, a good book or
a nice surprise.
Other times I use Sobril (medication - trancs.)
A:Yes I think so. Because most of our personality
is molded during our first four years of life,
and we have no control and mostly no memories
from that period of time. I think my mom has a
psychological problem, but she has never gotten
help for it. And her mom had really big problems
too - as a matter of fact she was diagnosed
schizofrenic. This of course had effect on my
mothers upbringing.
And since I have a sister and a brother who also
fights this anxiety-thing, I have to believe it
is not a coincidence.
A:Honestly? I feel that I have been used as a
guinea pig, and the treatments I have received
has not worked. Different medications, new people
to talk to, changing my position like all the
time... I never got to trust them, and if I did -
they did something to prove me wrong.
They have put me in so many difficult situations,
that I just hate the medical profession now.
Makes me think about becoming a doctor/psych. and
just unveil them all, putting them on the spot
with all the things they did wrong. I would
change the whole profession if I did. Last time I
attended a group-session, I found out that all of
the other attendants there was being treated like
me, and they did not like it either. So I am
thinking of writing a letter, with all of our
signatures on it, and mail it as a complaint to
the "higher power" (health department).
A:Quite the contrary, Eileen. I think they are
people that really care too much about others,
and easily forget their own needs. This constant
ignorance of ones own needs has to add up to
something. Like anxiety. I really prefer to call
my anxiety a sympthom rather than an illness. I
have lived all of my life feeling guilty about
(you name it) just about anything. Taking the
blame has gotten to be a reflex with me. And so I
end up a nervous wreck. I also hate
confrontations, because I tend to think "oh they
will say it is my fault anyway, so why bother
arguing......."
A:To those who support me and accept me for who I
am I want to say a heartfelt "Thank you very
much. I really DO appreciate you and what you do.
And I am sorry that I am not too good to tell you
that more often. I love you!" Then I would give
them a big hug!!!
A: I don't remember who told me this, but somewhere
in my mind there is a stubbornness that I think
would not have been there if it weren't for the
anxiety. This pigheaded will tells me over and
over "You have to fight the war to win the
battle! And every battle will add up to your army
- they will betray their leader, and follow you
instead."
My anxiety has made me a better human than I used
to be. I am intelligent, humorous, I know that
all humans have needs, I am not embarrassed to
talk about feelings, I am not afraid to give away
a hug (whenever!!), and I think that maybe I am a
little more mature than most girls on my age,
even though I do not have kids.
I know now that I am not always the one who's
wrong, and when I am being mistreated, I know
that I am right to tell the person this straight
to their face. I am not such a coward anymore.
And yet another thing: I am no longer afraid to
be different than the crowd. I know I am unique.
Everybody is, but mostly they are afraid to admit
it. No more of that!!
;) Self-Irony can be quite helpful at times. And
it is a very good ice-breaker when meeting new
people.
A:I have absolutely no idea about the lifestyle,
but I know I would be a boring person, afraid to
look into other peoples eyes and faces. Afraid to
say things out loud. Scared of making a fool of
myself all the time - so much that laughing at
myself would be a disaster. .
A:
A lifetime.
A:N/A
A: Fear because I don't have control and don't know
what is going to happen.
A:N/A
A:Yes. My brother had identical symptoms for 40
years.
A: Yes.
A:???????
A: Thanks for listening.
A:
Breathe.
My third therapist.
A: I do so this is my life.
A:
I have come so far since my first attack. I'm on
medication (serzone) which
has helped tremendously, but also education on
the problem has helped. I
can now be alone, shop and drive. I'm almost
normal again.
A:N/A
A: The symptom I fear most is, I get a strange one
because I was locked in a closet as a child, so when a panic attack comes on I get the sensation I may go blind. I hate this the worst, because I feel I have absolutly no control. I constantly reassure myself this will not happen. I'm starting to
think I do this to myself because I need chaos, and I'm scared of success, after all, if I didn't have this what would be in
the way of happiness, nothing, and I guess that terrifies me, some small part of me thinks I don't deserve it, but I am getting over this quickly. This last year has brought tremendous success my way, with a wonderful career with a huge salary and a beautiful apartment with new furniture and a new car. I'm
really proud of myself and I'm even starting to drive distances again, so I think my self esteem is getting better.
A: When I am depressed, talking to people or going to the gym gets me out of it.
A: I think mental problems are hereditary, both of
my parents and grandparents had addictions and/or depression. I don't have the addictions, and I'm not usually depressed, but a year ago, my anxiety disorder had me almost trapped in my home.
A: I don't really feel the medical profession understands what we as anxiety sufferers go through. I've been brushed aside as
silly by some of the medical community.
A: I think the sufferers of panic/anxiety are on the
other end of the spectrum of selfish. We're selfless, wanting to help everyone and take on the world, we think we can or have to do it all, and for me thats what started my anxiety. We are also so worried about inconveniencing others that this can cause stress. I definitely don't think we are selfish.
A: I would like to say to my support persons to not
give up and keep searching for a way to control this for them. Some people don't take well to medication, so they need to work things out behaviorally, which I think is very hard and takes much discipline. The first step is education, learning
what physically and emotionally is going on and accepting the fact that you are not crazy, just handling stress a little
different than others. If you keep searching for your cure, it can be found, I'm living proof. I went from almost being prisoner of my home to a new job in a new state, living alone and happy!!
A: The best advice given to me was to take it easy on myself and to take baby steps in recovery and to listem to my emotions and feeling, if I don't want to do something, I don''t anymore.
A: If I didn't have panic disorder, the only difference for me right now, because I'm fortunate to be doing very well now,
is that I'd drive farther alone and depend on less people for assistance that way. I can drive up to 45 minutes now, but sometimes, I need to drive farther for things and thats
when I depend on others.
A: I have come along ways from my first one. I have little small ones at times, but not often.
A: I have never had any children.
A:dizziness. Because one morning a few years ago I woke up to find the room was spinning and I had lots of panic attacks that morning.
A: God and reading His word, talking to Him and telling him my problem and asking for help, which He always gives.
A: Yes, because my mother, grandmother, and some of my cousins have had or have it also.
A: Yes, I'm on xanax now for almost 3 years. It helps at times. I had some nurses come over to my house and they taught me the deep breathing method, distraction, etc...
A: Sometimes I feel like I'm selfish, while at other times I feel like not at all. It comes and goes.
A: I would like to say how much I appreciate my sister who has stuck by me and went through this with me for almost 3 years now of being partially housebound. She is a true inspiration and I know that God uses her to help me. She is by far the most unselfish person I have ever known. When the p/d got me down
some years ago, I lived with my half sister and she was so unsympathetic to me. She ignored me most of the time and went about her own life. So, I know the difference of unselfishness and selfishness in comparing the two.
A: The best advice I have gotten is from a lady named Bonnie who taught me that by reading God's word and applying it to my
life, I can begin to live again and be happy. And it is true.
A: I guess I would be working in an office full time and doing all the things I used to do.
