Crippling Anxiety

[minny89]

I'm just curious to find out how do you go about getting help when you have crippling anxiety and almost everytime you leave the house you have major panic attacks. You know they are panic attacks. You feel like you might actually be dying. You consider sending yourself to the hospital but know you will undoubtedly be sent home again.

So how do I go about getting help when I can't leave the house to go to the doctors to start the process?

[demonblaster]

Hi minny89 ☺ welcome to BB

You poor thing I feel for you

Wondering if you could get a home visit with your GP otherwise what about a phone call to them or send an email explaining your distressing situation

What I'm hearing a lot here is anxiety can be controlled so thats hope for you

I've had a couple of extreme anxiety attacks heart pumping out chest hyperventilating its a severe panic isn't it.

What's settled me in short time has been hard no nonsense internal self talk knowing its anxiety and that I need to calm down.

You may have heard about breathing techniques which ARE effective. Only focus on your breathing slowly and calmly deep in and same out several times. You could maybe practice throughout the days.

This also takes our mind off what's causing this severe stress, we follow through I guess listen to the thoughts of fear and feel it, distraction is very helpful.

Another good way with distraction is to look around and see things anything keep looking it gives the mind a break temporarily

Also if you'd like to voice talk to someone caring and understanding here the BB phone no: 1300 224636 might be of help

Please anytime if you feel you'd like to talk you'll always have here

All very best

I hope you get the help you need soon

[Jane24]

I feel for you! I've been there too.

Getting professional help is definitely important, I find it easier if I ask somebody to drive me to an appointment, taking water, a snack, focusing on my breathing- maybe there's something that helps you feel safer & more in control?

There's also some resources I've personally found helpful:

CCI modules- Google these, there's a panic one that gives you tips & info to work through on how to deal with panic attacks. It's online & free.

Living with It- book my doc gave me about panic attacks, easy to read & has cartoons.

Change your thinking- book about CBT by Sarah Edelmen. Quite full on & probably best used along with a psych.

Calling Beyond Blue or a helpline when I'm panicking & need to vent it out.

Take care! It will get easier, your brain is just in a panic habit right now but it's capable of amazing change.

[Neil_1]

Hi there Minny,

Firstly, good on you for being able to come to Beyond Blue and posting this. That can be tough to do, so please, you should feel proud of yourself for completing this.

A couple of really good responses have been provided and I too would like to suggest the option of getting someone to go along with you, to get to the Doctor, as seeking professional help with what you’re experiencing, is something, I believe, that you should do. But with what you’re experiencing when trying leave your home, I hope you can seek out some family member or close friend, who may be able to provide the support you need to assist you with this.

One other thing to possibly think about … is to save you stressing about what to say when you do get to the doctors, is to perhaps jot down some dot points on a pad, or just write down how you’re feeling, what you experience, etc. Do this at home and take your time with it … don’t do it all at once, but over a little time, cause when you’re thinking about this, you may just think of other things and you can add to it. Take it along to the Doctor’s and either: “read it from your notes”, or “hand it to the Doc, and you can work through the different things together”.

Kind regards,

Neil