How to cope

[Dozza]

Hi this is my very first post ever on the internet. I am 44 yo male married with two children. I have had a white  blood cell disorder now for approximately 7 years.  I have had mild depression now for many years and about six months ago I started getting mild panic attacks and anxiety that is now so mild lol. To be very honest with everyone I am really scared crapless.  I am currently taking medication and my doctor has put me on anothr medication as well at night to help with sleep. I just don't know how to handle this anxiety. Thanks for listening. 

[white knight]

Hi Dozza, welcome

I'm 60yo, at 31yo I went through a workplace incident that caused a panic attack that was mistaken for a heart attack. That shook me so much I gave up smoking- great! But it left me shaken like you.

Through a Dr and occupational therapist I learned relaxation techniques. Muscle tensioning exercises were the most effective. But medication and therapy were also in the mix.

Dozza, the fact is that severe anxiety will likely take a long time to recover - it took me 25 years. It might take you a lot less, depends on those ongoing factors. Acceptance therefore is a big accomplishment, acceptance that living peacefully with your condition/s is preferable than seeking forever hoping for 100% recovery.

Please do some reading. We have hundreds of threads here that you can browse through daily.

Tony WK

[Dozza]

Thanks white knight I really appreciate your assistance and support. As you know it is very difficult to get a handle on anxiety. Hopefully I can see a good therapist and get some relaxation techniques as well. Thanks again Dozza

[Doolhof]

Hi Dozza and welcome to the community here at Beyond Blue.

Thanks for sharing a bit of your story with us. As Tony has mentioned, there are certainly loads of different posts and threads here for you to check out as well as a lot of information from the Beyond Blue information section.

For me, stress and depression are a bigger issue than anxiety. I have experienced panic attacks. They are amazing aren't they! Goodness me. How on earth can our minds get that muddled up that they can throw you totally off balance!

Tony has mentioned ACCEPTANCE. That is huge in any illness or situation. The more I read and try to find solutions to my problems and the more I understand the mental health issues I have, the less I fight them and feel afraid or distressed by them.

It is not always easy, some days can be really rough.

Have you tried the telephone help lines? There is a phone support service here at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. I have used this number, Life Line and a couple of others in our area when I have been feeling so low and confused I don't know how to move forward. You may find them helpful too.

Hope you find this site helpful to you!

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

[Annie_Blue]

This is a safe place 🙂 welcome. 

[Dozza]

Hi,

Thanks everyone for your kind words and welcome it is very much appreciated. Yes it is hard having a bad day today very unpleasant panic attacks but I will get there. Thanks again all. 

[blondguy]

Hi Dozza

Welcome and thankyou for having the courage to post!

Like Tony WK above..I have had anxiety for 25 years as well. Tony is spot on with Acceptance....'Calm and True Acceptance' is a big key to unlock the door to peace again. It does take time but it does work.

Just a 'tiny' tip that may work for you Dozza.......Avoid being on a laptop, cellphone ipad etc before going to bed...they can stimulate the brain and thought processes even more...(the screen and concentration needed to work them)

Anxiety does reduce in severity....over time....even with a basic regular therapy.

If you wish to respond, we are here for you Dozza

Kind Thoughts for You

Paul

[Doolhof]

Hi Dozza,

Sorry to read you are having a hard day. Some days can really knock the stuffing out of you can't they!

Do you like reading? Maybe find a magazine or book on something you are interested in and try to read a bit before you go to sleep.

It might help to relax the mind a little.

When a panic attack is on its way, do you have ways of trying to prevent the thing from going full swing? Some people find deep slow breaths help, some count to a hundred or find other ways to distract their minds.

Does it help if you tell yourself "this is just a panic attack and it will pass" or are they a bit too full on for that to have a positive effect?

Hope you have a better day tomorrow!

Cheers for now from Dools

[Dozza]

Hi Doolhof, 

Thanks for yor kind words it is very much appreciated. No I dont have any warning when I'm about to have a panic attack, When it first started around 6 months ago it would hit right out of the blue. Now I get very limited time before like seconds maybe then they hit I had one I  front of a member I was serving at work the other day and it didn't go down very well with anyone.  But I think may be I am a little lucky as they seem to go as fast as they Come. 

Thanks all.  

[Doolhof]

Hi Dozza,

Did you receive some negative comments from people at work when your panic attack happened?

Were you able to explain to then why you were reacting the way you did?

Is it possible to pass out or post up some information about panic attacks at the work place?

Some people might be understanding.

I was working in the child care industry when I suddenly had a two week stay in a mental health unit due to a breakdown and strong suicidal thoughts.

Some of the staff at the hospital told me to not inform my boss or work mates where I had been and to definitely not tell the parents.

I did tell them though. My boss was not very supportive but my fellow workers and the parents were.

Hopefully you will receive some understanding and support as well from your work place.

Wishing you all the best from Dools