Depression. Anxiety. Panic Attacks. etc

[Fflow]

Thinking about it, I just realized that I've had 3 or 4 panic attacks while driving. Strangely, I'm not entirely sure it has anything to do with driving.... Maybe that where I was going, or where I came from, was my source of anxiety.

Hmm.

Anyway, Erika, my therapy peeps told me basically the same thing. Panic attacks are actually not dangerous at all. Increasing exposure to trigger sources has, in many cases, reduced sensitivity AND improved coping skills.

Obviously, I'm not an MD, or even a therapist, so... don't listen to me.

One thing that nearly everyone agrees about is that depression AND anxiety can be significantly mitigated through sustained (30+ minutes) physical exercise. Of course, depression can be an issue as far as motivation, but if you have any support, perhaps they can help.

Lastly: Bandit: Have you thought about using Skype to stay in touch with your son? A cheap webcam and an internet connection are all that's required... (well, a computer, of course.)

xox
f(s)

 

[rowseyone]

I have been working on expanding my comfort zone. Not having the spouse to drive has been an incentive. Its funny because my panic attacks are only here in Hawaii when I drive. I managed to drive just fine in Denver and on the highway. I cant wait to move to CO. I'm sure my underlying unhappiness here is a cause of the anxiety. Although I doubt I will be driving some of the mountain roads in CO. I'm scared of heights...lol

 

[Fflow]

Heights sometimes bother me, too, Rowsey.

I'm glad that you're being proactive, though. There are lots of great coping skills, and they really do help!

Take care!

 

[mothership]

My anxiety is so much worse when driving/riding especially on the interstate. It really does help to expose yourself. It is just so hard to put yourself in a situation where, in my case, it feels like I am going to pass out. I know from experience, though, the more I do the better I feel. It's a bitch, but fight it.

 

[rowseyone]

I have found a few things that help reduce my anxiety while driving. I make sure I have eaten and my blood sugar is stable. I also try to drive when traffic is the lightest. I have been working on it so I can take my daughter where she needs to go etc. I just want to move!

 

[Fflow]

The very first panic attack I had was immediately after I spent $1500 on diamond earrings for my wife. They were the first really expensive gift I'd ever purchased, and I didn't realize how much stress and anxiety I was feeling. I was driving home, and really felt awful.

That was about 7 years ago and, until then, I'd never had one. Since then, I've had appx one per year. Not too bad, considering how some folks suffer from them. For me, there's no clear 'trigger.' I think I have what they call 'generalized' anxiety, but I'm not constantly freaking out about everything. I think that chemicals just build up in my body from small stress events and, collectively, tip me over into a full blown attack.

That's my theory, anyway.

xoxo

f

 

[rowseyone]

I suffer from PTSD so that adds to the anxiety. I can have multiple attacks while driving so I keep my extended drives to a minimum. I am working very hard on making myself drive more places.

 

[Fflow]

I suffer from PTSD so that adds to the anxiety. I can have multiple attacks while driving so I keep my extended drives to a minimum. I am working very hard on making myself drive more places.

*hugs*

I know your hard work will pay off, Rowsey!

 

[ace195008]

wow, i cant express my feelings about finding a thread concerning Anxiety on this site. I have had GAD or whatever the terms are now since i was a teenager. Part dna and a lot of being bullied...Yes I take meds to overcome it and my attacks and sensitivity are way down, thank goodness and I agree with Fflow on others on hard paying off, it does. Think about this I had GAD, no meds and a 1 1/2 hr commute into NYC everyday one-way because I had ppl to support, wife and kids. I can tell you all that support via family is as important as the therapy and meds. Late wife wouldnt deal with it, but thats a different story. I want to wish you all well with anxiety and PAD or GAD or SAD. I am not a Dr or therapist but spent 10 yrs in/out therapy dealing with this..so i guess i am very very self aware of it ... big *hugs* to you all

 

[rowseyone]

I havent tried meds yet. I managed to break the panic cycle on my own for about ten years. I had some triggers occur which started them up again. I know moving will help remove some of the triggers. If not, I will try meds.

 

[ace195008]

Rowseyone traveling is a big one for me. Thank god for a lady friend who understands and helps talking with me

 

[rowseyone]

thanks fflow and everyone else.

ace, I have someone willing to drive me around but I am working on driving on my own. It doesnt help that my ex and his family think panic attacks (and depression etc) are from being weak willed. My ex MIL would make snide comments (and probably still does) about me having them.

 

[ace195008]

I am sorry that they dont see that this illness is an illness. My late wife said it was all in my mind, even when I had agoraphobia so bad I didnt want to leave the house..It took a lady therapist , a good one showed me how to work through the panic attacks , etc. It was about then I started taking zoloft and xanax occasionally. Made a huge difference for me. Not everyone is the same. I had psych who didnt like meds. Thought cbt was the answer, well for some yes other no..its so individual...

 

[rowseyone]

I have a good support group luckily. I dont want my anxiety to rub off onto my kids.

 

[Fflow]

I do take Lorazipam from time to time, when I feel I need it. Mostly, at night before I go to sleep. I take it infrequently, perhaps once a week most weeks, but more when I need it.

My Dr wanted to put me on stronger, daily, meds but I almost immediately had some adverse reactions to them. Specifically, I couldn't orgasm. It was maddening!

For my condition, where I have perhaps one or two panic attacks per year, it just made no sense to me. I might have benefitted from the treatment, but my sex life is actually pretty good for my wife and I. I just couldn't see fucking it up to 'fix' something that doesn't impact me too severely, and responds well to other, less problematic, remedies.

Anyway... Welcome, ACE!

 

[bobsgirl]

What I've been thinking recently is how exhausting it is to keep the mask in place. The mask that hides depression from well-meaning souls who have no clue at all.

I'm bone tired, all the time.

 

[sacada]

Still awake, and it's getting close to 5:30 am...

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[SweetErika]

Here's a partly amusing, and partly frustrating story:

I become nocturnal when I'm stressed out, which is slightly (or not so slightly) related to PTSD. It makes sense that it's especially bad right now, since September is the two-year anniversary of a sexual assault which began a really tough time in my life.

Anyways, I've been keeping vigil through my nights for most of the past two weeks, and am horribly sleep-deprived because of it. (And as all of you know, sleep deprivation makes any stress worse.) Luckily, my new pet has been keeping me company. Who would have thought a fish could be such a comfort?!

I feel as though if I want to spill my frustration anywhere, I should spill it here. (Of course, I've spilled this to my friends and support network first, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating!)

Is anyone else here a little scared of sleeping?

Not so much anymore, but I used to have terrible problems getting to sleep, and occasionally still do (although not so much since having our baby and being exhausted from dealing with him, getting up to pump, etc.). I used to stay up until daybreak a few times a week, absolutely beside myself. One bad thought would get stuck in my head, then it'd just snowball until I was crying, exhausted yet wired and even thinking about suicide A LOT. I'd get upset that my now-husband was sleeping peacefully while I was all alone in such terrible pain, which was totally irrational because it's not like he knew what was going on and I could have woken him up.

Finally getting the help I needed in the form of an intensive 12-part sexual assault-specific Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program was what saved me from most of these nights. Taking melatonin and forcing myself to be in bed at a reasonable hour also help quite a bit. I still have some trouble when my husband is gone (which is a good chunk of the year), but it's not a big deal.

PTSD is a real bitch. I don't think I'll ever be symptom-free, but at least it's manageable now.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Are you getting the right kind of help?

 

[Fflow]

Jeez!

My heart goes ouyt to you both, Erika and Sacada. Sexual assault is devastating on so many levels, and I'm not surprised to hear about PTSD, but I don't think I ever heard about it in quite this way before.

As a man, and as a human being, I am truly sorry for what was taken from you.

Still, I am in awe of the strength and resiliancy you both radiate, and know in my heart that you will heal from this, and be whole again.

I don't know if that means anything to either of you, but I felt the need to say it.

xoxo

f(s)

 

[Fflow]

What I've been thinking recently is how exhausting it is to keep the mask in place. The mask that hides depression from well-meaning souls who have no clue at all.

I'm bone tired, all the time.

Do you think that people don't see it?

Sometimes I think that, just because we try to hide it, doesn't mean that others don't see it.

Sometimes, I think people see it but don't know how to deal with it and so pretend it isn't there.

Why hide it, though? Does it help you to hide it?

 

[rowseyone]

Sleeping is a huge issue for me. Since I moved out, my PTSD symptoms have lessened but I havent gotten a good nights sleep in months. My PTSD was caused by abandonment as an infant, and separating/divorce stirred it up.

Big hugs, Erika and Sacada.

 

[Bandit58]

My son has had two counselling sessions so far. All appears to be going well. He's on the full dose of antidepressants now and apart from being a bit zombied out for the first few days he says he is fine.

And yes he is so like me. He believes things are his fault when nothing he could do could change them. Sir has to give me a figurative boot up the bum sometimes when I start to blame myself for things going wrong which are totally out of my or our control.

 

[sacada]

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[rowseyone]

Big hugs Sacada.

I had an attack last night, I wasnt driving but it was night time on a very dark, curvy road. UGH! It wasnt too severe but my friend did notice.

 

[SweetErika]

I think I really should (re-)consider CBT sometime. At one point, I was seeing a therapist who thought I should try it, but I was very skeptical, and that set the attempt up for failure.

I think you should. It sounds a little weird, but it's completely logical, really. The exposure part is unpleasant, but totally manageable.

I screwed around with regular talk therapy for over a year, and it didn't help me get better at all (it more just helped me survive for the time being). After taking a year off, my symptoms got so bad that I had to do something, so I called the local sexual assault resource center and they referred me to this specialized therapist/program. Victim's Compensation paid for the whole thing, thankfully, and I think I only used 20 of my 24 allotted sessions.

This is the specific program. It looks like they have some info and web-based utilities available. I'd suggest contacting them to see if they can give you a local referral. I know the program was groundbreaking and has been touted nationally, so hopefully you can find someone in your area who uses it or something very similar.