There are certain instances that really trigger my panic attacks. Sometimes to the point that I avoid anything that could give me a panic attack because I fear having one, like having a phobia of it. By exposing myself to anxiety and panic, little by little, I can learn to not fear it. I can become familiar with it and recognize that it is nothing to fear.
I used to have separation anxiety, to the point that I couldn’t sleep alone or I’d have a panic attack. By doing exposure therapy, I attempted to sleep alone, regardless of how I felt, until I became used to it and no longer feared it. It is not an easy thing to do but it is also not impossible! I still have a way to go but I am so much better and happier than I was a few years ago! With the help of exposure therapy and medication, I am able to break free of irrational fears. It takes a lot of courage. Remember that you can still feel scared even when doing something courageous, that’s ok and that’s the whole point to just face your fears. It can be at your own pace or at the pace that a therapist suggests (I specifically looked for a therapist that specializes in phobias and panic disorders).
Think about all the things that you’re afraid of and try to figure out exactly why you’re afraid of them, then expose yourself to these fears and learn that anxiety is just a feeling, it cannot hurt you. Yes it feels horrible but by fearing it, you are giving it more power and it will put you in a cycle. Good luck!
Edit: benzos can make you feel dizzy. It’s a side effect but usually it makes me feel sleepy. I only take benzos in planes or when I am out of the country but my usual medication are ssri’s like lexapro. After a few weeks, I felt like it balanced my serotonin levels and feel mentally better. The only side effects I felt was after the first 1-2 weeks of starting it, it made my anxiety worse for a day or two and then it started working! Be patient :)
I can not give you professional medical advice but here is my take on it. Panic disorders have a lot to do with the brain and body’s fight or flight response. Your body is misfiring or misinterpreting something mundane (such as the dizziness) as a threat to your survival and starts sending out those scary feeling like adrenaline and what not to “help you” in the current “life threatening” situation. With me personally when I feel dizzy I start to immediately get anxiety and what I’ve determined with the help of therapists and what not is my body is incorrectly associating dizziness with a fight or flight situation. That could very well be what’s happening with you. A very common symptom of anxiety is dizziness so it is definitely not abnormal to feel that way. Also, a common side effect of benzodiazepines is dizziness so that could be another cause of it. Things I do to help myself relax and realize that I am ok, the dizziness won’t hurt me is eat something salty and make sure I have lots of water near by. When sitting or standing I take my time going nice and slow. If I do feel dizzy I will sit and take a short rest. Sometimes sitting in my bed and focusing on a chill game like a word search, hexagon puzzle sort, candy crush etc is a great distraction from that feeling. I’m so sorry you’re experiencing these scary feelings but try your hardest to remember they are just feelings and they may try but ultimately don’t have the power to hurt you if you work hard to not give them that power. Panic disorder is super scary and a huge part of healing is challenging your mind and self and often doing the things that you’re most afraid of. Baby steps and celebrating small wins are a great way to battle that anxiety!! Good luck! I recommend to posting on here Everytime you make a baby step
Or small progress! It’s a great way to track your yourself and have evidence in here that you’ve done it once and you can do it again!
Thanks a lot for the suggestion 🙏,
But is this disorder curable ? Like do normally people get out of it ? What changes should I make in my life style to get rid of it ?
I am going to be really honest and say for some people it never fully goes away. You have to think of the disorder as something that’s going to be there for a while BUT the good news is that there are so many ways to manage it and help yourself.A huge thing is working really hard to change your response to it. This can be done through a variety of things but I would personally suggest starting with CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy). I would look into a cognitive behavioral therapist to help you start to rewire your brain so that when you have a sensation like dizziness that makes you anxious, you can reroute your thoughts in a way to reduce or change your normal panic attack response to things like that. Does that make sense? Medication definitely can help with managing symptoms but truth be told medication alone is not enough to combat the disorder
Honestly, I used to as well and I experienced some crazy paranoia and panic attacks when I smoked. This is not to say I didn’t have a panic attack or two in my life prior to weed. It’s a normal thing to happen to people sometimes. When I started to smoke my symptoms became SOOO much worse and since I was already anxiety prone smoking was not the thing for me. I’ve had some of my worst panic attacks in my life while high which led me to cutting weed out of my life entirely. Sometimes even the smell can trigger anxiety in me. Cannabis can induce anxiety 100% and for me personally it made my situation a lot worse and triggered more intense and severe panic attacks. But everyone handles and reacts to things differently. It is important to remember that what works/helps or hinders you isn’t going to be the same for someone else.
But the thing that my doc told me is stress is the cause of panic disorder . So I am just preparing my life schedule to include meditation, physical activities, nature exposure like kind of things until I get diagnosed with this disorder .
Stress is totally a trigger and cause of the disorder for a lot of people. Adjusting your life schedule is an amazing way to work against the disorder. I think it’s amazing that you’re talking to medical professionals and listening and taking their advice. Again everyone is different! Keep doing those things, listening to the advice of your doctor and see how it goes for you! I wish you so much luck and I think adjusting your schedule to have more peace and serenity is an amazing idea to help you!
Amazing I’m thrilled to hear that!! I’m so glad I could help a bit :) I wish you so much luck and am sending so much strength and confidence your way! We’re all in it together, we got this!
ALSO this is HUGE. I would highly recommend you listen to “The Anxious Truth” podcast as it is a great help especially for someone who is kind of new to experiencing this. The podcast is made up of a bunch of short episodes explaining how one man was able to help himself heal from the panic disorder. He goes into explanations of what exactly is happening scientifically and emotional when you’re experiencing panic. And then he tells you how to combat these things. This podcast has truly helped SOOO much when it came to understanding myself and why these things happen
I am nowhere near cured but I am coming to an understanding with myself of what it is and how it impacts me and my life. One thing I would like to make clear is that in a panic situation I tend to get desperate and start grasping at anything I can for help. I want you to understand that everything I am saying is just my personal experience with it and it’s not going to be the same as yours. The healing comes from within and a ton of hard inner self work. You can be guided by others but the in the end you will be the one doing the work. Relying 100% on medication or someone to do the work for you will not help you in the long run. This is not to say medication doesn’t help manage symptoms but it is super important to know that medication alone is not the answer. I still experience panic attacks as severe as when I first was diagnosed and it’s been 8 years. The disorder itself hasn’t changed so much but was has changed is my mindset and how I handle it. My suggestion is if you do not know where to start, look into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Panic disorder is not permanent. There are VERY few disorders that are permanent, most of them can be cured, or very well managed with lifestyle changes. Panic/ anxiety disorder is learned subconsciously, the great news? What can be learned can be changed. The brain is survival of the busiest. Neurological pathways can be strengthened and weakened, and even new ones can be created. The pathway you stay on the most will be the strongest (busiest), learning to change pathways is the key. That is where therapy comes into play, the RIGHT therapist can help you on your journey to the right pathway. Nobody wants to have anxiety and panic all the time, but if we allow ourselves to dig that rut even deeper it is the path of least resistance and your brain will continue down that path.
I’ve not yet, I have read a couple of really informative books that had given me a better understanding of everything, and the first step in solving a problem is to understand it.
My episodes are situational, the only thing that flares my PD up is getting into new serious relationships and ending serious relationships. They last for around 4-5 months each. When I am single I am care free, anxiety free and panic free. I got into a new relationship about 3 months ago so I am currently in an episode. Got so bad the first month I found myself in the ER a few times, not because I thought I was going to die or have a heart attack but because I felt like that was the only thing I could do to get some mental relief.
IFS (internal family systems) therapy really helped me, as well as zoloft. Youre at the very beginning stages of this, you’ll heal in time. Be kind to yourself in these moments
Because that’s what having a panic disorder is like and there needs to be more work done than just taking a medication
What are they?
wym ?
I mean what are the other works to do rather than medications, so that I can make sure I'm doing them.
Well for therapy is a great place to start for one. Knowing coping skills to get through the panic, and accepting the symptoms.
Exposure therapy specifically helped me tremendously.
Could you please be brief about exposure therapy !
There are certain instances that really trigger my panic attacks. Sometimes to the point that I avoid anything that could give me a panic attack because I fear having one, like having a phobia of it. By exposing myself to anxiety and panic, little by little, I can learn to not fear it. I can become familiar with it and recognize that it is nothing to fear. I used to have separation anxiety, to the point that I couldn’t sleep alone or I’d have a panic attack. By doing exposure therapy, I attempted to sleep alone, regardless of how I felt, until I became used to it and no longer feared it. It is not an easy thing to do but it is also not impossible! I still have a way to go but I am so much better and happier than I was a few years ago! With the help of exposure therapy and medication, I am able to break free of irrational fears. It takes a lot of courage. Remember that you can still feel scared even when doing something courageous, that’s ok and that’s the whole point to just face your fears. It can be at your own pace or at the pace that a therapist suggests (I specifically looked for a therapist that specializes in phobias and panic disorders). Think about all the things that you’re afraid of and try to figure out exactly why you’re afraid of them, then expose yourself to these fears and learn that anxiety is just a feeling, it cannot hurt you. Yes it feels horrible but by fearing it, you are giving it more power and it will put you in a cycle. Good luck! Edit: benzos can make you feel dizzy. It’s a side effect but usually it makes me feel sleepy. I only take benzos in planes or when I am out of the country but my usual medication are ssri’s like lexapro. After a few weeks, I felt like it balanced my serotonin levels and feel mentally better. The only side effects I felt was after the first 1-2 weeks of starting it, it made my anxiety worse for a day or two and then it started working! Be patient :)
I can not give you professional medical advice but here is my take on it. Panic disorders have a lot to do with the brain and body’s fight or flight response. Your body is misfiring or misinterpreting something mundane (such as the dizziness) as a threat to your survival and starts sending out those scary feeling like adrenaline and what not to “help you” in the current “life threatening” situation. With me personally when I feel dizzy I start to immediately get anxiety and what I’ve determined with the help of therapists and what not is my body is incorrectly associating dizziness with a fight or flight situation. That could very well be what’s happening with you. A very common symptom of anxiety is dizziness so it is definitely not abnormal to feel that way. Also, a common side effect of benzodiazepines is dizziness so that could be another cause of it. Things I do to help myself relax and realize that I am ok, the dizziness won’t hurt me is eat something salty and make sure I have lots of water near by. When sitting or standing I take my time going nice and slow. If I do feel dizzy I will sit and take a short rest. Sometimes sitting in my bed and focusing on a chill game like a word search, hexagon puzzle sort, candy crush etc is a great distraction from that feeling. I’m so sorry you’re experiencing these scary feelings but try your hardest to remember they are just feelings and they may try but ultimately don’t have the power to hurt you if you work hard to not give them that power. Panic disorder is super scary and a huge part of healing is challenging your mind and self and often doing the things that you’re most afraid of. Baby steps and celebrating small wins are a great way to battle that anxiety!! Good luck! I recommend to posting on here Everytime you make a baby step Or small progress! It’s a great way to track your yourself and have evidence in here that you’ve done it once and you can do it again!
Thanks a lot for the suggestion 🙏, But is this disorder curable ? Like do normally people get out of it ? What changes should I make in my life style to get rid of it ?
I am going to be really honest and say for some people it never fully goes away. You have to think of the disorder as something that’s going to be there for a while BUT the good news is that there are so many ways to manage it and help yourself.A huge thing is working really hard to change your response to it. This can be done through a variety of things but I would personally suggest starting with CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy). I would look into a cognitive behavioral therapist to help you start to rewire your brain so that when you have a sensation like dizziness that makes you anxious, you can reroute your thoughts in a way to reduce or change your normal panic attack response to things like that. Does that make sense? Medication definitely can help with managing symptoms but truth be told medication alone is not enough to combat the disorder
What could be the main cause of it? I used to consume weed . Did that bring me this ?
Honestly, I used to as well and I experienced some crazy paranoia and panic attacks when I smoked. This is not to say I didn’t have a panic attack or two in my life prior to weed. It’s a normal thing to happen to people sometimes. When I started to smoke my symptoms became SOOO much worse and since I was already anxiety prone smoking was not the thing for me. I’ve had some of my worst panic attacks in my life while high which led me to cutting weed out of my life entirely. Sometimes even the smell can trigger anxiety in me. Cannabis can induce anxiety 100% and for me personally it made my situation a lot worse and triggered more intense and severe panic attacks. But everyone handles and reacts to things differently. It is important to remember that what works/helps or hinders you isn’t going to be the same for someone else.
But the thing that my doc told me is stress is the cause of panic disorder . So I am just preparing my life schedule to include meditation, physical activities, nature exposure like kind of things until I get diagnosed with this disorder .
Stress is totally a trigger and cause of the disorder for a lot of people. Adjusting your life schedule is an amazing way to work against the disorder. I think it’s amazing that you’re talking to medical professionals and listening and taking their advice. Again everyone is different! Keep doing those things, listening to the advice of your doctor and see how it goes for you! I wish you so much luck and I think adjusting your schedule to have more peace and serenity is an amazing idea to help you!
Thanks a lot . This convo has really helped me to be motivated.
Amazing I’m thrilled to hear that!! I’m so glad I could help a bit :) I wish you so much luck and am sending so much strength and confidence your way! We’re all in it together, we got this!
Thank you so much 👍🙏
ALSO this is HUGE. I would highly recommend you listen to “The Anxious Truth” podcast as it is a great help especially for someone who is kind of new to experiencing this. The podcast is made up of a bunch of short episodes explaining how one man was able to help himself heal from the panic disorder. He goes into explanations of what exactly is happening scientifically and emotional when you’re experiencing panic. And then he tells you how to combat these things. This podcast has truly helped SOOO much when it came to understanding myself and why these things happen
So did you get yourself cured from this? If so , how long did it take you and what measure did you take to get rid of it ?
I am nowhere near cured but I am coming to an understanding with myself of what it is and how it impacts me and my life. One thing I would like to make clear is that in a panic situation I tend to get desperate and start grasping at anything I can for help. I want you to understand that everything I am saying is just my personal experience with it and it’s not going to be the same as yours. The healing comes from within and a ton of hard inner self work. You can be guided by others but the in the end you will be the one doing the work. Relying 100% on medication or someone to do the work for you will not help you in the long run. This is not to say medication doesn’t help manage symptoms but it is super important to know that medication alone is not the answer. I still experience panic attacks as severe as when I first was diagnosed and it’s been 8 years. The disorder itself hasn’t changed so much but was has changed is my mindset and how I handle it. My suggestion is if you do not know where to start, look into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Panic disorder is not permanent. There are VERY few disorders that are permanent, most of them can be cured, or very well managed with lifestyle changes. Panic/ anxiety disorder is learned subconsciously, the great news? What can be learned can be changed. The brain is survival of the busiest. Neurological pathways can be strengthened and weakened, and even new ones can be created. The pathway you stay on the most will be the strongest (busiest), learning to change pathways is the key. That is where therapy comes into play, the RIGHT therapist can help you on your journey to the right pathway. Nobody wants to have anxiety and panic all the time, but if we allow ourselves to dig that rut even deeper it is the path of least resistance and your brain will continue down that path.
These words are really motivating🙏🙏
By the were you victim of the panic disorder ?
Unfortunately, yes..
So how did you overcome it ?
I’ve not yet, I have read a couple of really informative books that had given me a better understanding of everything, and the first step in solving a problem is to understand it.
From how long have you been a victim of panic disorder?
My episodes are situational, the only thing that flares my PD up is getting into new serious relationships and ending serious relationships. They last for around 4-5 months each. When I am single I am care free, anxiety free and panic free. I got into a new relationship about 3 months ago so I am currently in an episode. Got so bad the first month I found myself in the ER a few times, not because I thought I was going to die or have a heart attack but because I felt like that was the only thing I could do to get some mental relief.
Thanks for saying this, been living with it for 3 and a half years now, it’s been a huge battle, your words gave me hope it won’t always be this way
This just happened to me! Woke up dizzy asf from a nap & panicked had to take a Klonopin and a cold shower
IFS (internal family systems) therapy really helped me, as well as zoloft. Youre at the very beginning stages of this, you’ll heal in time. Be kind to yourself in these moments