I wanted to share my story.
Hopefully by sharing my story it will help someone.
I have had panic/ Anxiety attacks for as long as I can
remember.
For years I thought I was crazy or going crazy because I
would have these feelings or sensations that would happen out of no where.
For a long time, Doctors couldn’t explain what I had… I
wasn’t having an attack when I was in the doctor’s office…
Later on they knew it was panic/ anxiety disorder but had
no ways on how to help me.
I started to read or watch videos on other people’s
stories.
It helped me feel like I am not alone.
In this video I go more into depth on what and how I deal
when I have an attack.
There are several different symptoms of an attack and
everyone is different.
The way I like to explain it to someone who hasn’t had a
panic attack is:
You are driving down the road, a pedestrian jumps onto
the road, you are just about to crash into the pedestrian – that moment of
panic is what someone with this disorder feels, except it is for 10 – 20
minutes, multiple times a day at random times.
A full-blown panic attack includes a combination of the
following signs and symptoms:
- Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
- Heart palpitations or a racing heart
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Trembling or shaking
- Choking feeling
- Feeling unreal or detached from your surroundings
- Sweating
- Nausea or upset stomach
- Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint
- Numbness or tingling sensations
- Hot or cold flashes
- Fear of dying, losing control, or going crazy
Sometimes it is triggered by something, for example,
someone with Social Anxiety might be triggered by being in a crowded movie theater.
For me it can also happen at random times, I will be
walking down the street and all of a sudden have an attack.
Here are some ways I have found help me when I am having
a panic attack.
-
Minimizing the sensation, making it not a big
issue - basically telling myself “it’s only an attack, you’ll be just fine”
-
Thinking of “Happy Thoughts”, I love the
mountains, I will imagine I am in the mountains – looking at the scenery etc.
-
Using a relaxing scent – lavender helps me
feel calm and relaxed. I will put a few drops of lavender oil onto a cloth and
keep it in my pocket or purse, if I have an attack I will smell the cloth and
feel calm
It is really great because there is so much info on this
disorder, especially on the internet.
I find hearing people’s stories help me – it gives me
that sense of normalcy.
I really hope this helps you either feel like you aren’t
alone in this disorder or helps someone who knows someone with the disorder
understand what they are going through.
Please share any comments, tips, or your story in the
comment section below or by email: lovingyoujen19@gmail.com,
I would love to hear them!
~Jennifer
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