Just so you know about panic attacks

**Posts:** 2 · by **Darlene T** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 10:33 pm

Hello everyone. I wanted to post something here so that people who are having panic attacks now know that they are not "nuts" or "crazy". It happens t a lot of people....it happened to me. I had a very bad ear infection in February of this year that caused me vertigo for about a month. Because I had the sensation of vertigo for weeks after I was diagnosed with the infection, I became afraid to go to stores for fear I would fall down. I have always been an active person, so a sedentary lifestyle is not one that I am accustomed to. Anyway, here I am, months after my illness, fearful of large rooms (when I was sick I had a dizzy feeling in a mall), afraid of having panic attacks, etc. I am seeing a psychologist and hoping for the best. I know that I am not "crazy" or "nuts"....just having a tough time right now. I'll get through it, just like each of you will, as well. The fact that we are all educating ourselves through this forum as to what we, and others, experience, is a first step in recovering. Like many of you, I have fears of fainting, dying, etc. but I manage to maintain a very good job and am believed by others to be a strong individual. Don't let anxiety/panic rule your life. Don't feel bad about feeling bad!

**Posts:** 492 · by **Mark Tyrrell** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 9:38 am

Thanks Darlene T what a wonderful post!

As you say panic attacks are jsut a normal part of human expeience. A person's essential 'emergency response' just going off in situations and times when it doesn't need to. Thanks for your input.

Mark.

**Posts:** 2 · by **Connie G** » Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:21 pm

Although I admire your strength and courage I have a few comments. I have struggled with severe panic attacks and anxiety for over 20 years and have tried every type of medication, along with numerous doctors. I seem to gain control over them for a short period of time, however, they always come back. Some of us know how it feels but some don't. I can't go grocery shopping without someone being with me or being on some type of med. I could not ever think about flying to another city let along another country. I can never go on a cruise. Some people feel like they are having a heart attack and dizzy, however, I actually pass out from the fear. I absolutely hate feeling and being like this. I am a 41 year old beautiful woman who has a very limited life, that is what life panic attacks allow me to have. I have read so many self help book, programs, everything. However, nothing get's completely rid of the fear or attacks. I am very limited in what I do not only because of the fear of the attacks but the fear of if I pass out will anyone know what to do. So I stay home, with the exception of work, which also has to be a very low key position, not anything what I should be doing with the background in business I have. So while it's great that some people don't let anxiety and panic disorder run their life it's really heart breaking knowing that some of us do not have a choice. It's horrible. So again I thank you for your comments to those who don't have severe issues and can be very imspired by your comments and on the other hand I feel even more depressed knowing that I will live the rest of my life with this awful burden and torment.

**Posts:** 248 · by **grovelli** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 1:00 pm

Connie G wrote:Some people feel like they are having a heart attack and dizzy, however, I actually pass out from the fear.

Hi Connie,
You seem to be heavily affected by the "freeze" component of the fight-flight-freeze response.
Could the rewind technique be effective in curing the "freeze" component of the fight-flight-freeze response, anyone?

Just so you know about panic attacks

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