Apollo
05.22.13 | Through the days, out and about I'm good. Life is good. Lots of changes but I know in the end they are for the best. New city, new apartment, new jobs...just a new start. Never had anxiety or panic attacks in my life. All of a sudden I'm completely fucking crippled. Anyone on this site dealt with this? How did you cope? How long did it last? Any stories would be greatly appreciated because I'm losing it here. |
Trebor17
05.22.13 | My friend gets them |
Kman418
05.22.13 | i get them like once a week, they suck man. honestly the way i usually do with it is through music, there's a certain set of albums i have that tend to get my mind off it whenever one happens for me (usually really chaotic/fun/intense/fast paced stuff). anything that's super energetic and you can sing/yell along to really easily tends to work the best for me, i just try to focus all my attention on that and after like 30 minutes it'll be over. that's actually one of the main reasons i even started getting more interested in music, since it's basically therapeutic for me
but i dunno from what i've seen it's pretty different for everyone, seeing a psychologist or getting some form of professional help is always an option. |
Necrotica
05.22.13 | all 3 for me |
ilovetree
05.22.13 | ASMR supposedly helps. |
Trebor17
05.22.13 | He takes meds |
Vespiion
05.22.13 | Long-time sufferer. It's not easy. Different people deal with the disorder in different ways, but I recovered from my most extreme bout with a combination of medication and counseling.
It started when I was a freshman in high school. I was at a Thanksgiving party, and all of a sudden everything just seemed wrong. It's like I suddenly came to the conclusion that my life was temporary and fragile, and I started hyperventilating in fear that I was going to die. For weeks, I was unable to function because of the constant anxiety. I finally went on Prozac and got some professional counseling to help me learn to cope.
As far as coping mechanisms, I'll turn on one of my favorite albums and just walk. Walk without a purpose or destination, just to let it out. I know it's tough man, but just stick through it. |
Kman418
05.22.13 | walking definitely helps a lot too yeah |
Apollo
05.22.13 | Thanks for sharing Kman.
I've only been going through it for 2 weeks so I'm going to ride it out for a bit longer and see what happens. |
KSK1
05.22.13 | I'm not gonna tell my story cause I could write a novel, but I'm dealing with some mental/emotional imbalances myself and the only way to deal is to think positive and keep occupied. I don't know what is causing your issue but whatever subject matter is at the core of your issue needs to be kept in the back of your mind. Go out with friends, pick up shifts at work, volunteer, take up a hobby, start a new TV series and watch all the seasons, or whatever you can. I'm not to the point of needing medication and probably never will be but i've had some serious breakdowns over the past 8 months or so and you just need to re-prioritize and make other things more important. Also remember that this kind of thing is completely normal in most people. |
Apollo
05.22.13 | Vespiion I'm going to try the walking tomorrow. I've heard exercise is a really good way to cope. Thanks for the help. |
Uranium
05.22.13 | I get bad anxiety in class, like I feel like everyone is looking at me (which they probably are since I'm a hunk) |
KSK1
05.22.13 | Yeah walking/driving are both great ways to clear your head |
Apollo
05.22.13 | Thanks KSK. I've been cooped up not working for the last two weeks, whereas I spent the last 8 months working two jobs at least 50 hours a week and many 70 hours a week. Soon as I stopped to come down to where I live now I've felt emotionally unstable, anxious, and panicked. Keeping busy definitely seems to be the key. |
tommygun
05.22.13 | "as far as coping mechanisms, I'll turn on one of my favorite albums and just walk. Walk without a purpose or destination, just to let it out"
this has been very therapeutic to me during tough periods
i can't say i've experienced what you're going through though - i'm kinda the other way in that i've felt almost total apathy about everything in life for the last eighteen months or so... i drink a lot though
sending good vibes your way man, hope you can kick this in the ass |
Wolfhorde
05.22.13 | "Also remember that this kind of thing is completely normal in most people."
Uhh, no. It actually isn't, being depressive, having certain insecurities and anxieties? Yeah, probably. Having depressions, anxiety ATTACKS and paranoia attacks? Believe it or not, that's mostly actually an imbalance in the brain - often a 'neuronal screwup'.
Watch this: http://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_insel_toward_a_new_understanding_of_mental_illness.html |
SupercolliderMusic
05.22.13 | Interestingly enough, people who share a common love for music are more likely to share in a minor mental condition such as depression or anxiety. I got put on Zoloft recently and it hasn't been helping much. I have a string of albums I like to play too when I am feeling a certain way. That, and hanging out with a couple friends really calms me down/lightens my mood. I'd recommend becoming a more social individual.
Ever since I was diagnosed with 'depression' (such a broad term) I have had a lot of trouble with confidence around people I care about. I have always been a pretty confident person, but ever since all of this - it's like I can't even sit still without feeling uncomfortable around certain people. I hate it. Music, my friend. Associate certain melodies with those feelings. That's what I do. |
Necrotica
05.22.13 | My problems started during sophomore year of high school, when everything around me started going wrong. Grades were bad, I started to lose all my friends as my more bi-polar personality started to really unfold, and I didn't really care about life anymore. I almost hung myself behind the school but decided I wasn't ready to let myself go. Since then, I've constantly been teetering between happiness and a mix of deep depression and sudden anxiety attacks, knowing I could die at any moment by my own hand or someone else's. I went to a psychologist for a few years to help me work things out and cope with my mental instability. My family has a history of depression, so I have a feeling it's something I'll continue to have since it seems to be in my genes. But at least I'm trying. I try to get some positive music going and work out or take a walk... usually calms me down during the day. Also, it's one of the reasons I listen to so much metal... I love having the feeling of pride and raw energy it brings. |
RosaParks
05.22.13 | have dealt with all three over the past 4-5 years and I guess one day I was able to see some sort of light and just stop being so negative and really live in the moment instead of worrying so much about random stuff and letting it crush me. I wish I had some epiphany that could be your answer, but it's different for everyone and I can't really pinpoint what made my life better. I still have problems every once in awhile but as long as I keep myself busy, I get along fine. |
chupacabraisreal
05.22.13 | Man we are all just a bunch of sad lonely fuckers aren't we. |
Necrotica
05.22.13 | ^ Indeed we are :[ |
SupercolliderMusic
05.22.13 | "^ Indeed we are :[" [2] |
lately
05.22.13 | Honestly exercise and watching Star Trek are the perfect stress relievers
And when I say exercise I'm referring to all forms of cardio
This is the natural way also gets lots of proper sleep and don't stay up late bro |
Vespiion
05.22.13 | Yeah, the later I stay up the more likely I am to have an attack. |
SupercolliderMusic
05.22.13 | The later I stay up, the more alone I feel.
My dad always told me, "Nothing good ever happens after midnight."
I used to think it was a load of bullshit. |
peaks40
05.22.13 | "^ Indeed we are :[ [3]
change begins within |
EverythingEvil2113
05.22.13 | I've been there and I agree with what everyone is saying about keeping busy. I've been on depression meds since I was 16 and those helped for a while until last year when I graduated college. I had no money, no job, and had to move back in with my parents away from all my friends. I started getting panic attacks in the middle of the night and whenever I was in crowds (had one at a concert and had to bolt out of there).
In the last 6 months though I got a good M-F job, started working out, got my own place, and even now help out on my little sister's softball team and I couldn't be happier. So it does get better and don't be afraid to talk to a professional about this stuff, that's what I did when I started having the occasional suicidal thought and I haven't had one in a long time now. Hang in there. |
slipnslide
05.22.13 | go on a spirit quest xd |
Wolfhorde
05.22.13 | "Honestly exercise"
This.
"And when I say exercise I'm referring to all forms of cardio"
Doesn't matter, 2x of HIIT or 20-30 minute strength training an already elevate mood, reduce stress and enhance sleep. Going for a walk/hike can be pretty good though (especially in 'natural areas'), at which pace you do it is up to you. |
Spec
05.22.13 | Best thing for a panic attack is going for a walk I found. It's sort of hard to get outside though once it starts. They're terrifying.
Also if you wanna go the medication route, 20mg of cipralex a day has been doing wonders for me. |
Spec
05.22.13 | Also take Wellbutrin, Seroquel and Dexedrine. Woot. |
Ponton
05.22.13 | http://www.sputnikmusic.com/list.php?memberid=422135&listid=112514 |
acorncheese
05.22.13 | wow, quite a bit of us have been through this, then. i'm not gonna share my full story, but i'm now about 2 very successful years removed from being practically bed ridden from anxiety and panic disorder. you can hit me up on facebook if you wanna talk about it. shout box me if you wanna connect on fb. |
Apollo
05.22.13 | No kidding Chupa. One day life's good then your mind starts tearing you down.
|
auberginedreams
05.22.13 | i've had a combination of depression, ocd, and tourettes for the last decade or so. it sucks hard. i take a lot of meds. i'm usually able to control it pretty well in public though so only my family and close friends know. but it's basically fucked up my life. |
Apollo
05.22.13 | Thanks Acorn |
Puzzles
05.22.13 | @Apollo, I was like this in a very similar way for about a year, and only got over it a few months ago. I can honestly tell you that acknowledging the root cause of my anxiety and engaging myself in other shit meant that I eventually got past it. Making this list was a turning point for me; I think that if you read the advice some people gave, you may find a way out of the panic attacks and general anxiety you've been feeling. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/list.php?memberid=434137&listid=116807 |
DrMaximus
05.22.13 | "Interestingly enough, people who share a common love for music are more likely to share in a minor mental condition such as depression or anxiety."
No wonder we're all depressed fucks. |
Pawpnbawtlez
05.22.13 | dude ive totally been experiencing the same things as u lately.
Ive never had problems before... ive been fine. im 22.
2 weeks ago i had my first panic attack over nothing... it was fucking hectic, i was in the middle of a crowd of about 500 people at a concert.
|
peaks40
05.22.13 | dat condition |
JokineAugustus
05.22.13 | Just the big D for me. But who doesn't suffer some good D here and there. |
peaks40
05.22.13 | ^change begins within |
JokineAugustus
05.22.13 | Its only seasonal though. I was plenty worse a year ago. |
Apollo
05.22.13 | Smoking weed is sounding pretty good right about now...I've been sober (drugs) for over 6 years so I don't want to break that streak. Gonna go for a big walk/run tomorrow, hit up buying some salads and fruits, get myself outta the house most of the day and see how it goes. Really appreciate the outpouring of advice from you guys. Nice to see Sputnik come together like this. |
Spec
05.22.13 | Just started doing oxy it feels like heaven but yeah drugs are probs a bad idea. |
Apollo
05.22.13 | No drugs haha Spec
Gotta be honest I've been using booze to help me sleep though. Gotta stop that, it's only gonna make things worse in the long term |
Spec
05.22.13 | Seroquel is a much better option. It knocks you out and isn't addictive. That's what I have no so I don't have to drink myself to sleep every night. |
Apollo
05.22.13 | Never heard of it, is it a drug?
|
peaks40
05.22.13 | ^meditate
change begins within |
ViralOblivion
05.22.13 | Why would you do oxy? Shit is fucking stupid
Smoke weed |
lately
05.22.13 | Best wishes bro I believe you can accomplish your goals. |
ilovetree
05.22.13 | try this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a6g3lksYUU
|
MosesMalone
05.22.13 | I don't have it nearly as bad as most of you. I try my hardest to keep nerves of steel about everything, but oddly enough, once every few weeks to every couple of months I have a sudden panic attack that just sucks the life out of me. It's almost never in response to anything; in fact, it usually just feels like I took the wrong step, or breathed the wrong way, or something silly like that, and then my heart starts racing and I all but hit the floor. I feel like smoking a lot keeps it at bay (probably not true), and getting high while in the middle of an attack calms me down. |
Spec
05.22.13 | Because oxy is fucking heaven.
Yeah seroquel is an anti psychotic used off label as a sleep aid. |
Apollo
05.22.13 | Trouble Will Find Me is the soundtrack to my life lately. Really helps with all the issues. |
Scoot
05.22.13 | not depressed at all but i have plenty of friends who are
one in particular is quite bad |
auberginedreams
05.22.13 | "Seroquel is a much better option. It knocks you out and isn't addictive. That's what I have no so I don't have to drink myself to sleep every night."
i used to take that stuff but it started giving me weird side effects. like i'd be playing a video game before bed and i'd start having weird hallucinations where i was inside the game and stuff. so now i take ambien or something. |
Dodecahedron
05.22.13 | I've got a bit of SA and depression, the only thing that really takes my mind off it is music. |
Spec
05.22.13 | Hmm no hallucinations or anything. That sounds kind of cool though haha. |
Spec
05.22.13 | Makes me really hungry after I take it though. |
ILJ
05.22.13 | damn sputnik you sad
i don't think i've ever had panic attacks thank christ, but i think my girlfriend is starting to have them. anyway, i've been dealing with depression since i was in the 7th grade. one day i just was extremely unhappy, and for years i struggled with thoughts about suicide. i'm a lot better with that stuff now but i still have days where everything just feels wrong and i feel like i'm going nowhere. some days everything just feels stale and shit. i wish i didn't get that way because i know i have a lot to be thankful and happy for and most of the time i am but what can ya do? for the most part i'm a normal functioning human being but i go through spells. i usually just try to distance myself from everybody for a bit and occupy myself, the alone time seems to help. |
RogueNine
05.22.13 | I never had any panic attacks, and maybe a couple anxiety attacks, but what I really used to struggle with was depression. I believe I had to plod through it for four years, with most of it centered around my middle school days. First I moved to a brand new place, and then just when I got comfortable, I transfered to a different school. That place made me feel as if the whole world was against me. Easily the darkest two years of my life. Medication did nothing for my depression. Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Celexa, Lexapro, and Prozac...none of them helped. So I guess what brought me out of it was time. I matured emotionally, and the high school I attended was the greatest relief ever. Keep your friends close; they're the ones who made my world brighter, and I think I ultimately healed because of them. |
auberginedreams
05.22.13 | "Makes me really hungry after I take it though."
yeah ambien does too, i think i've gained weight since i started taking it because i eat so much at night now. |
StrangerofSorts
05.22.13 | Not going to diagnose you here, but hey... why the fuck not.
I'm going through a very similar thing atm, but instead of it all hitting me after a move it hit me just before. I'm pretty sure it had something to do with a nice mix of isolation and uncertainty. Anyway, I'm just about clawing myself back now by keeping myself busy and focusing on a couple of self-improvement things, like working out, cooking, writing etc. It might not be the same for you, but it affected me a lot more when I felt like I was being useless. |
JKoppe
05.22.13 | I've had depression/anxiety for the past couple of years, (I'm 19) and I think I've almost broken out of it with the right combination of meds. I think one of the biggest factors for me is how it affected my motivation and drive, and I've been told that I could relapse if I go off my medication. I find that keeping friends and family close has probably kept me from self-harm, but there were times when I felt really alone. I've only had a panic attack once and it wrecked me for quite a while. My advice would be to make wonderful relationships with people and treasure them. |
bakkermaarten007
05.22.13 | 1) don't take advice from people who never had anxiety disorders, they won't understand even how hard they try.
2) don't avoid situations that make you anxious, it'll only make it worse. (biggest mistake I've made)If you face them it can help at make you see there is nothing to fear.
3) if you use drugs to numb your anxiety, take a break from time to time. It's amazing how quickly you depend on them.
4) Avoid drinking too much alcohol or coffee, it triggers the anxiety.
5) Analyse whenever you have a panic attack, to understand is to overcome.
6) Know that what you fear is irrational, but the symptoms are very real.
7) If you feel a panic attack coming up, don't be afraid to get out of the place you're stuck in. People will maybe look at you but will think nothing of it.
8) The book When Panic Attacks by David MD Burns helped me a little, thoug by the time I read it I had mostly figured out a way out myself.
9) Be aware that panic attacks and depression are closey linked to one another, if you think you may be depressed or your anxiety causes you to be depressed. Act soon, it escalates rather quickly =/
10) Be aware that panic attacks almost always strike the kind-hearted, it is a nice person disease so to speak. I wish you all the best! |
bakkermaarten007
05.22.13 | Oh and when I mentioned drugs, I meant medicines of the group benzodiazepines.
Watch out for antidepressants, a lot of people end up taking them all of their lives. Although in
some cases it can be life saver (suicidal depressed)
Edit: A short little bit about my anxiety...I've been having it for three years now. When I have an
attack I sweat extremely much, get dizzy and pale as a corpse, a hot day tends to trigger them and
also when I'm in a room or a conversation where I can't get out immediately. Now my anxiety is at
the lowest point in those three years. A little trick I used in the beginning were cold bottles of
water I purchased from the vending machine. I took them in my hands when I started to feel panicky
so I got colder. I also had this boots with zip closure on the sides so I could open them to feel
more fresh and relaxed.
In case it still got too worse I took a pill of Clotiazepam out of my wallet unnoticed before I let
the anxiety take over. |
coocoocachoo
05.22.13 | I have it too, and to make it worse, a speech impediment
This year (junior year of high school) has been rough on me because I've had to do so many presentations (mostly in my History class), but honestly, it's helped dramatically.
Not to mention, and shamefully enough, I pretty much foiled my first job (waiter) due to anxiety and panic disorders.
I mow lawns now/do landscaping...but I actually make good money so yeah |
coocoocachoo
05.22.13 | And yes, I could say i'm a long time sufferer. I'm only 17 too, but hopefully it will get easier in the long run |
lately
05.22.13 | i thought you were older than that beach |
coocoocachoo
05.22.13 | no i'm 17 yeah |
MetallicOpeth
05.22.13 | "Man we are all just a bunch of sad lonely fuckers aren't we."
nope farthest thing from it, keep your chins up lads m/ |
ZilbelPing
05.22.13 | Same with MO m/
Going for a walk is like the ultimate stress reliever no matter what, though. |
jungletiger
05.22.13 | Had quite a few panic attacks in my day. Many little ones and a few BIG ones. One of the big ones was after i had weed firecrackers, thought i was dying. And the worst was a whole weekend of super strong panic attacks, with 30 minute to 1 hour breaks it would go up and down climax and crash. It was fucking scary fucking painful fucking scary. I was crying, thought i was dying didnt sleep it was awful. Took drugs for it thats how bad it was. I always refuse drugs. Because ive had experience with depression and anxiety for years. Im doing pretty good now.
I'd say go outside everyday walk by the river somewhere by nature. Do it for at least 30 minutes everyday. Even on your lazy sundays!!! And from there gym friends funny movies and slowly build some positive thinking. Thats the best i can say. Dont fuck with drugs |
ButteryBiscuitBass
05.23.13 | I used to suffer from anxiety attacks, couldn't sleep and always thought I was dying, a headache turned into a brain tumor in my mind, etc. I think at the time I was very unhappy living with my ex and that could have been the cause of my sadness, as when we finished they gradually died down to nothing. I tried all sorts though, green tea, healthier eating, not drinking as much alcohol, and nothing worked. It was my unhappy mind fucking me up.
Is there anything getting you down? |
mifzal
05.23.13 | get some clean oxygen. Just stay away from the refrigerator as much as possible. |
ViralOblivion
05.23.13 | "Because oxy is fucking heaven. "
You're fucking retarded beyond belief |
wacknizzle
05.23.13 | I have been deeling with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks but none of it ever made me wanna listen to the National. |
NeoSpaz
05.23.13 | I ran away from it. Regularly.
Still do. Always been good at avoiding this sort of stuff. Don't want meds either. |