[tri-med] Re: Panic attacks

At 08:13 AM 26/10/2005, you wrote:

>Not sure if many on the list realise that I suffer from panic attacks at
>times. They started a few years ago and are usually triggered by stress, but
>when they hit - boy......
>
>A few months ago I suffered a really severe panic attack. I couldn't answer
>the phone, leave the house, open mail (including email). Usually they arent
>that severe and only effect one or two things at a time eg email and phone,
>but I can't answer the door. Or I can go out to the shops etc but I can't
>answer the door or phone. I function, I just can't "speak" to people and so
>avoid communication. The doctor tells me that its a reaction to continually
>receiving "bad" news.
Karen thank you for having the courage to air this subject. Panic 
attacks can affect your life in a very adverse way. The oldies on the 
list may remember a few years ago I told about my panic attacks, when 
I had a devastatingly embarrassing incident (involving bowel control) 
while on holiday in Queensland. This still affects me to this day, 
but I have learned some techniques to try and overcome the panic when 
it begins. I was put to the test big time, when I was driving Tess to 
riding for the disabled, and began to feel I needed to go, the 
realisation that I could not simply pull into a service station and 
leave her in the car to go to the loo, made me initially s...t 
scared, (pun intended) then I put into effect the breathing exercises 
and positive self talk that my therapist had taught me. I made it to 
RFTD and by that time the feeling of panic had subsided.

The end result of this was a feeling of power and control over 
something I dread some times. Most of the time I'm fine, but if 
stressed or worried I'm more prone to this problem. I now won't 
attempt to go on a long bush walk, but am proud to say I can now 
attempt shorter ones.  I have wondered if it has something to do with 
lack of trust in oneself and other people over the years, perhaps 
based on past bad experiences. We all have some baggage to carry 
haven't we. But well done Karen, perhaps our "outing" will give 
others courage to discuss this very sensitive subject. Oh and I must 
say, that I've had friends express their amazement when they learn of 
my past history with panic attacks, "you're such a confident person". 
Well I am just as amazed about yours Karen. You are so clever and 
competent....just goes to show eh?  I like Susan Hardy's tag line 
about pretending to be brave when you're not, as nobody can tell the 
difference (or something like that).  

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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