Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
A:I still have them, but I have just struggled through them all my life and managed to raise three kids.
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
A:As they were younger I tried to hide it now they know and are very supportive. They have read up on it over the years
Q:Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
A: Dizziness/off balance that seems to lead to everything else.
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
A:My kids and grandkids are a big help
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory? If so, why?
A:Yes My mother also suffers with anxiety and a cousin.
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
A:Been to many drs and psyc.
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
A:Wow never thought of it as selfish............. But i guess I could feel selfish as it was so hard on my kids growing up
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
A:THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH......
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
A:Your not gonna die it's uncomfortable and take one step at at time.
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
A:It's almost hard to imagine that one. I would drive , I would do anything and everything I wanted..........
LOU
Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
A: IVE COME A WAYS.I CAN FUNCTION OUTSIDE THE HOME AND GO MOST PLACES WITHOUT COMPANY.
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
A: FORTUNATELY MY KIDS ARE GROWN AND MY OLDEST SON HAS THE AFFLICTION SO I DONT REALLY HAVE TO EXPLAIN.
Q:Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
A: THE BREATHLESSNESS . BECAUSE IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CANT BREATHE IT SEEMS TO MEAN YOU ARE DYING.
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
A: THE ONLY THING THAT GETS ME THROUGH ARE MY FRIENDS ON THE INTERNET,AND GODS COURAGE AND HELP.
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory? If so, why?
A: I BELIEVE IT COULD BE. MY SON HAS IT AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SYMPTOMS.
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
A: FOR THE MOST PART THE MEDICAL DOCTORS DONT REALLY UNDERSTAND,BUT I FOUND ONE DR. SEVERAL YEARS WHO PRESCRIBED A MEDICINE WHICH HELPED A GREAT DEAL TO CONTROL IT.
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
A: THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT SELFISH..MOST ARE VERY COMPASSIONATE,CARING AND HELFUL PEOPLE.
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
A:THATS SIMPLE...THANK YOU WITH ALL MY HEART.
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
A: THE BEST ADVICE IVE EVER GOTTEN CAME FROM THE LORD. BELIEVE IN ME,PRAY AND WORK HARD TO MAKE EVERY DAY WORTH WHILE.
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
A:I WOULD HAVE COMPLETED MY CAREER IN THE NAVY AND BEEN RETIRED FROM THAT AND PROBABLY WORKING ON ANOTHER CAREER NOW..
Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
A: I have come a long way since my first panic attack, not to say they are gone but now I know what is happening.
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
A: My children are older and are busy with their own life, so mine is not really important to them.
Q:Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
A: I fear the agoraphobia the most, although I am now starting to go to safe places. Sometimes I still have a panic attack, but what I fear the most is that I cannot focus on what I am doing. All I think about is getting out of where I am and the other day I almost lost some money, because I was so eager to get out of there.
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
A: I have a problem with the depression still. I just get overwhelmed by everything so I can't really say that I have a way of getting myself out of that yet.
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory? If so, why?
A: No, I do not think panic disorder or anxiety is hereditary. It is all in what is happening now and how capable we are to handle it. Sometimes our self has just been beaten up too much and anything would be hard to handle.
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
A: I have been treated for major depression, panic disorder, anxiety attacks and agoraphobia. With medicine and therapy for the last 3 yrs.
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
A: No we are not selfish. I can't say I enjoy this or use it as a crutch. I would love to have my life back, although I will someday it will be different
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
A: My support person is my husband and he understands thank goodness. I want to say to him Thank you for all your love and support and sometimes for that little push you give me.
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
A: My therapist is great. I have seen her for 3 yrs now and she knows why I do things before I do. I need to change the script and to start to allow myself to count and feel important
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
A: Well, I most likely would still have the job I currently held when this happened to me. It would have been 18 or 19 years. That would have been my most important accomplishment. I always wanted to prove to everyone that I could do it. Raise a family, work full time, and keep up the house etc. Now I can not do that. I have a hard enough time keeping up with the house. I would most likely be a little lighter than what I am now. But I must be thankful, that my husband is so supportive.
Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
A: Had my first panic attack when I was very young (maybe 6 years old) and am now 27. Took me a long time to find the right treatment and the right psychologist after trying just about EVERYTHING... Now am the most confident and free from panic and anxiety that I can ever remember being in my whole life.
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
A:Not applicable.
Q:Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
A: Upset stomach and feelings of panic (extreme fear)
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
A: Don't get depressed, just very sad sometimes. People gathering around me, showing they care and trying to make me feel better gets me out of the "black hole".
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory? If so, why?
A: Yes, my grandmother has agoraphobia and my mother has panic attacks when she drives and now won't drive more than a one kilometer radius from home.
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
A: Recently have been treated very, very well. When seeking treatment in the past three years most of the people I have seen in regard to anxiety (including alternative therapies as well as traditional ones) all seem to know of panic disorder. Prior to this however, not many medical people really knew much about anxiety. My "wonder" psychologist who I saw 13 times last year actually came to my home and went places with me as part of my cognitive behaviour therapy - this was a magical experience for me and I think that all psychologists treating people with anxiety and panic should practice this..
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
A: Not in the least. I think we are the most selfless people because we keep it all in because we don't want to hurt and "burden" others.
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
A: Obviously, thank you but also not to forget that I still suffer and I am not completely "cured" so don't forget me.
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
A: Try lots of different ways to beat your anxiety and panic. Listen to your thoughts (of paramount importance) and don't keep forming patterns in your life. Break the patterns. .
Q: 10: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
A: I would have more friends. I would have travelled more places. I wouldn't have changed jobs so many times. I would have had at least one long term relationship. Now however I have all this to look forward to - thank God I am only 27!
Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
A: I spent years going to M.D.'s, a psychiatrist, therapists and taking an assortment of medications. The situation got so bad I wasn't able to ride to the therapist so I gave up and remained about 80% housebound for many years. Then I joined an agoraphobic support group hosted by an agoraphobic. We pooled ideas. It was the first time I felt I was in recovery. I now feel better about myself than I have in years. I'm doing the most I have done since having P.A. but I am still very handicapped by it. If I took medication, I think I could be doing more, but right now I am satisfied.
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
A: I don't think I ever did explain to my children how I felt. They grew up seeing my terror and I guess actions speak loader than words.
Q:Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
A:The symptom I fear most is being out of control of my body and emotions. If I have a dizzy spell, then I fear it won't go away (it always goes away within minutes) or that it will return when I'm out of the house and I won't get back or I will fall and hurt myself or embarrass myself in a crowd.
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
A: I have several techniques for dragging myself out of that black hole: I give myself 20 minutes to wallow in my self pity (cry, feel angry, or whatever). If that doesn't work, I share my blues with friends who also have struggled against it (without repeatedly boring them) and listen to their feedback. I repeat affirmations or read inspiring books. I work on simple projects that don't involve decision-making. (I force myself to just gather the material, then I force myself to do just the first step, then force myself to do the next step, and so on ) Playing happy music does wonders and so does stepping outdoors or taking a walk.
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory? If so, why?
A: I don't know. None of my relatives or children have it. My guess, in my case, would be that it has more to do with an insecure childhood, inferiority complex, poor coping skills in stressful situations, faulty diet and lack of exercise. I believe that it is a chemical imbalance but I am also aware that how we think, what we eat and exercising affect our chemistry. Reminds me of: "What came first, the chicken or the egg?"
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
A:The medical profession has treated me skeptically.
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
A: No, I don't think sufferers of P.A. are selfish. We don't go all places and do all things people want us to do, but we also miss out on a lot of places and things that are important to us. I try hard to go places that are important to my family but I wouldn't put myself through that kind of agony just for myself! I think we do a lot of "swap offs" to compensate for our handicap. When we need a support person by our side, it probably looks like we are possessive and selfish
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
A: I'd like to say: "This disorder has been a big burden. I thank all of you for help and understanding. I couldn't have done it without you!."
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
A: I've been given several words of wisdom. I'll list them in the order of their importance: "Learn to say 'So What'!" .....Pat P. "Don't let other people put you down. Feel good about yourself"...Eileen "Accept the feelings of panic and let them pass."....Dot "When you try to do something difficult, don't put a lot of pressure on yourself to do it perfectly. Instead, tell yourself you are just practicing."...Merial "It's always darkest before the dawn." ...Lorraine M. "Life is just an illusion."....Avis "Keep it simple.".....Pat P.
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
A: If I didn't have panic disorder, I'd like to travel to visit my children when I feel like it, promote my home business and be socially active in worthwhile community clubs..
Other comments... I think we are fortunate that more is being discovered and disclosed about Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder, and Agoraphobia in this decade. However, I think many T.V. movies misrepresent the victims. They show the misery we go through but then they show a complete recovery after the patient talks once to a doctor or goes through one difficult ordeal! I think that family, friends and people in general, watching such shows might get the idea that it's that easy and fast. Don't we wish it was!
Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
A: Since my first panic attack, I have come very far. I degressed into being house bound, and not even able to barely eat anything because my stomach was so much in knots. I am on meds now and have the ability to drive up to 1/2 hour with no one else in the car. I can stay at home alone now, and am definately not house bound anymore.
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
A: My children are 2 and 4 so I just tell them "Mommy doesn't feel good." I don't want them to know I'm scared because then they could become scared too.
Q: Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
A: I fear the symptom of the Fight or Flight reflex the most because I feel like I am completely out of control when that happens.
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
A: The black hole of depression is very hard to climb out of, but music helps. I put Collin Raye on as loud as possible and sing and dance around the living room! If that doesn't help, I spend time with the kids and thanking God for all the good things in my life and tell myself that it is not healthy to be depressed.
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory? If so, why?
A: I don't know if it hereditary, but I know it can be learned. I do think that there is a tendency to have it if your family members have it. My father, mother, aunt, and grandmother all have it. But the dr. has told me mine probably stems from a childhood tragedy I went through when I was 4.
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
A: The medical profession has treated me very well, I think. They are caring and supportive.
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
A: Sufferers are selfish yes, but we can't help it. fear causes us to think of ourselves first.
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
A: I treasure the support of my support person, who first is God, then my husband. I don't know where I'd be without them.
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
A: My therapist told me the best thing to do in an attack is try to relax. Lay down, count to 10, and breathe. This is extremely hard, but once I finally do it, I start to calm down.
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
A: If I didn't have panic disorder, I think my lifestyle would be wilder, and maybe not smart. I wouldn't have the caution I have now. If my panic disorder was gone, I think I would be a little more care free. But I have learned to exercise caution with things, and that is a good thing, but without the disorder, I would have a full-time job and have more self confidence.
Q: How far have you come since you had your first panic attack?
A:In the beginning of the anxiety and agoraphobia disorder, I couldnt go more than a few blocks from my home, eat in a restaurant, or to crowded places such as grocery stores, department stores etc....I even had to quit my job and go on disability. Today, I am proud to say I can go a good distance from home, go to any mall or store and eat comfortably in a restaurant. And, I am back to work!
Q: How do you explain how you are feeling to your child (children)
A: When I run in to something I cant do, I simply am honest with my children. I feel this is the best way. I dont want them to feel ashamed of me so I feel talking to them takes the "stigma" away and will help them to feel comfortable knowing that mom has some problems and there are times she cant do what they want but it is not because she dont want to. And to understand that day by day, minute by minute she is getting better with their help.
Q: Which symptom do you fear most...and why?
A: My biggest symptom was the feeling of not being able to breath. To me that meant I would pass out or die.
Q: When you are depressed, what helps you climb out of that "black hole"?
A: A nice bath, candles, a good book, prayers!
Q: Do you think that panic disorder/anxiety is hereditory? If so, why?
A: I think panic disorder is caused by many things. It can be heriditary, or caused by medical problems that could include hormones, chemical imbalance, etc.... Also, from a stressful situation, or living in a bad environment as a child and not "dealing" with your emotions etc.
Q: How have you been treated by the medical profession?
A: In the area I live, unfortunately there are no doctors that are really familiar with this disorder. They are still learning!
Q: Do you think sufferers of panic/anxiety are selfish?
A: I think panic disorder sufferers are no different than anyone else, meaning that panic disorder dont make you selfish..... A person who is phobic may have a fear of being left alone..... that is not being selfish for they feel that if they are left alone they will die, pass out etc,,, They are trying to feel protected.
Q: What would you like to say to your support person(s)
A: There is one person who has truly supported me through this disorder. His name is Chris and even though he has never went through a panic attack he realizes how real they are to me and he has helped me many times by just listening to me and praying with me. He is always positive and refused to let me give up.
Q: What would you consider the best advice given you..and if so, by whom?
A: The best advise is that a panic attack will never kill you and if you dont over react to them they will get less severe.
Q: If you didn't have panic disorder, what would be your life-style today?
A: If I didnt have panic disorder, I would probably be very weak! Panic disorder has taught me respect of others and most of all it taught me to depend on God and put all things in his hands.
