Panic Attacks Support Group

I've been hearing seeing this alot on the board, and I have done and said this myself.

Why are we restricting our lives, to the point we don't do what we enjoy, because of the possiblity of having a panic attack?

We know it can't harm us or kill us?

We have them for known and unknown reasons anyway.

So wouldn't it make more sense to do what you love, even if it means risking having a panic attacks.

Would you rather have it alone at home, unhappy and afraid or out there doing something fun? Chances are, we may have more panic attacks in the future, and we may not. So try to do something you have put off since you developed panic disorder and see is it worth taking a risk to live again?

Just a thought. I rather panic doing something fun than not doing and scared. So what is the worse thing that would happen if I did have a panic attack while in the ocean on my bodyboard or at the movies, I'll get over it in time, like I have every other time, but I got to enjoy my life regardless.

so true phil...

Phil,

I agree with you. Also maybe a person won't have a panic attack?

I think that we avoid things because of fears and "triggers" and we have done things in the past that may have caused us to panic so we automatically assume that we will panic again in the same set of circumstances. But maybe we will not panic? Isn't it worth the chance to see? Why deprive ourselves the chance to do something that we really want to do in life for fear of the "what ifs" better to try and see what happens.

What is the worst that can happen?

Maybe you will have fun?

for me personally right now, anxiety is 24/7 so i am constantly with tight chest, shortness of breath,ect...its exhausting. but i do know that it shall pass. and when it does i hope very much to adopt the f it attitude towards panic. it will be difficult and scary but that is my goal, to live without regard to anxiety and panic.

mandieo,

I have to put this thought out there....Let me know what you think.

I don't think that a person cannot ever fully wait until they have no panic and or no anxiety in order to try things. I think that for some people there will always be a certain degree of anxiety and or panic.

So what if a person just tries something outside their "comfort zone" for lack of a better term and sees what might happen.

Maybe the panic will pass if you give it a chance and maybe the anxiety will get less and less the more you try to do something that you fear.

Make sense? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks! {Hugs}

it does and thats absolutely the way i was doing things before this awful set back. ive never been quite this bad. its like i have no control anymore at all. so right now i am taking meds just to try to break the cycle. because i was getting no relief. it was getting hard to do anything at all. it was overwhelming to the point that i felt hopeless. i have an extreme case to the point that i would be hospitalized if i had health insurance. but i have hope nonetheless.

mandieo,

You are not hopeless and there is always hope.

Philphil yeah this is what books about ACT are about and the books Ive read like Get out of your mind and into your life or Mindfullness through anxiety too...etc

mandieo,

I can relate to you as I am new to all of this. I found the best way to dealing with "not going crazy" is by just praying and reading the bible. I am not trying to put religion on anyone, but this has helped me find peace within my self.

Hang in there and it will all work out.

on the topic of medication, though i think it is this world and its pace that have led to my horrible anxiety, im also grateful thatit offers medication that can help. im no longer all that afraid of these meds. they have helped me break a hideous cycle. i was no longer in control. morning noon and night shaking, tense, short of breath, the list goes on. but with a few pills i am able to exist in peace. i dont really care what it takes. i just want my life back. and yes mike i do have the Lord in my life and He brings me great comfort. but unlike you i am not new to this. i really am glad that you are dealing with theseproblems in their infancy because once they get too advanced it can be a rough path back up. good luck to you mike, it sounds like you have a loving supportive wife which is a huge help