Panic Attacks Support Group

Does anyone else in this group ever experience racing thoughts? For me I might be laying down and my mind will start wondering from subject to subject fairly rapidly. This dosn't happen too often but it does cause anxiety. I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this before.

Yeah I do! I have racing thoughts and also obsessive thoughts. I also have a tendency towards paranoia lately. Like one thing happens and I fear the worst and imagine a horrible scenario.

Hey Mik!

You're not the only one... I also have a brain that just doesn't shut off! Especially when I am idle or going to bed.. It's always on the go... from one topic to the other, good or bad... what I try to do... distraction... I bought this hand held solitaire game that I always play before bed. It's back lit so I can play in the dark, in bed, with out annoying my husband and I stay focused on the game that I don't have racing thoughts and eventually I tire and fall asleep playing the game and fortunately the game turns it self off. Sometimes I'll tire enough to put the game away and then sleep comes without problem. I used to read before bed or journal but I found that it wasn't enough of a distraction... but you're definitely not alone with this one!

Finally

Oh my yes this is everyday and every minute that I am not focused on something else and then sometimes it even sneaks its way in. I think about my future, what is going to happen with my life, the fact that I don't go out much anymore....It seems like it never ends. Finally- its funny that you say that about the solitare game. I too use that as a coping mechanism for the racing thoughts and even when I am having panic attacks. It does help a little.

Absolutely! My mind started racing since this panic disorder started along with many other things. One of the things I like to do that works is I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. I tell myself that I am inhaling. Then I tell myself that I am exhaling. Oh, and I use my abdominal muscles to do the deep breathing exercises. It not only helps calm your mind, you are working your abdominal muscles and if you do it at night, it helps you sleep better because the breathing has a relaxing effect. I hope you find comfort soon =)

All the time Mik, mine get so warped time passes and i just go blank after a while, time just dissapears. Mine always come on at the peak of a panic attack, throw in the anger issues and social anxiety and its fucks me up completely. I know what situations are bad for me, so i steer clear.

What frightens me about my racing thoughts is sometimes my thoughts dont make sense, I might go from subject to subject, and the subjects are not related. My mind will start racing with thoughts that are not connected. My true fear with this is that I might have bipolar, however I dont experience the manic phases associated with bipolar, and when I get depressed its usually due to anxiety. Does this make sense? Thanks for the replies.

Makes perfect sense Mik, i think the anxiety multiplies our thoughts, the more we get paniced and stressed , the more the thoughts build and start to race. You take medication for depression and anxiety?

Lloyd.

Yes Im on 200mg of Zoloft, it seems to help some.

Thanks,

Mik

Do any of you participate in structured therapy sessions? Not just talk therapy, but some type of biofeedback, neurofeedback, CBT, or meditation. It deffinately trains the brain to be different.

xoxoxo

JuJuZ