Hello everyone,needed some advice and help. Since December I have been having panic attacks that begin with I hope I am usung the right term abbrev. dp/dr and end up full blown panic attacks suddenly my house,my reflection, even the sound of my own voice seems unfamiliar and it is terrifying I feel like I am losing myself if that makes sense. I am home with 2 small kids and we are filing for bankruptcy and trying to sell our home to short sale in lieu of foreclosure and that does not look promising and foreclosure may be the only way and our taxes are not paid and penalties are adding up.In addition to all of that we are dealing with a very unkind neighbor.Are these the kind of things that cause dp/dr or would I get these attacks anyway without $ problems? I went to see a psychologist and described this and she suggested a referral to a psychiatrist and a stay in the mental ward of a hospital because of my unreality feelings this of course has sent me into even more fear.Is this therapist correct? I am even more afraid she is I would appreciate any suggestions greatly.Thank you

I too have been suffering through the same stuff. I have been having financial problems and also suffer with dp/dr. It is really frightning. You are not losing your mind It is all stress related. Did your doctor say why she wanted you7 to stay in the hospital for this?

Hey Corky1 Thank you so much for responding! I walked into my session anxious and she asked me to describe why I was there and as soon as I said I feel like I am losing touch with reality she suggested a stay and followed that statement up with what would be the harm? it's only a few days....I never went back to her. So the mirror fear and unfamiliar objects even my own voice that is all part of this? It really gets me in while I am driving and so I have become fearful of driving anywhere alone is this all realted? and how do I stop?

I can promise you it is ok the fact that you know what it is does not mean your losing touch with reality. I am not goingh to lie it is very scary but you are ok. I have had this for 2 years. It will get better. It is anxiety and deppression getting the best of you. Don't go back to that doctor find another one. If you need to talk or compare notes please feel free to E-mail me. you are not alone I have a great therapist and shrink who always reasure me it will get better. Hang in there.

Thank you again for your kind words and advice -it really means alot I just feel like I am out there alone and I'll never make it back - you are right it it horrifying. Some days I feel like my old self again and then there it goes - the bottom of my stomach drops out and all of the sudden nothing not even myself or my family seems familiar and sometimes a family gathering will trigger this on my way home and intensifies when I do arrive home. It is a HUGE comfort to know that other people go thru this and Thank you for not confirming the therapists suggestion - I was afraid to post that and hear that suggestion again. It would be a lifeline to compare notes thanks again

wow i get like that too. and especially when im driving. its scary. and i feel like im crazy and not myself but people on this forum have always said its a symptom of anxiety/depression ( i believe that) and it doesn tmean youre going crazy and i cant believe that therapist told you that. that really upsets me. obviously they know nothing about panic disorder.. by the way i feel like alot of therapist dont know what Dr/dp are. its like i know more than they do. what i have been doing when i feel DR/DP is tell myself its just a feeling and it cant hurt me. but when i get DR is when i usually start to get my panic attacks and thats why i have to tell myself its ok its just a feeling. i started getting that feeling last yr when i started taking celexa. i had never really had them before that i know of. it was the stupid medicine. and this yr my anxiety came back again and o felt the dr again so it has to be because of my panic disorder. i totally understand how you feel!! iv been there and may get it again with the next panic attack. e mail me if youwant to talk aboutit more. .. your therapist is so dumb. youre not crazy

Holly J , Thank you for your response - you helped so much it is amazing to me how this chronic condition since Dec I am suddenly afraid of everything - family gatherings, errands at the store etc I hope this passes and thank you for confirming again that the therapist's suggestion was not what I needed. I will remind myself this is a feeling and it will pass but I don't understand why I know what the stress is - financial so why does it turn into this? The fear and constantly checking how I feel

CrashDog:
You happened to get one of the inadequate thereapist. I feel relief that you didn't go back to her/him.
It is good that you are going to email a few on here that have been thru' that.
Do you have the program?? You surely need it.
I understand what you feel like. I was there once. And I got lots of bad therapist. There are more of those. They always made me worse.
But from reading on here, I now realize that there are some good ones.
The main thing is that you are going to be okay.
You are NOT losing your mind. You really are going to be okay.
I know that it feels pretty horrible right now.
But you are going to get better rather rapidly.
Come onto the forum often and communicate with these wonderful , helpful people. I know you are in a financial bind right now. But maybe you can get the program some way if you don't have it.
Just remember that there are many, many people on here who have recovered from just the same symptoms that you have. You will be okay!
Just hang in there.
Try to relax as much as possible.
Fear is at the root of the problem.
If you don't have a higher power , try to establish one. I call my Higher power God.
Try turning those scared feelings over to God as you understand Him. It helps a lot when you can do that.
Remember nothing is forever, even finances. Things get better. And we are a lot tougher than we think.
I believe in you!!!
MaryJane

MaryJane, Thank you for your truly uplifting reply. I appreciate it so much. I have learned going through this your perspective gets really muddy and you feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is another train! So I will focus on turning these feelings over to God and to lean on Him- that is what he is there for. Thank you for again for the strength you really helped

Emma, Thank you so much for the hug - today was my first post to this forum - I have been hesitant- and I received the gift of your reply which after a very rough morning beginning at 4am pacing around was exactly what I needed. Thank you for the encouragement your advice is another source to feel better - you have helped more than I can express!

Thank you,Emma! I will save that hug for later- I know I'll need it! You are proof that Angels are right here on earth! Thank you for helping me remember to fly!

I am so glad that you made this post. I know what you mean when you say you feel disconnected. I have been feeling the same way as well and it does help to know other people are dealing with the same issue. So thank you for letting me see im not the only one dealing with that. The thing that upsets me with people, mainly doctors, is that many aren't willing to admitt when they don't know or understand something, and instead of stating that, they'll go on and give bad advice. I can only imagine how horrifying it was to hear someone suggests going to a ward, when there are so many other options out there. But i wanna encourage you to stay hopeful and remember that this too shall pass. God bless.

Crashdog,

I hope at this point your feeling somewhat encouraged with all the positive feedback your getting.

I think that you should consider purchasing the program,you would really benefit from it. If it is not possible for you to do that you really need to get educated on anxiety. Gather as much material you can on this subject and contact your doctor for a referal to a psychologist who deals in this area. I know that it may take sometime to find the right one but you will,also some hospitals provide group therapy which you may also find beneficial.

Please don't get to worried when a doctor or psychologist suggests a stay in the psych ward. I have spent many a days on that floor- in my line of work. When a person is admitted to this ward it doesn't mean you are crazy. What happens(in short form)is a patient will be evaluated,put on the appropriate medication,and within a few days released. Are you on any meds for anxiety? You might want to consult your doctor regarding this. This may help with some of your physical symptoms, maybe a PRN-taken when needed. Look into this.

Lastley I would like to tell you that a very high percentage of people suffer from some form of anxiety.With the program you will learn coping skills that you can apply to almost every anxious situation. Clearly you must continue to search out other alternatives after all we are all different. Talking and getting advice from others is also a form of therapy and right here is where you'll find it. Hang in there, everyone is cheering you on. Whishing you all the est!

Crashdog,

I hope at this point your feeling somewhat encouraged with all the positive feedback your getting.

I think that you should consider purchasing the program,you would really benefit from it. If it is not possible for you to do that you really need to get educated on anxiety. Gather as much material you can on this subject and contact your doctor for a referal to a psychologist who deals in this area. I know that it may take sometime to find the right one but you will,also some hospitals provide group therapy which you may also find beneficial.

Please don't get to worried when a doctor or psychologist suggests a stay in the psych ward. I have spent many a days on that floor- in my line of work. When a person is admitted to this ward it doesn't mean you are crazy. What happens(in short form)is a patient will be evaluated,put on the appropriate medication,and within a few days released. Are you on any meds for anxiety? You might want to consult your doctor regarding this. This may help with some of your physical symptoms, maybe a PRN-taken when needed. Look into this.

Lastley I would like to tell you that a very high percentage of people suffer from some form of anxiety.With the program you will learn coping skills that you can apply to almost every anxious situation. Clearly you must continue to search out other alternatives after all we are all different. Talking and getting advice from others is also a form of therapy and right here is where you'll find it. Hang in there, everyone is cheering you on. Whishing you all the est!

Thank you for your reply and clearing up that therapists suggestion. I am educating myself as much as I can - what I want to find out is how or why stress turns into this horrible reaction even when I know what the stressor is. Thank you for the encouragement I appreciate it so much!