I don't think anyone ever comes to this page but I really just wanted to say that I'm not having Panic Attacks anymore. I'm off xanax and I feel really good again. Setbacks are just that...a setback. I have accepted that I will always be prone to panic attacks but that's OK because I know I will get better when it happens again. This setback lasted around 8-9 months, the time before that it lasted 2 years & before that for 4-5 years. So I believe that you never do go back to "square one". Square one for me was being housebound for 3 months. This setback I functioned in spite of the panic attacks. I thought I was dying every day there for awhile but I didn't! I made it through and if anyone ever reads this...you will make it through too. The best advice I can give is don't lose hope, always continue to educate yourself & don't fall back into old bad habits. I'm moving forward but I will stop by from time to time to check & see if I can be of help to anyone. Thanks for everyone's help through this rough spot! Love, Bob

What an uplifting post - thank you.

I have also experienced this "remission" you are describing and fortunately my current episode of anxiety is no where near the extreme level as the first time I experienced panic attacks. I recently read (I think from the Anxiety and Phobia Workbook) where they described panic attacks as coming in "clusters." I feel a little more comfortable if I think of my episodes of panic attacks as clusters - for some reason I am able to convince myself what I already know...and that is that they will pass.

Good for you.
Shawn.

That is a very health way of looking at our conditions.

Thanks for sharing, Bob.


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drop

~ "Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it."

~ "You can't solve a problem with the same mind that created it" - Albert Einstein

I guess people actually come here afterall! Shawn: I like that 'cluster' description much better, your right it sounds like a temporary condition that will pass. I always referred to my setback as a "relapse" and now I'm in "remission." (that sounds terrible!)
Drop: Thanks for your reply!

Thanks for sharing that--I'm sure it will bring inspiration and help put anxiety into perspective for others and myself as well.

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Tim

I THINK THATS WONDERFUL BOB,THANKS FOR SHARING!

Bob

I am stuck in a growth surt for about 1 year. I really appreciate you sharing your story b/c it is something I need soo badly right now. And yeah I feel like I am dying sometimes too then I remind myself what it is and I get through it. Sometimes more gracefully then others times. Again I really am glad you shared this as all morning long I have been contemplating the medication thing again and your story put tears in my eyes b/c it gave me a glimmer of hope.

Thanks-Silvana

Silvana1, what are your set backs right now is it panic attacks or GAD , what kind of meds were you on that you are thinking of again. Just remember all those positive things you have told me on my really crappy days !!!!!!!! Hope you dont mind me asking, Pogirl ( jessica )

hi, thanks so much for this post.

I feel like I am having a set back. Could you tell me when you say you felt like you wer going to die what you felt like. Becasue I feel like that latley with my body symptoms of uneasiness

please resond and anyone else who can help please write in.

thanks! jt

Jessica

I do not mind you asking at all. I was on Celexa but couldn't tolerate it and then was put on Remeron which did nothing for the anxiety and after 5 months I stopped that. Now I take an occasional .25 Xanax but really do not want to start getting used to it.

I have GAD now, rarely a panic attack but the GAD just lingers all day and is so annoying. I really just want it to go away and was considering trying Zoloft but I really do not want to. My theory on this is that if the medication works then GREAT but what happens when I stop? Withdrawals? Yes I am sure as I went through them with the Remeron and my logic says if the medication works then it is a chemical imbalance that needs to be treated with medication and I will have to stay on it forever. Not comforting! I guess I am just tired of this whole thing but I am not giving up. Thanks for the encouragement.

Silvana

But thats okay at least you will have a way of feeling better . If you had diabetes would you not take your meds? Its okay to need meds, I just want to no the right one for me right away !!!!!

howdy silvana Iam a new member as of 5 minutes ago please forgive the spelling and continus sentences I do'nt know how to type. In reading your post I just had to become a member so I could talk to you. I have a few set backs but the one Iam experiencing right now is the first one that I have had since starting the program. Before starting the program I would have been a mess already. I take medication and I am not ashamed of it. Sometimes medication is good especially to keep us from crashing. I had reduced all my meds to only one and that one is non addictive and I had reduced that one by a half. then I had to pull a stunt that brought on my problem with guilt.and here we go again, but that's ok cause I have more tools now then I had before the program. I am on lesson 13 and have suffered a set back of my own doing. you just keep your chin up and always remember, God and all of us anxiety sufferers love and care about what yuor going thru. Oh yea! I have increased my meds to the original prescription with my docs blessing. I found Paxil, ativan(addictive over long term), and zoloft to work good for me. take care of your self!

quote:

Originally posted by Silvana1:
Bob

I am stuck in a growth surt for about 1 year. I really appreciate you sharing your story b/c it is something I need soo badly right now. And yeah I feel like I am dying sometimes too then I remind myself what it is and I get through it. Sometimes more gracefully then others times. Again I really am glad you shared this as all morning long I have been contemplating the medication thing again and your story put tears in my eyes b/c it gave me a glimmer of hope.

Thanks-Silvana

JT I am new here at this forum but I would like to say that I am having a set back right now and the body symtoms are extremely uncomfortable but that why they are called panic attacks/anxiety attacks that is what I perfer to call mine,anxiety attacks. I hope you do'nt mind me offering my 2 pennies but the feeling is unlike nothing i have ever felt. the first thing your mind works overtime bringing up everything you have everdone and running them thru your mind at 100 MPH. your breathing becomes shallow you become light headed your heart starts beating very rapidly. If this you are feeling is a set back then use your new skills and breath thru it. find some work to do. I find going for a walk to be helpful. I have refinnished all my patio furniture,refinished my deck. I have'nt finished my 13th lesson yet and I have suffer a set back of course mine is of my own stupidity, but still it is a set back and I am reviewing my program tapes and workbook because it was working until I screwed it up. I encourage you to put yourself in the program tools and breath your way thru this. I have suffered these panic attacks all my live off and on but my folks would always say it was my guilty conscience and it would pass in time. well they were right they would pass. up until three years aro it had been 25 years since I had a panic attack of any size. So needless to say that this has turned my world upside down, but I am truckin ahead and I am going to whip this CRAP. I hope that I have been some help.

quote:

Originally posted by jt:
hi, thanks so much for this post.

I feel like I am having a set back. Could you tell me when you say you felt like you wer going to die what you felt like. Becasue I feel like that latley with my body symptoms of uneasiness

please resond and anyone else who can help please write in.

thanks! jt

Charles

Hi and thanks for the kind words of encouragement. My panic attacks started back in 1993, I found the program in 1996 and recently went through it again. I have tried a couple of anti-depr.(Pamelor, Celexa and Remeron) but they do not work for me and the side effects are untolerable. I use .25mg Xanax very sparingly (maybe 1 tablet in a 1-2 week time frame) and I prefer that I deal with this head on then through meds. Just my opinion. If meds work for you that is great, I just do not feel they are the answer though I am sure they are beneficial if you can tolerate them. Again, thanks for the kind words. We all have our ups and downs but with practice we get better at dealing with them.

Silvana