I just want to see how this all turns out. I started out this morning, after checking my email and having a cup of tea with feeling nausious about a date that I would be having in the afternoon. Well, I chased down the anxious feelings and uncovered a lot of other factors in my life that were producing the anxiety. Did I mention that I was also customizing my coverletter for job applications this morning as well. Then there were family issues on my mind, which came into the light after an upsetting phonecall my mom had given me the night before. There are three good reasons to be anxious!

Then the worst happened. After all my attempts to understand and sooth my nerves, I receive a phone call from my date and set the phone aside to throw up.

That's what happens when I have a panic attack: I feel sick to my stomach, can't eat, and sometimes throw up.

So here's the question: What happens now? An hour before the date. Do I go on it? Postpone it? Cancel any meeting with the boy?

Thanks for reading. I have had few panic attacks like this and wanted to keep record of all that goes on and maybe get a fresh perspective on the matter from other readers coping with similar problems. I will let you know what happens when I return. The anxiety has made me soooo tired.

Hi Lena!
Hope your date went well. Let us know...

Update:

I survived and all went fairly well. We planned to go out for tea/coffee so at least I did not have to face food on this date, but there might be other dates soon to come and I don't think I feel any more confident about my coping abilities. I had an okay time chatting and, fortunately, I was able to hold down an icy drink without giving my date any insight into my anxiety and nausia.

I feel like it was a relief to be able to cover-up my symptoms, but not a relief to have had them. I should have ordered a bagel or something because I was sooo hungry and worn out when I got home. I'm eating now, but I feel like passing out on my bed afterwards and its only 7:30pm.

The date invited me to watch a movie at his place some night (potential this week) but I don't know how I feel about that. Will I have to go through all this again so soon?

(Note: The panic attack drained and frightened me. I hate feeling nausious and I hate throwing up.)

My anxiety is mostly in the form of being weak and nauteous. I will wake up in the morning and feel like I am coming down with the flu but have no stomach ache. This has gone on for 10 years. I never know when I am going to feel like this. Usually happens once or twice a week. I know that drugs are not the answer to this problem, but last fall my physician gave me Xanax. I take it in the morning when I get up and feel like throwing up and usually within 15 minutes I am able to continue on. Until we get through this program and retrain ourselves not to have anxiety, you might try the Xanax.

Lena,
My heart goes out to you. I know all too well what those nasty panic attacks are like. Had them for 30 years and thought they would be with me for life.

Question. When you worked on the program, did you go step by step with each session and practice on a regular basis?
If you really want to get those panic attacks under control-
How about go back to session #2 and work on it with all your heart and mind for a week.
Also listen to #3 a few times during the same week. Great combination.
Then continue on with the program, step by step.

We get out of the program what we put into it.
No short cuts when it comes to dealing with anxiety. Not easy, just worth it.

Go for that movie date if you haven't already!!!
What the heck, so what if you get anxious?! Most people do before a date. you'll be fine.

Hi, I just started the program last week. I have been trying to find the place to talk to other. I tried the chat room, but nothing was really mentioned about anxiety and panick.
I have had this disorder for 30 years. It went away for about 10 years, or should I say it got better. I started to feel some symptoms coming back and decided to finally order the program. I'm on session 2 right now.
From experience, don't avoid situations. I know how hard it is and what it feels like at the time, but I made that mistake for years and look back and realize how much I missed during those times. Hopefully the program and the skills will help you.

HI MICHIGAN, I suffer from anxiety and depression everyday and it is very rough to deal with I have been dealing with it all my life and then 6 yrs ago it got horrible after a sugery and today i have learned its ok to feel the anxiety you have to ride them through and learn ways from the program to help you I have the pain also in my muscles from tension and the headaches all the symptoms that goes with anxiety and the depression is very hard but if you learn to control the anxiety i feel the depression isnt as bad. Remember we have to control it not it control us. FEAR is a terrible thing and all this stuff scares me but as it says in the program FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real!!! So we scare ourselves. WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF.God Bless If you need to talf please look up and look fro me at moeylee@localnet.com we will fight together!I am in the chat room we do talk about all different things but there are good people there that are in the same situation as us and we need laughter through our pain join in and it will help.BYE AND GOD BLESS,Ramona

Been Here Before: Sorry to here about your anxiety returning. I know what you mean about missing alot in life. I have a 17 year old daughter who likes to go shopping. I haven't even been able to go to a mall very often with her. I know she resents me saying I feel sick all the time. We tried to go to Cedar Point a couple of times and I would be nauteous all the way there. I am not going to do that anymore. We are going to work this program and get our lives back once and for all!!

I am not alone......WOW. I force myself to do things even though I fell sick. Sometimes I will be talking to someone and all I can really hear is myself in the bakground saing, "can they tell I am freaking out right now" "do my eyes look funny" " can they see that I am about to flip out"....the thoughts make me nuts! However, I refuse to sit home and hide because of ME. Keep doing all that you want to do. The only way you can hurt yourself is to let the anxiety control you. Good luck.