Sliv
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Joined: 3/9/2005
Msg: 1 | |
| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 3/22/2005 12:07:32 PM | It might be shocking to some that about 1 in 5 people today suffer from some sort of social disorder such as anxiety, depression or panic.
I would like to post this thread to offer a source of information to help those that suffer from this, as well as for those out there who know someone who does.
I do suffer from a depressive disorder, including some social anxiety and do suffer from panic attacks. For those out there that suffer with this or similar, there is help and information avaiable.
The first thing is not to be ashamed. These problems are extremely common.
The second thing is to seek professional help to determine if you require any medical attention, medication and/or therapy.
The first person to see is your G.P. (Doctor) to do a complete physical to rule out that there are any physical problems to remedy.
The second person to see is a licensed Psychiatrist or Psychiatric Doctor via referrall from your G.P. Between the two of these individuals, it can be determined if you require medication.
The next thing is to figure out what therapy is right for you. You can see a psychiatrist, or see a licensed therapist or social worker, depending on what you are looking for.
The final thing is to set up your "support network". Your support network is family and/or friends that are completely aware of your situation and are able to maintain contact with you in a supportive way. If possible, have one person be your "buddy" who you contact DAILY. It is very easy to want to isolate yourself when you are feeling down, and this can be very dangerous as it can lead to suicidal thoughts or simply worsen your condition. Daily contact is important as sometimes it is difficult to tell if you are regressing or not on your own. You need an objective third party.
Panic attacks. These are very common, and highly misunderstood. They can be triggered by a great many things, but people who suffer from high levels of anxiety are more prone to it. It is very important to know the following:
-A major panic attack will not last longer than 30 minutes. It is not possible for the body to sustain a state of panic for longer than that.
-It is very important to practice breathing techniques for slow deep breaths on a daily basis, as panic attacks can easily trigger hyperventilating, and it is important to do your best to slow down your breathing.
-Always keep bottled spring water on hand. A panic attack can be very exhausting, you will need water and quite a bit of it.
Finally, for those that know someone who suffers with these things and would like to be a real support for them, please consider the following:
-If you can, offer to come over to see them or at least talk to them on the phone when they have a panic attack, or "crash". Often just not being alone is extremely helpful. Be careful offering this, though, as they may need to call you in the middle of the night at some point.
-Educate yourself. Read and learn as much as you possibly can. This condition has to be one of the most misunderstood conditions out there today. Be a good friend, be helpful, but be careful how you advise. Try to leave the real advice to professional therapists, they are experts and although your intentions are good, you may be doing more harm than good without realizing.
Thanks for taking the time to read this thread. Please find help if you need it, don't wait, and if you are a friend of someone who suffers with these things, be as supportive as you are able, but push them to seek professional advice as soon as possible.
*hugs* | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 3/22/2005 2:30:18 PM | sliv.. I have had panic attacks since 3 grade. your not alone.. i have mine undercontrol. I take a penut dose as they call it ..25 miligrams of a med.. my doc said? i dont know how that can help you it's such a small dose.. most take like 400 miligrams. I think its just enuff to knock the edge off..
its good for people to know others have them, there not alone or crazy, and that help is there.. your right about the 1 and 5 getting them.. i think most are afraid to get help or to talk about it for fear of people thinking them a nut ball.. but there not. | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 3/22/2005 8:30:56 PM | sliv - thank you for the thoughtful post. My son suffers from this, as well as bi-polar disorder and ADD, and I have watched his struggles.
One thing I would add is that if one medication doesn't work, there may be another that does. My son has been through so many drugs trying to find the ones that work, that will keep working, that don't have debilitating side effects and that don't interact with each other. Finally, finally, he has the right combination and his life is so much better. | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 3/23/2005 11:08:07 AM | | i suffer depression but for the most part i've been able to deal with it on my own terms i suffer from some other deeper issues as i'm a servivor of sexual, physical,mental,verbal, and a few other abuses i can't spell lol i get thru life knowing i didn't bring it upon myself and also the fact i choose not to be a victim i do however get really up tight when i know there is an abusive person living near me so i continue to have issiues (i can't spell) but i'll live life knowing i try to be the best me i can so thanx for starting this post and if there is any one who also has been abused maybe we can learn from each other | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 3/23/2005 6:12:31 PM | You can have one.. there is a condition called agoraphobia.. Fear of leaving the house..
It depends on why you don’t like being around them and feel uncomfortable.
If your just shy that is different.. Some people are introverts ( I think that's the word) they prefer to be more to them self.. That is not a condition. | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 3/24/2005 9:27:55 AM | | i read you'r profile and i truelly hope you'r able to over come this because i believe that talent should be shared and if you can't stand to be around any one then how will you get into the music bizz ? and i over explain stuff as well , thats just a chacter flaw well take care and have fun | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 3/24/2005 5:19:38 PM | I suffer from mild depression and anxiety disorder. I've learned to control my anxiety without medications and therapy. I use natural ways for control i.e. water, breathing techniques, and mind control.
My anxiety triggers from different things... and I have learned (this works for me but may not for someone else) that if I focus on something else, the good things about the stressful situation, or just get up and get exersize, that the anxiety will minimize and I can deal with it.
I've often wondered the dangers of anxiety and I just found this information on a very good website that describes the medical dangers of having panic disorders:
Effects on Physical Health
People with panic disorder perceive their own physical and emotional well-being as poor. They use alternative therapies and seek medical help more often than do those in the general population. Any causal connection between anxiety and medical disorders is unclear.
Effects on the Heart. Anxiety has been associated with a number of heart problems. A 2001 study reported an association between thicker blood-vessels in both women and men with anxiety and with hardening of the arteries in men (but not in women.) Another study indicated that people who experience anxiety are more likely to develop high blood pressure than are those who are not anxious. Both anxiety and depression have been associated with a poor response to treatment in heart patients.
Some researchers speculate that intense anxiety might trigger abnormal and dangerous heart rhythms in people with existing heart problems. In other studies, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and phobias have been associated with a higher rate of sudden death from cardiac events, including heart attack.
Effects on the Gastrointestinal Tract. Anxiety frequently accompanies gastrointestinal medical conditions. Of note, half the cases of irritable bowel syndrome are related to anxiety.
Effects on Headache. One study reported that 32% of people with chronic tension headaches met criteria for anxiety. It isn't clear whether the psychological disorder preceded or followed the onset of headaches. Similarly, another study reported that young girls with anxiety disorders were three times more likely to have chronic headaches than those without the disorder. (Headaches in both studies were also strongly associated with depression.)
Effects on Sleep Disorders in Children. One study of children linked anxiety with a higher risk for sleep disorders, such as frequent nightmares, restless legs, and bruxism (grinding and gnashing of the teeth during sleep).
Physical Effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Some studies on people, including military veterans, who have endured major traumatic events have found a higher risk for health problems. One study of Vietnam veterans reported that PTSD was associated with greater physical limitations, poorer physical health, and a lower quality of life than in those in the normal population, regardless of other accompanying emotional or medical disorders. In another study of these veterans, PTSD sufferers had double the risk for abnormal heart rhythms and four times the risk of a heart attack compared to men without PTSD.
Injuries from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. People with obsessive-compulsive disorders can experience skin problems from excessive washing, injuries from repetitive physical acts, and hair loss from repeated hair pulling (behavior known as trichotillomania).
Effect of PTSD on the Brain
Studies are reporting that PTSD is associated with shrinkage in the hippocampus, the part of the brain important for memory and learning. Studies of animals indicate that such damage may result from long-term exposure to cortisol, the major stress hormone. Groups who had suffered severe trauma also scored 40% lower in tests of verbal memory than the general population. There was no difference in IQ or in scores of other types of memory. One study suggests that exposure to chronic stress, common in PTSD patients, may compromise the function of the brain's receptors for benzodiazepines (a class of medications used to treat anxiety).
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 9/17/2005 1:38:09 AM | http://www.alvidar.com/#aboutcondition
Check this site out - it's worth a shot guy's.
If it works for you, you need to let everyone else know....cause, I'm going to bed!
nite nite | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 9/17/2005 7:15:53 AM | i've been diagnosed as depressed since i was 16 and i was put on meds right away but over the last year i took myself off of them i prefer going to a native healer and getting weekly acupuncture treatment because for me it works much better then being doped up all the time on meds.
i also suffer from panic attacks but i go to group therapy to deal with that. | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 11/1/2005 1:49:05 PM | thank you OP... thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!
I suffer from depressive and panic problems... and the worst thing I have to deal with is ignorant, mis-informed people.
Great thread! | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 11/4/2005 5:51:56 PM | I've only began recently suffering anxiety attacks, although infrequently. They are triggered by sudden changes in my environment and for me are a symptom of PTSD related to my occupation. Excercise helps immensely and sometimes just sitting and petting one of my dogs will calm me down. I've only had to use an ativan once to bring me down and help me sleep.
I'm also fortunate to have some wonderfully supportive people in my life, which makes all the difference. | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 11/6/2005 10:06:30 PM | hi,my name is phil. and i suffered.... suffered being the key word. ~smiles~from social anxiety disorder.. i have had repeated panic attacks... well i used to self medicate to releave it... whoa what i mistake... you dont have to tell me... the therapist i was seeing gave me a referal to someone who could help but..... all they wanted to do was give me drugs!!!! i was like "im trying to get clean here" and even though i told them i was a recovering addict!!! they still insisted on it. i definitely didnt go back because at the time i wasnt really comfortable enough to start taking meds... and to tell you the truth i never will feel confortable unless its a serious situation... omg my leg is gone... there is usually an underlying problem associated with panic/anxiety/depression... and for me i chose the other options... my personal friend.. and i very good gp... told me that getting out in the sunlight would help with depression... he actually sent me to a tanning bed.... i know it sounds strange... but for me it helped alot... exercise in regular intervals..... eating right..... honestly people can deal with these things without the use of drugs unless they have some serious chemical imbalances... but if at all possible try and use anything and everything that can possibly work for you without using them as a crutch.. cause once yer on them... you still have to deal with why you had to be on them in the first place... it sucks being dependant on something. prescribed or not....... to function on a day to day basis... alot of the people i was going to groups with had one thing in common.... they feared what they could not control... being in a group of people you dont know and trying to socialize with them is really hard for people with these disorders.... but its all about stretching that comfort zone... it doesnt feel good at first but with practice you can do it... one more thing.... try not and visualize about what you think may happen... i know its hard trust me...... but projecting is a serious problem associated with this..... you honestly dont know whats gonna happen in any given situation.... all we can do is meet every challenge when it appears... and dont we have enough of them?. lets not make more for ourselves.. ~smiles~ unless your plate is empty.
once again ive rambled on hehe .. but hey.. its fun for me for everyone... i would like to hear more about how people are doing with these disorders... i wish the very best for all of you. hold yer heads up. be strong. because you are all worth it..
phil as visionspcr | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 11/8/2005 4:45:14 AM | | yes i think ive finally found something that im good at. communication being one of them and writing is the other!!!!!!!! and next semester.... ill be starting school again... 29??? i dont think im too old ~grins~ | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 4/27/2006 8:43:52 PM | I dont really know where to start here Girlfriend .... I too suffer from depression and anxiety. This information you have given here is just what I needed right Now.Thank you. I am working on the breathing techniques now.But the mind control I am not doing well with at all.Can you suggest any books or something??
The verbal memory scores are also very relevant to myself... | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 4/27/2006 11:33:33 PM | | What I use is church and bible study and prayer meetings in dealing with all the above mentioned. And of course, medical help. 12 step meetings are also helpful for other personal afflictions. | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 4/29/2006 8:36:51 PM | Here's another option.
EFT...Emotional Freedom Techniques
It's a variation on TFT (Thought Field Therapy)
It can easily deal with the root emotional issue that is causing the panic/anxiety/deperession.
I am ONLY trained in EFT but friends of mine who are also traditionally trained therapists who use EFT, pretty much ONLY use EFT now because of how well it works over other therapies.
Check it out....www.quickclic.net/~eft4life
All the best to everyone....Bob | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 4/29/2006 10:19:50 PM | | I could not agree with you more Phil, I suffer from anxiety and was also agoraphobic, i did not leave the house for 2 years at one point, save to go to my parents or dare i say grocery shopping and that could even be a trial. I foound therapy ato be a great tool, but when it came to the physchiatrist(sp?) lol he just wanted to keep jacking up these meds that drained me and yes the took away my anxiety and such I was like a vegatable, barely functioning, I had enough of that and I found meditation. I have also started eating better, exercising more and just getting outside even if it was to sit in the park and read or write, it made all the difference and it felt great not to be weighed down by 3 or 4 different meds. I know it is not possible for everyone but it did wonders for me, i can not say I have lost all of my old habits but I can say I am on my way to doing it and each accomplishment lifts me up a little more. You do have to take it one moment at a time and not let everything overwhelm you, i am lucky to have great freinds and family and a supportive boyfriend and online support group to keep me going. It is a struggle and we do get stigmatized but there are peopleout there who do understand and have compassion. | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 4/29/2006 11:52:48 PM | | Dear 1littleflick: Man, I am so happy for you. I know for all of us, in some area of our lives we all stuggle about something. You give all of us hope, one step at a time, one day at a time. God bless you dear child. | |
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| Help For People Regarding Panic/Anxiety/Depression
Posted: 4/30/2006 8:31:04 AM | | Therapists and psychiatrists have tried to help me out. I have seen a number of them, and they have prescribed a number of drugs to help out. None of them have worked 100% of the time. I have been diagnosed with severe social anxiety and clinical depression. I have never had a girlfriend, or been on a date. I have never approached a female in order to ask her out on a date. Of course, I have never had sex before either. So this crud does affect me and my life. It is the "kiss of death" for anyone who seeks a marriage partner. | |
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