Please help - anxiety/depression/panic attack
Discussion
I've thought about posting on here about this for a while but I wanted to try other options first. I appreciate you clicking this thread and I'll try and keep it as succinct as possible whilst providing facts.
I'm a 27 year old male. About 4 years ago I got severe vertigo on holiday alongside suspect food poisoning. I won't go in to detail, but I couldn't understand the doctor, I couldn't get home and I had several panic attacks and didn't eat for 3 days.
Over the next few months I would undergo myriad tests to determine my vertigo and some problems I was having with wearing contact lenses and my vision in general. At first it was sprays and tablets and then MRI scans, 3D eye scans and appointments with one of the best ENT experts available on the NHS but to no avail. These problems persist but they've got better, however the impact on my mental health appears to be profound.
I was scared to travel after the holiday I fell ill. The first attempt was to Bath for a long weekend and even that caused panic to the point where my girlfriend and I had to drive home the same day. Despite this, I've battled it and forced myself to travel within the UK and although it has been uncomfortable it has gone well and I even managed to go to Bruges in November and I enjoyed 2 of the 4 days. Then last week, I fell apart.
I have just finished my Master's degree and I am looking for jobs and working part-time at my Dad's recruitment company for money. I've been really looking forward to starting a career after going back to uni to do a degree and an MA. However, after a telephone interview for a job that turned out not to be for me, I started getting extremely anxious. This had never happened at home before and I didn't keep a handle on it. When I'm anxious, I can't concentrate on anything, my heart and mind are racing and I can't eat. I went over a day without eating despite how hungry my stomach felt. Last week whilst driving to work I unexpected broke down in tears; I was crying uncontrollably and I really am not one to cry. I can't remember the last time I cried before this, although I have felt down a lot lately. This has gone on and off for the last week and then yesterday things got worse.
I started CBT in November before I went away but I couldn't afford to continue it. After getting anxious last week I decided to pick it back up and try and find the money and it didn't go very well. I had put a lot of pressure on it sorting me out (unreasonable I know) because I was meant to be going to the Lake District on Sunday (cancelled now). I started having a panic attack and my mind has be uncontrollable since.
My thoughts are "if I can't fix this anxiety I'll never have a successful career or even hold down a job and get on with my life", "this sort of reaction is pathetic and embarrassing" and during my panic attacks I honestly feel as if I am going completely mad. I feel there's no way out of this horrible anxiety and that I'm going to have a breakdown and no matter what relaxation techniques I use I can't calm myself. I can't catch my breath and my breathing is very erratic. The only breaks I seem to get are when I can stop all thoughts that make me anxious, but even then it feels like I'm fighting a losing battle. The relaxation techniques from CBT (clenching muscles and then releasing and breathing deeply and slowly) don't seem to work. The panic also makes me feel extremely tired.
This morning, after waking up with immediate and intense anxiety I made an emergency appointment with the doctor and he gave me a blood test (to check for a thyroid issue as I had severe glandular fever 9 years ago although they doubt that's the issue) and put me on Diazepam (only 2mg up to 2 or 3 per day for a week).
I've taken on tablet so far and it's calmed me a little but I'm not eating again and I feel like there's no way out of this at the moment. Anyone who has conquered this sort of issue or can advise me, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Side facts:
I eat healthily, I sleep 7-8 hours per night, I exercise 2-3 times per week by playing football and I drink barely any alcohol these days (0-2 units per week).
I'm a 27 year old male. About 4 years ago I got severe vertigo on holiday alongside suspect food poisoning. I won't go in to detail, but I couldn't understand the doctor, I couldn't get home and I had several panic attacks and didn't eat for 3 days.
Over the next few months I would undergo myriad tests to determine my vertigo and some problems I was having with wearing contact lenses and my vision in general. At first it was sprays and tablets and then MRI scans, 3D eye scans and appointments with one of the best ENT experts available on the NHS but to no avail. These problems persist but they've got better, however the impact on my mental health appears to be profound.
I was scared to travel after the holiday I fell ill. The first attempt was to Bath for a long weekend and even that caused panic to the point where my girlfriend and I had to drive home the same day. Despite this, I've battled it and forced myself to travel within the UK and although it has been uncomfortable it has gone well and I even managed to go to Bruges in November and I enjoyed 2 of the 4 days. Then last week, I fell apart.
I have just finished my Master's degree and I am looking for jobs and working part-time at my Dad's recruitment company for money. I've been really looking forward to starting a career after going back to uni to do a degree and an MA. However, after a telephone interview for a job that turned out not to be for me, I started getting extremely anxious. This had never happened at home before and I didn't keep a handle on it. When I'm anxious, I can't concentrate on anything, my heart and mind are racing and I can't eat. I went over a day without eating despite how hungry my stomach felt. Last week whilst driving to work I unexpected broke down in tears; I was crying uncontrollably and I really am not one to cry. I can't remember the last time I cried before this, although I have felt down a lot lately. This has gone on and off for the last week and then yesterday things got worse.
I started CBT in November before I went away but I couldn't afford to continue it. After getting anxious last week I decided to pick it back up and try and find the money and it didn't go very well. I had put a lot of pressure on it sorting me out (unreasonable I know) because I was meant to be going to the Lake District on Sunday (cancelled now). I started having a panic attack and my mind has be uncontrollable since.
My thoughts are "if I can't fix this anxiety I'll never have a successful career or even hold down a job and get on with my life", "this sort of reaction is pathetic and embarrassing" and during my panic attacks I honestly feel as if I am going completely mad. I feel there's no way out of this horrible anxiety and that I'm going to have a breakdown and no matter what relaxation techniques I use I can't calm myself. I can't catch my breath and my breathing is very erratic. The only breaks I seem to get are when I can stop all thoughts that make me anxious, but even then it feels like I'm fighting a losing battle. The relaxation techniques from CBT (clenching muscles and then releasing and breathing deeply and slowly) don't seem to work. The panic also makes me feel extremely tired.
This morning, after waking up with immediate and intense anxiety I made an emergency appointment with the doctor and he gave me a blood test (to check for a thyroid issue as I had severe glandular fever 9 years ago although they doubt that's the issue) and put me on Diazepam (only 2mg up to 2 or 3 per day for a week).
I've taken on tablet so far and it's calmed me a little but I'm not eating again and I feel like there's no way out of this at the moment. Anyone who has conquered this sort of issue or can advise me, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Side facts:
I eat healthily, I sleep 7-8 hours per night, I exercise 2-3 times per week by playing football and I drink barely any alcohol these days (0-2 units per week).
Edited by whereismymind on Wednesday 18th March 14:43
Read this blog post by Dr John Eaton as a starting point and then explore the work referenced within it would be my advice:
http://www.reversethinking.co.uk/?p=1259
http://www.reversethinking.co.uk/?p=1259
HerrSchnell said:
Read this blog post by Dr John Eaton as a starting point and then explore the work referenced within it would be my advice:
http://www.reversethinking.co.uk/?p=1259
Thank you for this. I am reading through his work now.http://www.reversethinking.co.uk/?p=1259
HerrSchnell said:
Read this blog post by Dr John Eaton as a starting point and then explore the work referenced within it would be my advice:
http://www.reversethinking.co.uk/?p=1259
That's s very useful link, thanks.http://www.reversethinking.co.uk/?p=1259
Mrs BC has had anxiety for around 3 months, she's worried and can't work out what it is she's worrying about. Now she's getting palpitations. The worst part is that she's getting worse as worrying about being worried.
Mindfulness can be very helpful and relatively cheap to try. If you are in the midlands or london these guys are very good http://www.mindspace.org.uk/live/. .. There are many others however
oldbanger said:
Mindfulness can be very helpful and relatively cheap to try. If you are in the midlands or london these guys are very good http://www.mindspace.org.uk/live/. .. There are many others however
Totally agree and going to throw another link out there which has a short audio clip to help people get started practicing it:http://www.reversethinking.co.uk/?p=1217#more-1217
I think the best way to look at anxiety is that it is not a pathological condition or a "thing" at all really, it's a collection of symptoms which are our own way of telling ourselves to stop running obsessional thought patterns about things which may or may not happen.
Problem is we don't recognise that the symptoms are telling us to let go of worrying thoughts so they escalate and diversify meaning that we then get worried about our symptoms and how to control them and so a downward spiral begins.
What we need to do is to break those patterns and realise that the symptoms are not an illness, just reactions to situations. When we realise that we then act to deal with life in a different way and the symptoms subside.
Mindfulness is a great way to switch off the thought patterns which are causing us harm in the here and now and then that gives mental breathing space which is a great start to being able to live without those thought patterns even developing.
It is common in mid twenties men as you're feeling the pressure of meeting your expectations.
Listen to doctors but research it yourself.
On this holiday had you been drinking lots in the days prior?
Stop all alcohol
Stop all caffeine (will be tough for a few days.)
Stop all sugar
Exercise but don't go overboard with really tiring runs or lifting heavy weights as this will drain your body
All the above mess with your nervous system.
Eat well, chicken, brown rice, vegetables, lots of water, chamomile tea
Don't put yourself under pressure
Don't spend every waking minute googling it
You will get better if you get your diet on track BUT it will be very hard to do,you have to want to get better
Also, sleep more, don't watch horror movies and stuff like that, watch positive tv, spend time with family and confide in them and just relax your body.
Your girlfriend will love it if you suggest a spa treatment and pamper day, have massages etc.
Everyone on here will say I'm talking rubbish, diet doesn't work etc but keep a note of it and stick with what I've said for say 3 months and see how you get on.
The longer it sticks with you the harder it will be to shake off so nip it in the bud now and do everything you can.
I never got bad but did have the odd bit of stress, sorted my diet and now I'm a new man. No nerves, no worries, no fidgeting, no sleeplessness etc.
You will be ok
Listen to doctors but research it yourself.
On this holiday had you been drinking lots in the days prior?
Stop all alcohol
Stop all caffeine (will be tough for a few days.)
Stop all sugar
Exercise but don't go overboard with really tiring runs or lifting heavy weights as this will drain your body
All the above mess with your nervous system.
Eat well, chicken, brown rice, vegetables, lots of water, chamomile tea
Don't put yourself under pressure
Don't spend every waking minute googling it
You will get better if you get your diet on track BUT it will be very hard to do,you have to want to get better
Also, sleep more, don't watch horror movies and stuff like that, watch positive tv, spend time with family and confide in them and just relax your body.
Your girlfriend will love it if you suggest a spa treatment and pamper day, have massages etc.
Everyone on here will say I'm talking rubbish, diet doesn't work etc but keep a note of it and stick with what I've said for say 3 months and see how you get on.
The longer it sticks with you the harder it will be to shake off so nip it in the bud now and do everything you can.
I never got bad but did have the odd bit of stress, sorted my diet and now I'm a new man. No nerves, no worries, no fidgeting, no sleeplessness etc.
You will be ok
Edited by jonah35 on Thursday 19th March 11:08
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