Anxiety group, week 2

[vaneramos]

Safe: on Kingsmill Avenue, Sunday afternoon


I had my second anxiety group meeting today. I like it so far. One woman rides the same bus from downtown, and she greeted me when I boarded today.

Last week in the course of the meeting I had one of the worst panic attacks of my life. Even chest pains. I don't understand why. All I can guess is, I had sympathy panic for the eight other anxious participants, one woman so terrified she never looked up from her lap.

A panic attack is the fight-or-flight response. In panic disorder they occur for no reason, occasionally even waking me from a dead sleep. They cannot be controlled. Therapy can reduce their frequency and severity.

Strange to say, I'm not afraid of panic attacks. I've had them since my teens, didn't know what they were, only knew I had to hide them to avoid being a sissy. I'm very good at hiding them. In the midst of it last week, I was able to talk about it matter-of-factly. Meanwhile feeling like I was ready to die. For 12 minutes one becomes utterly distracted.

I didn't panic today.

On the bus home I saw a woman who looked like Audrey Hepburn.

Comments

[leafshimmer.livejournal.com]

That's very good news that you got through the group without having a repeat experience of the attack.

Can I just say that's an adorable puss? (I realize I am a hopeless pushover when it comes to cats.)

I miss Daniel's posting pictures of his cats. Ah well.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Adorable, yes, if not particularly friendly. :-)

sympathy

[(Anonymous)]

I too have panic attacks, mostly the result of a stressful, shitty relationship that wouldn't end. They are mostly gone now thanks to therapy.
Good luck man!

Re: sympathy

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

And here I was expecting a link to a picture of the woman who looked like Audrey Hepburn, not to Ms. H herself.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I would like to have provided one, but it's hard to be discrete with my camera.

[eloquentwthrage.livejournal.com]

That looks exactly like Trudy!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Aw, so it does!

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

someone in my family (i won't name names) experiences these. he has decribed them as having the bottom fall out of the universe -- he's in the void. comes out of nowhere, no conscious reasons. i wish i could've got him into one of these groups.

i'm so glad this looks to be helping you already!

(beautiful cat.)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It looks like it's going to require a large amount of work, so one must be strongly motivated. Not for the faint of heart, you might say.

[mom-counsel.livejournal.com]

Excuse me, I came over from Paul's (poetbears) journal, and found this post. I have had panic attacks too, since I was a child, and didn't have a word for them until 15 years ago..but, strangely enough, I have never timed mine. 12 minutes. This was very informative. Thank you..uh..have had cognitive therapy for this, and learned new coping skills, mine were lousy and still have pain, occasionally as life gets too stressed, but, next time I have one..think I will time it..it certainly does take you away from anything else you might be doing, so that you can cope..interesting post thank you very much!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. In fact I believe a real panic attack lasts between 7 and 12 minutes. Other kinds of anxiety can go on much longer, of course, but the symptoms are not as acute. Be well.

[mom-counsel.livejournal.com]

OH, thank you, you be well, too..:)