Now 48 and experienced Anxiety Attacks from Age 4 - Anxiety Message Board

sharond · 09-28-2006, 06:57 AM

Hi everyone

I have been suffering anxiety attacks since I was 4 years of age and am now 48. I have not taken any medication apart from anti depressants which I took on and off for years but feel they made no difference. I personally feel anxiety attacks are part of our makeup and maybe some hidden issues which we have kept inside of us. When I have an attack (and mine could be weeks or months apart) I feel light headiness/diziness like I am sinking to the floor and if I don't lie down I will fall down. I find it difficult to breath and shake all over and sometimes throw up. As a child I would wake with pins and needles in my hands and they would appear 10 times bigger than what they were and my mother would have to rub them until the circulation returned and they (in my mind) looked normal again. I know this may sound strange but of late I have discovered that a familiar sight or sound can trigger an anxiety attack on me. I also get the feeling that I have experienced whatever it is I was doing at the time before and have recollections of memories but afer the attack have much difficulty remembering what those memories were. I would be interested to know if anyone else has experienced my symptoms. I have somewhat learnt to live with these attacks.

smurfy33 · 09-28-2006, 07:50 AM

sharond - I think you are right that anxiety is just part of our makeup. I have always been a worrier as far back as I can remember. One of my daughters has anxiety, too. She is 8 and she has shown signs of anxiety since she was 2. Right now she is having a very difficult time with it and is having trouble even going to school. I'm sort of glad I have anxiety so I can relate to her.

I also have had a feeling that I have done something before which causes some anxiety for me. It doesn't cause me to go into an attack or anything, but I do get a weird feeling and kind of get dizzy when it happens. Never really thought much of it.

sharond · 09-28-2006, 07:42 PM

Hi Smurfy33

Thank God I have reached someone else that has similar symptoms to me. After 40 odd years of experiencing anxiety attacks like mine I have felt very alone. I have never really spoken in depth about this with anyone else before. The feeling or sensation for better word of having seen, or been or done whatever I am doing at the time is such a strange sensation. At times I really thought I was going mad. It could be something as simple as looking at a pink towel or throwing the washing into a washing machine which was the last one. I don't know your background or your daughter's but I came from an abused family. My father was an alcoholic that beat my mother, my sisters and myself. My mother was very ill all thoughout my childhood and I really feel that my anxiety attacks with the pins and needles in the hands as a child were just a nervous reaction to what was going on around me but unfortunately the anxiety has remained with me. My symptoms have changed throughout the years and have got worse but in saying this I know that it will pass and is not life threatening. I sometimes break down and cry also afterward and feel exhausted for the rest of the day. I am glad that you are able to relate to your daughter and let her know that it will be okay and that she is not the only one out there with these problems. Take care and thank you so much for replying to my post.

tnmomofive · 09-28-2006, 10:03 PM

sharond
I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder 13 years ago I am 32 now.I have had the same thing you described except like the other poster I don't panic really over it but it is very strange.I also grew up in an abusive home(mostly verbal abuse).Now being older I think back and I remember sometimes having panic/anxiety attacks from nightmares and just the crap going on in the home.Anyway, so yeah I agree I think this disorder started with me back in childhood,or was always there,and it just progressed and changed in ways over the years.I handle it all tons better then I used to but still have some ruff spots at times.Thanks for sharing and take care

smurfy33 · 09-29-2006, 05:16 AM

sharond - I have to say, I was not abused as a child. I have a wonderful mother and father. My dad suffered from panic attacks that started in his 30s. I remember the ambulance coming a few times because he thought he was having a heart attack and my grandparents would come get me. That probably happened 3 times. I never knew what was going on until my anxiety started and I talked to my dad about it. He said I sound like a carbon copy of himself when he was my age. He has dealt with this for 20+ years now. He is on Zoloft which has helped him wonderfully. I know that anxiety can come on for different reasons. I'm sure your abuse had something to do with it. I just take one day at a time. Right now I'm doing well. Tomorrow, who knows. Take care of yourself! =)