Need some answers - Anxiety Message Board

JonathanAshton · 03-15-2007, 12:01 AM

I recently posted in the general health..but I think this may be a more appropriate area. I have led a perfectly normal life...I never had an anxiety besides the lil you get before presenting an oral. In December my grandfather passed away, and the night before his passing I got food poisoning and threw up for most of the night.

I went through a period of 2 weeks where I had mild anxiety but nothing serious, I figured it was cause I was coping with this situation (first loss of a close one) I felt great for the following 3 weeks...not anxiety, nothing. I stopped working and roughly 3 days later I was sitting at my computer I got a feeling of anxiety and panic out of no where. It got so bad at one point I couldn't go out because I felt I couldn't do it. With the following weeks it became more mild but that feelin in the upper stomach was always somewhat there, never completely gone...unless ofcourse I was busy playin ballhockey or with a girl. I wouldn't even think about it I was fine. But then it's like my mind will remind me it's there and I can't stop thinkin about it. I don't know what people consider a Normal or Major panic attack...I usually just feel short of breathe, my heart rushing and think of dark disturbing things (end of the world, being alone etc.) and they usually pass within a couple of minutes. It's just a general weird feeling. What should I do, how should I cope, is this temporary?

firenice · 03-15-2007, 12:43 AM

First off, I would say that anxiety and panic don't come out of nowhere. They come from within your mind/body system somewhere. What brings it up is a question which you might be able to answer with some self examination and that is often aided with a good therapist or counselor. However, it sounds like in your case it might have been coming from additional stress from the situation you describe. Sometimes panic and anxiety can arise when your most relaxed and least expecting it and the source can be events from weeks previous. So, one thought is to do nothing about it and see if it subsides on its own over the next few weeks. However, I would also suggest that you allow yourself the time to feel the sadness, or other feelings that you may be disallowing, from the situation you describe. Suppressed feelings can give rise to anxiety and panic, as well as depression or anger.