Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks??? Even when I am not having a panic attack I still don’t feel well. Of course I can’t say that is all the time, but most of the time. For example: now I might be feeling dizzy, then I might have a headache, then I might be feeling another thing and then another thing. I really wonder if it’s the same for you
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
Quote:
Originally Posted by Madj
Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks??? Even when I am not having a panic attack I still don’t feel well. Of course I can’t say that is all the time, but most of the time. For example: now I might be feeling dizzy, then I might have a headache, then I might be feeling another thing and then another thing. I really wonder if it’s the same for you
I feel exactly the same as you. Every day, not an hour goes by that I don't have a thought flash through that I should go to the doc's to 'check that out'. Mind you I've given up doing that, and try to ignore what ever ailment I feel.
As soon as you get rid of something, another thing replaces it.
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
Quote:
Originally Posted by electriman
Unfortunately for me I'm one who is stressed all the time. I always seem to feel under the weather. JC
I feel that same way, if its not a headache, its dizzy if its not dizzy its a weird sensation. if its not that its chest pains... its never ending and fight now i'm having a really bad nervous attack... scared really scared
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
What you are all describing is Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I have had it since I was 5 years old. Even then I was worried about getting sick. I also have panic attacks but I go months without having one. However I have other symptoms almost everyday such as lightheadedness, head pressure, off-balance feeling, headaches and on and on. I could manage this much better if I only had panic attacks. At least there is some relief in between attacks but with GAD it is an almost constant uncomfortable feeling.
Quote:
Originally Posted by simplegirl
im there too.. always something wrong with me i havent felt "good" in a very very long time.. always feeling shakie, odd chest pains, numbness, back burning, on and on... makes me wonder if you ever get to feel "normal" as well...
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
PJG
I feel exactly the same way too. And yes my problem is not only panic attacks but anxiety too. Can people get panic attacks without having an anxiety problem??
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
Quote:
Originally Posted by PJG
What you are all describing is Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I have had it since I was 5 years old. Even then I was worried about getting sick. I also have panic attacks but I go months without having one. However I have other symptoms almost everyday such as lightheadedness, head pressure, off-balance feeling, headaches and on and on. I could manage this much better if I only had panic attacks. At least there is some relief in between attacks but with GAD it is an almost constant uncomfortable feeling.
Dear PJG,
I guess that I just have to agree to disagree with dealing with this if it were only just panic attacks, as it is only an opinion from either of us of our own situiation. Have a good one my Friend.
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
PJG
I totally understand where you're coming from. I used to have panic attacks now and then, and they were bad ones, but when they were gone I felt "normal". Today I rarely have full blown attacks, but I now have a constant overwhelming feeling of anxiety almost all of the time which interferes with just about every aspect of my life. I look back at the years when I just had the panic attacks as the good old days-at least I got a break.
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
Hi Madj,
I don't think you can get panic attacks if you do not have an anxiety problem. In my opinion panic attacks, anxiety and depression all go hand in hand. I believe that the anxiety brings on my depression.
MetalDetector, yes that is exactly what I am talking about. I hate panic attacks and would not wish them on my worst enemy but at least when they are over I feel some relief. This unrelenting anxiety is by far the worst for me. I had read a few years ago that when we worry constantly and obsess about things that we change our brain chemistry. That is what brings on the constant anxiety. Supposedly if we do daily relaxation, use positive dialogue and stop dwelling on the what if's, then we can actually change our brain chemistry to what it was without the use of drugs. There are many people who have done it. I, however, have not been able to. But I also have never done these things daily for an extended period of time. I start too but then I begin to feel better and stop. Then I get worse again.
Sickman, do you have GAD or just panic attacks? I can certainly understand someone who does not have GAD but only panic attacks would feel as you do. GAD is just not something people understand unless they are going through it. Just like panic attacks.
I hope we all feel better soon!
PJG
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetalDetector
PJG
I totally understand where you're coming from. I used to have panic attacks now and then, and they were bad ones, but when they were gone I felt "normal". Today I rarely have full blown attacks, but I now have a constant overwhelming feeling of anxiety almost all of the time which interferes with just about every aspect of my life. I look back at the years when I just had the panic attacks as the good old days-at least I got a break.
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
I haven't had a panic attack in about a year but as they subsided the constant anxiety started. Maybe the anxiety started from the waiting for the next attack to come. I truely beleive that somehow I can someday overcome this hole deal. I was normal once. (Relatively speaking) So I can be normal again. If only I wasn't so tuned in to every sensation my body produces now I'd have it made.Today I'm optomistic and I think we all can beat it. JC
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
I just read what I posted. I shouldn't have said be normal again. I don't want to imply that somebody with panic and anxiety isn't normal. That isn't true. It's more like we are supertuned to our physical reactions to stimuli. So hopefully we will all be less tuned in to our bodily reactions someday. JC
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
Quote:
Originally Posted by PJG
Hi Madj,
I don't think you can get panic attacks if you do not have an anxiety problem. In my opinion panic attacks, anxiety and depression all go hand in hand. I believe that the anxiety brings on my depression.
MetalDetector, yes that is exactly what I am talking about. I hate panic attacks and would not wish them on my worst enemy but at least when they are over I feel some relief. This unrelenting anxiety is by far the worst for me. I had read a few years ago that when we worry constantly and obsess about things that we change our brain chemistry. That is what brings on the constant anxiety. Supposedly if we do daily relaxation, use positive dialogue and stop dwelling on the what if's, then we can actually change our brain chemistry to what it was without the use of drugs. There are many people who have done it. I, however, have not been able to. But I also have never done these things daily for an extended period of time. I start too but then I begin to feel better and stop. Then I get worse again.
Sickman, do you have GAD or just panic attacks? I can certainly understand someone who does not have GAD but only panic attacks would feel as you do. GAD is just not something people understand unless they are going through it. Just like panic attacks.
I hope we all feel better soon!
PJG
Dear PJG,
I guess you haven't read very many of my posts so let me just say this:
I have constant GAD, PTSD, OCD, Depression, cluster panic disorer, and a siezure disorder that can not be diagnosed. I have been ill with things that could not be diagnosised for over 30 years and since I have no choice but to have this everyday and during my sleep waking with it, I have a pretty good handle on what is what about any of the above. Not trying to say that I suffer worse then anyone else, it is the pits and I would like to use other words not allowed on the board to describe it. I can understand that you feel that the anxiety symptoms are worse then the attacks, it effects everyone different. I am not arguing with you. I probably would disagree with some things if we were really to start discussing it, but I guess it really doesn't matter. We are all in the same boat, no matter what the symptoms, causes or possibilites. I just wanted you to know, Peacefully or course, that I am not someone that does not understand what the difference is between GAD and Panic Disorder. Hey, I respect your opinion, just like I do anyone elses with any of these disorders. I can't say that you are right or wrong nor can I say that I am. I think we can all agree that no one really knows all the answers but we surely all know the misery. Have a nice day, and nothing negative intended.
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetalDetector
geez Sickman, all PJG asked you was if you had GAD or just panic attacks.
Dear MetalDetector,
If that came out wrong I didn't mean it to. I was just describing my condition and that I was not disputing his opinion. I guess it reads different then I intended it to, since when I read it I am feeling the emotional intent that I guess the words themselves do not express to others. I meant no offense to PJG if it came across that way. Sorry about that, not intended. I guess I should have just said yes, I have GAD and panic attacks.
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
From what I can see non of us feel well when we are not having the panic attacks. I really hope that one day we can all get to feel better and put all this behind us.
electriman I can understand what you said about feeling normal. I feel the same way too. I've had this problem for 11 years now and believe me I forgot what is like to feel normal. I don't feel like I am a normal person like everyone else. I don't know if its the same for all of you, but that is how I feel. I know is probably wrong to feel like this, but I can't help it.
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
Dear Sickman,
No offense taken. I appreciate your posts very much. Actually I have read alot of your posts but it was mostly advice to other people. From the age of 5 I've had obsessive thoughts. I worried constantly about everything. Especially dying. Not exactly normal for a 5 yr. old. From age 13 until 22 I seemed to be completely "normal", no anxiety or panic attacks. From the age of 22 until 1993 (about 20 years) I only had panic attacks. No other symptoms. So I pretty much lived a normal life with medication. About 1991 I went through a 2 year period of continual worry about a family member. I literally spent 2 years worrying and obsessing. I did not eat or sleep very well. Then in January, 1993, I came home from work and was very nervous, sweating, anxious and no appetite. My dr. diagnosed anxiety. That is when the lightheadedness, off-balance feelings, ear fullness, extreme muscle tension, head pressure and many more symptoms began. I had never had those symptoms before. Only panic attacks. I attribute it to spending 2 years worrying. I truly believed it changed my brain chemistry. I did not think of this on my own, I read it from a very reputable doctor. Some people may not agree with him but I do. I have not been able to get rid of these symptoms for more than a few days since then. Anyway, that is my story.
No need to apologize for your opinions.
"Mrs." lol PJG
Quote:
Originally Posted by Madj
From what I can see non of us feel well when we are not having the panic attacks. I really hope that one day we can all get to feel better and put all this behind us.
electriman I can understand what you said about feeling normal. I feel the same way too. I've had this problem for 11 years now and believe me I forgot what is like to feel normal. I don't feel like I am a normal person like everyone else. I don't know if its the same for all of you, but that is how I feel. I know is probably wrong to feel like this, but I can't help it.
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks???
Geeze, I'm so glad I'm not alone! I have suffered with anxiety since I was in preschool (I'm 31 now) and I have to say I have never felt totally well. I started to get panic attacks in college, but they were never diagnosed until after I graduated (I turned down the thought of going to med school, cuz who needs a surgeon who suddenly has to run away in the middle of surgery) and I feel as though I missed out on a lot. In 1996 I was fully diagnosed: GAD, panic disorder, and OCD. I tried CBT but got little benefit. I was then put on 20mg of paxil, and it really really REALLY helped. The downside: I gained roughly 70 pounds in the 7 years I was on it (mind you I also had 2 babies during this time). I finally said enough this summer, and quit the paxil. I felt great after (no panic attacks, and 30 pounds have come off without even trying), but then came the flu outbreak, and my OCD about germs started to get really bad. Then the panic attacks started again. I was put on prozac, and while it worked for the OCD, my panic attacks are getting worse, and I have gone back to feeling that same crappy feeling between attacks. Every moment of every day I seem to have some issue with my health. As I write this, I have a headache (probably brought on by this mornings attack) and stomach cramps. Last night it was a lump in my throat. In general, I feel as though it is a struggle that I am slowly losing. I hope that the prozac will soon start to do it's stuff (I just increased from 20 to 30 mg). I read recently that it is now approved for panic disorder, whereas before it was not.
Sorry to have rambled, but I am having a particularily rough week. I just want to feel WELL!!!!!
Nice to know others are in the same boat (lets hope the boat doesn't sink, lol)
Sending happy relaxing thoughts to you all!
Lynne
Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks??? 
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks??? 
Re: Do you feel well when you are not having the panic attacks??? 
