Stress or Suspense? - Panic Disorders Message Board

Axenstar · 10-24-2003, 05:22 AM

The "Read and no Response" Thread got me to ask this question.

I know that stress is a big cause of anxiety. My question now, is:

Do any of you find you are less anxious while stressed (IE, doing something mind consuming and active with pressure on you)rather than when you are in suspense at something (IE, that work you did finally getting completed and the waiting to see if it is accepted)

Is your problem, Stress? Or Suspense?

DawnMarie1978 · 10-24-2003, 08:24 AM

For me it is almost always suspense. For instance when the phone rings is it because someone is hurt like my kids at school. If my husband is late did he get in a car accident. And on and on. If I am doing something physical with light mental concentration I almost never panic. For instance folding clothes while listening to music. But if I am doing something like bills, forget it, panic is coming soon.Probably because its not that physical and it is emotionally stressing.

10-24-2003, 10:19 AM

For me it is hard to say. I panic under both situations. I get panicked while trying to get dinner together and trying to multi-task... I panic when I have a deadline at work, my body just starts shaking and I can't think straight and I feel like I am going to pee my pants. I get flustered and anxious when I have to try and organize a big mess.

But, then I also get panicked and anxious over suspense... like above, if my husband is home late I start calling around and freak out something happened to him. When I put bills in the mail I am scared they will get lost and not paid. When I lay in bed I get extremely anxious that I won't be able to fall asleep and I make myself sick with worry.

So, for me it isn't anything specific. Thankfully I don't suffer from major panic attacks, I only get mildly beside myself, my heart rate goes up, and my mind races.