Anxiety and panic attacks

LegacyUser

Ok so I’ve had this problem with anxiety for as long as I can remember. For anyone who has never experienced it – it is really difficult to describe. But anyone who has, it is something really hard to handle.

It’s started to become much worse in the past year. There is a pattern in where it flares up for me. In traffic on the way to work, in Airports a lot (I travel frequently for my work), In meetings at work, if I am on my own in a hotel room in the evening. It is especially bad first thing in the morning though. I am currently working abroad for a month or 2 and it has gotten out of control. The trip to work in the morning is almost unbearable. The thought of some tasks scare the hell out of me. I get panic attacks for no apparent reason.

All I know is this has to stop because it’s going to get the better of me eventually. I need to do something. Going to a doctor is not practical at the moment as I am away from home.

Does anybody know of any vitamins /supplements that can combat this? I’ve just started going to the gym now as I hear exercise is good to combat anxiety. Also I am interested to hear of any books that deal with the topic and offer some advice.

Thanks for any help.

Gordon

This is not a medical board so people won't be prescribing here. However, people are free to talk about their experiences here.

Why can't you go to a doctor, are you in a country where you can't speak the language?

WhiteWashMan

sounds like its all based around work. Are you afraid youre unable to do your job, or is there some issue in work you feel you cant handle?

Intothesea

Hello there

Can you pinpoint what is or has made
you anxious? Is there a fundamental
hope or expectation that remains
unfulfilled or unadressed? Is your
anxiety concurrent with depression?

Here's a book dealing with coping
mechanisms for anxiety:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402204027/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I11I57XK1IF3D8&colid=3VUAAF9JSU21V

At least some of it is available on google books.

Good luck.

Red Dwarf

If the panic attacks are getting so bad that they are disrupting your life, you need to go to a doctor - he/she can prescribe a medication for general anxiety disorder and put to in contact with a registered psychotherapist. Check out http://www.psychotherapy-ireland.com/ for more info.

Best of luck. You can beat the anxiety.

Oriel

Have a look here:
http://www.healthspan.co.uk/sleep_mood/happy_days_5_htp_tablets-c114p211.html
Do you drink?

Intothesea, it's not one specific thing that makes you feel like that. It's just an overall feeling. Hard to explain.

kevpants

Suffer with anxiety myself. Good website that should help you understand why you're feeling like that:

www.anxietycare.org.uk

What you need to try to accept is that it's just misplaced anxiety, a misfire in your brain and that you can feel the anxiety and just keep going forward, believe it or not if you don't give in to it it eventually disipates. I know it is the hardest thing to do but it's possible. The above website really helped me. Put into words the irrationality of it all.

Exercise is great, I find weights based stuff better than aerobic stuff like running. Fish oils and vitamin B12 are good but take a long time to work, they're a good idea long term though, so is a generally healthy diet, which you mightn'y be getting if you're constantly travelling.

I got the best help of all from Chinese Medecine but that's a big debate I don't want to start, look into it if you want. Just to say I'm not a new age medecine kind person and was extremely sceptical of it so the placebo effect can be ruled out on me. I was forced to take it by the mrs!!

Intothesea

True enough, Oriel, anxiety imbues your
entire life with a measure of unliveability,
but often there are some very strong
themes underlying the general distress,
a depressive source-point if you will

Popsicle

Its a terrible thing but it can be worked though. However you sound like it has gotten hold of you at the moment and my advise would be to get to a doctor. Or at least make an appointment to see one as soon as your get home from overseas. Sometimes you need some help to get your mind in to a better place in order to help yourself.

He/she will be able to prescibe something to help you see straight and then be in a position to sort out the issues as to why you are getting panic attacks in the first place.

Best of luck

jdivision

Do you drink alcohol a lot? Speaking from experience, cutting down can reduce them dramatically