Dealing with anxiety & panic attacks

LegacyUser

here is my problem. I was working away from home in my early twenties. I lost my job and was running out of cash. i knid started getting anxious. A month or so later I had a few panic attacks. My problem was when working away from home I could never think to the present and was always worrying about the future. After my panic attacks the next year was tough. The sysmtoms of my anxiety was a heavy chest, my head felt a bit tight and was always thinking to fast. I think i felt a bit overwhelmed.

My problem is i have been offered a job in europe. I spent the last week there. I have a two freinds living there really enjoyed myself. Thought it would be cool to move over with them. My problem is when I started thinking about it I became tense again and had the same fecked up thought and had a big of a heavy chest.

Whats wrong with me. I would love to live out of Ireland but dont know if I would go a bit nutty. Has this happend to anyone. I have been to thearapy b4 but still dont understand these symtoms.

Can someone please explain

Thanks

Comments please!!!!

Dizzyblonde

It's normal to feel anxious about a big change like moving away and taking a new job, but if anxiety and panic are interfering with your life you need to address it.
Claire Weekes has written really good self-help books on the subject and they're available on Amazon. I haven't used them myself but I know others who have and who highly recommend them.
Her books seem to explain anxiety really well and so take a lot of the fear away.
Here's a link to one; LINK

The Black Oil

http://www.oneinfour.org/support/panicattack/

LegacyUser

Thanks For the information. I just bought three of the books from Amozon. I was wondering if hypnotheraphy is good for anxiety. Can anyone recommend an excellent hypnoterapist that I could do a few sessions with??

TheMelodyOfRain

No, but if you go to www.scribd.com its a fantastic resource for self help books - books in general, actually. The symptoms are due to prolonged stress, and you're feeding the stress with worry. In brief, you've programmed your brain into doing this to you, and now you must reprogram it. I'll post some links to instructions on how to make a start on this when I'm on my other computer - probably tuesday.

EDIT: Venture a gander at the podcast on fear at www.stevepavlina.com in the interim.

LegacyUser

I found this book to be reall good for helping to deal with panic attacks
http://www.amazon.com/Anxiety-Phobia-Workbook-Fourth/dp/1572244135/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218333394&sr=1-7

It gives a clear explaination of what is going on with your body when you panic and some great methids of dealing with it....panic attacks are less intimidating when you understand them and realise what is happening.....

best of luck

LegacyUser

I have gone through this too for about 3 years, it being at its worse stage about 2 years ago. Its cognitive behavioural therapy that would benefit you, its re-learning how to think and go about things.It was described to me as a hormone imbalance and panic disorder. I saw a therapist for a while, who told me to keep a journal and then i would discuss this with her, and over the last few years looking at the way I react and go about things, Its helped me kinda re-learn how to go about things..It really works.

It basically comes down to you worrying, and then becoming irrational and thinking what you fear is real. I have considered hypnotherapy but never tried, I suppose its worth a go though. for me, what worked was, discussing it and keeping myself in check that everything will work out, instead of thinking every outcome would be a panic attack. You are not going nutty, you have just given a reality to your fears..

For me, at my worst, it was the hardest thing in the world, but It is 3 years on and I am very proud of myself that I have overcome them and you just have to trust yourself that you are in the driving seat. You really will be fine, and you are not going mad, its your fear manifesting itself in you physically .. good luck