‘Tis Mental Health Awareness Month! What ails you? I’ve had two panic attacks since March. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone - you literally feel like you’re about to die.
Fez, are you taking any meds? Some years ago I had terrible panic attacks, really debilitating, thought I was going off my onion. Turned out to be side effect of prescription med. Talk about cure worse than the disease! Stopped the med and within days panic attacks stopped. Now I only panic when I can't find my keys. Or my cat.
I have me some of that also. Spent years learning how to manage it, now things are mostly not an issue as long as I take care of myself. A bad panic attack is one of the worst things I have ever experienced
That sounds fantastic for you. I have also figured out how to manage it much better in the last couple of years.
ADHD, CPTSD from some bad childhood stuff, DID from same bad childhood stuff… there is probably more but this is just the diagnosed stuff. my brain is a potato lol
Trying to please everyone at all times while trying to stick to my principles is gonna give me an ulcer.
For me it was really identifying issues outside of panic attacks as things related to anxiety. Sleep, eating and sex were all problematic but not all the time so I was associating them with other things. The panic attacks would come and go but I was always in a low level tension and anxiety that I didn't not recognize. After some work with a therapist I realized how they were all interconnected. He basically said that if your body is constantly on guard then it wont let you comfortably relax. Eating, sleeping and sex are all basic core functions that shut down if you are in stress mode. It makes sense from an animals survival perspective. Things that have helped me are a wonderful partner who is understanding and willing to work with me, regular exercise, good eating habits, minimal alcohol and some basic anxiety medication. Also taking time for myself to be present in the moment and not in the future has helped. I have vision loss issues, which is a big part of my anxiety, and accepting myself for what I am, becoming and advocate for myself and my condition, and preparing myself for my future with all the tools I need have all done me wonders.
I had big issues with dissociation, and especially in large groups, loud noises, and lots of movement. Back in the day, I would drink a little bit, and this would be bearable, but that of course temporarily helped a symptom whilst actually making the overall problem worse. It took me too long to figure that out, but I did eventually figure it out. Cessation of alcohol has really helped me, along with a couple of breathing exercises, and some basic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The anxiety will always be there, but it no longer runs my life.
I am still recovering from burnout. Made major breakthroughs in this regard, my short term memory problems are now gone. Mental health has never been worse over the last few years. But I will update more on that in my other thread when I get the chance. I was diagnosed with anxiety and major depressive disorder in '99. My last anxiety attack happened in early 2020. The leftover depression has been caused by what I have been going through. It is still slowly improving as I recover. My anxiety disorder is now completely gone. I have no anxiety at all now. I am not sure why. Maybe the Qi gong that I have been doing since late 2019. It is a moving meditation practice that has helped me improve my breathing while recovering. I think it has a lot to do with a better understanding of how my autism affects me after this ordeal. Not knowing has caused a lot of anxiety and depression over my lifetime. It is what it is. It happens and I get through it. Not sure how I survived the last few years though. Lol.
I honestly think the best thing I can do for mental health is go for an early morning walk and cuddle Lucia. Screw shrinks. I have a very low opinion of them.
Exercise and watching ones diet is important to mental health. I just listen to an interview from an old rock star that just got back from Australia, and he was taken back about the difference of how much more fit (not obese) they were as compared to Americans. Over the years people have become more aware of habits like smoking, alcoholism, drug use and how it can kill ya, losing control over eating habits can do the same.
I used to agree with you. I have had bad shrinks. The guy I see now is great though, we have built a relationship and he is more like a friend than a doctor. I would caution about being too vocal about your opinion on shrinks though. For many people they do help, and for many more people they would help but people are to embarrassed to try. Taking negatively about a shrink and what kind of help they can provide can keep people, who would benefit from them, from going to see them or feel embarrassed about sharing their experiences with one. Part of good mental health is feeling comfortable enough to use the tools that are available to you and these type of comments can make people feel uncomfortable.
I can't tell others what to do and certainly not what their experience is. Or what they should think. I can only speak for myself from my life experience.
