Trauma – PTSD

Question:

Hi Keith! I have also experienced the type of situation that you described at the airport lots of times.  I finally figured out that I was worried about letting people down/feeling responsible for them having a good time – and the more worried I became, the more anxious I became, and so ironically I ended up having to run away from the situation.  Like you -when the person I was with wasn’t angry with me for ‘letting them down’ my symptoms immediately subsided.  It sounds like your girlfriend understands what is happening to you – that is incredibly important. Maybe if this happens again, you could talk to her about how you’re feeling at the time – this may help the physical panic symptoms subside. Good luck! * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -In the last several month, things have started happening that I cannot make sense of.  I have been reading some posts here and it seems I might be looking in the right place. About three months ago I felt like I was having a heart attack (cold sweats, nausia, rapid heart beat, dizziness and numbness in arms and legs).  I went to the emergency room, they fed me two liters of IV solution and sent me home telling me I was fine.  I felt better shortly thereafter.  I went to the doctor and got a clean bill of health.  HMMMMM?  I thought I was going crazy. I hadn’t had anymore episodes such as this until just recently.  Myself and my girlfriend were getting ready to go overseas for New Years.  I really didn’t have any great concerns about flying or Y2K or any of that.  About 3 hours before we were to leave, I started feeling bad.  Not necessarily the symptoms I had before but somewhat similar, basically feeling out of it.  I told my girlfriend about this and she understood because her ex-boyfriend had an anxiety dissorder.  This was a really big trip and I felt I could fight through this and get on the plane.  Well the short of the story was, I didn’t feel any better but it got worse as time went by.  We got our bags off the airplane and went home.  When my girlfiend told me that she wouldn’t be mad if we didn’t go, even though I knew she was really excited to go, I immediately began to feel better and the symptoms immediately subsided. This is very scary for me.  I am sick very little and if I am sick, I know it is something that will go away with medicine or just time.  This seems very different.  I guess no one can give any immediate cures here but just thought someone might have had similar experiences. Thanks

Hi Keith, Welcome to ASAP. It sounds like you might be starting to develop a anxiety disorder,but only a doctor can diagnosis you. If I were you, I would make sure to get a complete physical, you want to rule out any physical reason for your symptoms. If nothing is found, I strongly suggest that you see a psych doctor for diagnosis and treatment. You need to take care of this now before this spirals out of control, and believe me……anxiety disorders can become out of control quickly.  If you do have an anxiety disorder, educate yourself on it, knowledge is power. I know you are frightened right now, but you don`t have to feel this way. Seek help and you can feel better. Anxiety disorders are very treatable. Good luck. Jackie ~~This is the true measure of love, When we believe that we alone can love, That no one could ever have loved so before us,And that no one will ever love in the same way after us~~

Response:

In the last several month, things have started happening that I cannot make sense of.  I have been reading some posts here and it seems I might be looking in the right place. About three months ago I felt like I was having a heart attack (cold sweats, nausia, rapid heart beat, dizziness and numbness in arms and legs).  I went to the emergency room, they fed me two liters of IV solution and sent me home telling me I was fine.  I felt better shortly thereafter.  I went to the doctor and got a clean bill of health.  HMMMMM?  I thought I was going crazy. I hadn’t had anymore episodes such as this until just recently.  Myself and my girlfriend were getting ready to go overseas for New Years.  I really didn’t have any great concerns about flying or Y2K or any of that.  About 3 hours before we were to leave, I started feeling bad.  Not necessarily the symptoms I had before but somewhat similar, basically feeling out of it.  I told my girlfriend about this and she understood because her ex-boyfriend had an anxiety dissorder.  This was a really big trip and I felt I could fight through this and get on the plane.  Well the short of the story was, I didn’t feel any better but it got worse as time went by.  We got our bags off the airplane and went home.  When my girlfiend told me that she wouldn’t be mad if we didn’t go, even though I knew she was really excited to go, I immediately began to feel better and the symptoms immediately subsided. This is very scary for me.  I am sick very little and if I am sick, I know it is something that will go away with medicine or just time.  This seems very different.  I guess no one can give any immediate cures here but just thought someone might have had similar experiences. Thanks

Response:

Hi Keith, You describe an episode of anxiety 3 months ago and again recently. This *could* represent an "acute adjustment disorder with anxiety". This diagnosis implies there has been some recent stress (in a young adult this might include work stress, struggle to achieve financial stability, etc.) to which a person reacts with anxiety and/or panic attacks. Other reactions to recent or acute stress may be include depression, insomnia, self medication with alcohol, and many other possible reactions. Your anxiety may resolve by itself in weeks to months. If your anxiety doesn’t resolve in a week or two, you may wish to consult a psychiatrist for counseling and/or medication with an anti-anxiety agent such as Ativan, Xanax, or Klonopin. Take care, Chip In the last several month, things have started happening that I cannot make sense of. I have been reading some posts here and it seems I might be looking in the right place. About three months ago I felt like I was having a heart attack (cold sweats, nausia, rapid heart beat, dizziness and numbness in arms and legs). I went to the emergency room, they fed me two liters of IV solution and sent me home telling me I was fine. I felt better shortly thereafter. I went to the doctor and got a clean bill of health. HMMMMM? I thought I was going crazy. I hadn’t had anymore episodes such as this until just recently. Myself and my girlfriend were getting ready to go overseas for New Years. I really didn’t have any great concerns about flying or Y2K or any of that. About 3 hours before we were to leave, I started feeling bad. Not necessarily the symptoms I had before but somewhat similar, basically feeling out of it. I told my girlfriend about this and she understood because her ex-boyfriend had an anxiety dissorder. This was a really big trip and I felt I could fight through this and get on the plane. Well the short of the story was, I didn’t feel any better but it got worse as time went by. We got our bags off the airplane and went home. When my girlfiend told me that she wouldn’t be mad if we didn’t go, even though I knew she was really excited to go, I immediately began to feel better and the symptoms immediately subsided. This is very scary for me. I am sick very little and if I am sick, I know it is something that will go away with medicine or just time. This seems very different. I guess no one can give any immediate cures here but just thought someone might have had similar experiences. Thanks

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In the last several month, things have started happening that I cannot make sense of.  I have been reading some posts here and it seems I might be looking in the right place. About three months ago I felt like I was having a heart attack (cold sweats, nausia, rapid heart beat, dizziness and numbness in arms and legs).  I went to the emergency room, they fed me two liters of IV solution and sent me home telling me I was fine.  I felt better shortly thereafter.  I went to the doctor and got a clean bill of health.  HMMMMM?  I thought I was going crazy. I hadn’t had anymore episodes such as this until just recently.  Myself and my girlfriend were getting ready to go overseas for New Years.  I really didn’t have any great concerns about flying or Y2K or any of that.  About 3 hours before we were to leave, I started feeling bad.  Not necessarily the symptoms I had before but somewhat similar, basically feeling out of it.  I told my girlfriend about this and she understood because her ex-boyfriend had an anxiety dissorder.  This was a really big trip and I felt I could fight through this and get on the plane.  Well the short of the story was, I didn’t feel any better but it got worse as time went by.  We got our bags off the airplane and went home.  When my girlfiend told me that she wouldn’t be mad if we didn’t go, even though I knew she was really excited to go, I immediately began to feel better and the symptoms immediately subsided. This is very scary for me.  I am sick very little and if I am sick, I know it is something that will go away with medicine or just time.  This seems very different.  I guess no one can give any immediate cures here but just thought someone might have had similar experiences. Thanks

It seems clear that you had Panic Attacks, two of them with some time in between. Many people experience the odd PA without developing an actual Panic *Disorder*. So my suggestion would be to do nothing about it and just go on living like you did before. Should you start to experience many PA’s and *anticipatory anxiety* (fear of fear) in between then this would become a different proposition and it would then be necessary to find professional help. Nut who knows, maybe you will never have another attack in your life! Philip

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