Anxiety/panic attacks? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 03-13-2004, 04:30 PM

..whats the difference between the two, and what are the symptoms? Sometimes, when Im in bed analyzing about everything stressful in my life, I can feel my heart beating a million times a minute. Its weird. Im not gasping for breath or anything, but my heart will just be beating away, Ill get kinda shakey too. Weird.

MandieR1980 · 03-13-2004, 04:43 PM

There isn't a difference really. When I had them I'd cry easily, my mouth would get very dry, I'd get the shakes and I'd drop things alot

Rhiannon · 03-13-2004, 04:47 PM

When I am going to sleep but I'm really worried or stressed over something, I will just lay there and shake and my heart will get really fast. I can't stand when that happens.

dawsongirl · 03-13-2004, 06:26 PM

Panic attacks are extreme anxiety. Your heart beats real fast, you sweat, feel trapped...extreme fear. It feels kind of like the walls are closing in on you and there's no way out. You life sort of stops for a moment.

Anxiety is just worry. You don't get so worried you go so far as an attack. If you have an anxiety problem, you worry constantly, or worry most about things you cannot control.

dawsongirl · 03-13-2004, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vera Wang
When I am going to sleep but I'm really worried or stressed over something, I will just lay there and shake and my heart will get really fast. I can't stand when that happens.

When I was younger, I used to get so worried that I used to shake uncontrolably for like 5 minutes. That was an attack.

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 03-13-2004, 09:03 PM

o0o thanks Cathy!

Pitooey · 03-13-2004, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dawsongirl
Panic attacks are extreme anxiety. Your heart beats real fast, you sweat, feel trapped...extreme fear. It feels kind of like the walls are closing in on you and there's no way out. You life sort of stops for a moment.

Anxiety is just worry. You don't get so worried you go so far as an attack. If you have an anxiety problem, you worry constantly, or worry most about things you cannot control.

I agree with dawsongirl...........

dawsongirl · 03-13-2004, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ¤MsConanOBrien¤
o0o thanks Cathy!

Anytime.

Cashodeen · 03-14-2004, 05:06 AM

dawsongirl, is there a different between an "anxiety attack" and a "panic attack?" I can't figure out if they mean the same thing, or if the term "panic attack" is used when an attack is really extreme.

dawsongirl · 03-14-2004, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cashodeen
dawsongirl, is there a different between an "anxiety attack" and a "panic attack?" I can't figure out if they mean the same thing, or if the term "panic attack" is used when an attack is really extreme.

I think they mean the same thing, because most panic attacks are caused by high anxiety. If you're just sitting there worrying, but you don't start shaking or breathing heavy, you're not really having an attack. That's just anxiety. If you do that all the time though, you probably have an anxiety problem. That's what I did. I had very few attacks, but I was always worried to the point of making myself sick.

I hope that made sense.

Cashodeen · 03-14-2004, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dawsongirl

I think they mean the same thing, because most panic attacks are caused by high anxiety. If you're just sitting there worrying, but you don't start shaking or breathing heavy, you're not really having an attack. That's just anxiety. If you do that all the time though, you probably have an anxiety problem. That's what I did. I had very few attacks, but I was always worried to the point of making myself sick.

I hope that made sense.

Yeah, that completely makes sense. Thanks.

webuster · 03-16-2004, 02:03 PM

I worry constantly about things I can't control- It's got to being an obsession now. Today though I felt really embarassed in class (a 'joke', well, more of a joke within an amusing idea, of mine was repeated, but the repeaters twisted the words, and changed it about, and I ended up looking like a psycho, well, so I thought) and afterwards I felt physically ill for ages, and really really warm.

dawsongirl · 03-16-2004, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by webuster
I worry constantly about things I can't control- It's got to being an obsession now. Today though I felt really embarassed in class (a 'joke', well, more of a joke within an amusing idea, of mine was repeated, but the repeaters twisted the words, and changed it about, and I ended up looking like a psycho, well, so I thought) and afterwards I felt physically ill for ages, and really really warm.

If it happens all the time, it might be worth seeing a doctor about. No one should live in a constant state of worry. I did, and it was awful.

Babes_Cat · 03-16-2004, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dawsongirl
Panic attacks are extreme anxiety. Your heart beats real fast, you sweat, feel trapped...extreme fear. It feels kind of like the walls are closing in on you and there's no way out. You life sort of stops for a moment.

And they are so not fun to have.

Artfiore1 · 03-16-2004, 11:17 PM

Hi all,
Boy, have I had experience with this kind of thing! And, if I've learned one thing it's that quite often, your mind can be your worst enemy.

About 25 years ago (I'm 46 now), I developed a terrible nervous disorder. I think it was brought on by a combination of different things I was going through at the time (marital unhappiness, starting a brand new very difficult job, and returning to school for the first time in years). Whatever the cause, I started feeling absolutely awful -- aches and pains, tired all the time, my heart racing a mile a minute at times. I felt like breathing was no longer involuntary -- like I had to *think* about breathing or I wouldn't do it. I became afraid to go to sleep, worrying that I'd simply stop breathing in my sleep 'cause I wasn't thinking about doing it. Needless to say, that never happened, I always woke up alive, but being awake continued to be a total nightmare. I went through just about every medical test there was -- all came out okay. Still, I missed a lot of time from work, even totally ruined a surprise birthday party that was thrown for me, by hiding out in an upstairs bedroom all night. The worse I felt, the more I worried about it. And, the more I worried, the worse I would feel. I had no idea that the worry was causing the rotten feeling, and the rotten feeling was causing more worry. A wise doctor finally told me that I had to break that cycle, and he put me on a daily dose of Valium to help me accomplish that. He also gave me some incredible little pills, which, when taken during those heart palpitations, would bring my heart rate from around 150 beats per minute all the way down to about 70, within a matter of minutes. And, I was fine.

But then, a few years later, I somehow acquired a fear that I might have a heart attack, a stroke, a brain hemorrhage or something horrible like that while standing on line at the supermarket, or while driving my car, or while hanging out with friends. I became afraid to go anywhere. That developed into agoraphobia (total terror of leaving my home). I had many an anxiety attack while driving on the highway or while walking alone somewhere at night. A selfhelp book about dealing with anxiety helped me through that.

These days, I still -- though rarely -- have moments of anxiety about certain things. They usually lead to total paralyzing panic and those moments are complete Hell for me! But, they always pass. I know it's my mind screwing with me.

To those suffering from these types of things, know that you're not the first person to ever go through it . . . and remember that you're not alone.

Later,
Art

P.S. I *did*, coincidentally, have a brain hemorrhage, a little over 20 years ago, and very, very, very nearly died. But, guess what -- I didn't!

03-13-2004, 04:30 PM	#1
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	Anxiety/panic attacks? ..whats the difference between the two, and what are the symptoms? Sometimes, when Im in bed analyzing about everything stressful in my life, I can feel my heart beating a million times a minute. Its weird. Im not gasping for breath or anything, but my heart will just be beating away, Ill get kinda shakey too. Weird.
	__________________ DAVID COOK FOR AMERICAN IDOL

03-13-2004, 04:43 PM	#2
MandieR1980 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2001 Location: East Taunton, Massachusetts Posts: 2,635	There isn't a difference really. When I had them I'd cry easily, my mouth would get very dry, I'd get the shakes and I'd drop things alot
	__________________ Mandie myspace.com/mlr930

03-13-2004, 04:47 PM	#3
Rhiannon oh, snap! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 11,097	When I am going to sleep but I'm really worried or stressed over something, I will just lay there and shake and my heart will get really fast. I can't stand when that happens.
	__________________ Nothing better the feeling is so fine Simply put I saw your love stream flow

03-13-2004, 06:26 PM	#4
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	Panic attacks are extreme anxiety. Your heart beats real fast, you sweat, feel trapped...extreme fear. It feels kind of like the walls are closing in on you and there's no way out. You life sort of stops for a moment. Anxiety is just worry. You don't get so worried you go so far as an attack. If you have an anxiety problem, you worry constantly, or worry most about things you cannot control.

03-13-2004, 09:03 PM	#6
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	o0o thanks Cathy!

03-14-2004, 05:06 AM	#9
Cashodeen Hi. Forum Star Join Date: Aug 30, 2001 Posts: 11,363	dawsongirl, is there a different between an "anxiety attack" and a "panic attack?" I can't figure out if they mean the same thing, or if the term "panic attack" is used when an attack is really extreme.

03-16-2004, 02:03 PM	#12
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	I worry constantly about things I can't control- It's got to being an obsession now. Today though I felt really embarassed in class (a 'joke', well, more of a joke within an amusing idea, of mine was repeated, but the repeaters twisted the words, and changed it about, and I ended up looking like a psycho, well, so I thought) and afterwards I felt physically ill for ages, and really really warm.

03-16-2004, 11:17 PM	#15
Artfiore1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 28, 2001 Location: East Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 457	Hi all, Boy, have I had experience with this kind of thing! And, if I've learned one thing it's that quite often, your mind can be your worst enemy. About 25 years ago (I'm 46 now), I developed a terrible nervous disorder. I think it was brought on by a combination of different things I was going through at the time (marital unhappiness, starting a brand new very difficult job, and returning to school for the first time in years). Whatever the cause, I started feeling absolutely awful -- aches and pains, tired all the time, my heart racing a mile a minute at times. I felt like breathing was no longer involuntary -- like I had to think about breathing or I wouldn't do it. I became afraid to go to sleep, worrying that I'd simply stop breathing in my sleep 'cause I wasn't thinking about doing it. Needless to say, that never happened, I always woke up alive, but being awake continued to be a total nightmare. I went through just about every medical test there was -- all came out okay. Still, I missed a lot of time from work, even totally ruined a surprise birthday party that was thrown for me, by hiding out in an upstairs bedroom all night. The worse I felt, the more I worried about it. And, the more I worried, the worse I would feel. I had no idea that the worry was causing the rotten feeling, and the rotten feeling was causing more worry. A wise doctor finally told me that I had to break that cycle, and he put me on a daily dose of Valium to help me accomplish that. He also gave me some incredible little pills, which, when taken during those heart palpitations, would bring my heart rate from around 150 beats per minute all the way down to about 70, within a matter of minutes. And, I was fine. But then, a few years later, I somehow acquired a fear that I might have a heart attack, a stroke, a brain hemorrhage or something horrible like that while standing on line at the supermarket, or while driving my car, or while hanging out with friends. I became afraid to go anywhere. That developed into agoraphobia (total terror of leaving my home). I had many an anxiety attack while driving on the highway or while walking alone somewhere at night. A selfhelp book about dealing with anxiety helped me through that. These days, I still -- though rarely -- have moments of anxiety about certain things. They usually lead to total paralyzing panic and those moments are complete Hell for me! But, they always pass. I know it's my mind screwing with me. To those suffering from these types of things, know that you're not the first person to ever go through it . . . and remember that you're not alone. Later, Art P.S. I did, coincidentally, have a brain hemorrhage, a little over 20 years ago, and very, very, very nearly died. But, guess what -- I didn't!