Hello and welcome!

[LoveAnissa]

Hi. I don't want to say my name, I'll just say I am A.M. About a half hour ago I was trying to get to sleep and I started looking around my room. All the lights were off. I just started to freak out for no reason. It wasn't a full-blown panic, but I just felt like everything was about to close in on me. And then I started to worry that if I did have a panic attack, nobody would be able to help me because I live alone and it's 4am and nobody is awake, so I can't call anyone. I don't even know why I felt so anxious all of a sudden, but I felt so scared and alone. I was just terrified it wouldn't stop. I went outside and took some deep breaths of cold air and that really helped calm me down. But after I calmed down, I just started sobbing uncontrollably, like I was releasing something inside of me. I am still crying and I think I am writing this mostly just to let out what I am feeling right now. I want someone to talk to but it's late and no one is there. I am not scared now, just emotional and overwhelmed. I don't know what's wrong.

I've never had a full-blown panic attack, but occasionally I've gotten these "mini" ones before. I am 22 years old. Sometimes I just worry that they will get so much worse as I get older, and that I will feel more and more unstable for no reason. I don't know why I am so upset but I can't stop crying. I feel so alone.

[AliceInChains]

Hi, A.M.

A lot of people on this site have had similar experiences like yours, including myself. And many of us are around your age. I know what's it's like to start feeling you're about to have a panic attack, and no one is around to help you. Try talking about this to someone in your life. There is always the chat room on this site where you can ask others how to deal with those feelings. There are other posts here where you can reply and reach out to someone in specific.

Hope you find this site helpful.

[em456]

Hi, I suffer from Bipolar Disorder, but I am mostly a depressive. On top of this, I routinely have panic attacks which have got really bad recently. I am just looking for somewhere to make me feel like I'm not as alone as I think.

em456

[Stressed_out_lawyer]

Hello everyone. I'm a 24 yo male Brazilian lawyer. I just graduated and passed the bar exam in the beginning of this year.

In the middle of this year, I started experiencing panic attacks. I felt like I was on the edge of loosing control. The symptoms led me to a psychiatrist, who gave me anti depressive medication, which is working well on my panic attacks.

I almost don't have them anymore, but I still feel very stressed and depressive, cause I started to pull back on parties and stuff. And I can't drink anymore because of the medication, so I feel embarrassed to go out with male friends.

It's good to know that I'm not the only one struggling with these problems, and that there are a lot of intelligent and successful people with anxiety and panic disorder, that can still live good lives, with the help of medication and family.

[Colourgirl]

Hello karoli, LoveAnissa, and Stressed_out_lawyer,

Welcome to Phobics Awareness! Our site has two modalities: the forum boards and the chatroom. The forum is more for long term use for people to post, respond, and support at their convenience. The chatroom is available 24 hours, and anyone is welcome to pop in at any time, however, it is not moderated all the time. Feel free to make use of both of them!

I'm so sorry for the reasons that bring you here, but, I find that this place is amazing for support and validation that we CAN go on to lead healthy lives DESPITE having mental illnesses. It really is a time of growing pains and during that time, it's extremely uncomfortable to see how your body manifests your symptoms. That can make you feel even more depressed and lonely and panicky! Having a place to vent and getting to know others who deal with the same, or are farther along in their recovery can be very soothing and healing! I look forward to seeing more of your posts here, and getting to know you all in chat or on the forum boards.

Take care!

Colourgirl

[TruthfulLies]

Hello everyone,
I am the newest member here and just wanted to drop by and introduce myself.

[Colourgirl]

Hello TruthfulLies!

Welcome to Phobics Awareness, very intriguing name you have! So glad you introduced yourself... and as you feel more comfortable, feel free to post your story, respond to other posts or go into the chatroom. I can't wait to learn more about you and find out what brings you here. You are amongst friends!

Take care!

Colourgirl

[BLONDIE8197]

Hello, I am new to this so I'm not sure where to start. I've never been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder but I reflect all the symptoms of it. I've always, constantly worried about everything, whether people like me, whether they are talking about me, if something is wrong with me and that's why I'm still single at 37....its gotten much worse since I had my son. I am terrified of something happening to him, of him being around the wrong people, of him being taken away by his idiot father. And it seems that when I hear from him about seeing the baby I start to get really anxious. I don't want to be in the same room with him. I don't trust him. He has no values or morals. He's made some pretty scary remarks toward me. I don't like him around my son at all. I don't want his influence over him at all. He's very narcissistic. When I start to get anxious, I get really aggravated and irritable. Noise, like music, starts to get on my nerves. I am a Christian woman and I know that God is in control but this feeling of dread is so powerful. I usually start doing some breathing exercises or I get up and stretch some. I just want this go to away FOREVER!! I hate feeling like this everyday. It sometimes happens even when I don't hear from my ex. I take Lexapro for PMDD and Adderall for ADD. I discovered Gaba, a nutritional supplement that is something like a sedative that I take at night before bed but I still feel anxious and uneasy all the time it seems. I'm single and so tired of it. I want someone to talk to and love on and I think that has something to do with it too. I don't know. Any advice out there? I don't wanna go back to my Dr. She's gonna think I'm crazy....*sigh* I just want to be joyful! I have so much to be thankful for and I'm still ....ick, ya know. I hate this.

[charlie26]

Hiya everyone im new to all this online chat...Ive suffered with anxiety since i was 19 (now 26) when i first had a panic attack i thought i was going to die,since then ive feared another one and the anxiety has never fully left me..dont get me wrong over the years with abit of self help ive overcome many of my irrational fears but am still plagued by many too...i live i relatively normal life,own my own sandwich shop and live with my partner but just lately my anxiety has reappeared in full force which is causing problems in all aspects of my life..i met my partner nearly two years ago and were getting married in march 2012 as if this isnt scary enough to an anxiety sufferer hes also australian (im from england) and wants me to meet his family after the wedding which fills me with fear so much i cant even describe,he is very understanding but to someone whos never suffered with anxiety is very hard for him to fully understand,i feel silly because most girls would be over the moon for free holidays in oz but its my worst nightmare and im fed up of making excuses when people say "bet uyou cant wait to get over to oz" i want to go so much but this horrible fear is ruining it for me as i just cant see past this..my head is spinning with it and i have that weird feeling again where your head just wont stop thinking and feeling short of breath at the thought at being so far from my "safe zone"..any help would be much appreciated ..Charlotte xx

[thankfulingb]

I am new on line.I suffer from bipolar,panic attacks an am somewhat agrophobic.I force myself to go places when I have to but stay at home 90% of the time.I get so lonesome and depressed.My wife left me and we are divorced now and she took my 13 year old son with her.She could not understand my illiness and not wanting to go out anywhere much as she is a outgoing person.I used to go out but the fear got worst over the years and she said she had to go.I am 55 and live alone.The attacks got so bad that I could not keep a job.I applied for social security disability and am currently in my 16th month waiting to see if I can get some help.It has drained me financelly.Does any one out there have a similar situation. thankfulingb