Question:
Got bad news about a family illness a couple of weeks ago and since
then I've been battling what I think are panic attacks. I'll find
myself with hot flashes and cold chills, gasping for air, lightheaded,
and with tingling in my feet.
They happen when I start really thinking about losing my loved one; my
brain just keeps spinning around in a circle of "what if? What if?
What if?"
When anxiety is caused by something specific like this, does anyone
have any recommendations? Should I be practicing my breathing, or
consulting a doctor?
Answer:
Being in a situation as you explain I think deep breathing exercises,
limiting caffeine AND consulting your doctor would be beneficial to you.
Take some time for yourself also...
It does sound like you experiencing anxiety but only a doctor can tell you
that for sure. It would be wise to make an appt with your doctor to have a
complete checkup.........you want to make sure your symptoms aren`t being
caused by something phsyical in nature. If nothing physical is found you
should think about seeking help from a psychiatrist. You want to nip this
in the bud early......... there is no reason to suffer like this when
there are things such as meds and therapy that could help.
Deep breathing and relaxation exercises could help, so by all means
practice them.
"No caffeine?! Ack! How will I survive? :D" - lol! Limiting your
caffeine intake is also helpful. I have limited my coffee intake and now
drink the lite coffee. It does make a difference...
I would attempt to nip anxiety in the bud as Jackie stated, because I am a
believer that the sooner you deal with it, it possibly won't get out of
control and lead to worse conditions. I just wish they had known more about
anxiety years ago when some of us would have had a better chance to deal
with it...
Wow, do I ever know what you mean. I have an anxiety disorder horror
story.
My husband (whose health I'm now fretting over) had a heart attack at
age 33. He continued to have chest pains, shortness of breath,
lightheadedness, cold/tingling hands and feet after the heart attack.
They gave him drugs to control the angina, but said it was because of
lack of blood to his heart.
So he had double bypass surgery.
Turns out he wasn't having angina/heart pains. He was having anxiety
attacks.
The surgery just made them worse.
His doctors never considered that it could be anxiety.
