Howdy everyone!
I am new to this site and it has already helped me by being able to relate to other people and their experiences. I am 32 and I have been dealing with panic and anxiety since October of 2002. Lately I have had a setback after several months of progress. Now the really strong panic is back that makes me feel like I can't get any air and I feel like I want to run away and ball up on the floor all at the same time. Sometimes I "feel like I am dying" even though I know medically I am healthy and fine.
One thing I find is different about my experience is that I seek out social situations and public places because I feel calm around other people. I don't seem to have a lot of the triggers other people have like small spaces, elevators, etc. This makes it good and bad I guess, because on one hand, I can still enjoy going out, caving, going on the freeway etc but on the other hand, its difficult because the panic always seems to come out of the blue and the attack "triggers" don't seem to have a lot in common. The only trigger that seems sure-fire is really weird: I can't eat beef at a restaurant after dark. Does anyone else experience anything like this? Its an easy one to avoid but its so strange. Also, sometimes if I move my head too fast, like turing to look at something on a store shelf, I can get the early stages of panic attacks. Does anybody experience this and does anybody have any advice?
-Jay
