New Member needs suggestions.

cdog11ksc,   Welcome to our support community.  Thanks for sharing your story with us.  There are many people within this support group thats share the sme questions and concerns as you.  We are all a group of individuals who support each other.      Take the time to go through the Panic Program.  This program is 12-weeks and involves supportive tests that prepare you with information that you can present to your physician.  Each session is based on the previous session, so we strongly encourage advise that you work through slowly through the program and not jump ahead.  These tests may or may not be for you but they are free.    About your anxiety attacks, have you tried relaxation techniques?  Something like deep breathing could be helpful.  Getting into the calmest state before bed may keep your anxiety from rebounding in the morning.  Perhaps you can create and listen to a playlist that will keep you calm and relaxed during your commute to and from work.  You may also want to try journalling your frustrations before employing your relaxation techniques.  Session 2 &3 will teach you how to recognize and challenge anxious thoughts.    Please continue to share your feelings and lean on us for support,   Karen, Health Educator

Anxiety and the bathroom

Tsa78,   As mentioned in Danielle's thread, you may want to try voiding before entering those social situations in addition to a relaxation technique.  If you have an ipod or mp3 player handy, upload some relaxing music that you can listen to and keep distracted on the bus.  Plan on exposing yourself to social situations more often to help you overcome your panic attacks in these situations.  Take the time to review our program as our program can help you with this.    Karen, Health Educator

thought i was going to be okay but....

Drielly,   Sorry to hear your panic attacks have returned.  You are not being ridiculus, it is a good idea to tell you doctor what you have been experiencing to help you with treatment if need be.  Do you know what triggers your attacks?  What have you used in the past to help keep them under control?    Karen, Health Educator

Heart and chest pain

Nikki,   these symptoms you describe are not normal especially if they are uncomfortable and cause persisting pain. Chest pain of any sort should be checked out by your doctor.      Karen, Health Educator

No posts here?

Genejockey,   Congrats on getting through your presentation without a panic attack.  I'm sure you will do well on the next one!  Keep us posted on that as well.  Good luck   Karen, Health Educator

Diva news...

Diva,   sorry you feel overwhelmed today.  You can get through today and tomorrow...think positive and consider all your success and accomplishments to keep you going .  You're already a pro-social networker on the boards and have alot to offer the members here.  You would do great in a doctorate program!     Karen, Health Educator

thought i was going to be okay but....

Drielly,   I ditto Diva .  Please keep us posted on your progress and with any other questions/concerns.  Lean on us, we are here for you.   Karen, Health Educator

Theory on origins

Karla,   Thanks for sharing your ideas and theories on panic attacks.  There are definitely physical components to panic disorders and some theorists believe there may be an underlying brain dysfunction.  However, from the cognitive perspective, it may be that misinterpretive thinking induces panic attacks.  Furthermore, it could be a combination of both.  Members, what do you think?   Karen, Health Educator

Tip of the Day!

Karla,   It's up to how you are feeling.  Repeat the exercise until you feel calm and feel no more tension.     Karen, Health Educator

Role Transition and Strategies

Dear Members,

Step 1: Write down all of the positive aspects of your old role. What did you like or enjoy most about the old role? What aspects of the old role do you miss the most?
Step 2: Write down all of the negative aspects of your old role. This can be very difficult to think about. However, there’s always at least something negative!
Step 3: Write down the negative aspects of your new role. Try to be as specific as possible and describe the negative aspects in as much detail as possible.
Step 4: Write down the positive aspects of your new role. This is the most difficult part of the exercise but you may be able to find some if you think long enough - and try hard enough. There may be something positive about your new role even if it doesn’t seem very big or important right now. If you can’t think of anything, ask the Support Group [pop-up to Support Group] for help. Somebody may have been in a similar situation.
Step 5: Spend some time comparing the positive and negative aspects of your old and new roles. After looking at the evidence, was the old role really all good? Is your new role really all bad? You know what the challenges of your new role are. What are the potential opportunities? Is there any possible way to get anything positive out of your new role?
Step 6: Spend some time thinking about how your new role has affected your relationships. What were you like in your old relationships? What are you like in your new relationships? Is there anything you’d like to change in your behavior or communication style? What are your goals?
Step 7: Spend some time thinking about whether or not there is anything you can do to cope better with your role transitions. Are there any changes you can make in how you’re thinking or behaving? What specific changes could you work on?
Take the time to really think carefully about your role transition and complete the Role Transition exercises suggested above. This will be hard work and it’ll likely take some time. Most people who struggle with a role transition have trouble seeing anything negative about the old role - and anything positive about the new role. You may need help by getting a different perspective from a friend, or ask the Support Group for help. That’s what we are here for.
Was this strategy helpful to you?   Karen, Health Educator