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Plaidsurfshorts
02-05-2001, 03:54 PM
Hi everyone,
Just posted this over on Synergy, but I figured I'd pass it along to my friends here...

I'm in the process of switching doctors and I went to a "referral" appointment today to shed some light on my medical history. As some of you might already know, I suffered an anxiety attack in the summer of 1996, and for the first time, I disclosed this to a medical professional to have it included as part of my records. I had previously been reluctant to do so, as I was always unsure of whether or not the incident should even be bothered to get investigated, as family members and my pediatrician had simply chalked it up to "stress" and said it wasn't all that important. Well, today when I told the doctor about it, he said it WAS important, that it WAS worth looking into and that yes, indeed it appears to have been a certified clinical anxiety attack. Prior to today, I have felt so "alone" with regards to what happened -- Nobody else saw me experience it, and therefore I had always wondered if it was maybe something I just blew out of proportion. I know it left me with a permanent case of "butterflies" in my stomach, and I know that in terms of confidence and stress management, that I have never been the same since it happened. In a bizzarre way, I'm very happy about disclosing it to a doctor because now it seems "legitimate" -- something concrete that I can now work towards "getting over" and learning about. This may not amount to anything in the long run, but I was told that in time for my next appointment (which will be with my new female general practice doctor), I should read up more about anxiety disorders and make a list of what causes me stress. I want to discuss this further with the female doc next time and I think at that time I may also go into the more "depression-like" aspects that alternately seem to be the causes and/or effects of the anxiety problems. For the first time, it seems like someone out there in a position to help is taking me seriously about all of this, as opposed to being accusatory or doubtful, and in some respects, it's as if I am already "winning the battle" against whatever this might be, big or little.

Thanks for reading.
Sincerely,
PSS/Sarah.

"What is a million people...listening...to your music?" - JA, "SVT".

reallygroovN
02-05-2001, 04:22 PM
hi sarah! good for you, we all deserve to have a doctor who listens to us and takes us seriously!!!!

and, um, welcome to the club!!!!! i have had a panic attack or two.....or 7......this year...../images/shocked.gif and look at me, im the picture of mental stability /images/tongue.gif

but really...im sure in a bit, when everyone has a chance to read this, you will find that you are definately not alone and that most people have a panic attack at least once in their lifetime /images/crazy.gif good luck on your journey /images/smile.gif

anescence
02-05-2001, 04:27 PM
I'm glad your getting help for this. Panic attacks can be frightening. And if you have one, then you get kinda scared it might happen again and that in itself could bring one on. Good Luck!!/images/smile.gif

~~~~
My mind not only wanders....it sometimes leaves completely /images/crazy.gif

csmooth24
02-05-2001, 05:03 PM
feels to get shit taken care of...good for you! I was reluctant to see a doc about my medical issue for while...but the best thing is to bring the shit up!

take care of yourself!

chris (smoothie)/images/smile.gif

http://www.culturedpearls.com/pearljam/images/alive2.gif

Beta
02-05-2001, 07:20 PM
Sarah girl!
It's good to know it :):)
Good Luck!
((((((Sarah))))))

Beta http://lenny.dyadel.net/dancer.gif

bluecow
02-05-2001, 10:04 PM
(((((((PSS))))))

it's good you're feeling better /images/smile.gif

what does an anxiety attack feel like? cuz i think i may have had one but i'm not sure... maybe it was a nervous breakdown... either way, something happened... about 4 years ago, i'd say.

--------------------------------
Jesus saves....

passes to Moses; he shoots he scores!

_sysiphus_
02-05-2001, 10:07 PM
You know I'm rooting for you!

"I thank you for helping me learn how to think, but I reserve the right to determine WHAT I think."

Plaidsurfshorts
02-06-2001, 09:02 AM
http://www.bluemountain.com/eng3gifs/tomoko/apple/thankyoucp.gif

Once again, the Jamily never fails to warm my heart.
Thanks again for everything,
PSS/Sarah.

"What is a million people...listening...to your music?" - JA, "SVT".

rise above
02-06-2001, 12:36 PM
Hi Sarah! I don't remember if I got to reply over at Synergy or not...but I think you're doing the right thing...as many others have said, "you know your body best"

I've had minor little anxiety/panic episodes...nothing major I guess, and I know that was awful...so I can sympathize on some level.

Good luck to you. ((((Sarah))))

Johnny Carwash
02-06-2001, 01:26 PM
that's great Sarah,
good luck with it /images/smile.gif

http://joe2016.homestead.com/files/jcsigclear.gif

meaningless
02-06-2001, 04:39 PM
Hey Sarah...
You're definitely not alone. Granted, I don't think I've had a panic attack before, but I know what it's like to be burdened with something that makes like daily life become a chore. Furthermore, I've just sort of had epiphanies over the past few days or something, about just... my state of mind... And I've concluded some things that are really gonna put the pressure totally on myself to fix things. I knwo I'm being vague... What I mean is well... I've been fucked up in the head for at least six years, and ALL that time I've been one one anti-depressant or another, and none of them have helped in any notable way. And fuck therapy. That bullshit has only made me worse.

Like a year ago maybe, I was really bent on "finding the right therapist" and "the right meds," but I've finally fucking realized that I am me, and only I know what that's like, so no one else can try to either a) tell me what I'm doing wrong, or b) tell me how to do it right... I have to figure it out for myself. And obviously the "chemicals" that I've been religiously swallowing for six years have done nothing... maybe they've even fucked some things up like inside, ya know?

POINT BEING that I'm yeah... I'm about to embark on a path of attempting to find it WITHIN MYSELF and nobody else, to find out you know... okay "to find an approach and a way to live." I'm goign to wean myself right off them anti-depressants and step on the psychologist. Squish.
The point of this dissertation (I think I just needed to vent. This is the first I've told anyone of my plan, so I think it feels good to get it out and sorry I did it on here... but hey I'm worth reading! /images/wink.gif) being that I am totally here if you need to talk or confide in someone, or just whatever. I mean I know like we don't really know eachother or whatever, but sometimes that can be even better than trying to spill your deepest secrets to someone you know well. Somehow. ANyway... so yeah, we're both going to be travelling new paths, and I'm here if you need... whatever you need. I mean, within reason. I'm not going to have sex with you or give you money or stuff like that. /images/smile.gif I think you know what i mean.

But kudos for telling the doc about this so that you can get better.

Later,
Nicole

P.S. for those still reading this: When i went to type in the markup for hte "smile" up there, I typed "smike"... Pearl Jamian slip. /images/smile.gif

P.P.S. PSS (haha) You thought YOUR post was personal and lengthy, eh?

"if just once... i could feel love... oh stare back at me, yeah..."

mtgirl
02-06-2001, 07:03 PM
oh sarah thats some kick ass news girl. i luv you and i hope everything works out. i've been busy lately, but i've been thinking a lot about you and all of my wonderful jamily. i hope you have jeffy dreams every night this week!!!!!!

blue_rain
02-07-2001, 05:02 PM
i get so annoyed by all these doctors that just shrug off what they think as unimportant. grrrrr. i'm glad you found someone who told you differently. 6 years ago i went to doctor after doctor who patronised me over my 'mental being'. unfortunatly i had to deal with my problems on my own until i was 19. i'm over them but why did i have to do it on my own and what if someone who's not as strong can't? makes me so mad!

good luck sarah ((u))

"there is a lot to be said for not saying anything at all" ~ j. a.