You Are Not Alone
If anxiety is an ongoing problem for you, you need to know that you are not alone.
Since my last newsletter the overwhelming response was that people were very glad to know that they were not the ONLY ones in the world feeling this way. They were not the only ones that were struggling with panic attacks and anxiety. They were not the only ones who felt afraid. They were not the only ones who feared they would never get over this problem.
Knowing you are not alone with an anxiety problem is very important because it can be hard to reach out and share what you are going through with others for fear you will be misunderstood or be seen as weak. Talking from my own experience I know that for men it is especially hard to reach out for help because that’s not what we are trained to do. Men feel they have to always be seen as strong.
Well, the good news is that through this newsletter you are connected to me and through me you can connect to many other people who are dealing with the exact same kind of anxiety issues as you. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER.
You can connect this very moment if you like and post a comment to this blog. and please don’t forget to connect to me by becoming a friend of Panic Away on Facebook.com here :
http://www.facebook.com/panicaway
You are not alone, we are here together.
Barry
Photo: The Angel of the North, a sculpture found in the countryside of the North of England
designed by Antony Gormley.
maria theresa t.venus
good day to all! my panic attack started 2007. i’ve consulted to a lot of doctors,the medicine helps but its getting and getting worse. i even have anorexia and feels im going crazy. my cardio’s wife have the same problem with me she referred me to her neuro psych doctor. i took lexapro for a year and taken xanor once only for major attack. now i sometimes feel the anxiety but i fought it back by looking at my 4 children and praying harder to god…my husband also helps a lot by making me feel im secured and love me unconditional. i also feel relieved just knowing this blog and feel that i am not alone. by reading your comments im going to buy a book of barry to make me a panic free person. don’t give up just pray harder and trust to god…
Marge Kasprzak
I’ve had panic attacks for about 30 years and I finally discovered from reading alternative health books
that if you really try hard to think positive thoughts all the time they will go away. Before when I got them
I started with the “what if” now I just think to myself I’ll be fine it will go away it always does. I know it
sounds simplistic and too easy but really your mind does control your body more than I ever believed.
The power of positive thinking isn’t really just nonsense.
emma
i suffered anxiety from preschool age and tried all different forms of therapy and natural remedies and found myself slipping into deep dark depression. 2 years ago i went to my doctor and said enough is enough! give me some medication please! he took one look at my persona and suggested a type common for depression. this had an incredible effect on all 4 of my anxiety disorders, helps me sleep perfectly every night and i only get occasional panic attacks maybe twice a year. i haven’t been off them for two years (i’m 22) but i have found that i grew up immensely and have been able to retrain my brain pretty well – better than cognitive brain therapy which i did 3 times. this might not be a fix solution (and maybe not for anyone else) but it has allowed me to enjoy life again
mohanned
hii i have been suffering form panic attack for year and half , and im undergone xanax and cipralex, tx god everything been working well, and not mentiong your barry your mails always making me feel im not not alone
and there is somebody who realy understands wht i m being experinced , thx again and thx for group pf panic attack who are always helping people with anxiety and panics, regarding free lessons and tips which helping us cope and overcome the bodily sensations ths we are experincing . alot of thx
Nick
Hi there for me its been a life long problem, with having child anxiety and fear as young as 5 I am now in my late 40s…. I have tried many things and had many spells in hospitals and other places. I am often quite worn out with it all. But besides that I keep on trying to go on and have some hope at times, and try to get out of my home when and as I can and face situations as much as I can. hey nice to see so many posts and nice to meet you all…..
SHAL
Barry is a valuable gift from our Creator. He made me know that I am not alone in this un pleasant state of sickness and gave me great tips in order to survive.
Thank you !!!!!!
SHAL
Tonya
All I hear is how we’re not alone in this. I’m smart enough to figure that out, now how in the world do you fix this horrible problem. Mine’s been going on for my entire life. I was abused mentally and emotionally, as well as physically as a child and teen. I was raped at 16. I’m now 30 with a 9 year old, married for almost 10 years too. But I can’t leave the house. I’ve had a migraine for 4 days now, which robbed me of any holiday activity. I can’t talk on the phone anymore. I push everyone away, and can’t even go to church for fear. I have bipolar disorder, I’m a freak, and different, and always rejected. And I feel everything to the extreme, my passion is always 150%. When I love, I do so with all of me. When I’m angry, I can’t see for rage. And when I am hurt, I just want to die. I’m sick of living in fear of the rejection of othes. I don’t even know why I care. Yes I crave love like nobodies business, but I’m realistic and know most people only think of themselves. I bend over backwards to help, for love of the other person as well as hope that I’ll find love in return. But what I get is taken advantage of until I make myself sick with fear of stopping whatever it is I’m doing for someone else. I believe in God, and I believe he’s coming back. But if he doesn’t hurry up and get here, I fear I won’t be here…or make it at all. All I think of now is death and ways to escape. I’ve tried every vice known to man, and turned to God and still can’t do that right. I know my Lord, but I have no incling of self worth, so it’s hard for me to even go to him out of shear discust of myself. I don’t know how many suicide attempts I’ve had in my life, my first was at 11 when I tried to blow out the back of my head with a shot gun. But I’m too much of a chicken to do anything anyways. I pray for death, because I’m drowning in fear, anxiety, and misery. I don’t know if you have an “answer,” because I’ve tried everything…but if you don’t, please don’t get my hopes up…just tell me there’s no way out. I doubt I check this site again for an answer, my email is listed so you can contact me there. Thanks for listening…
Felicia
Hey Tonya,
I’m so sorry to hear that you have been through abuse in so many forms. I know that it is been really hard on you but….please, don’t do anything rash. You do believe in God, right? Well, I do too =D
I just want you to know that even if you feel that it’s the end of things, even if you truly believe that there’s no way out and there’s no hope in your life anymore, there’s still our beloved Jesus, Saviour, who you can turn too. He can make things alright again. He can turn bad things around. And when there seems to be no way, He’ll always make a way, and through Him you can believe in miracles too! 🙂
So pray to Him alright? Tell Him all that you’re feeling. Trust me, He’ll place all your burdens upon His shoulders and give you peace like you’ve never felt before. =)
You said that you crave love? Do you know that our God is a God who cares for us and loves us more than others? 😀 Do run back to our Loving Saviour, and believe me, He’ll accept you, just the way you are =D
I encouarge you to go back to church again, and to let your close friends and loved ones help you go through this. I believe they love you, and they really want to help you, so trust them and seek their help alright? 😉
I really hope that you’ll think through seriously what I’ve typed here. I want you to know that as a Sister of Christ, I care for you, and I look forward to hearing from you again. =D
Best Regards,
Felicia :p
Kathy
I feel the same way as Tonya 🙁
michael
Its nice to see so many posts and i have been suffering from anxiety for a few years now and at times i felt it would overwhelm me also i felt so alone and its only when i see this site there are so many others just like me. I went to doctors who really didnt understand and hadent the time to listen and who’s answer was to put me on meds which only helped temporarly. The real answer is in our own strength and giving ourselves good messages and going through our discomfort on a daily basis if need be to keep functioning in this world and it does get better over time.
thanks Joe
Michael
Andreas
Barry,
Thank you very much for the support and the advice
that is always spot on and very helpful.
This is an ongoing battle and it is true
that feeling totally alone through it is
something that makes it a lot worse to bare.
We are not alone though as you have proven.
We are never alone. Knowing this, together
with cognitive behavioural therapy, a friend to talk to,
meditation and a good diet of healthy foods and vitimins
can really turn the tide towards a much better life.
Blessings and Love
Andreas
anne mclaughlin
I’m sorry for all the people out there “suffering” anxiety and panic attacks, but it’s a relief to know I am not alone in going through this! I had a major attack in July 2007, and I can honestly say it has RUINED my life! I am extremely limited in what I feel I can do. A year ago, I couldn’t even walk to my local shop. I did buy the panic-away E book, and guard it with my life. I “know” a lot of it is in my head, but that’s the hardest part-trying to convince myself I won’t die, because, you know, I haven’t died yet, have I! I can’t go far from home-my place of “safety”, and I personally have to drive. If the car won’t start, I go into panic-mode. It does truly ruin your life. No-one, not even family understand what I go through! I can’t/won’t use lifts or travel in a bus. I have to be in control. I can’t go on holiday, even to a caravan 2 and half hours away. The “further” I get away from home, the worse I get. I can’t go on main roads, and being “trapped” at red lights or roadworks is a nightmare, so I “avoid” these possible scenarios. I have faith that one day I will “get” the plan, and I will be “cured”. I pray that we ALL achieve this peaceful life once more. My heart goes out to each and every one of you. I pray to God that we ALL get through this living hell. Thankyou for baring your souls, and trusting in each of us who has read your thoughts and knows “exactly” what you are going through.
John
Anne… hold in there! I suffered my first attack in the middle of a grade 11 classroom. out of the blue. it ushered in nearly fifteen years of hell for me. I told no one, i avoided it, and by avoiding it i avoided life. a few years back i moved country and the attacks got so severe i really didn’t know what to do. i have hit the lows we all don’t like to mention. I’ve looked at the possibilty of just ending it all to make it go away. I felt helpless.
Now, although by no means through it, i have learned to manage it to some degree. One thing, don’t drink. I used to and it was about the worse thing i could do. alone that has reduced my ‘vomitting’ sensations. apart from that, i ride it out. I’ve accepted i’ll always have an attack but if i just hold in there i’ll pop over the hump and the physical sensations fade.
Hang in there. My thoughts are with you.
xxx
Ami
Anxiety is the worst feeling ever and i hate it. I just want it to go away forever and never come back. I’m better than i used to be, but the fear is always there and thats the hardest thing to get rid of for me. Some days i’m ok, other days any little symptom and i think its all starting again, and then it lingers for weeks and weeks. I bought panick away a while ago and it was brilliant, i’ve had CBT, hypnotherapy but nothing gets rid of it permanently. I just want to be normal again, feel happy the way i used to without being scared of what is around the corner all the time. I was ok for about 6 months, but then recently it started again, i dont know if anyone else gets this, but i just felt like i coulnt concentrate on anything, my neck went stiff and i felt my head was shaking, even though it wasnt pysically shaking. Does anyone get anything like this.
Mary
Hi again,its Mary. I know words sometimes can’t even touch a painful feeling that a person experiences sometimes in their life. I do know that when you feel anxious or are in middle of a panic attack, you have to talk to yourself so hard, like you’ve never talked to yourself before. You have got to go deep inside the most inner recesses of your mind and heart and pull up your self strength. Its there, you just HAVE to dig so deep sometimes, and that can’t be any harder than what your going through in the first place. Panic is a terrible thing and hard to handle so try using the energy to dig deep deep inside you and Talk to yourself. Try to self treat yourself, with the help of others who you feel really do listen. You can live a full life with panic disorder but it will not ever be easy, its just something you were given in life. Everyone in life has tribulations, this one is yours. You know the story about if everyone put their own basket out in a big field, and you got to choose any basket you wanted, well you would pick up your own, cause you already know what your basket holds. Someone elses basket may be far far woese than yours.
Jason
Anne,
Just read your post and I fully understand where your coming from. Before my panic attacks started (25 years ago and for no known reason) I used to travel on coaches, car and train and I had a good life, but from my first panic attack I couldn’t use lifts, trains, buses, coaches in fact I couldn’t use any transport where I wasn’t “in control” and after 25 years I still cant, and yes if I get stuck in traffic jams I used to get full blown panic, but now just a slight panic. I’ve come to understand that a lot of my anxiety is caused by “not being in control” hence not being able to use cabs that have locking doors, not using buses or coaches or trains because the doors close behind me and although in reality I could get off by pulling stop cords the only transport I feel panic free in is my car, but only if I’m driving, because I’m in control and I can stop it and get out…. weird I know, but true. I went on a bus the other day and it sounds stupid, but I felt elated because “I’d done it”, slight apprehension especially when it got stuck in traffic but I just kept telling myself I could get off if I wanted, but to give it another 5 mins and by doing this I got to my destination. I’m going to try the train shortly, then a coach!! I’ve given up on lifts, but did drive through a very long tunnel in Wales last month…quite panicky but once again, I did it. I’ve learnt to live with my anxiety and panic and altered my life…perhaps not for the better…but at least I’ve got a life back. I get angry with the docs etc who just want to fill you with drugs and always blame your childhood, but these “attacks” come from out the blue and I’ll never know why, so as I said, I’ve learned to live with them and life’s not too bad I guess. I don’t have the problems any more with my “safe haven”, but it took a few years for me to be able to venture down that motorway, but I’m panic free now if I travel large distances because I know nothings going to happen to me…it took a while as I say to convince myself, but I did. Anne, if I can do it, you can…have faith and persevere x
Michael Linton
Being an anxiety sufferer myself, I have noticed a recurring theme amongst the many posts on this thread!! It seems alot of people who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, simply dont like or avoid “highway” driving. Having had my first panic attack whilst driving down a major freeway four years ago, its nice to know that I am not alone when it comes to certain avoidance behaviours in relation to anxiety. My job doesnt allow me the luxury of being able to pick and choose where I drive on a daily basis. Being out on the road all the time had inevitably forced me to deal with any underlying concerns I had about travelling those same roads again. Repetition is a wonderful thing when it comes to anxiety and panic attacks. By repetitively exposing yourself to situations that make you queasy, uncomfortable or even fearful, it somehow lessons the effect anxiety has over you…you simply become used it. In the end you realize that you can drive further, you can get on that plane or drive over that bridge. Its like anything in life, the more you practice, the better you get!!!
I still live with anxiety everyday and I still avoid certain places or situations… but I know that the more I push my own boundaries, the less of a hold anxiety has over me. Im not sure if I will ever overcome it…….. but Im certainly gonna have a red hot crack at it. One day at a time!!
God bless everyone and stay happy.
diane
hi my name is diane, i’ve had anxiety for 8 years, i still get down with it at times, but i cope with it at times. my problem is i cant take tablets as i feel i’m going to get the side effects of the drugs an terrified of getting ill i really dont no why, i’m also scared of eating certain foods case i have an allergy off them, as i got an allergy from penicillin tablets, i want to get my head around all this and build my self esteem by doing the things i cant, all at this time i was in a very bad relationship so i no this as something to do with the way i’m feeling, i’m not in it now, i’m with a wonderfull partner so i really want to enjoy my life now, thank you
vicky
Hi Guys
Its so nice to know your not alone with this horrible condition..
I’ve suffered with anxiety on and off for 10 years, at its best I have control over it, at its worst i think i’m going mad or going to die.
I am the mother of an 8 year old son, have a fantastic family a lovely husband and great friends, alot of my friends seems to suffer with some kind of anxiety aswell..
So the quetion is, why do i suffer from anxiety, i’ve been to councelling on a number of occasions, sometimes it has helped mask the symptoms for a while other times its been of no use at all..
My physical symptoms nearly always seem to start with tiredness, my head starts to feel muzzy and I then feel light headed and what i call woozy, then sure enough other symptoms start, sometimes as mild as heart racing for a while or maybe feel a bit shaky but sometimes the physical feelings are so strong, heart feels like its thumping out of my chest, short of breath,feel inwardly shaky,droaning in my ears, hearing heightened, pain in my chest, pains in arms especially the right arm, then bingo, the thoughts start, am I having a heart attack, will i pass out, thoughts start racing and feel like i’m going mad…
I’m not depressed, in fact quite the opposite, I love laughter, love smiling but this really can get you down.. I want it to stop, I hate the fact I wont go to the cinema in case I cant get an end of aisle seat, would really love to get on a plane, I havent flown for 14 years, would love to get in the car and drive where ever, altho i will drive its usually only short distance…anxiety seems take over your life sometimes and i want it to stop..
This outer person everybody see’s, appearing confident, laughing all the time, happy go lucky, i want to feel this person all the time, not just put on this act..
funny thing is is that I can help anyone and talk them out of an attack, People always seem to come to me with their problems and I help as much as I can.. I’ve read up so much on anxiety and seem to understand it but still seem to suffer….god its annoying
And if anyone is wondering, I do talk as much as I write aswell..lol
Ted
Hi Barry thanks for your e.mails I am still having trouble with anxiety but gradually managing to think positive thoughts and push negative away I am 82 years of age so all your help is great thanks Regards Ted from New Zealand
mary
Hi, I have replyed before, but I have a short story for you.
I hurt my neck at work and went on disability, I am not supposed to lift more than 10 pounds. Well when I do something like gardening, etc. my neck will hurt. So one afternoon I had a severe pain in my neck, worse than ever. I started to cry and tell my husband something was wrong. Well the I immediately took a Xanax and went in my bedroom. I started to get nausias and I threw up. My husband was trying to get me to relax, but I was screaming and yelling to go to the hospital and I kept yelling no to him. I finally made it downstairs and trying to get out the front door, but my poor husband again was trying to keep me inside. While all this was going on, all the neighbors were out front sitting in their chairs and talking. They heard everything. They actually thought my husband was beating me up. I threw up in the front yard right in front of them and then my husband loaded me up in the van and off we went to the hospital.
Did I care what the neighbors thought. NO NO I didn’t. I was just trying to fix myself and I truely don’t care what people think about me. I try to fix myself and not worry about other peoples opinions. We did explain later what happened tho. So worry about yourself and get yourself fixed even tho you might occasionally get
into a situation in front of other people. Life goes on and God always gets you through these things. Look at how many panic attacks you had before and think about how they passed and you carried on. So just try to always carry on. There are millions of people just exactaly like you and in the same situation like you right now. Gods Blessings. from Mary P
Jason Blake
I would love Panic Away to hold a social event
where we can actually meet with other sufferers.
It’s brilliant to have a forum where we can read
other peoples experiences, but it would be great
to actually meet and talk face to face, possibly
forming friendships with other sufferers.
Cecil Piwetz
I stumbled uppon your blog, I must say it is great. Thanks for sharing all the info.