[hesperia]

Lately I think I've started having anxiety or panic attacks, but I'm not sure. Twice this week my heart began racing out of control, like I was afraid of something but I don't know what. Along with that I had a sinking feeling. Kind of a very unworldly, lonely feeling. I was really concerned that I might be going crazy. I thought about seeing a doctor but am more worried I’d just be put on some medication. I found a list of anxiety symptoms at www.selftherapy.org , which has calmed me down a bit as it's sounds quite like what I’m experiencing. Has anyone every tried that program? Or have any other suggestions? Does this sound like anxiety??

[NewroticGirl]

It does sound a lot like anxiety, BUT you shouldn't necessarily rely on a website to diagnose you. If you visit your doctor for confirmation, there's no reason you can't ask for a drug-free course of therapy. They may suggest counseling or meditation or exercise or yoga or something else to help relieve stress.

[seatides]

Hesperia, unfortunately I know something about anxiety from personal (family member) experience.

If you're looking for clear, understandable information about anxiety disorders, the web site of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is very helpful. It even has free brochures about various anxiety disorders that you can download and print immediately. Here's the link:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinform...nxietymenu.cfm

Another good source of information is the web site of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) -- the link is www.adaa.org.

The only thing I'd like to add is: don't fear appropriate medication. For many people, it can truly be a godsend, especially if paired with psychotherapy.

Good luck and take care, Hesperia.

[ach1239]

I had been experiencing the same thing. In a store, if there were alot of people around, my heart would start racing, I would get very hot, feel like the aisles were closing in around me, and like you said "an unworldly feeling", I would almost feel like I was outside of my body, looking for a way to get out of there. I couldn't figure out any particular reason that this was happening. It would happen at home some, too. I went to see my Dr., and he said that I was definately having anxiety attacks. He prescribed Zoloft, and I will tell you this works wonders..... I also have severe PMS, and it really helps for this, too!

[chdsgrl]

When I was pregnant with my son, I developed a pregnancy induced tachycardia and while it was harmless, it led into panic attacks. When my heart would race, I would panic and my heart would race some more. Eventually, I was panicking a lot of the time.
There are some really good books out there. The first one is "Hope and Help For Your Nerves", by Dr. Claire Weekes, and the second one is "From Panic to Power" by Lucinda Basset.
The books explain what panic and panic attacks are, the fear-adrenalin-fear cycle, and how to cope. It teaches you different breathing techniques as well as how to combat your fears altogether.
Before anything, I would see a Doctor, just to rule anything else out. Once he diagnoses you with anxiety, you can choose to take medication or not, but at least you know that's all it is. A lot of people who suffer from anxiety can deal with it without medication, and it's worth a try. If all else fails, then something like zoloft is really a great tool.
Let me know if you have any questions. I'm a panic-attack survivor. I can help explain things or just answer questions if you have any.

[beth]

It certainly sounds like you are experiencing anxiety attacks, and the feelings of unreality also tie in with a phenomen called depersonalization, which accompany some panic attacks, but not all. Even if you are anti-medication, it would be wise to check with your doctor, as other conditions (such as thyroid problems, for example) can mimic anxiety-related symptoms. Taking medication may or may not be the best thing for you at this point in time, only you can determine just how bad you are feeling. In the meantime, try getting out a piece of paper and listing all the the things that are worrying you - both big and small. Anxiety attacks come initially for a reason, even if they may later develop a life of their own. Meditation, reassessing what is important and unimportant in your life, and cutting back to essentials for a while, may help ease the load. Talking to a psychologist will allow you to explore what issues may be causing these feelings, and give you positive steps to deal with the panic. Try reading some of the articles in my Mental Health blog (see below) and you may get some ideas on how to cope in the short term. Good luck with it. You'll be okay!