Comments on Life and Dandelions: Today my Cranky Pants unnerved me

I am so glad I read this! I have a husband who has...

2012-05-13T13:37:16.011+10:00

I am so glad I read this! I have a husband who has suffered bouts of anxiety exactly the same as you describe. I think he has had 2 or 3 'accidents' & it just makes the anxiety flare up. We went to see a doctor about 5 years ago to talk about his diet, only to be given anti-depressants. Hubby did not want to take them so he didn't. Recelty he has had a bad flare up & have now got him on a diet which is recommended for ulcerative colitis & people with chrones disease. We have also just discovered immodium in this past week & so far it has been a big improvement. Thank you so much for sharing so he knows he is not alone.

It took me a long time to find just the right '...

2011-09-17T10:13:06.156+10:00

It took me a long time to find just the right 'therapist' but I did eventually manage to overcome my panic attacks. However, I think anxiety is a different animal and is probably hard-wired; but so is resilience. If you have enough resilience then you can manage anxiety and live with it. I don't think anyone should live with panic attacks, though. You need to keep looking until you find the right person - usually a clinical psychologist.

I have the exact issues with anxiety. For me, it i...

2011-09-15T21:04:20.266+10:00

I have the exact issues with anxiety. For me, it is whenever I am in the car, first thing in the morning, travelling to work, school or social events. I can sit around the house all morning and nothing, but the minute I get in the car, and have left the safety of my house, the need to go will hit me instantly. I gave learned to manage, accept and deal with this, but it dominates my morning mindset. I know where every public toilet is in my area, and when I am in a new area, I immediately learn where the toilets are there too. It is debilitating and exhausting and unpredictable. But it is life. Other than this, I am happy and have a great family. I am so glad others such as you suffer anxiety in this way. I dont feel quite so alone...knowing there are others rushing to the toilet, like me...

WOW, a lot of in site here. Annie I have It not as...

2011-08-14T13:08:54.633+10:00

WOW, a lot of in site here. Annie I have It not as bad but close to it....
trying to cope with this Is crazy. It has truly turned my life up side down. Too the point I can't even work anymore... Mine works like this sure I'm on Xanax. But, I'll have It bad for 2 or 3 weeks with chest pains and everything. then for the next 2 months nothing. Then Bang, I feeling coming on.. and when it does.. OMG!!!!!
I'm hate living like this. My girlfriend and kids are losing out on life because of what I have.... Sure they support me... But, It's not fair to them....
I just hate It with a passion... My started when I got back home from the military In 1988... I have tried everything to get rid of this. Nothing seems to work....

P.S I must admit to the mention of the royal Brisb...

2011-06-26T00:53:22.363+10:00

P.S I must admit to the mention of the royal Brisbane hospital giving away a *possible* location, and figured you may have seen the hypnotherapist here in Brisbane (my home town).

I wonder if you'd be kind enough to share (my ...

2011-06-26T00:51:45.477+10:00

I wonder if you'd be kind enough to share (my email address is [email protected] ) the details of the hypnotherapist you used?

I once read something that said they can treat depression alongside anxiety. I'd be interested to give it a go..

I'm a bit late to this party (what's new! ...

2011-06-24T16:31:49.315+10:00

I'm a bit late to this party (what's new! Lol) but I couldn't exit this page without thanking you for writing such an amazing post. It brought tears to my eyes to feel so connected to your experiences (pity we couldn't bond over something more pleasant...chocolate perhaps?). Im sorry you had to go through some dark times. Ditto my friend.

Had my first panic attack at the ripe old age of 18 - guess that gives an idea of how stressed I was. It's only now, in my early 40's that I can see how the stress started as a very young child. Almost like I knew nothing else. I had attacks on and off for decades. Claustrophobia brings on my panic. So being in any situation where I lack control (eg where I'm not driving) or in closed spaces (avoid lifts at all times - which sucked when worked on 7th flr-& I didn't lose any weight which was extra sucky) or get out of breath freaks me out. I had an asthma attack once whilst in the midst of a panic attack (hello, can life just deal one shitty issue at a time please) which meant I stopped exercising for years & still carry an inhaler around with me, even though I've not had to depend on it for years. It's like my security blanket.

I'm a bit better now by practising mindfulness, meditation, NLP/hypnotherapy tapes at night & avoiding triggers like the above. I didn't realize until recently how debilitating this disease is. I tried medication as an 18year old and hated it & refused to go down that road again. Maybe to my detriment at times, but it's about that need for control I guess & makes me feel stronger (why I don't drink alcohol anymore either, it was a bad trigger). but I understand & support my many friends who do medicate.

It's a shame that living with this disorder has limited my spontaneity and exuberance for life. I wish I was happier, calmer, more confident, & spontaneous. It's a shame that I have to decline things like an upgrade to business class on an overseas flight in a middle seat because i needed the security of sticking with my economy aisle seat that would allow me to get up and move if I wanted to - even if I actually didn't. I don't socialize much anymore because I can't comfortably be a passenger in a car. Forget about a bus! I've embarrassed myself enough with mini meltdowns that make speaking out about all this so difficult. So again, thank you for articulating it so well. I'm so glad you are doing well. I believe so many people suffer in silence & it can wreck lives if not fully understood. Its funny how normally I can't talk about this condition, let alone read about it. I would get extremely stressed whenever anyone asked me to 'calm down' and focussing on my breathing to relax actually made me more stressed! How bizarre, huh? Sorry for rambling, just nice to let it out & feel like someone understands what it's like to live with anxiety. Hugs xx

Wow! Finally someone with the same as me!! I have...

2011-04-29T08:06:01.753+10:00

Wow! Finally someone with the same as me!!
I have had anxiety attacks for the past 10 or more years. Last one though was the worst and the last, thankfully. My hubby went in for a hip replacement, all went well until he came home and then our world turned upside down!
He developed clots on the lungs and was raced back into emergency with Dr's trying to save his life.
I had to stay in emergency accomodation for a week to be close to him and the first day was soooooo bad I couldn't believe what was going on. As I drove the hour to be near him, the attacks became worse and more intense while driving! On arrival I gathered my things and went to the lift to got to the room and standing at the door to go in I had yet another attack, this time I didn't make the toilet, nor the interior of the room, all became a blur and I felt so scared but couldn't work out why. I showered and changed, went up to the hospital. As the week progressed the fear became worse, I didn't want to be there on my own in the unit, I couldn't handle my own company! I tried everything to calm myself, nothing worked! I went to the hospital and seen my husband and said I had to get back home no matter what as I couldn't handle being in the unit, the fear was too great. I allowed the attacks to happen, but eventually, just kept doing what I had to do each minute of each day. I HAD to accept I had a problem and had to learn how to cope, I learn to breathe, stay calm, learn to read my body signs and be of positive mind and stay strong.
I have been on antidepresents for years, but this is new, I am now in control and know how to treat, deal and overcome these attacks. I still don't know why they happen but that's part of my life, so I have to live with it and deal with it too.
Life is good, tough, but good and I am in control now.
Thank you Annie for showing us that we are not alone with this.

I had 25 years of phobic anxiety, after developing...

2011-04-28T14:35:33.153+10:00

I had 25 years of phobic anxiety, after developing full-blown agoraphobia that lasted for three years; 28 years of hell in total. I am now on Effexor for anxiety, and it's been like being let out of prison.

I can now take unaccompanied walks, do my own shopping, attend meetings and so on, without any anxiety at all. I mean, not even asking myself the question "can I do this?"; not preparing myself against the anticipated disaster that might occur; not giving anything a second thought. Just doing it.

I wish these meds had been available when I melted down in my 20s, but I eternally grateful for them now. And for my wonderful GP who let me find my own time for starting on them.

Life is fantastic and I'm calm, relaxed, contented and able to let me shine through again, where I was once shrouded in fear and anger.

Annie, thank you for sharing your story. I have s...

2011-03-22T15:48:10.755+10:00

Annie, thank you for sharing your story.
I have suffered anxiety but nothing to this extent.
I am sorry you've had to go through this and sometimes without support of loved ones.
I am glad you have it within your control now. Many others will be helped by your honesty in 'writing' about it.

Thank you x

2011-03-12T03:23:01.575+10:00

Thank you x

Dear LJM - I have removed your comment. I totally...

2011-03-10T07:53:49.297+10:00

Dear LJM - I have removed your comment. I totally understand, both you wanting to not say anything and how you feel. Don't feel alone ok. xx

I really wish I hadn't commented now as I neve...

2011-03-10T07:51:01.470+10:00

I really wish I hadn't commented now as I never told anyone about how I feel inside before. I would take my comment off if I knew how to. I don't feel as brave as you Annie.

You write with honesty and courage. Anxiety can be...

2011-03-10T00:44:39.590+10:00

You write with honesty and courage. Anxiety can be absolutely crippling and I'm so glad you have found a way out.

Just remembered you work in radio. I used to work...

2011-03-09T23:29:25.258+10:00

Just remembered you work in radio. I used to work in radio & boy, the anxiety attacks before going on air ...

A great post. Brave. I've had anxiety & ...

2011-03-09T23:26:56.952+10:00

A great post. Brave. I've had anxiety & have done some treatment (psychologist) & it helped me get through some issues I was having. Can't say it's cured me but I'm definitely more aware of the signs now. I realise how my anxieties can impact on my children too. I get the touchy tummy with anxiety but nowhere near your extent. Anxiety can definitely be immobilising. Thankyou for sharing.

Anxiety is horrible because everyone else seems to...

2011-03-09T19:38:40.450+10:00

Anxiety is horrible because everyone else seems to think you should be able to pull yourself together...if only it were that easy.

I can relate to this in so many ways. When I am in...

2011-03-08T13:56:43.360+10:00

I can relate to this in so many ways. When I am in the midst of a full-blown anxiety attack like the one you had in the car, my breathing goes all out, my stomach is churning, i have no sense of what is going on around me, i don't respond to people and i become obsessive over small things. When i'm just generally feeling anxious I wake up in the morning and from the second i open my eyes i feel sick in the stomach and have different breathing patterns. My heart feels like it's been tied with strings tighter and tighter by the second. My stomach always feel like there are butterflies in there (you know that nervous feeling you ge before a job interview, walking up the aisle to marry your love)- well i get that feeling almost every day. I constantly need to go to the toilet (a GAD symptom called frequent and urgent need to urinate)

The worse thing though is not the physical symptons. It's the worry. Worrying all day every day is not healthy for the brain. It also makes you question/doubt the good and real things in your life and you hurt people around you. It's no way to live and I am looking for ways to control my anxiety without medication.

Thankyou Annie, just thankyou xx

2011-03-08T12:21:46.275+10:00

Thankyou Annie, just thankyou xx

What a great post, Annie! Thank you for sharing y...

2011-03-07T23:11:38.082+10:00

What a great post, Annie! Thank you for sharing your story. I imagine it would have been quite hard to write? Congratulations on figuring out a way to live with anxiety and giving us some signposts to follow in our own battles.

Annie, bravo! Such an amazingly brave and candid p...

2011-03-07T21:00:22.628+10:00

Annie, bravo! Such an amazingly brave and candid post on an incredibly harrowing topic. It's heartening to read how you have come to face all this. Thank you for your courageous and real insight.

Thanks for sharing your story Annie. Every time so...

2011-03-07T20:44:43.723+10:00

Thanks for sharing your story Annie. Every time someone writes from such an honest and brave place, it helps someone else looking for answers and helps them know that they aren't alone. Beautiful post xx

Annie, I'm sorry you've had to go thru thi...

2011-03-07T19:18:01.163+10:00

Annie, I'm sorry you've had to go thru this. What a great thing you have done for yourself and others by writing about it. x

Comment from Al who couldn't log on - Oh Annie...

2011-03-07T17:32:57.204+10:00

Comment from Al who couldn't log on - Oh Annie you are a real inspiration. I had cranky pants on the other day - just woke up cranky for no reason. I had a nice day ahead but still felt irritated with the whole family who only had to look at me to annoy me! Thank you for sharing your cranky-pants moment with us all!

Thank you also for sharing how it feels to be crippled with anxiety. You illustrate perfectly how "together" anyone can seem when inside they are really crying or screaming and just trying to make it through each day. I have never experienced this myself but to gain such great insight into it is great - we all need to understand other's struggles in order to really be compassionate and empathetic.

I talk a lot about the "smoke and mirrors" of the industry I work in. But it's a part of everyone's life really. No one really knows the true stories of every person they meet. We are all books with a story to tell. It's just some choose to share their story (open books) and others keep their books closed. It takes great courage to be open and honest and to share our truths, no matter what they are - I just hope you know how much you help others with your wonderful writing and your huge, open heart!?

Never stop writing Annie - paid, public, private, whatever. You are fantastic...

Big Al x (http://www.stylecounselonline.com.au/blog)

Wow. I found this post hard to read as my family (...

2011-03-07T09:31:44.894+10:00

Wow. I found this post hard to read as my family (the one I'm from, not the one I've made) has been quite definitely torn apart by my brother's anxiety disorder, which is so severe he has lost his job as a pilot, rarely leaves my parents' house (at 36) and has spiralled into secondary alcoholism. I have also experienced one full blown panic attack myself, years ago, when we'd just moved to Canada with 2 tiny kids (one 6 weeks old) and the reality of being alone every day in a country where I didn't speak the language (we were in Quebec) hit. I cannot imagine living with the possibility of that constantly. I cannot imagine how you got through those 11 years. Hats off to you- and to hypnotherapy. My very best wishes that you can remain as you are now. xxxxxxx