Personality Disorders

» notsoconfused47 - Panic vs Anxiety Attacks

Is there a difference between these or are they the same?

My therapist said that Panic attacks are caused by deep anger.

So is an anxiety attack caused by something that is just upsetting?

-- posted by notsoconfused47

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» sweetgrass - Panic vs Anxiety Attacks

In response to Panic vs Anxiety Attacks posted by notsoconfused47:

I am no expert because when I was having panic attacks my doctor just put me on zoloft and said that if I wanted therapy that was up to me but he felt that zoloft was the answer. He felt that it was hereditary in my family and due to some imbalance in my brain. It was a disservice to me to tell me not to go to counseling as that would have uncovered a lot of things in my life at that time. Possibly I would have been in a very different place than now.
I was having a really hard time with panic attacks and took the med for about a year then had to wean myself off it because I did not like being on it.
After that, I just chose other ways to deal with the pain in my life as an escape and it has led to the dissolving of my family and a lot of hurt for everyone, but that is what I did.

I thought panic and anxiety attacks were the same and could be used interchangably.
I never knew that panic was caused by anger. It seems to make sense though. I would go further and ask you, did you feel guilty for your anger and did you try to keep it all inside? I was hurt and I guess angry, I felt hurt and also misjudged and attacked by people around me when I had my attacks. I felt a huge injustice towards me at the time. At the same time, I felt confused, I felt guilt over being angry as if a good christian girl does not feel anger and I tried hard to be "normal" and go on with my normal life. My body reacted on its own, it seemed. Interestingly enough, the only time I was able to stop a panic attack was when I was able to go from feeling fear to truly letting out my anger and feeling it. It became a strength and the panic stopped. I thought panic was due to fear and a feeling of being trapped and the inability to express one's self around those closest to me.

My oldest son left home and I was so attached to him and my other kids and when he left, the other adults in my family who should have supported me in my pain, took that opportunity during my time of grief, to somewhat tear me apart and let me know that they felt I was the cause of his leaving because of the way I had raised my kids. It was all just too overwhelming. They had resented me for years because I did unusual things and would not be controlled by others. I did certain things that nowadays are considered no big deal, such as with their schooling and birthing plans, health and nutrition and stuff like that. However, it was like they had been waiting for years to blast me and let me have it and they did during a very hard time for me.
I had tried so hard to be a good mother and that time in my life totalled my confidence in my abilities to make plans or efforts and I changed in a big way.
They took my son in and told him they knew how I was and supported a rebellious teen ager. Instead of showing me respect or helping me through it was like a major attack on all sides. and for some reason, I also felt guilty over the anger I felt towards these family members as if it was wrong to feel anger. and the panic attacks started to smother me. I could not even drive my car or walk down the street. My husband turned his back on me in a weird way as well. It was so strange. It was like everyone was getting even with me for all those years of being confident and trying to raise my kids and so on.
I remember once I could not breathe well due to panic and I asked my husband if I could lie next to him and if he could just hold me for a moment I thought I could calm down. I layed down next to him and he could not touch me. I got up and asked him why he could not do that for me and he shrugged and said he did not know why. I got angry inside but very quietly told him that I would not ever look to him for that kind of support or help again and I meant it.
For so long, he had made me feel a way that was not healthy for me in his own quiet way, always looking like the good guy but making me feel like the bitch.
I remember the moment. I decided after that, the hell with everyone else around me. I started to pull my own self together, weaned myself off of zoloft which was really hard to do. Started to work out, started to have other interests outside being in my home as a servant to those there. and I got stronger. I was amazed to find that when I was out of the house, there were all kinds of men wanting to talk to me and thought I was attractive. My husband always made me feel I was not enough.

At the same time, when I started to do things for myself, my husband who had always been mr, cool calm and together, started to fall apart. he started drinking heavily, went into some deep depression, wanted to be in bed all the time, etc. He started to act the way I used to feel during most of my marriage with him, I used to be depressed alot when we were married, even during the "happy " times. Now with my life falling apart around me, I am not depressed and I do not panic anymore.

When I started school, he claimed that he had always allowed me to do what I wanted to do, however, whenever I tried to study, he would manage to pick some weird fight with me. This is a man who never fought with me when I was in my appropriate cage. When I would be upstairs doing my homework, he would go to the alley and start throwing rocks at my window. I used to call the police and call him and say someone is throwing rocks at my window. It took me awhile to figure out it was him. He was trying to scare me and manipulate me, which he still does, to go back to the box he had put me in, the box that he needs me to be in so that he can feel ok.

I do have quite a few family members who suffer from panic attacks so I am not sure if it is something in our genes or what. I find when I am really gutsy and do not give a damn what others think of me, then I do not panic. When I am controlled by others and feel no escape then I panic.

I suffered so much from panic that I almost don't even know if I can read posts about panic attacks. They are like my evil demon that I somehow managed to push out and I do not want it to return.

I am not so sure what causes them. Upsetting things in life contribute but also the way we feel inside as well I think.

sweet

-- posted by sweetgrass

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» ghulkman - Panic vs Anxiety Attacks

In response to Panic vs Anxiety Attacks posted by notsoconfused47:

Hey "Not47" ....

My sister is Mentally Disordered. She suffers from an emotional disorder ...
More than likely BPD.
She has BOTH anxiety & Panic attacks ...

She takes LOTS of medication ....

"Hulk"

-- posted by ghulkman

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» samvak - Panic vs Anxiety Attacks

In response to Panic vs Anxiety Attacks posted by notsoconfused47:

Hi,

Panic attack IS an anxiety disorder. There are MANY types of anxiety disorders. There is no such thing as anxiety attack. Anxiety is not an event - it's a state of mind and it is constant.

More here - click on the link:

http://samvak.tripod.com/journal93.html

Take care.

Sam

PS:

What your therapist told you is no longer considered valid. This used to be the (psychodynamic) thinking about 60 years ago. The dominant school of thought today is the Behavioral-Cognitive one. It ascribes anxiety disorders to other causes.

-- posted by samvak

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» ghulkman - Panic vs Anxiety Attacks

In response to Panic vs Anxiety Attacks posted by samvak:

Hey Sam ....

Panic "Attacks" then are a symptom of Anxiety Disorder?????

"Hulk"

-- posted by ghulkman

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