posted March 07, 2008 01:38 PM         

My first one occured about 2 years ago when I recieved bad news. I just recently had another in the middle of class. I wasn't understanding what the teacher was explaining, and I felt myself losing control over my emotions. I left as soon as I could, and immediately started sobbing from the core of my being and couldn't stop. This lasted an hour. I've seen a doctor but I don't like the drugs they prescribe.

I seem to have a problem with anxiety. Any time I feel that I'm overwhelmed, I just break down and start crying. This has happened at so many times when its inappropriate (talking to my boss about normal stuff for example) It's not that I want to break down either, in fact it's very embarassing to me. At those times, I just feel like I can't get a grip on my emotions and they just flood out. My family (mostly Aqua's and Leo's) tell me that I'm just too sensitive and to be tougher. Haha, like I'd willingly break down into tears in public on PURPOSE...

Anyhoo, anyone else experience this? Is it a past life indicator of something else? Any helpful info would be appreciated.

posted March 08, 2008 03:57 PM         

* Panic disorders - Separate and intense periods of fear or feelings of doom developing over a very short time frame -- 10 minutes -- and associated with at least 4 of the following:
o Palpitations
o Sweating
o Trembling
o Shortness of breath
o Sense of choking
o Chest pain
o Nausea
o Dizziness
o A feeling of being detached from the world (derealization)
o Fear of dying
o Numbness or tingling
o Chills or hot flushes
* Generalized anxiety disorder - Excessive and unrealistic worry over a period of at least 6 months associated with 3 of the following:
o Restlessness
o Easy fatigue
o Difficulty concentrating
o Irritability or explosive anger
o Muscle tension
o Sleep disturbances
o Personality changes such as becoming less social
* Phobic disorders - Intense, persistent, and recurrent fear of certain objects (such as snakes, spiders, blood) or situations (such as heights, speaking in front of a group, public places). These exposures may trigger a panic attack.
* Stress disorders - Anxiety (also known as post-traumatic stress disorder) caused by the exposure to either death or near-death circumstances such as fires, floods, earthquakes, shootings, automobile accidents, or wars, for example. The traumatic event is re-experienced in thoughts and dreams. Common behaviors include the following:
o Avoiding activities, places, or people associated with the triggering event
o Difficulty concentrating
o Difficulty sleeping
o Being hypervigilant (you closely watch your surroundings)
o Feeling a general sense of doom and gloom with diminished emotions such as loving feelings or aspirations for the future
* Symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, fainting, and weakness generally should not be attributed to anxiety and require evaluation by a doctor.

WebMD Medical Reference from eMedicineHealth

http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/panic-attack-symptoms
Panic Attack Symptoms
Panic Attack Symptoms

Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. A person experiencing a panic attack may believe that he or she is having a heart attack or that death is imminent. The fear and terror that a person experiences during a panic attack are not in proportion to the true situation and may be unrelated to what is happening around them. Most people with panic attacks experience several of the following symptoms:

* "Racing" heart
* Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy
* Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers
* Sense of terror, of impending doom or death
* Feeling sweaty or having chills
* Chest pains
* Breathing difficulties
* Feeling a loss of control

Panic attacks are generally brief, lasting less than ten minutes, although some of the symptoms may persist for a longer time. People who have had one panic attack are at greater risk for having subsequent panic attacks than those who have never experienced a panic attack. When the attacks occur repeatedly, a person is considered to have a condition known as Panic Disorder.

People with panic disorder may be extremely anxious and fearful, since they are unable to predict when the next episode will occur. Panic Disorder is fairly common and affects about 2.4 million people in the U.S., or 1.7% of the adult population between the ages of 18 and 54. Women are twice as likely as men to develop the condition, and its symptoms usually begin in early adulthood.

It is not clear what causes Panic Disorder. In many people, its symptoms develop in association with major life changes (such as getting married, having a child, starting a first job, etc.) and major lifestyle stressors. There is also some evidence that suggests that the tendency to develop Panic Disorder may run in families. People who suffer from Panic Disorder are also more likely than others to suffer from depression, attempt suicide, or to abuse alcohol or drugs.

Luckily for sufferers of frequent panic attacks, Panic Disorder is a treatable condition. Psychotherapy and medications have both been used, either singly or in combination, for successful treatment of Panic Disorder. If medication is necessary, your doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, or a class of heart medications known as beta blockers to help control the episodes in Panic Disorder.

WebMD Medical Reference from MedicineNet
Reviewed by Amal Chakraburtty, MD on March 01, 2007

posted March 10, 2008 03:14 AM         

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