Best Posts in Thread: Losing control

I get depression daily. If it wasn’t for my wife and son, i would be ready to die. They alone keep me trying to survive, for the third time. I believe it is entirely up to us to keep pushing. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Be strong, not a weakling, there are many people worse off. Depression is self inflicted, imho.

 

I did not deliberately exclude half the population!

I was repeating what I had recently read from a report on a study - but could not find the original article to reference it.

That study was on girls - an interesting point as:

1. Females are the bedrock of Instagram and all the other 'show your t*ts' social media sites. I would show mine but don't think I would get a following (except for a few odd ones).
2. Females are in general more 'social animals' (from earlier times when they gossiped at the camp while the men went out hunting). I don't know any figures but I guess social media is dominated by females (and then the men 'hunting' them).
3. Perhaps there are justifiable reasons, but a lot of research and help seems to be focusing on females. I read a few days ago that the UK is building new prisons for women to give them better conditions and help to stop women going there in the first place. Already it seems that for similar offences, females get off far more lightly in sentencing.

They say 'it is a man's world' but in many ways that is entirely untrue.

 

I agree.....but when you get an answer is the time to worry!
Seriously a good walk and talk is good for you. I have a friend who for his age is very positive and reasonably fit.
When ever he gets stressed he looks in the mirror and gives himself a stern talking to. It works for him.

 

1. A Psychiatrist at Holy Child Hospital is available. Maybe p. 1,000 was the fee I paid years ago. Private practice Psychiatrists were also in Duma at a similar fee. General and family practice docs are half that fee and are a good choice for many.

2. Many medicines are available to treat anxiety IF that is a correct diagnosis.
3. The symptoms are similar to those of low blood sugar .

 

You posted this 6 days ago and will have (hopefully) read the opinions of many who suffered, or know someone who suffered, from what can be a debilitating condition. You will also have read the opinion of an expert who advises your friend to seek professional help to sort out if there are other causes to your friend's panics and to help deal with how it is affecting the sufferer.

I will go with the expert on this one - IF your friend can raise the funds.

BUT, if he/she cannot then what to do? Nothing worse than thinking there is no help except the one that is not attainable.

So I still suggest your friend tries some of the techniques suggested (breathing and relaxation methods being a good start). Also to read about the subject - I am sure much of use is on mental health and other serious sites on the internet (just be careful which ones you use - FB is out!).

In my time, I read much from:

"Dr Hazel Claire Weekes MBE (11 April 1903 – 2 June 1990) was an Australian general practitioner and health writer. She is considered by some as the pioneer of modern anxiety treatment via Cognitive Therapy. She continues to be noted for her books on dealing with anxiety disorders. Many of today's anxiety self-help books continue to cite her work." She taught me my panics were not craziness and how to start thinking about them in a different way. Most people consider her an expert.

Professor Marks of the famous Maudsley Institute in London (cannot remember his full name). I read his books and personally saw one of his registrars. At the time he was one of the World's leading experts on anxiety conditions.

"David Carbonell, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders. He has maintained a practice devoted exclusively to the treatment of anxiety disorders in Chicago for more than thirty years." A Ph.D., thirty years' experience on anxiety treatments - so an expert in my view. In fact, his book 'Panic Attacks Workbook: A Guided Program for Beating the Panic Trick (A Guided Program for Breaking the Panic Trick)' was the final piece of the jigsaw that saw an end to my very debilitating panic attacks. He showed how many of the things we do to avoid panic are what makes it worse.

So, for sure, most of my knowledge has been derived from material written by experts in the specific field of anxiety and panic attacks. I am not writing suggestions based on what Aunt Ethel told me or the man at the pub. And I obtained as much value from reading specialist books as I did from sitting in front of more general experts (one of whom was very good, one was middling and one was absolutely useless).

The Carbonell book I quoted is in fact only available on amazon.com as a paperback and not on amazon.co.uk at all - but he has a book titled 'The Worry Trick' for kindle about £8 on amazon.co.uk and on amazon.com at about $10.

So my suggestions to your friend (in best order):

1. See a specialist if you can afford it and judge how any treatments suit you.
2. See a general doctor if you have no financial resources for a specialist. This may lead to a prescription for anti-anxiety drugs but I suggest you limit their use to times of great need (which may be great at first and then decline over time).
3. Try learning (use the internet) breathing and relaxation techniques - it requires effort, but can be very small amounts at first. See how they affect the level of panic and if they help reduce it. I really recommend this.
4. When feeling a bit more settled, able to cope better (but not yet perfect) then try reading more on the internet from good sites. I will look at some and suggest if you wish. Also perhaps get the Carbonell book for kindle (about 500 pesos).

 

He may be checking up on this thread while not signed in or from another device that does not remember his last login. (browser set to no cookies)

 

My daughter suffered severe anxiety when we were in Dumaguete. Heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, all of the symptoms associated. We took her to a psychiatrist who gave her many techniques to help. Deep breathing...in through the nose and out through the mouth, slowly; and wearing a rubberband on her wrist and when she felt an attack coming she would pop the rubberband as a diversion. She said that did help tremendously. She was also prescribed Xanor, which she only took when none of the other methods helped.

 

San Mig light may cause liver damage too...

 

Many good points - there is very much a person can do to help overcome the unpleasant effects of panic. Life changes are important - getting out, meditating, mindfulness (which I think is a form of meditation), hobbies, interests.

The only point I would make is not to try too many different angles from the start - being overwhelmed is a sure way to induce panic. My personal view is to get some form of control, using occasional medication if required, then start learning how to accept and to introduce some of the great ideas you showed above for a more positive lifestyle.

 

I don't know of any medication that cures anxiety attacks but I do have experience that Kalms help reduce the anxiety level. You can get them here
https://www.ubuy.com.ph/catalog/product/view/id/3941557/s/kalms-stress-blister-pack-84-tablets/

If possible distraction also helps e.g. reading and listening to music - get the mind to concentrate on something other than the feelings being experienced.

Hope this helps