panic, anxiety, depression, fear, worry

Been suffering with panic attacks, anxiety and depression for a year now... some symptoms have gotten better or disappeared while i have gotten worse in some areas. I have been trying very hard to turn over area of my life to the lord. To try and build my faith and discern between head knowledge and heart knowledge. I have a wife and daughter and am the sole incomd provider. Im so drained and i feel like im infecting my family and bringing them down because im just not the same person i was before all this started. Not sure where to fo from here. I wish my church was more enthusiastic about healing. Nobody ever wants to talk about it.

Greeeaaat.. that is one of my fears with panic attacks is that i will pass out. It hasnt happened yet but i worry every time. I went to a therapist 3 tines but it was too expensive and they couldnt get the scheduling to work out with my jobs hours. I took some anti anxiety med called buspirone for a while. A very weak pill and lowest dose and it made me very dizzy. Ive always had a low tolerance for meds. Scared to try the real stuff. Also, a lot of what ive read says that the meds hurt you inthe long run. And that if you can just hold out and learn to deal that eventually your anxiety will resolve itself.

Yah I dont do well with meds either so I stay off them too. And a therapist in my opinion only does good with finding a past psychological problem and then find good coping methods. Other than that its up to you to face the problems. I always feel better when I let someone know I am having anxiety and sometimes have panic attacks. And it's a lot easier to explain to them first than afterwards when I pass out and the people are freaking out. Obviously do all you can to make things easy and anxiety free. Many times just having a friend or my wife with me calms me down. See I do not like doctors offices and as soon as I have to go to one my anxiety kicks in and then once I am there I am doing all I can to not panic. Which actually makes it worse because while I am trying to be normal my mind is in chaos. And finally if I do not cope with it I turn pale white, get nauseated, and shut down and collapse. I have collapsed and hit tables, walls, floors, people lol but I have found coping methods that help me by excepted my problem and I no longer hide it and I let it know it no longer controls me.

Will pray.

Is there any chance your wife can pitch in a bit? Even if it was a small, part- time thing I guess it would lift the burden a bit knowing there was some other income.

Do you have an "outlet" other than work? (Exercise, art, music ?) I think it helps to have something to pour one's restless energy into.

How do you deal with this from day to day? I mean, all this started for me at the same time I had just decided to get serious with my relationship with Christ. In a way, all this that me and my wife have gone through has definitely brought me closer to God and he really is my only hope right now. The only one i can rely on.. at the same time, i get mad. I wonder how could he let this happen to me. I believe only good things come from God and that he will see us through our circumstances and that he works all things together for good. All this knowledge and faith isnt enough sometimes and i doubt and i wonder how long will i be able to hold on like this? How long will i be able to provide for my family before i lt overtakes me? How can we live with the thought that maybe our healing wont come?

Brother I wish I had a easy answer but my panic attacks started 7 years ago and at first I thought I was dying until I gained knowledge on my mental health. We have a blessing and a curse. We think a lot!!! And usually very deep thinkers. But because of this we also think way too much about certain things. Creating a unhealthy habit. Our subconscious saves this information from our worry state of mind and then when we face the actual event. Our subconscious acrivates these false feelings and our conscious makes them seem real. The more knowledge you know about your mind and anxiety the more control you have. I read a book called voice of knowledge that changed my way of thinking. It helped me question all the lies my subconscious programmed me to believe. Once Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge we opened the door to the master of lies. The Devil is at work in you trying to separate you from God. Especially Christians he will lie and tempt us to believe or do what the flesh already wants. We are weak in the flesh. The Devil knows this and will constantly tell you lies as you worry. Which then by God's design our brains store this info in to memory vaults as a defense mechanism to protect the body. So once you have to face a anxious problem your body freaks out with these stored lies which sends signals to your brain to activate the fight or flight response. And since we would look not normal to fight or run away we try to control it. Controlling it is like putting mentoes mints into diet soda. Them chemicals released in the brain activating a response that should never be ignored. Once ignored your body can not keep going like that and tries to shut down creating a panic attack. Making all sorts of nasty feelings and with me my body completely shuts down a few seconds.

Deep breathing always helps. I have to usually lay down and raise my feet above my head, making blood flow back into my head and my skin color comes back, and a few seconds later I feel better. Having support from friends or family helps me too usually people who are positive. And of course learning all you can is your best weapon.

God does not tempt us or cause these issues. Us falling from the garden of Eden opened the door to sickness, and decay of life. It opened the door to a battle within the mind to believe the lies of evil or focus on the truth of God. Sometimes God does not take away the things we deal with. I have prayed my heart out in search of relief from God. But I was thinking relief would take it away. My actual relief cane from knowing God is always with me and my protector. My strength and shield. The battle that rages in my mind has been the hardest thing I have ever dealt with. Not only it affects me physically but tears me up mentally. I have good times and bad times with controlling it. But the more you face your anxiety the easier it gets to control. But because mine deals with medical issues I do not get to face mine enough. Never stop praying and remember just like my testimony, your testimony may help someone one day understand or bring a little hope. Point your hope back to God and you will find great joy in sharing the joy God gave you through the anxious moments in life. One day your story may bring the hope and Savior someone needed to hear that experiences anxiety and panic attacks.

Yeah. Ive always been a very deep thinker as well. When i look back at my behaviors, thought process and general out look on life not to mention my addictions, im very suprised i did not start having attacks sooner. When you thinj back did you have a similar situation? Like you were building up to it or was it out of the blue?

Man, im so sorry to hear that you've dealt with this so long and ita been so severe. Mine gets severe with physical symptoms and mental struggles but ive never passed out yet so i will be thanking the lord dor that. Ive passed out some in the past, its not fun i know that.

one of the positives that came from this is i am seeking and relying on God more then i ever have. Ive learned compassion for people that ive never had compassion for. I want to help people now and not just keep christianity to myself but to share good news but now i struggle with how do you share the news of a good God who loves, saves and heals when you yourself are just trying to make it.

funny that you're a GA boy i see. Im from Albany, Ga.

Man, that is so similar to my story. It took months but i kept thinking back and slowly i started remembering all these situations, how i was nervous all the time and how i let feeling uncomfortable effect my decisions. How i would avoid a lot of things. I even realized my first panic attacks was when i tried smoking weed and the again when i got drunk once in my teens. Which is interesting because because i remember feeling guilty while doing those things and i think a large part of my anxiety is related to some guilt that ive been holding on to for a long time.

i'll have to get that book. I missed the part where you said it was christian based. I looked for something like that for a while. Panic end and the panic switch have helped me in the fact that i have realized that if i face my fears and continue to do things that make me panic, eventually the anxiety lessens. I used to only be able to drive about 15 seconds before i started having panic or anxiety. Now i dont get it at all.

Thats whats driving me crazy. We can try and beat it but ultimately i feel we are just waiting.

One main thing im trying to do is change my thoughts. Its very hard at my job to stay positive but im trying to thank God for everything that i have instead of what i dont have or what i wish would change.

it is a small world then! Well, technically i live in Leesburg. Well, if you ever need someone to talk to im not too far away, haha.

Well, if you ever need someone to talk to im not too far away, haha.

Man, i posted a huge reply to this but i see it didnt go through. Great, haha.

Weed and panic attacks go hand in hand. Especially with long time smokers. When they stop they go through PAWS [ post acute withdrawal syndrome ]. Panic attacks and anxiety are a huge part od that. I believei had acute and post acute withdrawal when i quit porn, dip, caffeine and sugar on the same day. The doctor said it wasnt suprising i had a panic attack from quiting all that at the same time. They have forums dedicated to paws. Its very common.

I struggle with the that thought process. Because i basically poures my heart out to God to change me to be a better husband and father and repented of my addictions and disobedience and the next day i startes having panic attacks. I dont believe in trials. Even though they are talked about. I believe life happens and God sees us through.