Another middle of the night panic attack. Dont want to call and wake the responsible sleeping adults with my ridiculous paranoia that they have all dealt with already before and are probably sick of hearing it. Even if i did, im tired of the same old “i dont know what to tell you”'s and “its fine, youre overthinking it.”'s. Or worse, solution suggestions that seems reasonable to someone who hasnt struggled with mental illness for 25+ years, but seem miles away for me.
Anyway, no one to talk to, heard about this place from someone. I hope its ok i posted this ramble here and i tagged it correctly. I dont know what im doing here, i should be sleeping.
Hi @Mermaid1888
Hey Friend, I am sorry you were going through that, I do understand honestly. I live alone and a middle of the night attack is really unpleasant isnt it and I totally get that feeling of not wanting to wake people, especially the ones that have never experienced such a thing so just see it as a moment of silliness. “stop worrying and go back to sleep” you feel more alone at that moment than you do normally so once again I wish you had not had to go through that, I wish no one had to.
I would like to ask you if you are on Discord because Heart support are and you there are people there almost all the time to reach out to, It would be someone that you could talk to that would understand, I know many do? ill give you a link at the end. I know its not easy to focus and type but it may also give you something to focus on and you most certainly wont feel alone.
I do hope that is of some help. You may post here any time you like, we are here to help and support you. We care very much about you and how you feel.
Much Love Lisa
Hey mermaid
I hope you’ve managed to get some sleep now.
I’m sorry the people around you don’t seem to understand your panic attacks. The nights when you’re stuck awake after can feel so lonely, but you’ve come to a good place for support!
hello there friend!
In the past, have you had any thing that worked to help you cope with the attacks? It can be hard for people who haven’t experienced it, to be a bit lost or worse to undermine how you feel. Are you currently able to see a therapists who could maybe show you some new tricks for managing them?
Hey @Mermaid1888, welcome in the community. And thank you so much for taking the time to share your heart with us here.
It seems that last night was really rough for you. Panic attacks are truly exhausting. I’m sorry you’re struggling with this, friend. I remember times when panic attacks would litterally wake me up from my sleep. It’s a pretty scary experience that drains so much of our energy. Through it all, it is admirable and inspiring to see you reaching out as you’re doing here. Putting words on these difficult experiences can help us regain a bit of control over it, even if it’s only partially. Well done, Mermaid.
It is so hard to also feel like it’s impossible to reach out to people around us in order to be supported and comforted. You have these intense panics and would need to be reassured, to feel safe, to hear that you’re going to be okay and it will pass. Yet your loved ones reactions tend to make you feel like there is no room for you, for your voice or your struggles because they’d be tired of it. What a discouraging wall and an unfair position. My heart goes out to you.
Please know that it is always okay to share here what’s on your heart. There is no right or wrong way to do. You being here, being honest and vulnerable, is admirable and something that will always be respected. You have a safe space right here to discuss about those struggles. We may not all experience the same things or react to it the same way, but we are here and we care about one another. Your voice is precious, friend. It is highly valuable. You are seen, heard, you are not alone.
@Lisalovesfeathers linked to you the Discord server and I just want to echo her words entirely. It is yet another safe place to interact with members of the community and be reminded that we are not alone in our struggles.
I hope you managed to get some rest after this post. You are loved dearly.
Welcome, I’m glad someone pointed you here. I’m really sorry you are dealing with such a scary and confusing thing like anxiety.
I have had anxiety attacks since I was a teenager (so, so long ago lol) and along the years I’ve tried a lot of different things to cope. I don’t take meds for it anymore because I use meditation and breathing exercises instead. I was just wondering what you do to calm yourself down when anxiety hits.
@Mermaid1888 you are in the best place ever
I hope coming here will help you feel supported, and you can ramble all you want - I do it often! … Your panic attacks are NOT an annoyance, nor should they be dismissed in such ways. I understand your anxiety about asking your family for help after past experiences.
I also occasionally have panic attacks, and some of my favorite calming techniques are to hold an ice cube, sit/lay on the floor, hold something soft like a stuffed animal, or even go look at the stars if it’s possible (sometimes I use an app to look at the constellations - if you have a favorite one it can help to look for it to distract your mind).
If you’re having trouble seeking help from family or those you live with, maybe some of these techniques will help. I also do something called “square breathing” - it’s hard to explain so here is a YouTube link to a lady with a very calming voice who can explain: https://youtu.be/MoQVgJx_QN4
If you want to seek therapy, but have a family that will advise against it, I’d like to recommend 7 Cups of Tea. It’s a great site where you can chat individually with someone about what you’re going through, and it’s totally free! They even have little mindfulness exercises and calming videos to watch. They do have licensed therapists as well - those services cost money, but if your family are advocates for therapy, maybe they can help you get there.
My best advice is to find someone you trust that you can talk to and be honest with about how you’re feeling and how you want to get help. Everyone gets help in different ways, and it’s okay if there are methods you’re not comfortable with.
I wish I could do more to help, but hopefully some of these resources and techniques will bring some relief. Don’t ever hesitate to reach out to this community, it’s filled with amazing people who want to help and support each other.
