Anyone here suffer from these problems? Im pretty sure I had a panic attack this morning that lasted a couple hours on and off. Never felt anything like that. Ive had some mild problems such as palpations and feeling, but nothing like this. This was scary.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
I've had them...doc says breath deep and ride them out...get your mind on something else(after checking me out and sayin everything is alright).
They used to come when the phone quit ringing for a week at a time and again when the bills got paid.
I think it is just this crazy business we're in...
By the way I love your business card!
Oh and one more thing...RELAX!
and get a check up come monday...and tell them everything...then try to relax when you get the bill!
Seriously don't mess with it...check it out!
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
John, was this just before a customer came to collect a big sign worth a lot of money, and you were inadvertently/subconciously scared they mightn't like it even though you knew it was good?
(Just a thought)
Posted by Darrell Giese (Member # 768) on :
Seems like every month this year. (HTF am I gonna pay the rent??? Wher I am gonna store all this equipment???)
Occasionally. (When the State Comptroller man comes in.)
Probably not as severe as what you are describin' but pretty disturbing nonethaless.
I read something the other day. "Worry is interest paid on tomorrows's problems."
I generally get on my bike and ride awhile. Or drop the canoe in the River and paddle around.
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
Yes, I have John.......Get into a doctor right away. Mine were horrible....It's depression and Anxiety. They will put you on some meds and talk to you about it. This happened to me 2.5 years ago. It IS scary...get some help!call me if you wanna talk about it. 507-843-5951 I'm here for ya John!
Posted by Dave Draper (Member # 102) on :
Could be stress, or could be a lot of things in combination with diet and imbalance. Does it come in waves?
We're getting old John!
Take very deep breaths, hold and let out. Temporary relief at best.
Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
John,
Listen to Mike and get to the doctor.
If your attack lasted a couple of hours, I don't think it sounds like the general anxiety of making sure the bills are paid. Life is way to precious to ignore it.
Let us know how you make out.
Suelynn
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
Your not alone, I get them too, After my divorce, they were so bad, I used to think I was going to die. I went to the hospital one time, my heart palpitations were so bad they thought I was having a heart attack. I went to a doctor, he suggested cutting out the caffiene (I was a big coffee drinker) excercise, cut out any pressure, no booze, and get consistant sleep, if that didn't work, he was going to perscribe a anti-anxiety medication. I did all that and they started going down in severity. I still get them, sometimes I get stressed or drink too much coffee or I might get a huge coke. But they are easier to deal with now. I think that if it starts taking my quality of life away, after you try alternate methods, taking meds is no big deal at all. My wife takes them and help her a lot. Get to a doctor and remember, your not alone.
Rick
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
I've had axiety attacts when I have to go paint a window for as long as i can remember...
I break out in a cold sweat, have stomach cramps, and will (6 times outta 10) call the client to reschedual.
I'll make up any excuse....anything to put it off another day or two....or three......
I have no idea why...I love what I do...it's not terribly hard.....people seem to like what I do....the money's great....once I get into it, I relax and forget all about the anxiety I felt before.
Never been about to figure it out.
But.....what you are experiencing my not be anxiety...please get your butt to the Dr. Monday......
Could it be your just anticipating your rock??? lol
(I'm workin' on it......honestly!)
A:)
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
Thank you everyone. Ive had a problem with anxiety for a few years, but the only way it surfaced was just a heart flutter here and there. I took impramine for awhile and then quit. This morning though was probably a full blown thing. Im going to the doc on monday to see about it. Dont wanta go through that again. Very scary. Thanks again.
Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
You're doing the right thing by going to the doctor. Sometimes those symptoms can be a heart problem, so don't assume it's just anxiety. A simple blood test will clear that up. Hope your OK.
Posted by Bill Preston (Member # 1314) on :
You aren't alone in this John. Been there, done that, at least as far as depression, and anxiety are concerned. Possibly the only difference was that I knew the source of the depression. Been on a mild anti-depressant for years, and never regretted it. Never been ashamed of it , either, and don't care who knows it.
Looked it up in the "book", and it says among other things, that more than 1/3 of the population have at least one of these every year.I can't guess where they get the numbers, but oh, well.
In general, they are said to be not dangerous, but they will scare the bejeesus out of you.
The book lists 13 symptoms--if any 4 or more occur in the space of a few minutes, then what is happening meets the definition of a panic attack.
Short version of the 13: 1-Chest pain/discomfort 2-Choking 3-Dizziness/faintness 4-Fear of dying 5-Fear of going crazy or losing control 6-Feelings of unreality, strangeness, or detachment. 7-Flushes or chills 8-Nausea or abdominal distress 9-Numbness/tingling 10-Palpitations/rapid heart rate 11-Shortness of breath/smothering feeling. 12-Sweating 13-Trembling/shaking.
Book advises giving your MD the full story as best you can. Avoiding the causative problem, whatever it is , is NOT recommended.
Usually fairly easily treated with a combination of meds and psychotherapy.
IMHO, the "hooker" here is the palpitations. Those alone could bring on an attack, but they may be a symptom of a bigger underlying heart problem, and should be looked into. If nothing else, rapid heartbeat usually doesn't push the blood around very efficiently.
Hope all this helps, JD, and that it doesn't add to your problem.
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
Ive had the palpitations on and off for about 20 years. Docs checked me out and decided it was a mild form of anxiety. What happened this morning wasnt mild though. Shaky, cold feeling, rapid heartbeat, very bad dread feeling, knots in stomach, etc. Lasted on and off for about two hours, but not at the highest level it was. Ill go to the doc monday and fill him in on everything and take it from there. I worry to much, the best I can figure it. Seems everything maybe built up into a pinnacle. Such is life I guess. Thanks again everyone.
Posted by Joel Peters (Member # 622) on :
John,
I feel for you, Man.
Last Sunday I had an episode of dizziness,sweats,nausea,left arm going numb,little sparks going off in my chest, Blah,blah. This is at work at 2:30p. I shake it off and keep on Truckn'.
Later that night in front of the T.V., my lovely wife says: Dear what's wrong? You look like sh**! I tell her what's been happening, 10 minutes later I'm on the way to ER.
This the first time anything like this ever happened to me. Nice people in ER checked my bloodpressure and I heard one nurse exclaim... " Glycerin stat, this MotherF****r is gonna explode! ".
Needless to say after a 36 hour stay and a stress test,MRI, and mucho monitoring, I was released and told all tests were negative. I saw my doctor this past Thursday for a follow up and we had a very long and heart to heart talk.
He told me what I had was a anxiety attack due to stress. Ya, I got more than my share of stress lately. From now on I'm gonna take care of what I can on any given day and then get a good nights sleep and then take care of what I can tommorrow. Gravitate toward my hobbies more and seek out my friends more. Just relax!
John, I hope you get thru this and find a level of peace that allows you to be the creative force that I have come to admire and I hope you enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Peace Brother,
Joel
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
Hi All, John Hope your feeeling better Let us know what the Doc says as I am also Curious as I have been having similar attacks also in the last few months. I was attributing it the move and all the stress involved. I thought I was having a heart attack and that really scared me as I'm only 37 and we were in the land of no doctors. Good luck hope everythings alright. Bill
Posted by Roy Frisby (Member # 736) on :
You just have to learn whenever you're in a stressful situation to say "P..ss on it" then just walk away. Works for me.
Posted by Laura Butler (Member # 1830) on :
I agree with getting to your Dr. but also start taking B-complex and zinc. B-complex is great for nerves, stress, etc. B-complex helps your nerves or nerviousness. If you have carpal tunnel, 6 weeks of faithfully taking it and you'll get relief. If you have a child with pimples and acne, put them on B-comlex and you should see a difference in 3 days. I have even put some horses on it that were stall weavers or shiied at anything or everything. Those that were high stressed horses that couldn't hold weight would settle down and become roly poly.
Another thing is to increase your zinc. One sign of zinc defiencieny is look at your finger nails and see if there are any white spots on them. Zinc should help with depression. I have read of a dr. that was working with alot of little girls that wanted to be gymnist and were starving themselves into anorexia. He found that those girls were actually depressed and those that let him give them zinc infusion got over there anorexia. Those that didn't ended up dying from this.
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
don't worry about things you have control over. there is no use in worrying about things you don't have control over. go to the doctor because no one on here has a license to practice medicine that i know of. Posted by Bruce Deveau (Member # 1600) on :
Hello John,
I'm glad to see so much help and support from the letterhead community, and I applaud you for letting us in on your situation so that we can try to help.
In addition to my sign career, I am also a Licensed Clinical Social worker, and I do therapy at a community mental health center two days a week.
Everyone is right, your problem is not uncommon, and you are wise to seek MD attention asap. When it comes to meds, I suggest you educate yourself regarding Benzodiazepenes (sp?). They are the most commonly prescribed class of meds for anxiety, and they are very effective. Common types are Xanax, Klonopin, and Atavan. These meds come with a heavy price, however. They are addictive, the make you dopey, and they are very dangerous to withdraw from.
With acute symptoms, meds are often the best treatment to take. However, you should be aware of the potential problems, such as mixing with alcohol. And there are some alternatives that are not addictive.
If you choose therapy, look for a practitioner that specializes in Cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy works with thoughts that contribute to anxiety...this tends to be shorter than psychodynamic (tell me about your mother) therapy and is definately the most effective.
Best wishes,
Bruce
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
My two favorite sayings with regard to stress:
My wife always says "sort out the urgent from the important, and go from there"
(2) Don't sweat the petty stuff, and.......Don't pet the sweaty stuff!
Seriously, I think anybody who has been in business in a turbulent economy, who is a true craftsman, and really loves their work and their customers will experience these attacks. They have woke me from sleep in times past..."how will we pay this or what about that" Hang tough! it will work out for you.
[ September 07, 2003, 11:14 PM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
john if your in some guys house in bed with his wife...and he comes home....NOW this is a situation that will be NORMAL for a PANIC ATTACK!!!!!! just get outa the house!!!!!!!! if your sitting in a chair and got nothing goin on and you get one....this is not NORMAL....i think we all have them time to time. i know when iam under the gun to get a project finished....or waiting for some one to let me know if my bid for their job is the winner....good idea is to get a cd...with that song of bobby mcfarrin....DONT WORRY....BE HAPPY and keep playin it over and over.....hehehehehhe
Posted by Steve Shortreed (Member # 436) on :
I'm 50 years old and fortunite to be able to say I have survived 4 heart attacks. When someone with all my bad habits survives, while many healthy people die during there first, you can't help but wonder why? Could it be I'm only here to tell you not to make the same mistakes I did?
In 1983, I weighed 180 lbs. My only stay in hospital was a simple operation to stop my habit of making babies. Many things happened that year. We attended our first Letterhead meet. Business was booming and we made a decision to move into a bigger shop up the highway.
Things were good. Bankers were eager to lend money and there were lots of things to buy for the shop. Backlit awnings were in and we were right in the middle of it. 80% of our business was designing and spraying big backlite awnings.
We worked around the clock to keep up. Instead of eating right, we became the best customers of fast food joints in the area. I remember hitting 200 lbs and scolding myself to lose weight as soon as I had some time.
That time never came. New technology like heat transfer, vinyl and lower prices came along. I refused to change and that eventually lost us awning work. Things got tough, but I did what all real men do and just worked harder. I just knew that if I bashed my head against the wall hard enough and long enough, something would have to give. Today I refer to this process as "suicide by sign shop." Fact is I almost suceeded.
By the Fall of 1993, I was almost 300 lbs. I seldom left the shop. Sometimes I would wake up feeling guilty and helpless in the middle of the night, get dressed and go to the shop. We had a great employee and I just didn't have the guts to let her go. My dream business had become a nightmare and I didn't know how to end it. The stress and shame was hoorible.
That Christmas Eve, as we played Santa and set out the kid's toys, I couldn't help but notice how small each little pile was. After Barb went to bed, I sat and stewed over what a loser I was as a businessman and Father. Somewhere around 1am the pain in my chest started. I ignored it but hit the shower and made sure I had clean underware on.
Most of you know the rest. I was in hospital 10 days and returned to the shop as soon as I was released. Real men don't quit! They load up on life insurance and commit suicide by sign shop! Bring it on!
I got my wish in February. This time I knew the dream was over. The heart attacks had left me frail and defeated. I headed for the solitude of my garage at home, while Barb went into the shop to honour our lease agreement. I know there were many days she just locked the door and cried. I wished I could. Still do.
The next few years were heartbreakers. We almost lost eveything and I spent my days alone in a bottomless pit of depression. Another heart attack came along and I still survived. My buddies at the bank forgot my name. Bill collectors kept calling. Damn kids kept eating and needing clothes. If I'd had a gun, I'd probally have usesd it. Being Canadian, I was forced to try and insert the bullets manually. Just a joke!
Good news is that things eventually got better. On the worse day, I got this Letterhead Website idea, and eventually a new dream. As a result, I have this handy Letterville Bullboard to tell thousands my story about whay not to do. Life works in funny ways.
Take and learn what you can from my story. I have 5 wonderful Grandkids today and a bunch of friends all over the World. The bad news is my heart is too severly damaged to keep up and really enjoy what life has to offer. I played a game of chicken with my health and lost. The story of my success at life remains a big question mark.
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Hi John. Hope you're at the Dr.'s as I post this. I recently had what I would describe as a mild panic attack. Catherine & I had just landed in Detroit, from Amsterdam, after an 8-hr flight. The blackout had just occurred 20 minutes prior. I was a half hour from Pittsburgh by plane. They would NOT let us off the friggin plane. Customs' computer was down. For 3 hours. It kept getting hotter, and the plane kept feeling smaller. People were milling about, yakking loudly on cell phones. Babies cried. I wanted to flip out, to rip my shirt off and holler "But I'm an American!" and claw my way out the window. I kept telling myself to breathe, but it was difficult. Finally, I grabbed a book and started to read it, thank God I had it. Two hours later, we landed in Minneapolis. I didn't call Mike Meyer or Elmer Miller for a pick-up, it was too late at night. Eventually we did get home. But I guess I must've just had a mild one, after reading the posted symptoms. No palipitations, etc. But it was crappy. I can't even imagine what a bad one would feel like! Take care- Love- JILL ps still gettin' compliments on the cool panel truck!
Posted by The Moon (Member # 452) on :
Those PA's are the reason I slipped away from here for awhile... I pop in now and then now to see how my friends are doing and IF I can help anyone with sign stuff. (most people here know way more than I do, so I don't get to post to those types much, but I still like dropping in)
I have had them for a long long time and tried everything... if you want to find out what all I have tried and learn from my mistakes along the way and hear about what did work for me call me or e-me ANYtime. I am always open to sharing my story too, but only to people who want to hear it or need to hear it because they are there too. (I don't like to force people to hear my drama. Yes, and that's my wrapped way of thinking still- right there.)
I have come to have a sense of humor about it and that makes it easier to "deal" with it too.
The flip side of the Moon.
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
First of all, I want to say, I am sorry any of you are experiencing these attacks.
It's a jungle out there! We all know that, but just knowing you have friends and associates who will be there for you is a Godsend! And remember, we have a lot more to offer others than signs! Imagery is one of the gifts we as artistes have and it can save our butts. Oh yes, I used to get these panic attacks for a couple years and didn't know it until I sat down and thought about it. I heard the term somewhere and figured it was a good coined phrase.
Worrying instead of attacking a problem with a plan, is just going to wear you down too. Even if it is something you have to grab out of thin air, so be it. Use your imagination and remember our forefathers had to deal with stuff too, and they manage. I have much less anxiety these days, but, I can relate to Jill in that plane. Whew! I am a bit claustrophobic also, and the first thing that came to mind was the spring break trip to Fla. Some of us decided to go with a local friend to a spring lake in Ocala to swim. It had a cave you had to climb through to get up to the ledge to dive.. There was one person in front of me and one in back. We were crawling on our bellies, and the leader couldn't go forward. The one behind me couldn't back up. I was terrified, but, then and there,I was forced to deal with it. I grabbed my wits and did some deep breathing and tried to envision something calm and peaceful. It did alleviate my fears quite a bit. Thankfully, the leader started moving forward and we only had to go about 15 more feet to get to the opening to dive into the lake to swim. I hate thinking about it in detail. But, I had somehow learned about overcoming some of my fears of closed in places. A couple years ago I had an MRI and even though it was an open one, I couldn't see out. I wasn't worried until I was in there for a while. I heard the pounding and just imagined that it was rock and roll and I started thinking about Beatles songs and Molly Hatchet. Finally, it started sounding okay. It wasn't all that bad, and because it was open, I tried to tip my head and look out the top.
All the posts make a lot of sense though. Now OP, even though you're humoring us, you do have a point; and that is in avoiding or changing situations that are obviously going to get us in trouble to start with.
The nutrition and doctor visits mentioned can be a solutions too. I am always amazed at how much wonderful info letterheads print here. I even tell my friends that this board is for everyone, no matter what the subject, you'll find it here!
Deep breathing is a winner and really physically can help to relax your muscles and get those toxins out of your system that are stressing you out! Really, try it sometime. Actually, try make it a regular part of your lives! I am working on it. When I do, I feel refreshed and my face feels like smiling, and it gives me new oxygen to keep my body running on full throttle. To sum up a few things that I find helpful is:
1.Have a big plan for the year, set goals. Then make mini plans and keep yourself organized. Take time to keep the calendar and address/phone book organized and up to date and available. A cell phone is invaluable or have change on hand and knowledge where the phone booths are in case you get lost or late in traffic for a deadline. 2. Make time to exercise and eat properly, even if it is on the go, choose a salad with some chicken in it if at a fast food restaurant. This upkeep can also include getting a hair sample and sending it into a nutritionist's lab where it can tell you what minerals you are lacking. This is about $50 bucks. 3. Don't make promises, ever, if you can help it. Always reassure the customer that you are human and that you are doing the best quality job you can do, and if you are running late, call them and maybe offer to deliver yourself or give them 5 % off if it is a day or two late (or give them a small freebie, you know what I mean). 4. I am claustrophobic, so I use self hypnotism to distract me. And I try to keep near open spaces. Stay attentive. (I quit crawling through caves also). 5. Have three backup plans always in your mind. Simplify your life. Vent your feelings to others with common concerns or ones with good listening capabilities. 6. Have a good cry when it is necessary! Don't avoid this! 7. Keep asking questions until you find the answers. 8. Don't procrastinate if you possibly are able to complete a project. Stay around positive, innovative, stimulating people, and family as much as possible. Forget what the Jones have, since the world would be boring if we all were clones. 9. Put things that are too frustrating on the "backburner" but don't forget them, just index them. Have a network of people who don't mind reminding you of things you don't want to write down. 10.ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT, AND STOP TO SMELL THE ROSES! (unless, your neigbors last name is Rose, and then, that's an exception). 11. I never thought of medication as an option, but if it came to that, it could be very helpful. Doctors can help temporarily, but I think we need to practice our own solutions and take control of our lives to feel the full circle of success. Okay, thanks for letting me blab! see ya at the Cabana!
[ September 08, 2003, 05:27 PM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
Saw the doc today. Had a long talk with him about what happened and my history of mild anxiety. Told him about my business, family, and other things that cause me worry, and I am a worrier, always have been. After checking me over, good blood pressure, steady heart beat, etc., he told me ways of combating depression and anxiety. I told him I wasnt depressed, but he said you may not feel it but still be depressed. Lot of the things all of you told of above he said would help. Exercise, doing things I like to do, just basically enjoying life and letting my body rest. He also prescribed zoloft for me to take once a day to see if it helps. He told me exactly what the drug does, as I told him I aint keen about taking any kind of medication, but in this instance, Ill make an exception. Ive felt good the last couple of days, and hopefully will from now on. Gonna let things slide by more slowly and not worry so much. ITs a big change, but well worth it to me. Guess this was my bodys way of saying, uh, john, youre gonna have to mellow out there dude. So I am. Thank you all so much for your input. It is extremely appreciated. I consider this place my second home. God bless.
Posted by Terry Whynott (Member # 1622) on :
Hi John, glad you checked out OK. Take it easy and enjoy the world around you! Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
I have been following this post pretty closely. I've been having some breathing difficulties at night. I'm generally up 5-8 times a night with my sinuses draining constantly, coughing and stuffy nose. But when the shortness of breath starts, I get scared. I saw the Dr. last Friday and have some anti-biotics and anti-histemine. The infection was into my left ears already. I'm getting a little more sleep, but still get up several times a night and perfer sleeping in a sitting position. I have some blood work scheduled in 2 weeks. I'll be asking about the anxiety possibility also.
Take Care JD!
[ September 09, 2003, 01:55 PM: Message edited by: Santo ]
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
John, Santo, I hope all is well, as it can be treated by a doctor. When we reach middle age, we really need to remember to take a good look at ourselves and get checkups, be proactive and read a lot. I had some asthma symptoms this spring, and found out it was a combination of a dental abscess and a weakened immune system. Working long hours didn't help. It's the whole caboodle,and I was not ruling out the docs. Now I am on regular nutrients and had the dental work done, all the amalgum taken out of my old fillings, plus other work. Had a catscan too and that's how I found out a little sinus surgery helped me a lot. I am exercising more and doing some yoga, cutting out some certain foods, etc. A lot of folks here don't talk about their physical conditions, but, there are those like you that have the guts to share and learn, and teach others so they don't have to go through it alone. Good luck, hope you get relief soon.
[ September 09, 2003, 05:03 PM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
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It's a jungle out there! We all know that, but just knowing you have friends and associates who will be there for you is a Godsend! And remember, we have a lot more to offer others than signs! Imagery is one of the gifts we as artistes have and it can save our butts. Oh yes, I used to get these panic attacks for a couple years and didn't know it until I sat down and thought about it. ![[Applause]](graemlins/clap.gif)
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