“Charles Darwin probably had an anxiety disorder. It has been argued that he most likely suffered from panic disorder with agoraphobia. He described his illness as a "sensation of fear....accompanied by troubled beating of the heart,sweat,trembling of muscles." ”
My experience with panic/anxiety goes back many years.. My father was a functional alcholic and I believe suffered from anxiety and self medicated. Though I had many traumas, being attacked at age 12, in a major car accident at age 18, parents divorce, etc. I have always noticed that I felt strange both when things excited me or stressed me. At age 18 after the car accident I started having feelings related to panic. Often feeling disconnected. It really came to a head when I gave birth to my second child and was in a bad marriage, had two little kids to care for and support etc. Many doctors and tests later it was determined that I was stressed! I would actually see colors in my sleep and any noise such as the phone ringing would make me jump. I felt like my entire nervous system was on high drive.. crawely skin, racing heart, noise and light sensitivity, etc.
I will be 49 years old on January 29th, 2005, and I can't believe I've made it this far.
I was raised in a small North Dakota town. My mother was an old-school Catholic and my father, though raised Catholic and considering himself to be devout, seemed to me to be along for the ride. He never displayed any genuine sense of spiritual understanding or conviction, at least not as long as they didn't assure that he would be 100% comfortable for the rest of his life. He was indifferent.
On a winter’s night in December 1989 after a very emotional time, I suffered from a panic attack. All I could do was to lay with my boyfriend until it subsides. I felt my life was ending and the dread I felt was unbelievable! I carried on suffering until I got pregnant, maybe hormones have something to do with it? (coz they seemed to vanish overnight!) Can’t be pregnant forever though, can you? *sigh*
Posted by: Stephanie1014 on Sunday, December 05, 2004
Hi! I'm Stephanie and I’m 25 years old living in North Dakota. Yes, North Dakota! I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder w/o agoraphobia back in 2000. My parents sold our childhood home and moved to the lakes in northern Minnesota. Sounds great right. Not at the time. I started having these feelings of terrible anxiety, but at the time I didn't know what it was and I didn't know how to control the problem. Because of this I completely fell apart.
Hello Everyone my name is Darren for those of you I haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet. I am currently 34 years old and had my first panic attack at around age 24. Like most of us, I remember it well, was under lots of stress at the time and now look back on it with some degree of fondness. My life certainly would have been easier without it but I believe that anxiety has changed me in many positive ways. However, at the time without any information about what was happening, I decided to create a demon out of anxiety which seemed to loom over me until I began to learn more and interact with people like yourselves who have dealt with a high degree of anxiety. Looking back, it has been a long road but at the same time I think I could have made it a lot shorter by actively seeking help.
Hi! My name is Melanie; I am 30 years old and live in Cape Town South Africa. I'll just give you a brief over view of my life as I feel that it has all contributed to where I am at in my life now. I came from a very happy, loving family, mom, dad and an older brother, unfortunately my dad passed away suddenly when I was 12 years old, I can remember having my first bout of anxiety/depression then, I developed a "separation anxiety" problem in that I was afraid to leave my mom, even to go to school in case Something happened to her too.
Posted by: littleredman on Wednesday, May 19, 2004
From my earliest memories, I remember being abused. I don't seek pity, but just wish to share. I believe sharing will help me to heal, and may help someone else who has been there. Both my parents suffered some sort of mental dysfunction .Father tormented mother and children and mother tormented children.There are so many memories of abuse, I could compile a book. It was consistant.I believe I not only endure anxiety, but post traumatic syndrome, as well. Much of these symptoms occured after the death of a close friend, then truly manifested into something greater the day I buried my mother.
