Scariest Night of My Life

[cyber-sibes]

i'm glad you're alright. Sounds incredibly scarey. is't too bad your parents don't understand the purpose of therapy - Therapy is a great place to learn life skills that can help you deal with the stresses that you have to live with. Are you old enough to go to a school counselor or to a community center? They can help you sort out the home issues, so you won't be so prone to these horrible anxiety attacks. Best wishes!

[Toby's my baby]

Thank you SO much everyone. Reading this has been so supportive.

I tried the paper bag thing the other night, but it just didn't seem to be working, especially since my mom was holding it to my face because I couldn't move my arms. Last time I had a bad anxiety attack, I used a paper bag, and that's how I got over it.

I'm not even sure that we have a phyciatrist clinic here, I live in a rural community, small towns all around us. I live in the biggest town within 45 miles, which only has 8,000 people. I guess I could go to the school phychiatrist...

I'm just glad I only have about 2 years before I'm out of here, hopefully my relationship with my dad will get better...

[Karen]

Sweetie, don't count on your dad changing. Next time, if he starts yelling, remove yourself from the situation immediately. Make yourself cup of tea - no milk, okay? - and breathe the steam from it while it steeps. Even mint or my favorite blueberry tea, if you don't like the taste of tea. Try controlling your breathing - breathe in for a count of 5, then breathe out for a count of five (much harder), then work it up to ten-counts.

When I was a kid, I would tap my toes inside my shoes to help keep the count steady, any little thing like that can help. (It was asthma for me, not anxiety, but breathing trouble is breathing trouble in many ways.)