A Life Update: How Stress and Anxiety can turn into Panic Attacks.

~ Eleanor Segall

 

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(image: healthyplace.com)

I havnt written a blog update on life for a while. I think this is because so many amazing and exciting things have been happening that the anxiety and panic attacks have had less air time.

Many of you know that since January, I have been published widely across the media and am now writing as a career. Ive been nominated for a blog award, given my first radio interview, am writing chapters for a potential book and achieved my dream of being featured in Glamour Magazine, Cosmopolitan and Elle as well as being a writer for Metro, Happiful Magazine  and the Jewish News where my life story was published. And working with charities such as Mind, No Panic, SANE and STOP Suicide and the amazing team at AND Digital.

And breathe.

This is all exciting and wonderful and I feel very blessed that people are accepting of me and my story. I feel lucky to have a new career and to be achieving my dreams.

But what most of you may not see or know is I still suffer with social anxiety.

I was invited to record a mental health podcast but couldnt travel there because it felt too overwhelming to step into this new big media environment. I was due to give a talk but couldnt attend due to anxiety about standing up there on my own being vulnerable. Luckily we had planned for this scenario and they were so kind and used my blog testimony anyway.

However I hate letting anyone down. For me panic attacks happen as a response to stress. I get triggered in new work situations and when I havnt met the person before. Everything feels overwhelming and all I want to do is hide from the fear.

Ive been in therapy for 6 months…psychodynamic …talking therapy and its been helpful. Im still learning to find coping mechanisms as my response to the feared situation is often to cancel or postpone it and shut down.

Im learning how to navigate my new world whilst having a panic disorder. I will get negative thoughts and fears, tight chest, racing heart. And then have to stop the feared trigger.

I know I am not the only one feeling like this and many of you also have anxiety disorders. Please know that you aren’t alone.

Seek support from your doctor and try different methods. I find meditation to be helpful to me alongside exposure therapy and talking therapy. It will be trial and error for you as it is for me.

Im not sure if i should have anxiety medication for emergencies as I already take so much medication. But it could be that I need them in order to function and progress further. Im on anti depressants and mood stabilisers already which help me.

I feel lucky to be able to work and write and blog. I just hope that I can learn to cope better in face to face work situations too. Thanks to all who voted for this blog on Facebook and I hope it will give you an insight.

Eleanor x

 

 

 

 

 

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Published by Eleanor Segall

I blog about life with bipolar and anxiety disorders, come and join me.

24 thoughts on “A Life Update: How Stress and Anxiety can turn into Panic Attacks.”

  3. Your doing amazing! Well done on being featured and on being able to write for all of those organisations! way to go! I’m sorry to hear the panic attacks are still playing havoc sometimes, but I do think that is to be expected. Keep doing what your doing, stay strong, xoxo

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  4. I love that you’re sharing your story here – and great about the talking therapy too. I was in therapy and it really helped.. like a guide in a way on what to focus on.. take care ❤

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  6. Hello Elenor, thankyou for sharing your mental health journey. Can you please share a bit more on some of your recovery techniques and the psychodynamic therapy you’ve mentioned? It takes a brave soul to share such emotional and psychological struggles. Stay strong, keep sharing the love and all the best in your amazing life journey. Live the dream!! ❤

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    1. Hi Rosita. Thank you so much youre so kind. For me writing has been a kind of therapy and i built it up slowly. So now there is less fear about sharing. I also found talking therapy very helpful. Just processing it with someone who wasnt my family was great. I still get anxiety and have bad days. Recovery is for sure a journey x

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  9. Many congratulations on how well you are doing and thank you so much for being able to understand that you will have blips and how important it is to be kind to yourself. You are doing amazingly well by encouraging others to do the same.

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