Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

http://www.mindpub.com/art343.htm

This is a link to an interesting article that pertains to those of you who have fear panics attacks that something is going wrong with your body with heart palpitation, sometimes dull heart pain, and intense fear. I had a blood test last week when I went to the doctor for severe athletes foot and came clean on that, but blood tests don't test your heart and mentality. Doctor prescribed Sporanox which carries a congestive heart failure risk and I am too scared to take it for that reason.

Anyone experience this from time to time? I do and it is said to be common, but scary because it may or may not be heart problems as anxiety panic attacks mimic heart attack when it centers around health fears. I can remember experiencing this from time to time since I was like 8 years old. Because I am getting older and heart disease killed my dad and both grandpas before they were 60, I fear greatly. My life is different than theirs in that I got a lot more exercise, not so fat, got a college education, worked less with dangerous chemicals, served in military, and traveled the world.

I still am looking to get tested for heart disease, despite being a healthy, active, and strong 35 year old which I am very scared about and don't know how I should go about it. Any suggestions?

I climb high mountains and walk great distances with ease and feel good, but late at night sometimes, I get a serious case of insomnia and fear panic attacks that feel like having a heart attack which are terrifying. I am scared about being 20 kilos or 35 pounds over weight due to drinking beer and eating at night this past year in Korea so I am limited my food and drink after work most nights now. High calorie lunch like spaghetti, but light calorie dinner, often with fresh veggies finely diced and added to ramyeon noodles and only 1 or 2 beers and no milk or meat. I can go 2 or 6 months, sometimes a few years between attacks. Lately, I did for the past 2 days off and on. Sometimes it gets so stressful that I lack sleep and have headaches. Sometimes, I feel mild fear panic attacks while at work while serious ones are at night and rarely early morning. I know my work is stressing me out despite that I have my emotions under control. Like many of you who teach small children, I have all these hyper active kids bombarding me all at the same time while screaming which places great stress on me. As much I love kids and my students, I feel I just can't stay healthy under these conditions. It is taking a toll on my mentality and physical health.

I just want to be able to relax, get adequate sleep, be healthy, and feel good about myself; that's all.

Other than that, I feel quite happy...

Anyone going through this experience? If so, can you share what helps you?

[Dome Vans]

I used to have panic attacks when I was younger. Three in total. Horrible things. There is definately that feeling that you're going to die. Hands pulsing, concentrating on breathing because you think it'll stop at any moment, heart racing. Dilated pupils. They lasted about 2 hours.

Once at home I woke up in the middle of the night when I was asleep. Went downstairs and it took a couple of hours with my mum sat with me, talking to me. Making me breath in steam from boiling water (helps to relax the breathing) and just talking for it to calm down. But I never felt I needed medication for it or got any.

I don't get them anymore, but about five years ago felt one coming on but managed to stop it, so I put it down to getting older and experience. I'm generally a quite nervous person and during my CELTA I had such a problem with nerves that I was sick in the mornings before teaching. Maybe now it manifests itself in a different way. Being told it's going to be ok, and you'll do fine is no substitute for how you feel as a person. It's all self imposed. If you put that pressure on yourself the stress/ pressure has different effects on different people.

[Drew345]

I had a bad series of panic attacks about 6 years ago. Doctor treated the anxiety problem with Paxil. Anxiety disorder is not "all in your mind", there are physical and chemical imbalances in the brain causing the condition (though Tom Cruise may differ with that opinion). The medication for it is not sleeping pills or tranquilizers, the medication specifically targets the chemical imbalance. See a doctor and describe the conditions and see if any medication is in order. I would recommend taking smallest possible dose and only under doctor supervision; and Paxil is probably not the latest thing out there, don't go asking for that.
I wouldn't take that fungus medicine with heart failure risk either. Get something stronger for external use.