I have been suffering terribly from panic attacks lately. It has almost been a year since my sister committed suicide and this has been the absolute worst year of my life. I've suffered from anxiety since my teens but this last year has been the absolute worst. I've been tryiing to carry on, but also in the last year my husband has become disabled and I am having to take on more and more of the load--sometimes I feel I cant hold out. Please help anyone!

Lynchmob,

Please get some help right away! Phone your doctor and tell him how you are feeling. You don't need to suffer so with these panic attacks. There's is medication that provides immediate reilef, such as Xanax. But you also need some support for all that you're dealing with. We are all here for you, but you need someone you can talk to face to face to help you through this rough time. A clergy person, friend, or counselor.

Yes, you are going through a very terrible time in your life. We all have periods in our lives that are nearly unbearable. I've had several of them too. My fiance committed suicide when I was 20 - at the time I was in the hospital in traction with a broken neck. Thought I'd never recover - but I'm 55 now and came through all that sadness a much better person for it.

Get some help and support and ask God to give you the strength for all of this.

Time has a way of delivering us from most of these crises situations, so please hang on.
God Bless you,
Sierra

losing your sister this way has got to be very hard on you - you must have been devastated .. so sorry to hear this -- If the anniversary of her death is coming up then you will have panic attacks - When I lost my mother, I took it very bad and I'd have panic attacks around the time she died and birthdays - I remember my doctor telling me that it was normnal to feel panic at these times. Like Sierra advised - you need someone to talk to - It might be a good idea to go to insta-chat when you're feeling this desperate -- I think they call it the Nutball and grill .. more often than not, there is always someone there to talk to ...



Panic attacks are horrible - I've been having my fair share of stress and anxiety lately so I know exactly how you feel!!

Many Hugz ..........


Gez~

You have a lot to cope with. Hang in there. Find someone you can share with; a friend; someone you trust. I know how this feels; scary as ever; you have to trust.

Jan

dear lynchmob:
first i will pray 4 u . then secord know that u can and will get thru . sorry unlike many of the other ladies i do not believe in meds or ad's as they made me have horrible panic attacks they r made 2 calm but they made me freak . so all my trust is in my family who live swith me all 7 of us . and my number 1 support has been GOD . it will get better .
roxanne

Thank you ladies for your kind reassurances. It helps so much to know that as bad as I have felt it is 'normal' for what I've experienced. Your thoughtful replies mean so much!

Hey Lynch, it's been a while since I've seen you -

My friend, it's gonna be ok - I had a very difficult week myself, Sept 25th was my mom's birthday, she's been gone for 7 years now. Did I feel sad that day? Yep, as I do every year, but the first couple of years were really bad. Girlfriend, grief doesn't come with a time frame. You can't look at the calendar and say, ok it's been six months, I should be getting on with my life. Ok, it's been a year - I shouldn't feel this sad. Yes people like to tell you how you should feel, but it isn't possible. When you love someone deeply, it takes a long time for the heart to repair, and yes, there is always a spot that remains 'missing'.

However, I did do something that made it easier for me. My mom died in May of 2000 and that christmas was difficult. Everywhere I turned I saw a reminder - someone in a store that looked like her, an ornament that brought up a memory we'd shared. I was miserable, loney...I missed my mom. Then I went into a store and there was a line of beautiful angels. For some reason, one called out to me, I'm not sure if it was the look in her eyes, or face? I still don't know, but I bought her, brought it home and she's been on my desk ever since. She's become my 'mom'...I look at her and I'm reminded she's always there. So how about trying something like that? Find something that reflects your sister, it doesn't matter what - just something that will remind YOU that while she may not be physically here, she is in your heart.

Anyway, I'm sending you a big ((HUG)) and bunches of love!!

Tay

Thank you for your comments. Yes, grief is different for each and every person. There is no 'set' time when it's all better or you're 'over' it. I've always heard the first year is the first, where you approach the first time for each major occurrence without that person. And her death being a suicide makes it that much more painful. I'm bad about trying to hide my feelings, to push them in the back of my mind and keep myself busy doing other things, but while staying busy is good, I know I still have to allow myself to feel. Plus I'm still having to adjust to my husbands disability and the extra pressure that puts on me. All the kind comments here sure do help.

Whoops, mean the first year is the 'worst'!

Roxanne,
While you are at it say a prayer for me too. I feel just like Lynchmob and I do not have anywhere near the tragedies that she has had. I love your support system "Family and God" I am a Christian too and I pray for things to get better for all of us as well. i don't want to take meds either; I am afraid of withdrawal and side effects.

Sherri