Speaking from someone with panic-anxiety who has a multitude of symptoms often (chest pains, side spasms, arms hurting, fast breathing, rapid heartbeat, flushed skin, etc), one of the best things you can do when you are feeling anxious or panicky is to express it to someone. Whether it be your spouse, your friend, your relative, or even to write it out on an internet site, that is one of the first steps to dealing with the symptoms.

If you can't address the issue in question or issues, directly, then the next best thing to do is to take them one at a time, and examine ways to reduce their ability to cause you stress. This is especially helpful when there are a large number of factors causing it all at once. Those you can't effect (affect?) at all, you do your best to accept that you can't. Those you can do even the tinest thing about, to relieve some of your anxiety, you make the effort to do whatever you can about.

Real Life Example: I had/have the following things on my mind, causing increased anxiety, fast rapid heartbeat, flushed skin, and sleeplessness all this week so far:

1. Getting the PA to work right at the church
2. Getting the Save The Date letter out to the family for the reunion committee
3. Dealing with the issue of my SIL, and the rest of the Reunion Committee regarding same.
4. Worrying about my cousins' exodus from Cleveland,Texas today
5. Trying to get the new music to the choir, (copy it etc.), and having to learn four new songs before Sunday, Oct 2nd. (I learned four new ones last week, already...I feel overwhelmed...)
6. My upcoming trip to the dentist on Sept 30th.

Okay, you take the list, and you examine it....

On #1, I spent part of Wednesday at the church trying to diagram parts of the board, and then wrote an e-mail to my brother regarding not being able to find the phantom power switch. So I managed to relieve SOME stress about this by making an effort to get more info. Then while I was there, I also copied all the music for the choir and got all the new music together for people (sheet music).

On #2, after a myriad of last minute changes, the letter went out tonight, for the most part... we had to hold several that live in the Texas area and New Orleans area, for obvious reasons, but it's MOSTLY gone... YAY!

On #3 I finally wrote SIL an e-mail tonight addressing how I felt about SIL's comments about how I talk/write, etc. Not sure if it will fix anything, but my heart finally stopped pounding, and it had started pounding at about 1:40 p.m. today when she posted a comment about it, and not slowed any until I sent the e-mail, no matter what I did to calm it.

On #4 There isn't much I can do here, except pray. I know my cousins made it to my other cousin's house in Trinity, and then they were all evacuated to a Red Cross shelter from her house. I can't help them, and I can't stop Rita, so I have to try to let it go and trust that they'll be ok.

On #5 I spent all day listening to the tape, (I learn by ear mostly), and I have a basic grasp of the tunes of the four songs, so I don't feel as overwhelmed as I did Monday. I haven't tried playing them yet, but that will come soon.

On #6 Also here, nothing I can do except try not to think about it.

See how it works, Chris? There might not be much you can do about some of the issues, but reducing stress in ANY area helps reduce the panic symptoms. This afternoon I was flushed, sweating, and my heart was racing. Since sending the letters, writing my SIL, and etc., it has finally settled down where maybe I can get some sleep soon.

Anyway, this is a method detailed in several books I have or have read about Panic Anxiety, (I'd be happy to give you the titles, Amy and Chris, if you want them), and every little bit helps when you're a panic anxiety sufferer whether long term, or situational.

Chris, I'm praying that you'll feel better soon, and take care. Also if you know the technique of deep breathing, that really helps. I'm still not very good at it, but I do keep trying to master it. My biggest problem is when I start getting anxious, I seem to forget how to do it then, and that is when I need it the most. :(

Hang in there!

Brenda

P.S. Chris, I know it's really really scary when you have those chest pains... it took me years to not always first think I was having a heart-attack. But you do adjust to knowing it and not getting as scared, eventually, anyway.

P.P.S.S. Amy, other people can help also, if they know what's needed. For example, when you told his boss to pay him, and his boss paid him, that was one little piece of stress you helped reduce. :)