Panic attack problem…?
I’m 15 years old and I sometimes get anxious at night when the rest of my family has gone to bed and I am alone watching TV or playing on the laptop in the downstairs living room. Because my bedroom is upstairs, I have to make sure that I turn all the lights off and proceed quietly to my room, so I do not disturb any body else’s sleep.
This is a major problem for me- when I am getting tired I begin to get anxious because I know that soon I will have to turn all the lights off and go upstairs alone, which I personally sometimes find horrifying to do.
When I am in the living room, I sometimes see what I perceive to believe are little movements in the corner of my eye. This is what frightens me the most- this sometimes leaves me in a panic attack and I become extremely paranoid, even though I know there is nothing to be afraid of.
Thirdly, when I am in the process of going up the stairs to my bedroom in darkness, I can sometimes have panic attacks. This usually causes me to breather heavily and sprint to my room, slam the door shut and hide under my bed covers. As you can imagine, this is scary for me and it also wakes up my family; as far as I am aware, they do not know that I suffer from any of this, and I usually just say that I’m noisy because I’m being clumsy.
Right now I am even sat in the living room and this is probably the most intense time I have felt this paranoia- I swear to God that I keep seeing things and it frightens me so much.
What should I do???
Oh i get this all the time. I dont think your having full on panic attacks, this is just you being quite scared.
I think you are just scared of the dark. its quite common in adults and teenagers.
What ive started to do is turn off the lights gradually (i have to go up 3 floors)
il turn on a light nearer to where i go, turn off the ones behind me.
then il go up stairs (leaving a light on downstairs) turn on a light up there (bathroom usualy) then go back and turn the one down stairs off)
then il go to the top floor, turn my bedroom light on, leave the door open and then come back down and turn the bathroom light off.
if you cant do that, flash light is all you can do.
tell your parents you want a flash light so you can see the stairs (as they think your clumsy)
there is nothing there, you know really there is nothing around you, your just on edge as its night
just think if it was daylight and people were awake yoy wouldnt feel scared at all
Comments
Comment from peanut 2
Time January 19, 2010 at 12:56 am
Oh i get this all the time. I dont think your having full on panic attacks, this is just you being quite scared.
I think you are just scared of the dark. its quite common in adults and teenagers.
What ive started to do is turn off the lights gradually (i have to go up 3 floors)
il turn on a light nearer to where i go, turn off the ones behind me.
then il go up stairs (leaving a light on downstairs) turn on a light up there (bathroom usualy) then go back and turn the one down stairs off)
then il go to the top floor, turn my bedroom light on, leave the door open and then come back down and turn the bathroom light off.
if you cant do that, flash light is all you can do.
tell your parents you want a flash light so you can see the stairs (as they think your clumsy)
there is nothing there, you know really there is nothing around you, your just on edge as its night
just think if it was daylight and people were awake yoy wouldnt feel scared at all
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Comment from NotTheSameGirl
Time January 19, 2010 at 1:25 am
It is VERY normal at your age to feel anxious about separation from your family and especially parents.
You are making your own way in the world, and it is a confusing time, drawing lines between childhood and adulthood. This could be a cause for your panick attacks, especially as they occur when you are alone (and please also know, at night EVERYONE tends to feel more upset if they have things on their mind..You are not alone)
However, I think you should talk to your parents or a family member about this. It is nothing to be ashamed of, or embarrassed about. As I said, everyone suffers it to some degree, at some stage of life.
I think when you tell them, it will help a lot. They will reassure you.
Also, breathing techniques can help you to relax. I would guess that knowing this might happen is causing a lot of the anxiety, paranoia etc. Almost like you’re searching for it to start…I suffer from panick attacks so I do understand. Another reason why I think you need to talk to them about it.
I hope this helps.
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Experience
Comment from Nick
Time January 19, 2010 at 12:35 am
I have anxiety attacks/panic attacks sometimes to. I usually take a deep breath and just think of something else. But some people need medication for this kinda of thing. So maybe you should inform your parents to see what you guys can do. Good Luck
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Me