If i told you i had a panic disorder and you did not understand it what would you think of me?

Question

ie/ if you were my friend would you avoid me, would you think i was nuts and observe me, would you fire me if you were my boss or think i was making it up? Would you disown me as a parent , or think i was an attention seeker....i have this disorder but im too scared to tell anyone due to my first reactions, im not a bad person just nervous and submissive, honest answers please?

Answer 1

Dear,
I suffered from this debilitating disorder from the age of 19 to 54.
People nowdays are more in tune with disorders.
Share your affliction with your close circle. All you will get is support or maybe one of them is afraid to admit to this disorder.
Many movie stars suffer from it and they go on now to make people aware......Donnie Osmond
Don't be ashamed and see a doctor about anti-depressants. I fought this for many years-when I finally gave it a try-within 30 days I have had no attacks for four years!
Good Luck!

Answer 2

*I* would be understanding (or do my best) and look at it as it is: something beyond your control that you struggle with. If I were your boss, I would do my best to accomodate you if you were fundamentally able to carry out your job. I would certainly not disown you as a parent or think of you as an attention seeker (although if you had a strong history of attention seeking ploys, it might be more difficult to not jump to that conclusion). Do you have a therapist? They can be very helpful in answering these questions and guiding you as you face this debilitating illness.

As another answerer pointed out, not everyone will be so understanding. This is not something you want to share with everyone. I would, however, find a trusted friend and share it with her. It's too great a burden to bear on your own. If you are just too fearful of jeopardizing a friendship, perhaps try finding a support group somewhere and make a friend there.

Answer 3

i have a panic disorder too... and to be quite honest different people take it different ways.. some do not want anything to do with you.. others just look at you funny.. some really know me for the way i really am... i am a very caring, honest, loving human being and i have been hurt alot...but i would not ever disown you... and i do not think any good parent would disown their own child for this...i think i would do as i do and try to act normal and be as nice as i can to everybody.. and be myself as much as i can.. i really do not do much.. i go shopping with friends i can trust... i do not go out after night at all... and i just stay home on my computer and keep to myself and do not really tell anyone except my counselor and doctor my feelings...many do not understand it.. i cannot say i do either...but i know i am not nuts and i know you are not nuts either.. there is others with more problems than we have too...just try and take one day at a time and enjoy life and be happy as you can.. find things that interest you and keep involved with those things.. really true friends are hard to find, so just be sure they are a true friend before you go telling people you have any kind of disorder...i have learned that from experience....i wish you the best and hope i have helped you some anyway.....

Answer 4

Nothing in this world is perfect.. not people .. not objects.. everything is different in some kind of way.. and there is no real normal.. just a relative average of everything.
Sometimes you have to look hard to find the imperfection..
Sometimes it is as obvious as a red car in a lot full of blue ones..
That is just life.. and the ones that can't accept life for what it is are the ones with the REAL issues..
It is all about acceptance..
A friend would not be a friend if they didn't accept you for who you were..
A boss would be discriminating against you if they made an issue of it..
..chances are people are doing drugs on his bathroom sink or stealing hundreds of dollars worth of company property.. or spending 7 hours of an 8 hour day on Yahoo Answers..
It is not a girl orgasm or some kind of magic trick.. Nobody can fake a panic attack :)
Any parent that can't accept your flaws would do well in a support group.. chances are they have plenty that they are keeping secret from you.. communication helps more than hurts
With panic attacks it is worth it to understand that fear is part of the symptoms.. and with knowledge, you can overcome your fears..
Like, the fear that you will have another one really soon.. the fear of feeling broken and inadequate.. the fear that everyone will judge you for what they will probably never be in a position to understand.
And my question is.. So what.. ?
What options do you have.. hide yourself safely away from society where nobody will look at you as being some kind of freak of nature?
Too damn bad for them and their ignorance.. There are plenty out there with flaws.
People in wheelchairs..
People with glass eyes..
People with a missing arm or leg..
People with acne.
People people people
Nobody is perfect..
I think you would maybe do better in life if you knew the question you are really asking is..
How can you learn to cope with this affliction.?
Accept that you are not perfect.. and don't let it drag you down :) because nobody is.
Learn all you can about panic attacks and accept that it is just something that makes you... you.
and for the people that don't understand and can't get it.. let them be weak
You will be so much stronger for having to battle through this.
You are not alone.
yoga and meditation help a lot of people.. and remember to just breathe when the world is seeming to close in all around you.
some people need medication to control it.. I have some of my own.. there is no shame in having to ask a doctor to help you.
Best of luck to you :)

Answer 5

i think i wouldnt react or do anything to harm your feelings.. I first want to know all about that disorder from you and try to figure out what next to do. I think it is better if everyone know you have that kind of disorder than they found out wihtout you knowing it will be worst coz they will get rid of you, rumors, gossip will spread. When i found out having a hepatitis b i told my classmates, friends and family coz in that way ill be more at ease and those people know what to do. I dont feel isolated..my life still normal. Except i cant share food hehhe which i like.. They make fun of me sometimes but i ride with those jokes. In that way you will found out who are really your friends and who really cares for you and understand your situation. Its a matter of right timing. Make them understand the best way you can. So that when your disorder attack you lot can help.

Answer 6

Hi,
I would not aviod you i have suffered for 17 years with panic attacks and they are one of the most horrible things to go through. Other people i have come across in general have been really good and listened, they have been a few that think i am weird but thats their problem.... Hang on in there you can work through it and see your GP.

Answer 7

When my friend told me that she was having a panic attack and was reaching for her medication. I told her "That puts a whole new meaning on Take a Chill Pill"
She got a kick out of it. But thats just me. Don't suffer for fear of what ppl might or might not think of you. It's no way to live, no matter the situation.

Answer 8

i personally if i were your friend it wouldnt matter to me one way or the other. people are very nieve about disorders and mental problems in general. if your worried print out the info on panic disorders so when you talk to them you can give that to them just because of the fact people dont understand and choose not to try to. you will be ok hope this helps good luck.

Answer 9

Since I do understand your condition, I would try to help you and let you know that if you needed space to deal with your attacks, I would allow that. But I am not everyone, and you might want to take care in who you tell, as some people can be very cruel and mean spirited. Tell only those who need to know.

Answer 10

Panic disorder is easily treated with behavioural therapy. Get it fixed now before you end up in a situation were you end up having to leave university or loosing your job because of chronic non-attendance.