How to cope with anxiety, panic and flashbacks?

Question

I am recovering from 2 months on life support with a virus which led to heart failure. Physically I am doing well and I believe God has healed me, but I do get flash backs to the ICU and near death experiences. I also panic that my heart might stop and find it hard to be alone. I am 31. I see psychologists regularily but therapy works short term and they only want to use medications.
What else could I try?

Answer 1

It is time to rewire your brain and input some new waves and that comes with change of environment and time. Take your meds as necessary, but try to rebuild yourself to not have to take meds for the rest of your life.
Your health is in your hands.

Answer 2

The best way to reduce the impact of traumatic events is to write, write, write. Like a horror picture seen for the 20th time...it loses its power. Write in detail about what you are seeing in your flashbacks until it becomes boring. You must be committed to it.

Worry, journaling works here as well. Schedule worry time and at that time write down all your worries. ie...I am afraid I will get sick again.....use logic and not emotion...to counter the fear...ie...the likelihood of me getting this virus again is slim..the likelihood of me getting this virus again and getting this sick is almost 0. Write this is not a rational fear.

Panic attacks which seem not under your control are greatly helped by medication. Also, deep breathing, in through the nose out through the mouth, feeling your stomache rise. This will relax you. Distraction is helpful also. Perhaps drinking water, flip to a magazine etc etc, touch surfaces in your surroundings, remind yourself that this is panic not heart problem and it will pass in a matter of moments or minutes. They always do.

I will tell you, this is new to you, and everyone does overcome and learn to not only live with this but to manage it and get on with life but there is a cycle to it. Much like riding a bicycle uphill, eventually you will get top and coast down feeling much better. Picture yourself where you are on the imaginary hill, draw a picture. This helps to be able to see your progress and reinforce this is a temporary state that is going to improve.

Hang in there...you will be just fine. This is an absolutely normal process to some abnormal events that have happened to you.

Some people chose to see this event as a defining event that re-invents their life. Perception. Perhaps this is a sign to clear out the baggage we all carry in life...get healthy, redesign your life, perhaps make a new mission statement for your life....dedicate yourself to some cause. It is up to you whether or not you stay frozen in fear; or triumph over this ordeal...you can make the choice....and I am quite sure when the dust settles that is what will happen; and wow what an exciting time you will have...probably a lot wiser than the rest of us.

Answer 3

I suffered from panic attacks and also depression that crippled me for such a long, long time.
Then a friend sent me a book "Living With It: A Survivor's Guide to Panic Attacks " by a cartoonist Bev Aisbett.
It is light hearted and really helped me to step out side of my panic attacks and see them for what they were.
I am 99% free of panic, and her depression book "Taming the Black Dog" (not to be confused with 'Taming the Black Dog: How to Beat Depression by Patrick Ellverton') also helped.
Have a look at your local book store or even on ebay.
Please try these books they are wonderful.
Best Wishes.

Answer 4

you have PTSD. Look it up. there are lots of practical things to do. I have had it for 40 years so you may never get over it but you should work on it bcuz it can make life really hard, like hard to keep a job, hard to love a spouse. Group therapy helps.

Answer 5

Thanks for answering but I hope you to search and read because realy religion is the most important thing in this world and the fate of diffirent religions is not the same so try to search for the right one to be from your deep heart you are believing Finally my advice read well and search your hapiness is between your hands .About his marriage yes he married9 yrs old female as her father married her to him because he wanted her to be closer to the prophet . The prophet didnot have sex with her untill she was 13 yrs .Also this area of the earth is so hot and the age of puperty is earlier than other areas as the very hot climate. I hope to know well what you listen .I hope that helps THANK YOU.