Has anyone dealt with anxiety problems?

[Kesas]

Lately I've been having some panic attacks, which are at least somewhat related to an irrational fear of lows. I first experienced problems while driving on the highway months ago. I'd get a slight off feeling while driving occasionally and I'd be afraid I was low, no matter how recently I had checked. I would get short of breath, the concern about the low would spiral into panicking about the panic attack etc. A number of times I would have to pull over and then psych myself up to get back on the road.
More recently I've had this happen when I'm not driving. I went into Subway today to get a sandwich and left my meter in the car because I'd only be inside for a second. I felt slightly dizzy while standing in line and could barely hold it together to get my sandwich. I had checked right before I went inside and I was at 99 mg/dl.
In some ways I feel like a CGM would help, but I don't even seem to trust my own meter when I get these feelings. I'm seeing my doctor on Friday, but mostly I'm just frustrated because I know that while a fear of lows is rational to a point, these attacks aren't based on rational concerns. Any advice, support etc would be appreciated.

 

[Ajjose]

I think this may help you: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/emotions/diabetes-and-anxiety.html
I don't know what you're A1C's or average blood sugars are, but for me this happened a lot when my blood sugars were out of control. It was a vicious cycle: I was scared of being low, so I would under-utilize my insulin and over treat my lows. The higher my blood sugars were, the more sensitive I was to a low. The more sensitive I was, the more nervous it made me, which increased my poor reactions to it.
It's really hard to deal with, because like you said, to an extent it IS a totally rational fear. What's hard is striking the balance of not panicking but treating it seriously.
Your particular reactions to it are tough, the only thing I think I could suggest would be to ask your endo for a recommendation for a good therapist. I've been to some in the past and they have helped me work through similar (non-diabetes-related) issues. Your endo might even know someone who is familiar with diabetes. Or maybe when you get like this you could try calling someone you trust to help talk you through it? Staying in the echo chamber in your head probably doesn't help trying to get over the moment, having an objective outside voice helping you calm down might do it?
It sucks, but it's not that uncommon, and you can get through it!

 

[[email protected]]

Feels like it would be useful to ask your GP to refer you to you local Cognitive Behavioural therapy service or Improving access to Psychological Therapy service. A useful book to look at would be Overcoming Panic and Agoraphobia (a self help guide using cognitive behavioural techniques) by Silove and Manicavasagar you can also get it on CD. For useful information about CBT go to the babcp website.

Regards,
Roman

 

[Hellbunny]

I've no advice as I'm going through the same, quite severe anxiety over hypos especially when out in public. The only thing which has helped is me wearing an I'd bracelet and drumming it into my head that if I go hypo, I will be ok and be able to treat it. It doesn't help when you read negative stories though. My fear of hypos started when I over bolused too much and i went hypo 30 minutes after injecting, it took over a litre of coke to sort it out ans I didn't rise above 3.5mmol for almost a hour.
Sorry that's a long ramble! I've been referred to a psychologist who works with diabetics too, so I'm interested to see what she says.

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[SamJB]

I went through exactly what you are when I was first diagnosed, nearly 10 years ago. When I was diagnosed I was given insulin, a glucose meter and told to get on with it. Had no idea what I was doing orand what I was supposed to do when hypo. As a result, I had two major hypos where I ended up having a fit in the middle of town.

It made me extremely anxious, I had panic attacks and I became agoraphobic. I went from being a confident second year uni student to being riddled with anxiety, so much so that i didn't leave the house for two weeks. It took me a long time to get over it. To ease my anxiety I would always carry my glucose meter with me and always a source of glucose. I would always tell myself that I can deal with the hypo so long as I had some sugar.

What finally shifted it was going low carb. Low carbing means low amounts of insulin which means smaller mistakes, both high and low. I hardly ever have hypos (maybe one or two per month) and if I do they are very mild, I.e in the high 3s. I've not been in the 2s since I started low carbing. I thoroughly recommend it.

 

[Elsea1954]

Do you take medication for high blood pressure? If so it could be that your medication is causing the panic attacks and has nothing to do with the diabetes. If this is so please see your doctor, mince sent me of an ECG. The specialist said that my doctor should have known about the 2 tablets So he then changed one of them for me. I haven't had a panic attack since. I hope that this helps


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[seaspray1998]

Hi,

Contact panic.org or.co.uk. They run a free helpline and run a course on coping with a panic attack.

The helpline certainly helped me.

Regards,
Ania

 

[candiloo]

I had this issue - I had surgery to remove part of my pancreas, and I have metformin. Both these things affect your B12 and mine was very low. I found a B12 that I can put under my tongue. My level is now over 900 and the memory has improved, my moods have improved, including the anxiety, and my general alertness and brain function, along with the frozen shoulders I had, have all gone. Took a couple of months, but it has really helped.

 

[mistermetformin]

I had Anxiety and bought a book by Dr. Claire Weekes.The first tip is No one ever died from a panic attack.She wrote several books on the subject.It is Fear of Fear.

 

[Gillerlee]

The Claire Weekes Book is FANTASTIC it makes soooooo much sense !


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