How do I get over anxiety and panic attacks created from a break up?

My girl friend of two and half years broke up with me four months ago which sent me into depression and social anxiety. I am 25 years old and i have never had any problems with aniexty or panic attacks until after the breakup and finding out that she was cheating on me with anther guy. The first attack i had was while driving to work and it was so bad i had to pull over on the side of the road for awhile and i thought for sure i was going to die... that was over three months ago and i am still suffering from anxiety almost everyday as well as panic attacks from time to time. I am a fire fighter for the goverment and these attacks are starting to affect me at work which has me worried because i cannot afford to have this during a call. I was wanting to know if these things will pass with time if i keep on ignoreing them or what i need to do other than going on meds.

I keep hoping that when i get her out of my head then all this will end but i am worried at the same the time that it wont and i will be stuck with this for the rest of my life. I have not told anyone outside of my parents about the attack and they have no idea what to do... has anyone else sufferd from attacks from a breakup? and if so did it go away when you where able to move on?

Hi

I've included your post from last year in the hope you may be able to give me some insight as how best to help my daughter get over the panic attacks she is experiencing after the breakup with her boy friend last month. It is getting a bit better (at first she could not stop crying, her heart was constantly racing and she could not keep any food down) He too was cheating on her and she just can't seem to get over it.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanx

Worried mom

My girl friend of two and half years broke up with me four months ago which sent me into depression and social anxiety. I am 25 years old and i have never had any problems with aniexty or panic attacks until after the breakup and finding out that she was cheating on me with anther guy. The first attack i had was while driving to work and it was so bad i had to pull over on the side of the road for awhile and i thought for sure i was going to die... that was over three months ago and i am still suffering from anxiety almost everyday as well as panic attacks from time to time. I am a fire fighter for the goverment and these attacks are starting to affect me at work which has me worried because i cannot afford to have this during a call. I was wanting to know if these things will pass with time if i keep on ignoreing them or what i need to do other than going on meds.

I keep hoping that when i get her out of my head then all this will end but i am worried at the same the time that it wont and i will be stuck with this for the rest of my life. I have not told anyone outside of my parents about the attack and they have no idea what to do... has anyone else sufferd from attacks from a breakup? and if so did it go away when you where able to move on?

Original Post by danno83:

My girl friend of two and half years broke up with me four months ago which sent me into depression and social anxiety. I am 25 years old and i have never had any problems with aniexty or panic attacks until after the breakup and finding out that she was cheating on me with anther guy. The first attack i had was while driving to work and it was so bad i had to pull over on the side of the road for awhile and i thought for sure i was going to die... that was over three months ago and i am still suffering from anxiety almost everyday as well as panic attacks from time to time. I am a fire fighter for the goverment and these attacks are starting to affect me at work which has me worried because i cannot afford to have this during a call. I was wanting to know if these things will pass with time if i keep on ignoreing them or what i need to do other than going on meds.

I keep hoping that when i get her out of my head then all this will end but i am worried at the same the time that it wont and i will be stuck with this for the rest of my life. I have not told anyone outside of my parents about the attack and they have no idea what to do... has anyone else sufferd from attacks from a breakup? and if so did it go away when you where able to move on?

 

Well, I understand the original post was in 2008, but i figured that you didn't get any valid advice, so I'll give it a shot.

I get panic/anxiety attacks from time to time, ranging from severe to mild. The first one I had actually landed me in the hospital because I was hyperventalating and my muscles, which were over oxigenated, seized up. But I've learned that you really just need to ride them out. Wether it be sharp pains in your chest or being unable to breathe or whatever, you really just need to trust the fact that chances are, its just another panic attack. For me, putting my head down helps. Also, you could just talk yourself through it, like I do too. Another thing that might work is just making sure you have a distraction handy; it could be an ipod, cell phone, tiny pocket sized game, whatever, so that when you feel one coming on you can pull it out and just chill with it for a while.

If your attacks are getting so that they're interfering with your work, there is medication that you can be perscribed that will help. I hope things work out for you. :)