DON'T PANIC - Pt. 2

Well, hi there and how are y’all today?  Great, I hope!  Relaxed and lovin’ life!   Now kindly bear with me as my Heart-Wrenching, Chronic Anxiety Saga continues…

SO – I am plucked from my lackluster (with the exception of keeling over at my desk) workday, and I am transported to St. John’s Hospital.  I am thoroughly examined and then kept under observation for about an hour.    Once they have determined that it’s okay to release me, the attending physician  tells me that – yeah, it’s true - what I have just experienced is indeed a Panic Attack.  (Okay, swell - not dying…yet.)

 I feel woozy and shaky, like my legs will give out if I try to walk anywhere.  Guess the whole thing shook me up pretty bad.

I ask the youngish-lady-doc: “Will I get another one?”

Doc:  “Another attack?  Probably…”

Me (feeling about to faint all over again): “PROBABLY?  WHAT DO YOU MEAN PROBABLY??

Doc: “It’s just that…Once the anxiety cycle is activated and it manifests itself physically, it tends to...”

Me: “Yeah, okay, well…what if I don’t WANT another one?”

Doc: “Well, there are various medications you can try.  But they’re pretty powerful and you’re still kinda young.”  (I was 30.)  You may want to check into seeing a psycho-analyst first.”

Me: “Like a shrink?”

Doc: “Yes.  Not a psychiatrist, you know.   A psycho-therapist.  They prescribe different therapies, depending on the severity of your condition.  Shop around, see who accepts your insurance coverage and see what your options are.  Let me ask you – on a day-to-day basis, do you find yourself to be under a lot of stress?”

Hmmmmm.  Well now that ya mention it…maybe a little.  But it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly… Wait…”My CONDITION”???  Wow.  Guess I officially have a condition.

 I just shake my head at her.  I’m feeling wonky and just want to go home.

Now, if this thing woulda happened to me like, LAST WEEK, I suppose I would have immediately consulted THE INTERNET (where else?)  for research and guidance.  But this was 1992.  I don’t know if any of YOU had “internet” in 1992, but I sure as shit didn’t.   So instead, I tried to get a good night’s sleep and then I got in my car the next morning and began driving to work as usual…

To Be Continued…