I want to start with a somehow funny story...
It was 1993 my father took me and my brother for a walk downtown Athens and our walk ended eating burgers at Wendy's ...yeah we had Wendy's in Greece in the 90's :)
When we came home, there was all over the news that the first human victims of the mad cow disease who literally eats your brain was true... everybody was saying that we should avoid eating cow meat and burgers ofcourse, drinking milk from Holland and Great Britain and all that scary stuff...
I was an eight year old hypochondriac and the terror was scratching my back....
I started complaining about dizzines and vertigos and i was feeling very uncomfortable.. i insisted to my parents to take me for a brain scan and yeah for them it was funny because i didnt have mad cow disease because i ate a burger... but the vertigo and the short breath and the dizziness they were all real...
They were my first panick attacks...
For the history i got my brainscan and everything was fine...
So little "Sheldon Cooper" Stergios was relieved and the whole incident was forgotten... god bless child's mind!
2004 my parents divorced, i was in my late puberty and i rememeber working for the Olympic games of 2004 in Athens ... i was working for one of the sponsors and in a meeting we had, suddendly i couldnt stay in the room... panick attacks were back... after one million exaninations and doctors i visited a famous neurologist who enlightened me!
I had panick attacks and panick disorder syndrome,
I had to follow a therapy for 6 months with pills and after that and with an exception of some small ones i was feeling well...
2017 1st of April yes... like an April fool's joke...
Being 32 living alone in another country and having so much stress with work which skyrocketed that year i was trying to cope with everything and by coping means smoking lots of weed...
I went by myself to a hospital and i was lucky to be treated by a very good doctor who immediately prognosed the problem...
Panick attacks my old friend...
The next 6 months were tough... i was tattooing while having a panick attack, i was going out and i could have a panick attack with people not even noticing it sometimes ...
Every big emotion good or bad could trigger my panicking and that was tiring..
But i was ready to fight... i researched about ny problem i started seeing a therapist and everyday i was telling myself that i am stronger than that.. and yes .. sometimes i was tired and sometimes i was questioning why this thing happens to me but after few deep breaths i was ready to fight again amd again... and the best way to fight a panick attack?
Just accept it! Simple as that.. its all fake its a reaction of your body an andrenaline rush from a false reaction of your body who things you are in danger.
But the best thing i did for me it was that i openly discussed about it with everybody without feeling embarrased or something because its not something to feel embarrased about! And by sharing my story i saw how many people are dealing with stress and panick attacks and that i am not alone! This made me feel connected because it became from a personal fight, a team effort...
This experience is for you, this is for you ...
We are together in this...
Research about it.
Trust your loved ones and seek for help.
Be open its not something to be afraid or embarrased!
Dont drink too much and make a pause from smoking weed or doing recreational drugs.
See a therapist and if needed also a psychiatrist ... i am currently seeing both because i follow a therapy with pills that actually are antidepressants but there also helping people with panick disorders because they raise the level of serotonin in your brain.
Continue your life!!!! Dont stop doing what you were doing in fear of a panick attack!
Excercise!! A good run helps so so much
Check about the wimhoff breathing techniques.
I want thank all the people.. friends and customers for their understanding and support these years ...
Good luck, stay health and smile more... :)
KURO.