Panic

Itā€™s World Mental Health Day, which I donā€™t normally mark because Iā€™m never sure who decides which days are which. Seems like a marketing gimmick to meā€¦ However, I thought Iā€™d write a bit about about my own mental health after the last few weeks. It might help me today. I feel I need to write it down.

You see, last night, I had a full blown panic attack.

I donā€™t say that casually or like these things happen often. They donā€™t. About 3am this morning, however, I was in a bad way. I woke up pouring with sweat, feeling slightly off-centre, fearing all manner of crazy shit was happening to my body. I got myself dressed and went downstairs, ready to ring for a doctor (okay, Iā€™ll admit it, an ambulance) until my sister grabbed me and reassured me that I was having a panic attack. In fact, it was so textbook that hearing the textbook description calmed me. Some deep breathing exercise, some gentle talk, a few hot drinks, and I began to return to normal. Iā€™ve had these a few times in my life and they’re awful.

I know what it is. I was feeling unwell a few days ago. Iā€™d put it down to something Iā€™d eaten though my sister had warned me that she thought it was stress. She was right. The stress of the past three weeks had been too much and, now weā€™re through it, I just donā€™t know how to let it go. I could feel it, like a knot in my stomach, a tension across my shoulders, but also that heightened senses of being ready to fight at a momentā€™s notice.

I think the crux of the matter was yesterday. On Wednesday, the doctors rang to say the doctor would ring on Friday with my Mumā€™s blood results. So, in addition to Thursdayā€™s stressful hike to see an ENT consultant (which buggered me up thanks a variety of problems which only raised my anxiety), I was waiting by the phone all day yesterday until 3pm when the Doctor rang and began by saying ā€œSo what can I do for you?ā€

ā€œYou wanted to speak to us about blood tests,ā€ I said.

ā€œOh they were fine.ā€

Three days of stressing out for nothing.

For. Fucks. Sake.

I think the two other times Iā€™ve had stress like this were when I had a mild breakdown (probably overstating it or perhaps notā€¦ I never knowā€¦) in my 20s, when I was working as a programmer but knew I was in the wrong line of work. I hated wearing a suit. I hated being in an office. I hated being around business types. I wanted to write, study English and film, and be creative. It needed a crisis to force me to make that move. The other time was around the viva for my Ph.D. Theyā€™re always meant to be stressful ā€“ the myths about how bad they can be make you stress out before you enter the room ā€“ even though mine wasnā€™t meant to be. Later I learned that my examiners had already decided Iā€™d earned it and thought theyā€™d just invited me in the room for a chat, which went so badly they began to question their decisionā€¦ It took an intervention by my PhD supervisor to help calm me down and restore balance to my universe.

Sometimes I really donā€™t handle stress very well.

Today, Iā€™m feeling considerably better. It’s like the pressure from behind a valve has been released, though I need more of it to come away. I’ve meditated a few times, which I donā€™t do in any ā€œwellnessā€ sense. Purely from a scientific point of view, controlled breathing seems rational. Iā€™m now lying in bed, listening to Ludovico Einaudi, a musician so bland that Iā€™m sure classical types will tell me it lowbrow. It is, however, very calming.

Last night, after my attack, I relaxed by finishing Episode 3 of The Long Dark. I now have to wait another year for Episode 3, so Iā€™m looking for a game that further help calm me. I want to also relax with some drawing but not quite yet. I also need sleep. Itā€™s been a long hard month and I want to be ready to write about the crazy U.S. election ahead of us.

4 thoughts on “Panic”

  1. Glad you’re sister was there to help you through it. Mind.org has carer mental health support that I found extremely useful, hopefully it is still available if it interests you. I hope you get much more relaxing days from now.
    As for games, stardew valley is an obvious pick although I’ve never played it, but I’d also recommend slime rancher if you enjoy the visuals, and the Outer Wilds is a stunning game I think you’d particularly enjoy.

    1. Thanks, Abbie. I’m okay just exhausted and now things have eased off, I’ve just crashed.

      Stardew Valley I played on the Switch but one of those games where I couldn’t figure out what I was meant to do. Tried Grounded today but it crashed as soon as it loaded. Outer Wilds I’ve got installed and haven’t properly played. I know I should. I got into Return to the Savage Planet instead (though haven’t finished it). Then there’s Outer Worlds which I might go back to. Game Pass has so many good games I keep getting distracted.

      I’ll have a look at Slime Rancher. Sounds my cup of… er… slime? šŸ˜‰

  2. Panic attacks, not good and yes it is always helpful to have a clear head there to help you through it. Obviously not everybody takes to the same approach offered by books but it may be worth you taking a look at this David.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Coaching-Powerful-Program-Anxiety-Depression/dp/0471768286

    It has certainly helped me and a number of other people who I have loaned it to over the years to combat “the voices”.

    Don’t underestimate the effect lack of physical activity has on anxiety and depression either, try to start getting out and getting a bit of exercise, even if it is in the wee small hours so that you don’t come into contact with anyone.

    1. Ah, thanks Rob. The book is ordered. Appreciate the tip.

      I’m feeling quite a bit better today but I also know enough about anxiety not to take it for granted. For three intense weeks I’ve been running off adrenaline. I think my body has run out of the stuff… You’re also so right about the exercise. It’s a bright sunny day and I’m going to get some fresh air.

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Why Dunciad.com?

It’s a cool domain name and it was available. Yes, I know. Available. Crazy, isn’t it?

Really?

Yes. It also helps that it’s also my favourite satire written by Alexander Pope, one of the most metrically pure English poets who also knew his way around a crude insult or two. If you’ve not read it, you should give it a try.

So this is satire, right?

Can’t deny it. There will be some. But it’s also an experiment in writing and drawing, giving work away for free in order to see how many people are willing to support a writer doing his thing. It’s the weird stuff that I wouldn’t get published elsewhere in this word of diminishing demands and cookie-cutter tastes.