a.lane asked: I’ve been having anxiety attacks for a month or two, almost once or twice a week. I didn’t really recognize them as that until I read up on them after my boyfriend mentioning that they could be anxiety attacks. I’ve had two or three that were pretty awful and I felt like I was being suffocated and it would never stop.
I’m always worried about people I love dying, and this goes back to when I was a small child. I’ve always thought this was normal, until now I feel I or someone I love is going to die at any moment.
I’ve also had migraines and headaches for the past year and a half. Incredibly often, like atleast 2 or 3 headaches a week, and 2 or 3 migraines a month. During a really stressful time last semester I had an ongoing migraine for two weeks.
I feel like I’m just now having problems with anxiety, but now that I look back I see I’ve been having problems like this for a year and a half or so. It’s just gotten worse lately with added stresses.
I don’t want to go through a big hassel with telling my parents, and going to the doctor if these are just normal feelings. I have reasons to be legitimately stressed and upset (boyfriend leaving for Iraq, family moving, Katrina problems that STILL aren’t resolved). I know these will all be resolved in a few years, so I kind of feel like I can just be depressed for a little while (I’m not depressed 24/7, mostly just at night) and that’s normal.
So I guess my question is basically, when do the stresses and anxiety go from normal, to needing medical or theraputic attention?
