by Melissa Rathbun

Created on: February 07, 2007   Last Updated: February 05, 2012

I have lived with Generalized Anxiety Disorder for thirteen years. I started having what Doctors call "Panic Attacks" back in 1993. It all happened one night when I laid down to go to sleep after being up all night. I noticed a change in my breathing pattern and thought I was going to die.

I woke my husband up telling him I could not breathe. He immediately called 911 for assistance. I could not catch my breath and all I did was pace the floor and want to drink a massive amount of water. The operator tried to explain to my husband that I should lye down and keep my feet above my head if I was having trouble breathing, but at the time I could not stay still. My hands and feet started to tingle, which is the onset symptoms of hyperventilation.

When the emergency personnel arrived, they asked me if I have ever had a "Panic Attack" before. When they arrived I was shaking uncontrollably. They explained to me that I was in fact quite the opposite of not breathing, I was breathing too much. When you hyperventilate you produce more oxygen than carbon dioxide in your body which gives you the symptoms of tingling hands and feet. Also if I was not getting enough oxygen that my nails would be pure white and not the pale pink color.

I went to the emergency room where the on call Doctor told my husband that he was going to give me a sedative to help me relax but it would put me out for a few days. I was out cold for three solid days only waking up for something to drink. When I finally came to, I was never the same. I still did not feel right about myself. I knew something was different and my body knew something was different.

After four months of begging to go to the emergency room I finally sought help for my condition. My primary Doctor did not believe I needed drugs to help me with this disorder and said I was too young to be having problems which required medicine to fix the problem.

Since my primary Doctor refused to help me in the matter, I continued to beg to go to the emergency room for help. Each time Doctors telling me there was nothing they could do for me other than prescribe me medicine to help calm me down.

I finally decided to take matters in my own hands and went to a Physicist. This disorder was interfering with my life. During my sessions with my Doctor I learned a lot about "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" and how to prevent them through a therapy of medicine, vitamins, and techniques designed to help ward off "Panic Attacks". I would like to share what

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