Is it possible to have anxiety and panic attacks without depression?

Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 1:51 am

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I swear I don't feel depressed, but I do suffer from panic and anxiety attacks when I'm in public. People accuse me of being depressed though because they say they go hand-in-hand. But I truly do not feel depressed. Is that possible?

Hi, sorry to hear you are feeling so bad. Yes, it is perfectly normal to have anxiety without depression. The following steps will eliminate (or at least significantly reduce) your panic attacks:

1.Breathe properly – if you control your breathing, you control panic. As soon as you notice the signs of anxiety, check your breathing: breathe in slowly through your nose pushing your tummy out (to the count of 5 or so). Breathe out slowly and for a bit longer (to the count of 7 or so) through your mouth. Do not breathe rapidly or shallowly (in the chest area). This will soon restore the balance of oxygen and you will feel a lot better.

2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy! CBT is proven to be the most effective thing for panic attacks, OCD and anxiety etc. It takes a bit of work, but it is super effective. (After 15 years of panic attacks, mine stopped completely). You can speak to your doctor about taking a course or you can take a course for free online at: www.livinglifetothefull.com

3. Try relaxation exercise tapes (progressive muscular relaxation). They really make a difference if you practise often enough (i.e. twice a day). They will also help you sleep better if done at bedtime. You can get free downloads online. E.g.: http://www.studentservices.utas.edu.au/counselling/audio_resources/index.html

With each step practise makes perfect. (i.e. practise the steps every day, not just when you are feeling bad). I hope you feel better soon. Best of luck!

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Filed under: what are panic attacks

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Moonface

Hi, sorry to hear you are feeling so bad. Yes, it is perfectly normal to have anxiety without depression. The following steps will eliminate (or at least significantly reduce) your panic attacks:

1.Breathe properly - if you control your breathing, you control panic. As soon as you notice the signs of anxiety, check your breathing: breathe in slowly through your nose pushing your tummy out (to the count of 5 or so). Breathe out slowly and for a bit longer (to the count of 7 or so) through your mouth. Do not breathe rapidly or shallowly (in the chest area). This will soon restore the balance of oxygen and you will feel a lot better.

2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy! CBT is proven to be the most effective thing for panic attacks, OCD and anxiety etc. It takes a bit of work, but it is super effective. (After 15 years of panic attacks, mine stopped completely). You can speak to your doctor about taking a course or you can take a course for free online at: www.livinglifetothefull.com

3. Try relaxation exercise tapes (progressive muscular relaxation). They really make a difference if you practise often enough (i.e. twice a day). They will also help you sleep better if done at bedtime. You can get free downloads online. E.g.: http://www.studentservices.utas.edu.au/counsell...

With each step practise makes perfect. (i.e. practise the steps every day, not just when you are feeling bad). I hope you feel better soon. Best of luck!
References :

Slim Whitman

anxiety is generally based on fear or anxiety not melancholy.

They don't go hand in hand for every one. A true anxiety issue is based on a person's self things are "out of control". Depression is based on the helplessness to change situations. often anxiety disordered individuals have a strong locus of control, where the depressive does not.
References :

lilmonki

Absolutely! I'm not a depressed person, but sometimes have panic attacks when I'm in crowded places. I had to start taking myself to parties because then I could leave when I needed to. I'm not depressed, just painfully shy. :)
References :

LEC

Anxiety and panic attacks are not indicative of depression. A&PA; as you describe it is more indicative of a social phobia when you are in certain public situations. They can also manifest in different ways. They can also present in some situations and not others. To have them occur while depressed would be a different problem all together and fall under the heading of psychosis. That is a much more serious situation, whereas what you describe is simply situational and can be worked through with therapy if necessary or simply do some research on your own to see what specifically sets you off and then prepare yourself for the next time you will be in that kind of situation. If the problem is severe enough you might want to seek professional help and they might recommend a very mild sedative in conjunction with some therapy to help you learn to deal with this problem. Nothing to get bent about; sometimes just figuring out what it is about makes the problem less.
References :

antwat

Sure it's possible, but is it probable, No. Most people who experience anxiety on a regular basis at lest feel some level of depression, if for no other reason just because of all the stress that they evoke. Your friends are probably just looking out for you, you should probably re asses yourself to make sure that you are not experiencing any depression, maybe you should bring this up with your psyc. However it is simply naive and judgmental to say that JUST because you have a panic disorder AUTOMATICLY means that you are depressed.
References :

CGH

I saw a doctor one time many years ago for some OCD related issues. He told me at that time that he thought depression was triggering the OCD. At that time I truly don't think I was depressed at all. I think there are definitely people who have panic attacks that are brought on by stress...depression etc...., but I do think it is also possible to simply have "panic attacks" without the depression.
Read whatever you can about the subject to get an overall concensus on the connection.
By the way....I have been more depressed in recent years....nothing too extreme, but my panic attacks are no worse, in fact they have been much better, so I'm not sure there really is a strong connection.
God Bless you.
References :

pSyche

Panic attacks can be caused by phobias, or extreme stress. It can also be a hereditary tendency,
It is excess adrenaline that is responsible forsudden anxiety attacks, not depression. So figure out what;s freaking you out, and figure out how to deal with it.
References :

http://www.apa.org/topics/anxietyqanda.html
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/beating...>

Charlotte S

For sure !! Talk to your health provider about your panic and anxiety attacks.'They are very scary.
References :

Personal Experience.

dornin07

Yes I've had a panic attack before and there is nothing wrong with me. They appear out of the blue its scary and it took me 2 days to get back to normal.
References :

A panic I had last November

Autumn

Yes, definitely!!!!
I started getting panic attacks way before I went into a depression. I think the reason I went into the depression in the first place was because I was having the panic attacks and felt helpless to control them!
References :

aristocrat1.0@sbcglobal.net

It doesn't go hand in hand in every case. Every body is diffrent. Your lucky. I have bipolar, depression, anxiety and panic disorders all wrapped up into one mind. Consult your doctor. There is help out there.
References :

fifty

Yes, you can have one or the other or both.
References :

Max

yea, absolutely... *freaks out*
References :

Wisenheimer

Yes, it's possible.
References :

Shibi

Sure, I think that it is possible to have bouts of anxiety and panic attacks without depression.
References :

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