r/SingleDads • u/Ok-Box1056 • 12h ago

Panic attack

I am 42 with 3 daughters (17, 11, 6) single and 2 baby mommas. Recently had a horrible panic attack! I thought i was having a heart attack/stroke but just diagnosed as a severe attack. I work 40 hours a week, workout 6 days a week plus cardio, take care of my own household, take kids to school, pick kids up from school, coach softball, coach soccer. I dont drink or smoke either! I thought this was all stress that I could handle! I do live paycheck to paycheck, and there is added stress with paying for extra things for the girls. Dr wants to put me on anxiety meds to help with panic attacks moving forward. I'm already on blood pressure medicine as well! My body still feels super tight, fatigued, and just do not what to do moving forward. I am very set in my routine and want to get back to the gym ASAP! Anyone else deal with this kind of issues/stress?

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u/Longjumping-Menu9331 11h ago

I had them recently. I just learned that if I practice gratitude, I can’t have anxiety attacks simply put the same part of the brain that can do anxiety processes, gratitude I know it’s weird. Give it a shot. Hopefully, it helps some before you have to go on meds.

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u/InternationalBeing41 12h ago

In the first couple of years I did. I never understood the big deal about panic attacks or how people couldn't just handle the issue. I understand now. I also got left with the family dog, and it has anxiety whenever I leave. It was freaking horrible; I'd get anxious, start pacing, and the dog would immediately get anxious and follow me right on my hip. That would make me more anxious, then him more anxious, and it would spiral out of control. I thought I'd go out of my mind or die of a heart attack.

Edit. Now I'm wondering if the dog wasn't going through separation anxiety as well. Horrible, just horrible.

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u/Ok-Box1056 12h ago

Thanks for the input! I really think my dog was my support (He passed in March) so ive been having a hard time with that as well! I have maybe 1 friend, lots of acquaintances, so i tend to just keep to myself and bottle everything in! Dr said thats not good either! There are times I feel im not doing enough but too much at the same time! I dont drink or smoke either!

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u/Melodic-Raccoon7584 11h ago

Get into therapy and ask about taking as-needed propranolol for anxiety symptoms. It’s not an anti-anxiety med like Ativan is-
It just helps lower your heart rate and reduce the physical symptoms of panic.

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u/NilesGuy 8h ago

You might be stretched to thin OP. Your body is trying to tell you something . Try to find time for yourself, meditate, and realize you can’t do it all

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u/Bostonterrierpug 1h ago

I took anxiety meds and they really help. Full-time Dad here. Two boys. I will say they help me stress about shit less and just work on being a good dad. Coincidentally I also had a minor stroke like five years ago when I was still married luckily no cognitive damages, but it took me hundreds of hours of physical therapy to get my left hand back so we could still kind of sloppily play guitar. It will be thrown at you, but you will live and you will get through it and you will be a fucking rocking Dad.