feeling down, not sure what to do
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feeling down, not sure what to do
i am in the middle of groundschool for my ATPL at the moment and initially for the first 3 months of the course, i have been absolutely fine. then phase 1 was finish and during my break, just as i was to return for phase 2, i had a panic attack. ever since that day i have been feeling anxious but i have not had another panic attack. in fact, physically, there is nothing wrong with me apart from a feeling of tightness in chest but i can still do exercise so that should mean there's nothing wrong physically....
anyway, as phase 2 goes on, i am having doubts. doubts regarding whether i should carry on because at the moment, it seems like i won't be any good in the cockpit. i am not finding the material of groundschool hard but because of the doubt, i don't even know if i should carry on. i keep thinking to myself that the tightness would disappear one day but still i have the doubt.
i am due to go to usa soon and i would be away for months. i don't know whether to take a break from it and then continue after i feel better or to just stop and do something else. however, i still want to do this and if i quit i know i will regret it but would continuing be an option?
i wonder if anyone has been in a similar situation before? never have doubted in my abilities before which makes this hard. i am just wondering if this is a hurdle that many people face in life and with determination, they could get on with life eventually.
anyway, as phase 2 goes on, i am having doubts. doubts regarding whether i should carry on because at the moment, it seems like i won't be any good in the cockpit. i am not finding the material of groundschool hard but because of the doubt, i don't even know if i should carry on. i keep thinking to myself that the tightness would disappear one day but still i have the doubt.
i am due to go to usa soon and i would be away for months. i don't know whether to take a break from it and then continue after i feel better or to just stop and do something else. however, i still want to do this and if i quit i know i will regret it but would continuing be an option?
i wonder if anyone has been in a similar situation before? never have doubted in my abilities before which makes this hard. i am just wondering if this is a hurdle that many people face in life and with determination, they could get on with life eventually.
Is this any help?..... Anxiety - A Self Help Guide Does it describe your symptoms?
It's difficult to diagnose by internet, but your symptoms are suggestive of anxiety.
You probably need to talk to someone in more detail to confirm the diagnosis, but beware that an admission of your symptoms may convulate the gaining of a medical certificate.
Low level symptoms may be controlled by low level interventions (the exercises in the leaflet do really work), and exercise.
Giving specific advice here is frowned upon, (for good reason), but it may be worth trying the low level stuff initially.
Good luck.
PS, if we're all honest, we've probably all felt like this at some stage in our lives-even the big boys.
It's difficult to diagnose by internet, but your symptoms are suggestive of anxiety.
You probably need to talk to someone in more detail to confirm the diagnosis, but beware that an admission of your symptoms may convulate the gaining of a medical certificate.
Low level symptoms may be controlled by low level interventions (the exercises in the leaflet do really work), and exercise.
Giving specific advice here is frowned upon, (for good reason), but it may be worth trying the low level stuff initially.
Good luck.
PS, if we're all honest, we've probably all felt like this at some stage in our lives-even the big boys.
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I suffered with repeated anxiety attacks following a head injury many years ago.
They are quite possibly the most horrific experiences anyone can go through and the triggers can be totally irrational. I'm no medic and I only write from personal experience but it may help if you can be completely honest with yourself in identifying what it is that makes you feel so anxious - you may be able to do this by yourself or with a close friend, someone you can open up to, and you may not have to visit your GP. Once you've figured that out, work out an action plan to combat the stressors. Easier said than done, admittedly, but having achieved nothing with repeated visits to doctors and neurologists this is the way I did it (although joining the armed forces may be considered excessive 'treatment' - I don't recommend that option now unless you enjoy six month breaks in hot, dusty, sh**holes where anxiety is a way of life). Exercise will undoubtedly help, as will anything that helps keep your mind active and off the 'problem'.
Of course, if you do think there may be a physical cause then go see your GP sooner rather than later. You wouldnt be helping yourself by putting off the inevitable.
Hope it all works out for you.
Keep smiling.
2close
They are quite possibly the most horrific experiences anyone can go through and the triggers can be totally irrational. I'm no medic and I only write from personal experience but it may help if you can be completely honest with yourself in identifying what it is that makes you feel so anxious - you may be able to do this by yourself or with a close friend, someone you can open up to, and you may not have to visit your GP. Once you've figured that out, work out an action plan to combat the stressors. Easier said than done, admittedly, but having achieved nothing with repeated visits to doctors and neurologists this is the way I did it (although joining the armed forces may be considered excessive 'treatment' - I don't recommend that option now unless you enjoy six month breaks in hot, dusty, sh**holes where anxiety is a way of life). Exercise will undoubtedly help, as will anything that helps keep your mind active and off the 'problem'.
Of course, if you do think there may be a physical cause then go see your GP sooner rather than later. You wouldnt be helping yourself by putting off the inevitable.
Hope it all works out for you.
Keep smiling.
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I have to say I have also experienced such things. I was spiked with some rather potent LSD aged 15 and think it was the sense of completely losing control of everything around me that triggered it. I hyperventilated until I passed out, in the middle of a city centre on a Saturday lunchtime.
They are extremely unpleasant events. I know a local nurse, lovely little thing, who had a panic attack herself and ended up in A&E; despite having seen people have them herself she was that scared she didn't recognise it for what it was and literally thought she was about to meet her maker.
Don't let it dent your confidence. You just need to tune your mind to the point where you control it, instead of letting it control you. Personally I found that gradually pushing the limits of my comfort zone (motorcycle racing, aerobatics etc..) was great therapy. Obviously I'm no psychologist, but it worked for me. Anxiety is best described as "the fear of fear", and you can't let it beat you. Unspecified worrying about things that will almost certainly never happen is something you need to stamp on, however how you do that is a matter very personal to the individual.
I find these days that flying with other pilots and pushing one's limits is a great mutual confidence booster. I also notice you're in Manchester, so if you ever fancy getting some airtime with a fellow freak, just drop me a PM. I have a Cardinal based at Leeds, several hundred hours of experience and am always looking for an excuse to empty my bank account.
Best of luck with it either way.
They are extremely unpleasant events. I know a local nurse, lovely little thing, who had a panic attack herself and ended up in A&E; despite having seen people have them herself she was that scared she didn't recognise it for what it was and literally thought she was about to meet her maker.
Don't let it dent your confidence. You just need to tune your mind to the point where you control it, instead of letting it control you. Personally I found that gradually pushing the limits of my comfort zone (motorcycle racing, aerobatics etc..) was great therapy. Obviously I'm no psychologist, but it worked for me. Anxiety is best described as "the fear of fear", and you can't let it beat you. Unspecified worrying about things that will almost certainly never happen is something you need to stamp on, however how you do that is a matter very personal to the individual.
I find these days that flying with other pilots and pushing one's limits is a great mutual confidence booster. I also notice you're in Manchester, so if you ever fancy getting some airtime with a fellow freak, just drop me a PM. I have a Cardinal based at Leeds, several hundred hours of experience and am always looking for an excuse to empty my bank account.
Best of luck with it either way.
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the replies are definetly interesting but i would like to ask, how long did you suffer from anxiety from? i have been going through this for nearly a month now and i can say that its ruining my life. gone are the times when i am up for going out and to relax, all due to the fact that i feel a continious tightness in my chest.
i also have difficulty sleeping sometime, i just feel restless. i am typing this message at 0406 and i have groundschool in the morning.
i have consulted with my family numerous of times and they suggested taking a month out from study. i have also thought of the idea since relaxation may put me back on track.
i also have difficulty sleeping sometime, i just feel restless. i am typing this message at 0406 and i have groundschool in the morning.
i have consulted with my family numerous of times and they suggested taking a month out from study. i have also thought of the idea since relaxation may put me back on track.
Psychophysiological entity
Hey, you sound absolutely normal...in fact, better than normal. Don't be fazed by those guys that don't seemed to be affected by stress, they'll be cra...erm, average pilots at best.
When I had finished my written exams, I was so depleted that I sought help from our local chemist/pharmacist. "I make this nerve tonic." he told me proudly, "Sell it to lots of students."
I took the bottle home, 2/6d it cost. One spoonful taught me the meaning of bitter. Nothing on this Earth could have prepared me for what it was like. The garden hose was about all I could think of stuffing into my mouth to make the taste go away.
Time went by. I was now a Co-pilot with a good airline out of LHR. Things were great, and I was home with the old gang. In a moment of mischief, I poured the nerve tonic into an empty Bolls stone bottle. About 15 of the 30 people in the room had a snort. To this day, the image of their faces stays with me...some of them have even forgiven me. Well, they say they have.
These courses are designed to make you feel terrible. Just ride with it, and look forward to the day that you're flying a shiny new bird. It'll happen, and the more you care, the better pilot you'll be.
When I had finished my written exams, I was so depleted that I sought help from our local chemist/pharmacist. "I make this nerve tonic." he told me proudly, "Sell it to lots of students."
I took the bottle home, 2/6d it cost. One spoonful taught me the meaning of bitter. Nothing on this Earth could have prepared me for what it was like. The garden hose was about all I could think of stuffing into my mouth to make the taste go away.
Time went by. I was now a Co-pilot with a good airline out of LHR. Things were great, and I was home with the old gang. In a moment of mischief, I poured the nerve tonic into an empty Bolls stone bottle. About 15 of the 30 people in the room had a snort. To this day, the image of their faces stays with me...some of them have even forgiven me. Well, they say they have.
These courses are designed to make you feel terrible. Just ride with it, and look forward to the day that you're flying a shiny new bird. It'll happen, and the more you care, the better pilot you'll be.
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pilotho
One suggestion, try some Yoga along with some meditation. Check out British Wheel of Yoga @ BWY - The British Wheel of Yoga, Governing Body for Yoga in Britain, there are plenty of registered and trained teachers in your area. It does have great balancing virtues.
i have been going through this for nearly a month now and i can say that its ruining my life.
Best wishes.
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There is always the assumption of some anxiety to explain the symptoms of above.
That in fact is not always the truth. Our medical contributors in real life examinations would elimimate a lot of conditions that mimic the above symptoms before they would talk about anxiety or panic attacks.
As gingernut says, check with your AME or GP.
IMHO.
That in fact is not always the truth. Our medical contributors in real life examinations would elimimate a lot of conditions that mimic the above symptoms before they would talk about anxiety or panic attacks.
As gingernut says, check with your AME or GP.
IMHO.
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well i think i have made some progress on the symptoms.
i have been to my doctor and she has prescribed me with a drug called "sertraline". she said that i could expect to be on the drug for 5 months but i really hope it would be much shorter than that. i have also spoken to the CAA and they said that i would have to be off the drug for at least 1 month before they can make an assessment to see if i am fit or not.
it's a good job that i am not due to fly got another 2.5 months so i have time to get better and be considered fit again.
i would just like to know how long some of you guys may have taken to get over the symptoms.
i have been to my doctor and she has prescribed me with a drug called "sertraline". she said that i could expect to be on the drug for 5 months but i really hope it would be much shorter than that. i have also spoken to the CAA and they said that i would have to be off the drug for at least 1 month before they can make an assessment to see if i am fit or not.
it's a good job that i am not due to fly got another 2.5 months so i have time to get better and be considered fit again.
i would just like to know how long some of you guys may have taken to get over the symptoms.
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Hey man, I can definately relate to what you're going through.
I suffer from IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome. And as a result i can get the most crippling cramps from time to time. This is generaly controlled by medication, However it knocks my confidence every time i get it. This wasnt helped when i was working for a low cost airline as cabincrew, I got food poisening once on a flight. Most miserable experience ever.
Ever since then when i felt a bit dodge, i'd automaticly start worrying that its going to happen again, This caused a hell of a lot anxiety and am only starting to recover from it now. I put of training at OAA when they offered me a spot to recover fully.
My advice is to go and see a counceller. It does help, especially with techniques to calm yourself down if you get into a panic attack. Its worth having a look in to.
Hope things get better for you
I suffer from IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome. And as a result i can get the most crippling cramps from time to time. This is generaly controlled by medication, However it knocks my confidence every time i get it. This wasnt helped when i was working for a low cost airline as cabincrew, I got food poisening once on a flight. Most miserable experience ever.
Ever since then when i felt a bit dodge, i'd automaticly start worrying that its going to happen again, This caused a hell of a lot anxiety and am only starting to recover from it now. I put of training at OAA when they offered me a spot to recover fully.
My advice is to go and see a counceller. It does help, especially with techniques to calm yourself down if you get into a panic attack. Its worth having a look in to.
Hope things get better for you
I'd be very wary of taking St Johns Wort, whilst prescribed sertraline.
Discuss possible interactions with your GP. I'm pretty sure the two together are incompatable. Som'at to do with liver enzymes and first pass effects I believe.
cheers, ginge.
Discuss possible interactions with your GP. I'm pretty sure the two together are incompatable. Som'at to do with liver enzymes and first pass effects I believe.
cheers, ginge.
