That’s What Your Mum Said

Randomly:

I have been a lazy blogger, but not lazy in any other area of my life. Second week of a Graduate Law degree = me no brain cells left, me no look after myself.

Tomorrow I fly out to the Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne. I am insanely excited and believe I deserve it after the approximately 50-60 hours I have spent studying/organising/thinking law this week. We spent a fortune on the tickets and I am going to get the MOST out of it – drinking all the alcohol, eating all the food and accosting all of the speakers for photograph opportunities and embarrassing bouts of giggling. We are staying with my lovely friend and her girlfriend and will be celebrating her birthday on Sunday evening. It will no doubt involve caipirinha’s and Argentinian cuisine.

I had a medically diagnosed panic attack on Sunday/Monday. I have never experienced one and always doubted their severity even though two of my sisters have experienced them (yes, I am a bad person). To be honest, it was horrific. It came out of nowhere and nothing I did would make it cease. I tried exercise, deep breathing, cold water, laying down etc to no avail. The feeling of dread, the racing heart, the numbness in my limbs, the sweating/overheating and the inability to harness it is truly terrifying and I would not wish it on my worst enemy. There is just no escape and there is no way to feel good about anything; thinking about university and the Melbourne trip and my future just made me flip the heck out. I managed to sleep Sunday evening but woke Monday sweating and my heart was still beating far too fast. I went to the earliest doctors appointment available and after explaining my symptoms to him he too my pulse. He took it again. Then he suggested an ECG. I flipped the heck out even more. After all of the testing he came to the conclusion that it was a panic attack and prescribed some anti-anxiety medication. I also had some blood tests to check my thyroid and make sure it isn’t hyperactive. After walking 7km home to work off some of the adrenalin (a panic attack is a rush of adrenalin into the body which is left over from the fight-or-flight response), taking a pill and relaxing for the afternoon the last nerves wore off in the late evening. At least now I know how to deal with it if it happens again. What brought it on? I had two coffees in the morning which is very unusual for me and apparently can be a trigger. I am guessing there is probably also some tension relating to other health issues I am having examined currently as well as the beginning of an entirely new life as a hardcore student.

BLAH! What a rant. Apologies abound, but thank you all for allowing me my rant space. When I get back I am going to make a serious attempt to organise my time slightly more efficiently so that I can keep the blagging world high on the important list. Have a great weekend everyone; I certainly will!