Panic disorder?

[Meaplus3]

As some of you may know I have been suffering for the last 9 months with Panic Disorder. After a ton of medical tests.. and I mean extensive testing this conclusion was drawn by several of the specialists I have seen.

 

While most of my days in recent months have been good, on occasion I can be hit out of the blue with an attack so bad it sends me driving off to the hospital ..like this morning when my heart was pounding out of my chest and I thought for sure this was the big one. After beign checked out once gain for about the 10th million time everything was just fine and I'm to follow up with my cardio Doc tomarrow. My disorder got out of control once again. After many months of searching, I have found a support group in my area for people who suffer from this same sort of thing and this gives me some hope.

 

I guess my question here is this. Is there anyone who can relate to Panic and if so, what was the road you took to healing? Any advice is very much appreciated.

 

Mea:)

[climbergirl]

Yes, but it was more situational and maybe more anxiety, so they instructed me to take a beta blocker before I anticipated an incident. Took it once and made me too loopy.

 

So you don't know what triggers it? Have they put you on any meds?

 

My instructors said that if I don't want to take any medication to try yoga/meditation on a regular basis.

[whichwayisup]

Get your Dr to check your B12 levels. Some of my anxiety was relieved once I started taking B12 shots monthly..

 

CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) saved me.

 

You don't have to go on meds for this. Doing yoga helps alot and finding a therapist who specializes in CBT (once a week if possible) so you can understand why you have anxiety and how to cope with it better, learn how to control the anxiety and not let it control you. It's talk therapy so you talk about your past, present and any future worries, or any fears and phobia's you may have.

 

Good books to read - The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle, Been there, try this, done that by Sam Obitz, the feeling good book by Dr. David Burns, and any claire weekes book about anxiety are ALL helpful.

[Meaplus3]

Yes, but it was more situational and maybe more anxiety, so they instructed me to take a beta blocker before I anticipated an incident. Took it once and made me too loopy.

 

So you don't know what triggers it? Have they put you on any meds?

 

My instructors said that if I don't want to take any medication to try yoga/meditation on a regular basis.

 

No. I still have not figured out what trigger's the bad ones.

 

My cardio doc did mention a beta blocker however,so many have told me that they make you feel real sluggish. I plan to ask more about that tomarrow. I do take lexapro now and for the most part it does the trick.

 

I also take a yoga class, power walk, drink warm decaf tea, take hot baths so, I'm doing plenty to relax both the body and mind.

 

Mea:)

[whichwayisup]

Is there anyone who can relate to Panic and if so, what was the road you took to healing?

 

I haven't had a panic attack in a while, though I do have anxious days sometimes..

 

Cut down on coffee and sugar. Try to eat more throughout the day, small snacks to keep your blood sugar level up. Eat something light before bed, I find that helps alot as well.. (low blood sugar can mimick anxiety and cause a panic attack.), exercise is important, walking or jogging depending what you're into.

 

When you feel an attack coming on, don't be scared of it..Try to take deep breaths and tell yourself in your mind that you're going to be OK, that it's just a physical feeling you're having, not to be scared..Distraction works as well, putting on music or cleaning/vaccuuming can trick your mind into forgetting about the attack. It's not as easy as it seems, but once you take control over the anxiety and panic attacks, you won't be so scared of them.

 

Just know that you won't die..You won't pass out even if you feel like you might.

 

Call a friend if need be, or go to a neighbours house, or ask a friend to come over to be with you..Talking about it is good, holding it in and not letting people know is a mistake, trust me on that! Once I told most that I'm close to about my anxiety, I felt a weight lifted off my back.

 

Hope this helps, and ask me anything you need to about this.

[alphamale]

I guess my question here is this. Is there anyone who can relate to Panic and if so, what was the road you took to healing? Any advice is very much appreciated.

xanax works great

[Meaplus3]

Get your Dr to check your B12 levels. Some of my anxiety was relieved once I started taking B12 shots monthly..

 

CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) saved me.

 

You don't have to go on meds for this. Doing yoga helps alot and finding a therapist who specializes in CBT (once a week if possible) so you can understand why you have anxiety and how to cope with it better, learn how to control the anxiety and not let it control you. It's talk therapy so you talk about your past, present and any future worries, or any fears and phobia's you may have.

 

Good books to read - The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle, Been there, try this, done that by Sam Obitz, the feeling good book by Dr. David Burns, and any claire weekes book about anxiety are ALL helpful.

 

 

Well, I do practice CBT with my therapist and I also do yoga. That's a real good point about Vitimin B12..I will ask about that for sure.Thanks.

 

Mea:)

[alphamale]

You don't have to go on meds for this.

:rolleyes:

[Meaplus3]

xanax works great

 

LOL.Yes it does but it's a Benzo and they can be addictive. They are also not good for long tern use. I do keep that on hand though but I do NOT wish to take it if I don't have to.

 

Mea:)

[whichwayisup]

:rolleyes:

 

:rolleyes:v:rolleyes: back at ya.

 

Not everyone should go on meds for anxiety and panic attacks alpha. This isn't the same as depression or OCD or BP. It IS controllable without meds if one chooses that path. Not everyone wants to deal with the side effects of meds either..I'm just sayin'..

 

Even if your B12 levels are slightly low, taking the shots do help, especially during the winter months..

[allina]

Yes, I can definitely relate. I have anxiety and OCD. It started with really bad panic attacks when I was about 17, I have no idea what triggered them, they just showed up one day. To me it feels like you're going to have a heart attack, go blind and pass out all at once When it first started I thought something was wrong with me and had my doc do a lot of tests. I was perfectly healthy and knowing what was going on helped. The offered me paxil but I've always been very uncomfortable with those kinds of meds so I refused.

 

For the next couple years things eased up a little, I still felt the anxiety attacks physically (mine have always been random physical symptoms) but I learned to sort of talk my way out of them and calm myself down. I think being self aware and knowing that your hands are shaky only because your body is feeling anxiety and everything is ok helped a ton.

 

I had another bad period at around 20, I had really bad and frequent panic attacks. It was harder and harder to calm myself out of them. Again, I went to a doctor and after speaking with me for like 2 minutes they offered me paxil. It was frustrating and I was so uncomfortable with the fact that these docs, after no exam, and 2 minutes of conversation were willing to put me on what I consider dangerous head meds. Again I refused. At this point I was really angry at the whole situation. I finally said "f*ck it!" I decided to deal and just accept the feelings. When I'd feel panicky I'd freak myself out by saying "omg what if I have a heart attack or pass out right here." I the decided that oh well, so be it, if something happens hopefully I'll someone will get me to a hospital. Of course, nothing ever happened. But that rage, and being fed up with this controlling my life pushed me past those attacks.

 

Today, at 25 I almost never feel anxiety attacks. When I do it's like "uhg I feel anxious" and I just focus on shaking those feelings off. I've developed this attitude like I can't let this ruin my life or terrify me. I know it's not easy to just ignore, I'm not trying to diminish how severe anxiety can be, but talking yourself through it is very helpful.

 

My only issue is that once the panic attacks lessened up the OCD hit. I guess it's no surprise as they're similar and related. I'm compulsive with things that most people don't think about, it's frustrating and sometimes embarrassing. I don't know how to explain it. It's not like when people make fun of someone for liking their closet organized and call them OCD.

 

Sometimes when I know I'm being irrational I just have to push myself through it or deal. It hasn't disrupted my life a lot. I have a great career, friends and a great relationship. I have always refused meds, and I don't think I need them. I have also never gone to therapy and never intend to. However I think those are sometimes needed if this disrupts your life.

 

Good luck.

[alphamale]

LOL.Yes it does but it's a Bezo and they can be addictive.

so what? if it fixes your problem then who gives a ****

 

They are also not good for long tern use.

for certain chronic conditions they are prescribed long-term now...

 

I do keep that on hand though but I do NOT wish to take it if I don't have to.

i don't wish to pay taxes but i still do it

[whichwayisup]

so what? if it fixes your problem then who gives a ****

 

All it does is fix the symptoms, the actual attack. It doesn't stop the reason WHY she's having panic attacks in the first place.

[alphamale]

Even if your B12 levels are slightly low, taking the shots do help, especially during the winter months..

ok "resident physician" why can't Meat+ just eat more meat,shellfish and dairy products? they're loaded with B-vitamins

 

ahhahaha Meat+ has to eat more meat

[whichwayisup]

ok "resident physician" why can't Meat+ just eat more meat,shellfish and dairy products? they're loaded with B-vitamins

 

ahhahaha Meat+ has to eat more meat

 

You're such a dork..

 

My father was Dr so the medical field can expand outside of your family..

 

Maybe she doesn't like eggs or shellfish.

 

B12 shots are easier to do once a month.

[alphamale]

All it does is fix the symptoms, the actual attack. It doesn't stop the reason WHY she's having panic attacks in the first place.

the reason WHY is due to chemical imbalances with teh neurotransmitters in her brain such as serotonin and norepinephrine, etc...

 

this imbalance can at certain times trigger the hormonal "fight or flight" response which quickly awakens the CNS and causes feelings of claustrophobia, profuse sweating, feelings of impending death, increased heart rate, hightened blood pressure and feeling that you need to "escape" from wherever you are.

 

Its very well documented in medical literature and quite common. Panic attacks can also mean there is an underlying undiagnosed mental illness such as bipolar disorder or unipolar depression.

 

Its all quite complex and no one really knows 100% how or why this happens but a lot of it is inter-related.

[alphamale]

B12 shots are easier to do once a month.

personally i eat double cheeseburgers to control my panic and anxiety

[Meaplus3]

All it does is fix the symptoms, the actual attack. It doesn't stop the reason WHY she's having panic attacks in the first place.

 

That's exactly right WWIU. And Benzos are like band aid med's anyway they do not fix the long term problem like an SSRI would. I also agree that not everyone needs meds for this type of disorder.

 

 

 

ahhahaha Meat+ has to eat more meat

 

Alpha, I love ya to pieces.. but I really don't think this is very humerous. Have you ever had a panic attack?

 

Mea:)

[alphamale]

Have you ever had a panic attack?

i stopped counting at around 500

[2sunny]

my 17 yo son suffers from them but has gotten a lot of relief from some methods that he was trained to use to calm him down. we were told that once you get them - they tend to happen more often if not dealt with. we didn't want to consider medicine unless we had to.

 

i believe he learned to take his brain to a soothing and relaxing place. he finds this easier to do now that he has practiced it in the past year. he also was taught breathing exercises that help him to breathe from his lower gut area. i know he practiced laying down with a book by his hip area. then breathing by moving the book up and down. deep breathing this way.

 

his triggers are: driving at night, loud crowded places with weird lighting (concerts and the mall) as well as a few other random situations.

 

at times, he calls and asks me to use my soothing voice to talk him through it - just to stay focused until he can get past the worst of it. he always has an exit plan if he's in the environment that triggers him. ei - leaving the concert or pulling off the road while driving - until he feels more calm and relaxed.

 

now that he knows how to get past the attacks - he doesn't get them very often any more.

 

if he does, he knows how to move through them more quickly.

[Meaplus3]

The offered me paxil but I've always been very uncomfortable with those kinds of meds so I refused.

 

 

I did the same thing with the lexapro.. but then gave in and it does help.

 

Thanks for your post allina. I'm glad your doing well now. And yes panic and OCD are very related. I have a little OCD as well.

 

Mea:)

[Beaches]

I use to get panic attacks....and anxiety attacks. I learned what trigged them but only after 8 months of medication and suffering. I was overwhelming myself to excel in everything I did. To be the best and make my parents proud. Graduate with honors in high school and college. I was doing sports and working part time. I also had a very busy social life and sure enough...I burned myself out.

 

You need to really focus on what triggers it. For me one of things was failure, which come on, honestly who doesn't fall? I had to learn that it was ok to make a mistake and not be so hard on myself. I am also some what compulsive. Everything has to be in line and cemetric.

 

After 8 months of taking medication (that made me feel like a different person) I asked myself..do I want to be on medication for the rest of my life??? I slowly started to reduce my intake of the medication and tried to talk to myself...yes talk to myself. I would try to understand that I cannot control everything and some things I just have to let go....and maybe so do you.

 

When you start feeling your heart pounding...try to calm yourself down..I know it's hard but tell yourself "I'm ok" and take a deep breathe....I know it's going to take time like it did me but you really need to get to the botttom of what is causing it so you can get better.

[Meaplus3]

my 17 yo son suffers from them but has gotten a lot of relief from some methods that he was trained to use to calm him down. we were told that once you get them - they tend to happen more often if not dealt with. we didn't want to consider medicine unless we had to.

 

i believe he learned to take his brain to a soothing and relaxing place. he finds this easier to do now that he has practiced it in the past year. he also was taught breathing exercises that help him to breathe from his lower gut area. i know he practiced laying down with a book by his hip area. then breathing by moving the book up and down. deep breathing this way.

 

his triggers are: driving at night, loud crowded places with weird lighting (concerts and the mall) as well as a few other random situations.

 

at times, he calls and asks me to use my soothing voice to talk him through it - just to stay focused until he can get past the worst of it. he always has an exit plan if he's in the environment that triggers him. ei - leaving the concert or pulling off the road while driving - until he feels more calm and relaxed.

 

now that he knows how to get past the attacks - he doesn't get them very often any more.

 

if he does, he knows how to move through them more quickly.

 

That's great that he knows his triggers. I know mine for the little attacks. My kids real wound up can bring one on. Beign stuck in traffic, and in a large store that's hard to get out of. I have learned to talk my way through these. But when I get a big one with the shaking legs and my heart pounding out of my chest much like the grinch., it's very hard to be rationale about it.

 

The doc at the ER did mention that's it's very possible that my body could be making to much adreneline I guess there is a 24 hour test that can be given for that. I'm going to speak to my cardio doc in the am about that test. Anway, glad your son is doing well.

 

Mea:)

[alphamale]

But when I get a big one with the shaking legs and my heart pounding out of my chest much like the grinch., it's very hard to be rationale about it.

actually you need to be on medication for that...its nothing to be afraid or embarrased about. its quite common

[Meaplus3]

the reason WHY is due to chemical imbalances with teh neurotransmitters in her brain such as serotonin and norepinephrine, etc...

 

 

This is very true.. and that's why an SSRI can help.

 

 

 

Its very well documented in medical literature and quite common. Panic attacks can also mean there is an underlying undiagnosed mental illness such as bipolar disorder or unipolar depression.

 

Actually this is not true. Panic Disorder is most often seen with OCD and generalized anxiety disorder.

 

 

Mea:)