Panic Attacks

comebackwoman

South of Seattle wrote:

Dang, looks like it's time to call the doc. Hopefully I don't turn into a Zoloft/Xanax zombie.

try some behavioral stuff. Xanax usually takes about 10-15 minutes to kick in...and by then most panic attacks have passed. It just made me tired but no less anxious. I hope you stop getting them :(

South of Seattle

comebackgirl wrote:

try some behavioral stuff. Xanax usually takes about 10-15 minutes to kick in...and by then most panic attacks have passed. It just made me tired but no less anxious. I hope you stop getting them :(

I took a Xanax when I was on vacation this winter. I went to sleep in a hour and woke up about 10 hours later.

I've wondered how it could help, like you said, by the time it kicks in, it's already gone.

comebackwoman

South of Seattle wrote:

I took a Xanax when I was on vacation this winter. I went to sleep in a hour and woke up about 10 hours later.

I've wondered how it could help, like you said, by the time it kicks in, it's already gone.

yeah - i found it totally useless...just made me depressed cause now I was tired AND anxious. Relaxation techniques (especially breathing and muscle relaxation) really helped me - and learning to talk myself down from them. And once I learned that stuff it worked very quickly - started working right away and had it mastered in a few weeks.

South of Seattle

comebackgirl wrote:

yeah - i found it totally useless...just made me depressed cause now I was tired AND anxious. Relaxation techniques (especially breathing and muscle relaxation) really helped me - and learning to talk myself down from them. And once I learned that stuff it worked very quickly - started working right away and had it mastered in a few weeks.

The panic part goes away quickly, I just have a lingering knot in my stomach, kinda like I'm nervous or stressed.

comebackwoman

South of Seattle wrote:

The panic part goes away quickly, I just have a lingering knot in my stomach, kinda like I'm nervous or stressed.

That's the part that's harder to get rid of...unless you know what's causing it...but the relaxation stuff can help with that too. If it's been happening for a while and it's not getting better it might be helpful to talk to someone.

kcherub

I apologize in advance for being so long-winded...

Here's the thing with panic attacks/anxiety attacks...they are completely mental in origin, but result in immediate physical manifestations. They suck, and are scary as shit. But with a little work, you can get through it (and maybe get rid of them or at least learn how to cope with them).

I started having panic attacks in 2004. I was driving home from Atlanta (on the interstate) and was already pissed off at a customer who had been ugly to one of my girls. Really pissed off. I was going through (in my mind) what I was going to say to the woman, when all of the sudden I started sweating, my heart started racing (so fast I can't even describe it), and my hearing started to go out. Thank God I was able to get off at the next exit. I can remember driving over the bridge at Virginia Avenue (not the nicest place to be) and wondering if I should call 911 or my husband to tell him "good bye". I seriously thought I was having a heart attack or a stroke. I did call 911, but by the time they got to me, it was starting to subside. The 911 operator actually told me before they got there that she thought I was having a panic attack.

Anyhoo, my husband works for a group of neuros in Atlanta, so I went to see one of them. He put me on Buspar (he said his panic patients loved it), and gave me a .25 prescription for Xanax. The Buspar was okay, but I took it. I kept the Xanax on hand for "emergencies". I took the Buspar for about 6 months, but found that started to made me feel like I was having a panic attack. It was probably just me. I haven't had to take a Xanax in a long time, but I keep them on hand just to fool my mind. Besides, I would only take 1/2 of the .25 mg., so it was really just a placebo, which works in the case of panic attacks, as it's all mental (origins).

My panic attacks only happen when I am driving. I have gotten to the point where I can tell when a panic attack is coming on, and I just tell myself that it is just a panic attack, and tell myself I am not going to pass out (my real fear, but really very rare with panic attacks). It really helped to look up the basics about why a panic attack happens, and what the body is doing during a panic attack (the fight or flight response, which is actually quite interesting). I have had panic attacks that have lasted for 10 minutes and some that have lasted for over an hour.

Sorry to ramble on, and I could go on and on with things to do to get through it, but I have babbled on long enough. PM me if you need some suggestions.

Take care,

South of Seattle

kcherub wrote:

I apologize in advance for being so long-winded...

Here's the thing with panic attacks/anxiety attacks...they are completely mental in origin, but result in immediate physical manifestations. They suck, and are scary as shit. But with a little work, you can get through it (and maybe get rid of them or at least learn how to cope with them).

I started having panic attacks in 2004. I was driving home from Atlanta (on the interstate) and was already pissed off at a customer who had been ugly to one of my girls. Really pissed off. I was going through (in my mind) what I was going to say to the woman, when all of the sudden I started sweating, my heart started racing (so fast I can't even describe it), and my hearing started to go out. Thank God I was able to get off at the next exit. I can remember driving over the bridge at Virginia Avenue (not the nicest place to be) and wondering if I should call 911 or my husband to tell him "good bye". I seriously thought I was having a heart attack or a stroke. I did call 911, but by the time they got to me, it was starting to subside. The 911 operator actually told me before they got there that she thought I was having a panic attack.

Anyhoo, my husband works for a group of neuros in Atlanta, so I went to see one of them. He put me on Buspar (he said his panic patients loved it), and gave me a .25 prescription for Xanax. The Buspar was okay, but I took it. I kept the Xanax on hand for "emergencies". I took the Buspar for about 6 months, but found that started to made me feel like I was having a panic attack. It was probably just me. I haven't had to take a Xanax in a long time, but I keep them on hand just to fool my mind. Besides, I would only take 1/2 of the .25 mg., so it was really just a placebo, which works in the case of panic attacks, as it's all mental (origins).

My panic attacks only happen when I am driving. I have gotten to the point where I can tell when a panic attack is coming on, and I just tell myself that it is just a panic attack, and tell myself I am not going to pass out (my real fear, but really very rare with panic attacks). It really helped to look up the basics about why a panic attack happens, and what the body is doing during a panic attack (the fight or flight response, which is actually quite interesting). I have had panic attacks that have lasted for 10 minutes and some that have lasted for over an hour.

Sorry to ramble on, and I could go on and on with things to do to get through it, but I have babbled on long enough. PM me if you need some suggestions.

Take care,

Thanks for the perspective. The one I had this morning lasted almost an hour. That's what freaked me out.

kcherub

South of Seattle wrote:

Thanks for the perspective. The one I had this morning lasted almost an hour. That's what freaked me out.

But just remember--you cannot die from a panic attack. It will pass.

Just try not to dwell on it too much, as worrying about having another can actually bring one on. Wow--that wasn't very comforting, was it?!?

Hang in there,

South of Seattle

kcherub wrote:

But just remember--you cannot die from a panic attack. It will pass.

Just try not to dwell on it too much, as worrying about having another can actually bring one on. Wow--that wasn't very comforting, was it?!?

Hang in there,

I'm usually good at not dwelling and ignoring things also.

Maybe I just need a relaxing worry free vacation. Can't remember the last time I had one where I could just relax and not have to do anything.

stickboy

I usd to get them after 9/11

some real freaky shit cause I never had them b4 then. But it started once I started riding the subway again and being in closed places. Id start sweating, losing my breath and felt like I couldnt throw up so I was gonna like die on the spot. Crazy shit cause for months I thought I was gonna be a part of some next major terrorist attack..bad times :(

shmap

I started having panic attacks around the age of 13, unfortunately they run in my family (my father has struggled with them most of his life, I developed it, and later my younger sister did as well). They always started right before bed - I'd feel sick to my stomach, start trembling for no apparent reason, then I'd break into a cold sweat and feel that I was going crazy and was going to die from it. I can still remember my worst attack, six or seven years ago, when I lost all feeling in my arms and legs. I wouldn't wish them on anyone.

When they first started appearing, I went on Paxil, which helped for a while. They came back when I was in college, and my doctor prescribed Lexapro, I believe 10 mg. That, coupled with relaxation techniques (stretches and deep breathing, mostly), made them disappear rather quickly, and I haven't experienced one in approximately two years. I'm so sorry you've started experiencing them, they can truly be terrifying. But you're not alone, and you're not going crazy!

An Animal

These are terrible, I have been suffering from them for years. The loss of breath, the sweats, the chest pains...ugh crazy. I used to be on a steady dose of Xanax but I refuse to take them now and just suck it up but I do keep a couple on me at all times. Not so much to take them but just knowing that I have them is a help when I am talking myself down.

What I do is just find a quiet place, keep saying in my mind that I am fine and concentrate on my breathing. I can usually get them to pass within 2-5 minutes. I know it's not much of a help but there really isn't much you can do other than the drugs.

Milestone

I have panic attacks when I go long stretches without smoking weed.

sponger

Yeah I've never experienced a panic attack, but when I'm going through opioid withdrawal, I get the "shakes" and I start to sort of convulse to the point where I can't get any sleep at night. It's basically an intense restlessness.

I guess that's like a panic attack. Luckily I have a bottle of muscle relaxants handy. Seems to work fairly well.

Allie

I think it feels like you are going to have a heart attack.

are you feeling better today, SoS? I am thinking good thoughts for you. Hang in there, ok?

roar

you should also rule out other things by going to the doctor.

mdigenakis

I've gotten the "shakes" on two occasions. I felt like my heart was going to explode. I laid down in my bed, tried to take easy slow breaths and fell asleep.

urbanhippie

Panic attacks are scary. I suffer from them when I'm under a lot of stress. Try to think about your breathing, slowing it down etc. Doing this can help you to concentrate and make the attack seem shorter.

Zanne

South of Seattle wrote:

Dang, looks like it's time to call the doc. Hopefully I don't turn into a Zoloft/Xanax zombie.

Responsible use of medication won't make you a zombie, Ricky. Just make sure they really ARE panic attacks and not something else.. then worry about meds.

sponger

Try meditation before anything. It doesn't have to be buddhist meditation. Just focus on your breathing and control your thoughts.