anxiety attacks?

GreenTeaDisease · February 2008

I think I am in the middle of one. I am freaking out and my chest hurts really badly. what do I do?

PureandEasy · February 2008

Try breathing into a paper bag

GreenTeaDisease · February 2008

PureandEasy wrote:

Try breathing into a paper bag

I don't have one.

norm · February 2008

slow steady deep breaths....if you can lie down...if the pain in the chest continues you may want to see a doctor...

Hawkshore · February 2008

Do you have any narcotics?

locked · February 2008

after about 25 years of this terrible conditions, (anxiety disorder) this was the only thing that cured (yes, "cured") me:

http://www.zoloft.com/zoloft/zoloft.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=about_zoloft

when I think of the "life wasted" up until then!

best of luck!

The Champ · February 2008

Remember it's only an anxiety attack and it'll pass within 10 minutes(no big deal)..Try to relax and get some fresh air if possible..

GreenTeaDisease · February 2008

I think it's dying down now...it's been going on at least a half hour if not more. my chest still feels tight but not as bad. I went to this class once on what to do if you're having one but I couldn't remember anything! and I couldn't find any info! I need to get out of here though, but I don't know what to do, I can't leave.

I think I have had them before, but only before my period, so I know it's pmdd and I don't freak out as much...I think this was the first time it was pure anxiety...I didn't know what it was until it suddenly dawned on me...

polaris · February 2008

it's only an anxiety attack if there is something to make you anxious ... in which case sitting down ... removing oneself from the anxiety and catching your breath are the fix ...

if there is nothing to cause the anxiety - you could be suffering from something else which may require you to see a doctor ...

GreenTeaDisease · February 2008

polaris wrote:

it's only an anxiety attack if there is something to make you anxious ... in which case sitting down ... removing oneself from the anxiety and catching your breath are the fix ...

if there is nothing to cause the anxiety - you could be suffering from something else which may require you to see a doctor ...

well I think there was a cause. I am a perfectionist about a lot of things, but especially about fitness/working out. since I have gained weight, that has become much worse. because of my perfectionism, I end up skipping workouts (it's common-people think "perfectionists" are well, perfect, but it's a bad thing and we often procrastinate, etc. because we think in terms of "all-or-none."). I get anxious about having a perfect workout, skip it because I figure it won't be, and then get MORE anxious because I'll be out of shape. I have not worked out yet this week. This morning when I was over-thinking working out, as usual, I thought, I know, I will go into work, get most of my stuff done, and then take off for 3 hours I will need to work out this afternoon. well, things did not go like that. the moment I figured out that my plan for the day wasn't going to work, that's when I started feeling it. The same thing happened yesterday too, so I think I just snapped.

I also started to feel very claustrophobic in my office and any clutter in it...I took everything off my desk and just stuffed it in the file cabinet...

polaris · February 2008

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

well I think there was a cause. I am a perfectionist about a lot of things, but especially about fitness/working out. since I have gained weight, that has become much worse. because of my perfectionism, I end up skipping workouts (it's common-people think "perfectionists" are well, perfect, but it's a bad thing and we often procrastinate, etc. because we think in terms of "all-or-none."). I get anxious about having a perfect workout, skip it because I figure it won't be, and then get MORE anxious because I'll be out of shape. I have not worked out yet this week. This morning when I was over-thinking working out, as usual, I thought, I know, I will go into work, get most of my stuff done, and then take off for 3 hours I will need to work out this afternoon. well, things did not go like that. the moment I figured out that my plan for the day wasn't going to work, that's when I started feeling it. The same thing happened yesterday too, so I think I just snapped.

I also started to feel very claustrophobic in my office and any clutter in it...I took everything off my desk and just stuffed it in the file cabinet...

ok ... that sounds like an anxiety attack ... chest pains and SOB are symptoms of other ailments you should be concerned about ...

GreenTeaDisease · February 2008

polaris wrote:

ok ... that sounds like an anxiety attack ... chest pains and SOB are symptoms of other ailments you should be concerned about ...

I didn't have SOB, or really pains, just rapid heart beat and a really tight feeling. Is there a difference between an anxiety attack and a panic attack? my friend says there is no way I had a panic attack...but I had something that was awful, that's all I know!

Brain of J.Lo · February 2008

When I'm having an anxiety attack, it helps me to focus on the material objects around me. If I focus my attention on the "real" things I can touch and see, it helps the imagined panic go away. I don't know if I explained that well enough, but that's what usually helps me when I'm having a bad one.

Brain of J.Lo · February 2008

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

I didn't have SOB, or really pains, just rapid heart beat and a really tight feeling. Is there a difference between an anxiety attack and a panic attack? my friend says there is no way I had a panic attack...but I had something that was awful, that's all I know!

I've had the chest tightening, and all sorts of other physical symptoms that I am just SURE are fatal while they're happening.

:( But, once I get a handle on it, it goes away. And I think "panic" and "anxiety" are just interchangeable words in this case.

Anxiety sucks. :(

GreenTeaDisease · February 2008

Brain of J.Lo wrote:

I've had the chest tightening, and all sorts of other physical symptoms that I am just SURE are fatal while they're happening. :( But, once I get a handle on it, it goes away. And I think "panic" and "anxiety" are just interchangeable words in this case.

Anxiety sucks. :(

I've realized in the past couple weeks that my entire life is just a ball of anxiety and stress right now, and probably has been for at least a year. It's just gotten worse. I wake up in the morning and the first thing I feel is anxiety.

JSBE · February 2008

Brain of J.Lo wrote:

I've had the chest tightening, and all sorts of other physical symptoms that I am just SURE are fatal while they're happening. :( But, once I get a handle on it, it goes away. And I think "panic" and "anxiety" are just interchangeable words in this case.

Anxiety sucks. :(

i agree. panic attacks and anxiety attacks are same thing. i've had different symptoms when having them.

GreenTeaDisease · February 2008

JSBE wrote:

i agree. panic attacks and anxiety attacks are same thing. i've had different symptoms when having them.

I thought there are many different symptoms...my friend got really like pissy and said that panic attacks are very specific and anyone who has had them feels the same way. but in the class I went to I could have sworn they said people experience different things.

polaris · February 2008

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

I didn't have SOB, or really pains, just rapid heart beat and a really tight feeling. Is there a difference between an anxiety attack and a panic attack? my friend says there is no way I had a panic attack...but I had something that was awful, that's all I know!

i think they are one in the same ... essentially its ASR (acute stress reaction) ... there are 2 kinds ... one is associated with a visible stress ... so, seeing a car accident maybe ... elevated pulse, increase in breaths, slight altering of mental status ... the other is the reverse where one might faint ... say at the sight of blood ...

edit: i should add that i'm not a doctor or anything ... i just have my wfr - it's what i think is going on with ya ...

1STmammal2wearPants · February 2008

anxiety attacks are one of the worst feelings on the planet, and someone else who may think that the person can easily overcome them / thinks they are ridiculous doesn't really know anything until they actually have one-- it feels as if you would be having a heartattack. my anxiety got to me so much that i finally just had to go to the doc's and get on something to help me. i suggest it.

GreenTeaDisease · February 2008

1STmammal2wearPants wrote:

anxiety attacks are one of the worst feelings on the planet, and someone else who may think that the person can easily overcome them / thinks they are ridiculous doesn't really know anything until they actually have one-- it feels as if you would be having a heartattack. my anxiety got to me so much that i finally just had to go to the doc's and get on something to help me. i suggest it.

hmm. I did not feel like I was having a heart attack. this is why my friend said it wasn't a panic attack. it was more of just a "freak-out" with some rapid pusle and chest tightness thrown in. I did not feel like I was going to die, but I did feel like I wanted hit my head on things (break things, throw things, including myself...what I often feel with severe pmdd symptoms). Maybe it is pmdd and my schedule is thrown off...I don't know...I considered myself to be panicking, especially feeling claustrophobic...and it was due to anxiety...

GreenTeaDisease · February 2008

now I can't concentrate on anything though :(.

edvedder913 · February 2008

one word

xanex

my mom's had them for years - only thing that helps her

GreenTeaDisease · February 2008

edvedder913 wrote:

one word

xanex

my mom's had them for years - only thing that helps her

my dad takes them I think...

I wish I didn't have to wait so long to see the doctor. I feel so unhealthy in so many ways.

decides2dream · February 2008

edvedder913 wrote:

one word

xanex

my mom's had them for years - only thing that helps her

xanax.

that's a shame really. i mean, good for her that they help...but sad that she is still dependent on them to get her through.

anxiety attacks and panic attacks are one and the same thing. period. they have numerous different symptoms, and the ame person may experience very different symptoms each time they have an attack, but either way....still classified as an anxiety/panic attack. the severity cn also vary greatly.

many, many years ago i suffered from them regularly, and it was horrific. the first time, i DID feel like i was heaving a heart attack, at that exact point in time, *nothing* was directly causing it. of cours, lots of *stuff* going on in my life at that point in time, if not exactly then....and only once a panic attack actually coincided WITH *real life stress*...did i put it all together. my oldest sister had suffered with em, and thus why i am surprised it took me so long to figure out. although i will say, my doctor sent me for a shit-load of tests w/o figuring it out either.

anyhoo.....i DID take xanax, for about a year i guess. it DID help, enormously. however, once i *knew* what they were, i found it easier to take control of myself and get a handle on it, sans meds. every once in a while i'll get one even now...outta the blue, or b/c of a direct stressor in my life, and yes...i still handle em sans meds. i had a rather bad one not too long ago, but i don't want to take meds unless absolutely necessary. so far, so good. whatever works for you though.

justjoshingu · February 2008

if you are talking long term, go see a doc and get an rx. there is stuff out there that can help and is generic and cheap.
there are breathing excercises and other stuff can help. yoga is great for a lot of people too.

if you are having an acute one right now,
if you are taking any blood pressure meds then look to see if you have one that is called a beta blocker. you can take one of those but i wouldnt take anymore than that without talking to your doctor.
otherwise if you have benadryl you can take that because it should kinda drowse you out.

as someone who suffers anxiety attacks before tests i can tell you this is what i or my friends use. i try to stay away from meds, and focus on other stuff. actually i will usually post on here about them and everyone here calms me down. this board is very therapeutic.

edvedder913 · February 2008

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

my dad takes them I think...

I wish I didn't have to wait so long to see the doctor. I feel so unhealthy in so many ways.

my mom's been taking them for years (only when she needs one) - 30 pills will last her a year or more.

i took them during a major crisis in my life. typically i hate popping pills. they worked so well. calmed me down, helped me sleep at night. took all the anxiety away. i was able to think clearly and not get overwhelmed by what was going on.

they say they are immensely addictive but if you do not have an addictive personaility and only take them when you really need then you will be fine.

GreenTeaDisease · February 2008

decides2dream wrote:

however, once i *knew* what they were, i found it easier to take control of myself and get a handle on it

that's exactly how I feel about pmdd...when I feel crazy now, it doesn't really bother me as much because I know what's going on. the problem is most other people that may witness the craziness don't know that...

Heineken Helen · February 2008

decides2dream wrote:

many, many years ago i suffered from them regularly, and it was horrific. the first time, i DID feel like i was heaving a heart attack, at that exact point in time, *nothing* was directly causing it. of cours, lots of *stuff* going on in my life at that point in time, if not exactly then....and only once a panic attack actually coincided WITH *real life stress*...did i put it all together. my oldest sister had suffered with em, and thus why i am surprised it took me so long to figure out. although i will say, my doctor sent me for a shit-load of tests w/o figuring it out either.

yeh, I've become pretty sure this is what happened me in Amsterdam... became ridiculously thirsty and drinking pints and pints of water and my chest came out in a rash. After I went to A&E and they tested to see if my drink had been spiked

the doctor suggested it MAY have been anxiety and I was like 'no, I don't have anxiety, don't be ridiculous' but the more I think of it, I suppose it's possible.

locked · March 2008

zoloft worked for me..

in_hiding79 · March 2008

locked wrote:

zoloft worked for me..

Xanax and Zoloft work for me.......I'm on Darvocet right now for my pain in my abdomen, but as far as anxiety attacks, Xanax all the way!!

thunderDAN · March 2008

I had one of those 2 years ago. I went to the Dr. the next day and he called it a panic attack. It was probably the most scary thing I've been apart of. I was having a really really bad day and something put me over the top, I just got really really upset then like out of nowhere I just became dizzy and dropped to the floor and had trouble breathing. When I was able to get on my feet I remember a major chest pain and I just couldn't control my thoughts. I was shaking like a mad man and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I remember calling my friend to have him come pick me up because I didn't know what was going on. He said that when he first saw me I was about at pale as someone could be in mid June and I was sweating like crazy.

It was basically one of the worst days of my life. I haven't had one since thank god. I know the things that cause me anxiety so I try to control my thinking best I can. My only panic attack came from built up stuff that just overboiled up inside of me

anxiety attacks?

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