anxiety and panic attacks

[donaldduck352]

I've been lurking around here for a bit,and reading some posts.I got to say you all are a great caring bunch

I usaully donn't talk about my health problems to others.But I'm probally not the only one going through this.

For the past month I've been going through a tuff time.My panic attacks have gotting so bad I cann't evan go into a store without feeling like I'm going to pass out.I've been missing work,donn't want to go anywere there are people.

My wife finnaly talked me into going to the doctor a few days ago and had attack there.A quart of blood later,he ran all kind of tests.Blood suger fine,cholest fine no liver problems no thyroid problems.So he put me on hydroxyzine.Been taking it for 2 days now and I feel worse,and he is closed today..
I know I'm not the only 1 with this condition.Does it get better??

 

[goofie4goofy]

I am not a doctor but your medication is an antihistimine. I suffer from panic anxiety from time to time and I take Xanax, which is for panic anxiety. You should either speak to your doctor or get another one. The medication you are on WILL make you feel worse. Xanax is specifically for panic anxiety and it works.

 

[donaldduck352]

Yea relized that also.Looked it up on web MD.Forgot to mention I have really bad rash wright now also.But the med is also good for anxiety,so it says..

This condition runs in my fammily.It just hit me later then others I guess.
Wish there was a way to get rid of the feeling without meds..

 

[LeahA]

It will take any medication up to two weeks to get in to your system. I was on Zoloft 5 years ago and when I first went on I felt worse than I had previously. Please be patient, hang in there, give it time. Do not discontinue until you talk to your doctor and remember to ask your doctor if you have any questions.

 

[annie1995]

First off . Anxiety is horrible. I have suffered with it for years. Oddly enough the only time I am anxiety free is in Disney too bad I can't live there. Anyhoo, I have been taking Zoloft for almost 3 months now. I felt really strange when I first started it, but am feeling better now. Although I am on a super super small dose, and my doc is suggesting I up it a bit I haven't so it makes me wonder if I could even feel better then I do now. Please talk to your doctor next week. Maybe he can find a more anxiety specific medicine for you to try. And I agree, give it time. I was told upwards of 4 weeks. Good Luck and you are not alone

 

[donaldduck352]

Thank you all for your comments.I've seen my mom and sister(younger)deal with this for years and never understood.Now I see what they are dealing with.It's a horrible feeling.I've always been the outgoing one.Now it seems like my candle is going out..Donn't worry no thoughts of hurting myself or anything.Just cann't deal with large crowds or small without feeling like getting out of there,or if I donn't it feels like I'm going to pass out
Never felt this way and trying to deal with it is hard.

Really donn't think the med the doc gave me is wright,but hopefully in time it will do what he prescribed it for.Just want to be me again thats all.

On another note,most insurance donn't cover conditions like this.Sad the more I study on this,thers alot of people out there that deal with this with no-coverage

 

[Shugardrawers]

Donald-

We are headed out to dinner but I wanted to tell you to please check your PMs later tonight. I believe I can contribute something here but I'm in a rush at the moment. In the meantime, NO, you are NOT the only one

Tammy

 

[ERICS MUM]

Have you thought about seeing a qualified counsellor for "talking therapy" ?

I have suffered from depression and some anxiety for several years and found that talking about it with a professional helps a lot. It has not "cured" me but has given me ways to manage it.

Good luck, its a nasty illness that reduces your "world" greatly.

Linda

PS I have a very good book called "Feel the fear and do it anyway" by Susan Jeffers. It is not specifically aimed at anxiety and panic but it does help the reader develop confidence to work through negative feelings and build a more active life. If you cannot face going to the book shop and searching for it, try E Bay - I bought mine there and there were many copies going cheap.

 

[dee47]

Are these anxiety attacks only in specific situations? (You mentioned crowds). I used to have a MAJOR anxiety issue with driving on the highway. I mean, I couldn't sleep the night before I had to drive on a highway, I would get nauseous, lightheaded, and started hyperventilating. I'd be fine when someone else drove, but...I worked with an anxiety specialist (no meds) who forced me to drive on the highway (starting with 1 exit, and gradually increasing the distance). It took 18 months, but now I only have a problem in bad weather, and even that is way less than it used to be. My point is that if you have a specific anxiety (such as crowds), desensitization therapy might work for you.

If it's a generalized anxiety disorder, though, you need meds. And like other people pointed out, it takes time for the right level to build in your blood stream for you to start feeling the effects. Please talk to your doctor. And hang in there. You're not alone!

 

[goofie4goofy]

I hope you are feeling better.

I re read your original post. You did not mention that you have depression, but specifically anxiety attacks. I also mentioned that I too have anxiety attacks.....don;t know what the triggers are but they make you feel like you are going to die.

Besides Xanax (which works in a matter of minutes....not weeks and is taken at the onset of an attack) I have learned to talk myself out of it. Meaning that when I feel that horrible familiar feeling, I talk myself into a calm. When I can't that's when I take a pill.

It's a funny thing but I know some other people who also take the same medication and just knowing you have a "pill in your pocket" makes you feel better and most times I now find myself not needing it as much.

The good thing about Xanax is that it is not a daily medication, you only take it when you feel an attack coming on and it works 100 percent.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I am so sorry this is happening to you and I know that the group of people that are here will help you if they can with advice on meds etc...

Please do keep us in the loop on how you are doing.. I do not have any expertise in this area, but I see that some of our regulars are here posting and we all do our best to reach out to each other..

Take care of yourself.

 

[donaldduck352]

Unfortanly I leen To beer for help to help sometimes(Idonn't like drinking)I enjoy beer in moderation,a few every once and A while not to the point of oblivion.
Been looking on-line with the self help stuff.Taking the bull by the horns Just donn't understand that at all!!

There has to be A better way...

Thank you all for your input.Anything wright now is helpful

 

[donaldduck352]

Update:Just back from the doc.Paxil for the long term,Hi-blood med for Hi-blood.It was178/119.So hi-blood med till the Paxil kicks in.And valium for the tuff times.
Never liked taking pills,but if this will take the feeling away so be it..

Thank you all that posted,it makes the world feel better when others care

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I dealt with severe anxiety when my dad passed away. He died in 2003 and it really didn't hit me until my wedding in 2006. I was having severe chest pains and felt like I was going to die. I went to the ER on two separate occasions and not once was anxiety ever mentioned. I went to a family doctor and he noticed my symptoms were consistent w/ severe anxiety/panic attacks. He started me on Xanax (1 mg) and it REALLY helped! I also had Valium for the really tough times. I took the Xanas for about a year and now I only need to take it when I travel or if I'm faced with an extremely stressful situation. I also went to therapy a few times. It really helped to talk to someone about why I was feeling so bad. I really never allowed myself to deal w/ my father's death in the appropriate manner. I just suppressed everything and it came to a head at my wedding. I felt so much better after I allowed myself to open up and confront what was causing the anxiety.

I'm glad to hear that you started some new meds. Don't be discouraged if the Paxil doesn't help. It took me several doctor visits and different types of meds before I found what really helped me. You just have to be persistent and know that things will get better eventually. Good luck!!

 

[donaldduck352]

I dealt with severe anxiety when my dad passed away. He died in 2003 and it really didn't hit me until my wedding in 2006. I was having severe chest pains and felt like I was going to die. I went to the ER on two separate occasions and not once was anxiety ever mentioned. I went to a family doctor and he noticed my symptoms were consistent w/ severe anxiety/panic attacks. He started me on Xanax (1 mg) and it REALLY helped! I also had Valium for the really tough times. I took the Xanas for about a year and now I only need to take it when I travel or if I'm faced with an extremely stressful situation. I also went to therapy a few times. It really helped to talk to someone about why I was feeling so bad. I really never allowed myself to deal w/ my father's death in the appropriate manner. I just suppressed everything and it came to a head at my wedding. I felt so much better after I allowed myself to open up and confront what was causing the anxiety.

I'm glad to hear that you started some new meds. Don't be discouraged if the Paxil doesn't help. It took me several doctor visits and different types of meds before I found what really helped me. You just have to be persistent and know that things will get better eventually. Good luck!!

Thank you.It is a tough rode as you know.Seems like the Paxil is starting to work.Along with the valiums I can see the light,yet still dim.But its there,and its giving me some hope of having a normal life again.

Thank you all for the support.I'll keep you posted on my progress

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Please do not think I am self righteous here, because I am truly not. I would attempt to let the meds work and do what they are suppose to do. If after a while, they are not helping, you might have to try another one to see if it works better. It is like me with GERD, the only one that works is Nexium.. why I don't know, but the insurance company made me try all the other ones and I suffered through that trial with terrible chest pain. until we got to the one that they did not want to pay for, but they had to as I went through the trials they asked me to.

OK.. on one of your posts you mentioned beer, please do read the contraindications on your meds and I believe it might say like do not consume alcohol while taking these meds.. I know some think that alcohol helps, but truly it is a depressant and can only bring you down....My DH always says that self medicating with alcohol is not the way.......and I do listen to him....he has far more experience with that than I....I do not drink because I do not like feeling of loss of control....and if I do have something socially, I am a one drink wonder...such a wuss. So, not to be preaching to you.. just asking you to be careful and take care of yourself..

I hope you feel better each day..

 

[donaldduck352]

Thank you Macky.I was having a real bad day when I wrote that.I sat down and did drink a few.And I'm here to tell everyone that is going through this,its not the answer.It only makes it worse in my eyes.

I'm like you,a couple socialy(I'm talking 1 or 2 times a month)is my limit.

So anybody reading this take it from me,self medicating with booze is not the answer!!

The doc has me calling him everyother day to see how I'm progressing.He has already cut me back half dose on my blood pressure med.The rest he assures me will start working in its fullest in a couple of weeks.

Thank you again for caring.And if any one has the same thing going on in thier life let me know.I'll try to help you as much as I can,since I'm going and recoping from this...

 

[donaldduck352]

Just a fly-by to let you all know how I'm doing.

The Paxil is working.What a wonder drug.No side effects,well maybe 1 I'm hungery all the time.

I getting out and dealing with crowds better.And life in general.

Only been on it for almost 3 weeks and what a diff this has made in my life.They say 1 to 2 months before it takes full effect.I cann't wate,cause everyday is a blessing since I started..

Thank you all here for your prayers and thoughts.And the church we go to..

God bless and have a great day everyone..


P.S.--If any one has this going on in thier life please feel free to PM me.The lord and I can help!!!!

Your not alone and they are people out there that do care.Admitting and talking about it does help,trust me!!Read my siggie and think about it(learn to dance in the rain)

 

[disneymarie]

DD,
I too suffer. I have things that trigger though. last year I broke down and went on Lexapro. I never thought it would help as I thoght being educated and understanding life gives you lemons you have to work with them I could fix the world and me.

When I was young it was overwhelming death fear. Recently it was a hostile work environment. I have Ativan as a short term relief for panic/anxiety.
I got myself to the doctors office and had a break down there begging to be let off work for two weeks and avoid the triggers. It ended up the hositlity turned to my hours being given to a younger unqualified daughter of a caseworker. I was told there was a lack of work. This started in march when they hired her and slowly was marginalized when they discovered I was on SSDI.
I am seeing a psychiatrist that is great. she changed from PT to this late in life and lived with work place jealousy and hostility trying to make it miserable enough to quit.
I have breathing exersizes to stp panting from my chest rib cage and focusing on the diaphgram area just above belly button. I take 2 minutes for a refuel in quiet area. Mine is the recliner.

i feel like I have a million things going in all directions, I ahve to take care of everyone, save the world, family but nothing left for myself. I don;t need it.
but I went from melt down to at least driving to the pharmacy, ice cream stand. A 20 minute trip. I actually went out of town overnight last week with the husband and no kids and did not melt down. I tink because he really showed me a nice relaxing slow passed time and great dinner out. I did not even count the mile markers home.
I know if I did not have the lexapro on board I could not have done it.... I never was able to leave home on a trip let alone with out the kids. So I am conformed to realize the right med in the right dosw will work.

But I had to tittle up. From 5 mg every other day, for a week to 5 mg for a day for three weeks, to 10 mg and after two months 20 mg. For awile I took 1/2 in am when I got up and the other half before driving and evening work or meetings.
I hope you can feel better. Try everything, don;t rule it out. I was never a believer, thought I was the toughest person and smart. Didn;t coount when unfocused and flaring.
dianne

 

[megveg]

thank got for this thread.

ive been avoiding the DIS due to my anxiety and panic attacks, ive had 2 that have landed me in the ER and i got ativan for liek 5 days after and it helped but now i have no help (no doctor or anything i feel like im all alone and no one will help)

my parents think its a joke and i can just get over it. the only person whos trying to help is my aunt who along with my uncle and cousin, have panic attacks too.

i dont know my triggers, it feels like its everything, and now that my boyfriend of 1 year ended it and wont communicate to me why, thats not helping. he was the one person i could confide in and now hes gone and i feel so lost and alone.

ive been tryign so hard to find help but i feel like no one believes i really have these issues. i get dizzy and light headed and nausious all the time and start hyperventilating and most of the time im home alone so i get even more afraid that i could die andi could never call 911 on myself because i feeel like theyll just tell me to calm down and once im in an attack thats the last thing i wanna hear cuz i get frustrated because i cant.

i dont get nervous or anything in crowds, just driving now since the 2nd panic attack that landed me in the ER happened as i was driving and i had to pull over and ive been scared to drive since. im afraid to leave my house because i dont know what could trigger an attack.

it makes me dizzy and lightheaded even thinking about havign another attack, im so afraid to have another attack. and im terrified of having to go through all this alone.

if anyone has ANY information/ideas PLEASE pm me or something. i really feel like im fighting all by myself and no one realizes that this is something i cant do alone.