Have you ever or do you have panic/anxiety attacks??

[Beauty]

I have suffered from them for almost my entire life in some way or another and I've tried to do as much reading and research on it as possible.

Almost all of the books say that more people than you think have them so I'm wondering do you??

I take Paxil daily for them and although it works wonderfully most of the time I still get them every now and again. I'm better about trying to control them now then I used to be but they are still awful when they happen.

 

[Serena]

no thankfully

 

[Mimi Q]

Have you tried therapy? I know someone who had them and a psychologist really helped them.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Yes...horrible ones. I've taken Paxil, Wellbutrin, Lexpro and then back to Wellbutrin. I also drink herbal teas a lot and those help relieve them whenever I can drink them.

The Paxil made my blood pressure go up really high, so that got scratched off the list pretty quick. Then I was put on Wellbutrin twice a day. That worked pretty well, but then it sort of seemed like I became immune to it...or my panic attacks just got worse because it just stopped working. That's when my doc switched me to Lex. That actually worked wonders, but it caused two problems for me: weight gain and fatigue. Just recently my doc put me back on the Wellbutrin but the CR one that you only take once a day. It hasn't been working very well lately because I've been extremely stressed out recently and I've been having about 3 to 4 panic attacks a day...sometimes just for no reason, but more often they occur after I get off the phone with my boss.

I sure wish I could find a way to live without them though.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I dont think I did, but last fall my heart would just start racing, I could feel every beat (I just sat down and ate some chips until it went away)

 

[Serena]

Has anyone tried some non chemical solutions? Like hypnotherapy, or something else?

 

[preshi]

I've had 2 panic attacks in my life, both times I was in the car going around a sharp turn and I was NOT driving. I started hyperventilating, crying uncontrollably, just in general very out of control of my emotions. Scared the heck out of my Dh and my Mom. I guess I'm still effected by my car crash in 1997 occasionally.

I can't imagine having them everyday!

 

[phillybeth]

I get panic attacks occasionally when I fly- if it happens it always happens at takeoff. If I can, before I fly I go to my dr and he gives me a scrip for Xanax. Just 4 pills, enough to get me there and home. Sometimes just havnig them makes me feel better and I end up not using them.

 

[Jolie C]

Originally posted by Pop Daddy
I dont think I did, but last fall my heart would just start racing, I could feel every beat (I just sat down and ate some chips until it went away)

I like the eating chips plan... Does this work for stuff other than panic attacks, since I don't have those?

 

[two4ruff]

I'm the same as Phillybeth - gotta have xanax to fly or I'm a mess.

The feeling is horrible and impossible to explain to someone who has never felt that "panic" feeling.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Originally posted by Serena
Has anyone tried some non chemical solutions? Like hypnotherapy, or something else?

I've tried hypnosis, but I can't turn my brain off for that...it keeps racing and I can't get to that calm, relaxed state. The herbal teas work just fine for me, but I can only do that when I'm at home and able to fix some.

 

[IMISSDISNEY]

I get panic attacks also. They seem to come in clusters. I won't have them for awhile and then all of a sudden I get them for a few days in a row. I stopped drinking coffee and pop with caffine in it about two years ago and that seems to have reduced the number of attacks I get now.

 

[Pop Daddy]

Originally posted by Jolie C
I like the eating chips plan... Does this work for stuff other than panic attacks, since I don't have those?

well almost everything

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I have had 2.

One was after I was in a bad car accident. I was driving and came up to another accident. The ambulence, flashing lights, guys sitting on the side of the road in a neck brace just set me off. I started crying, hyperventilating, shaking. I pulled over until I got back in control and then went home (I was on my way to school.)

Then I had another one last September right after my miscarriage. I got my period, saw the blood, and my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest, I couldn't breathe, I was crying.

for those of you who deal with it on a daily basis.

 

[TINKTWINS]

I have started to get them in the last year or so, it started when my oldest son was in a car accident. I took myself to the ER the next day because I thought I was having a heart attack, since then, stress will cause them for me. I worry way to much and it causes me to stess about things I probably shouldnt.

 

[themepark]

Yes, I have had them. It took me awhile to figure out that's what they were. I have the rapid heartbeat, sweats, can't breathe, and often feel disoriented.

 

[KimRaye]

Yep, I've had them. Several female members of my family get them. Heredity??

I did take meds regularly, once I was diagnosed but, I only take them rarely now, now that I know I'm NOT gonna die from one! But, geesh, you sure THINK you are! My Mom & her twin sister were both hospitalized with their worst attacks. I had a couple that I wish I would've been also.

I can't really explain what happened to change me except maybe I learned to relax more and, TRIED to stop worrying about the unchangable. I'm still uncomfortable with heights (seems unsecure to me) and, I still don't like claustrophobic situations (unmoving, crammed-in crowds) but, I PREPARE myself better now, I guess and, I learned to take deep, cleansing breaths.

I'm not afraid of them anymore but, I don't WANT one again either. It's a control issue, I think.

 

[Virgo10]

Yes but only if I am on an expressway type road. I haven't driven on those types of road myself in years. The last time I did I had an attack and thought I was going to pass out behind the wheel. Very scary! If someone else is driving, I keep my eyes closed and use a Walkman to block out the sound. This all started years ago when I got caught in a terrible snow storm while driving and I really thought that was it. The worst part was I had my two young children in the car with me.

I've tried to rationalize the whole thing but it really doesn't work. Let's see, I'm terrified of driving (or being driven) at 55 mph on the ground but flying at 35,000 feet at 600 mph doesn't phase me in the least. Go figure?!

Roberta

 

[CALIFLADY]

Never had them until I moved here. There are sooooo many people here. I've gotten used to the crowded trains and can use my elbows to make sure they give me my space. But I was in the Osaka Aquarium around Christmas time and there were soooo many people and it was dark and the halls were narrow. I just kinda freaked out and ran to get out of there as fast as possible. It's happened 2 or 3 times since I've been here. It's the crush of people that just winds me up.

This is one reason I still haven't made it to Tokyo Disneyland. That place is PACKED every single day of the year. I'm just afraid to go and freak out in the Mouse House!

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

I have panic disorder. At one time I was house bound for a year and a half because of the panic attacks. I was only on Xanax for about 2 weeks when I decided that was not the route for me. I went to a therapist, eventually and she told me that I was too much of a "yes" person. I needed to empower myself and say "NO". She also suggested I stop using products with caffeine. THAT is what helped the most.

OP: How much caffeine is in the herbal teas? I would also look to see what other ingredients are in the teas. Some, give you rapid heart beat. I have seen shows on people having heart attacks due to their consumption of these teas. Something to look at.

Wishing everyone a "magical" day!