I had a panic attack this morning

[Tiffany]

So I had a full blown panic attack on the way to the airport this morning. Right now my husband and I should be on a plane to Toronto instead we are home. I am waiting for my doctor's office to open.

This is nuts!!!! I wanted my husband to go without me as we were going so he could see the Hockey Hall of Fame and we are loosing all kinds of money on the airfare.

I am a successful business person but I have panic attacks over flying, driving more then 45 mins from my home and when I am in situations that I do not have control over (read as I always have to drive).

Anyone else have these types of attacks? If so how do you manage them?

 

[dianeschlicht]

I used to, but I conquered them by forcing myself to go anyway. DD has had lots of problems with this too, but forcing the issue has not helped her much. None of us like to fly with her because she obsesses so much the whole way. Try one of the desensitising classes. It worked really well for a friend of mine. It was why I decided I could do it on my own.

 

[Muppet]

I don't get them for the same reasons mine is usually because I am feeling overwhelmed or very stressed. Mine started about 4 years ago. I find now that I can sense one is coming over and with help from my Dr. I can now almost control them with mind over matter. I know easier said than done and I do still have the full blown thing but at least if I can't stop it I am fully prepped for it to happen.

When I feel one coming on I find it better not to have anyone fussing over me and not to look at Dh as the look of panic on his face makes it worse for me.

 

[antnee]

I have only had one once last year when I was very sick. It happened while I was driving, and I wound up going somewhere I had never been before. I almost thought I passed out while driving. I hope you are feeling better now, and that your doctor can give you some meds for your attacks

 

[Serena]

Beauty knows something about this. You might want to contact her.

I'm sorry about this.

 

[TigH]

I don't have them, but I know you can get over them with therapy and the right medication. Good luck!

 

[Kermit]

I get panic attacks when I have to drive. I don't like being in control at all. I'd much rather turn control over to someone else. Driving long distances (over 20-30 minutes) by myself completely freaks me out. I manage to weasel out of flying most of the time. We live by a tiny airport and have to have at least one layover to get anywhere anyway, so I always convince DH that it's better to just drive.

I've never really tried any medicines since I'm able to avoid situations that cause them with my lifestyle. But I would definitely get some if I did have to fly. I hope that you can find something that works for you. I know those attacks are very scary, not to mention a huge pain in the neck.

 

[Tiffany]

Thanks for the replies. I was able to get the nurse at my doctor's office as he is on vacation until the middle of next week. I have an appointment to see him next Wed at 10:15am. This is fine as I do not have to fly again until my next WDW trip 59days away.

I usually take two Lorasapam(sp?) for the flight down to WDW and the flight back but a few weeks ago I started to have trouble sleeping so he gave me something for that until I can have some follow up bloodwork done. The blood work they did a couple of weeks ago showed that one of my Thyroid markers was low but the other two were "right in the middle normal" so my doctor wants to have the test redone but he said that he has to wait a month between tests to do an accurate comparison of the tests.

So because I am on this medicine to help me sleep I did not want to also take the Lorasapam(sp?).

Well, thanks for listening. I have a feeling Paxil(sp?) might be in my future. My husband tells me that I "worry to much" that I "worry about everything". I always just considered myself to be detailed about things. But, maybe he is right? Maybe I do worry to much?

Thanks for listening. Anyone out there take Paxil?

 

[MidwestPiglet]

Hang in there Tiffany!

Here's a good website for you:

www.stresscenter.com

I started Paxil last January -- but had trouble with the side effects. Everybody is different, though. Sounds like you trust your doctor -- that's great!

Have patience with yourself.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by MidwestPiglet
Hang in there Tiffany!

Here's a good website for you:

www.stresscenter.com

I started Paxil last January -- but had trouble with the side effects. Everybody is different, though. Sounds like you trust your doctor -- that's great!

Have patience with yourself.

Thanks for the link MidwestPiglet. I will check it out.

 

[grinningghost]

I'm with you all the way on this one. I've had panic attacks, anxiety disorder, depression, the whole ugly ball of wax! Here's what finally worked for me - a delicious nightly cocktail of Nortriptyline, Celexa, Vitamin E, B Complex vitamin - and during those rotten times of the month, I add saw palmetto, wild yam root and soy isoflavones. For acute attacks (which I don't have hardly ever anymore), I take a half a Xanax and get better within 20 minutes. (I've carried the same bottle of Xanax since 2000, that's how infrequently I use them).

It sounds like alot, but honestly, it isn't. It takes about one minute a day and it has saved my life. My panic attacks were usually when driving, but I've had them just sitting at home in my recliner. So for me, it was bad. But I kept on convincing myself that I couldn't live like that forever - although it was pretty difficult to sometimes. So I just read and read and read everything I could about panic attacks, and after finding a decent doctor and coming to the conclusion that part of it was hormonal (the shrink didn't go for that theory, but I don't care what he thinks), I found the right combination of medicine and herbs.

I also found that if you feel a panic attack coming on, immediately THROW yourself into something very physically demanding. Even if it's just pulling everything out of a closet and cleaning it like a freak. It's not foolproof, but it usually takes the edge off - and if you can get that far, you're on the road to nipping the attack in the bud.

You WILL get better. I promise. It may seem impossible now, but once you've found the right meds, you will get there - probably slowly, but keep pushing. And don't listen to anyone that says you should just "not worry about it and it won't happen". Untrue. Your brain chemistry is out of whack and only perserverence and the right meds will get it back to normal.

If you need to talk more, you can pm me. I am a survivor and I'm ready to pull anyone else through that needs it.

 

[Tiffany]

Thanks for the support grinningghost.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

I'll vouch for what MissPiglet said. I bought the tapes on anxiety (about $400) and went through the 15 week course. It really helped me fend off anxiety attacks with some useful tips. By the way, anxiety is a very common condition, so know that you're not alone. You made need med.'s too, but look into what's out there in the form of groups etc. I haven't had an anxiety attack in quite a while.

 

[Micca]

I get claustrophobic on planes and sometime have a panic attack.
The worst one was the first time about 5 or 6 years ago. I just try breathing exercises. That helps, but I still dread getting on a plane. I don't fear flying, just being stuck in a plane I can't get out of.

 

[Tiffany]

Thanks Micca and Sheree Bobbins. I have done the behavior theropy before and it has helped for awhile but I am now at a point where I cannot do breathing excerises for hours in advance when I might get an email on a Monday morning asking be to fly to our Corporate Offices in Pittsburgh the next morning.

I want to be able to go to the big mall that is farther away from my house then the one 10mins away and even that one takes a lot of effort for me to go into. I want to be able to go to a movie theather and enjoy the show like I used to. I want to be able to drive to my best friends house that is now 45 mins away. I want to be able to travel without going through routines to get me in the mind set to make the trip. This does not seem to work anymore.

Sorry if I am rambling. Thanks for listening. I do not even have my tree up yet and I am a person who used to pride myself on being all decorated by the end of the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Lorasapam(sp?) works for me but it can be habit forming so I cannot stay on it long. Just ten days at a time when the attacks act up. Maybe this time I will ask about Zoloft or Paxil. I did not want to have to take a pill everyday for the rest of my life but if that is what will make me be able to function normally I will do it.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Been there! I went through a period of having them. I occasionally used Lorazepam at the time. Since then I had some therapy which was really helpful. I also take a B vitamin daily...I've heard that's supposed to help with stress. It seems to work for me. I hope you're feeling better soon.