panic attacks

[Tiggeroo]

my dh has been having panic attacks. We are going thru a very rough time financially although it is getting better. He is back to work with a pay cut at a job he can tolerate but not his favorite choice. He has had a couple episodes at work. I have learned that he took most of last week off because of this. He went to the dr. and then to the cardio to be sure that is what is going on. But he did not have to miss work. He has already missed a full week of work due to the flu a month ago. He is too new to this job to expect all of this time off to not be a factor.
I want him to feel better but I don't know what to do if he decides to not go to work again. He is our largest, by far source of income. We are planning on moving soon to a much less expensive situation. We won't be able to do this if he loses his job. He has started medication. The dr. believes it is situational triggered by the financial problems, the new job... If he loses his job we will not be able to recover. I have dealt with panic attacks in the past with two of my children and their dr. felt that the worst thing they could do was to alter their routine and stop going to work or the things they loved. If they avoided the situation it would make it more difficult to go back to it. This is the same dr dh is seeing. Both of the kids got help, support from home and temporary meds. They are doing fine. They have learned ways to cope if they have an episode, which thankfully are few and far between.
If his panic attacks are being brought on by financial stress, losing your job is certainly not going to help. But he thinks it isn't a problem and that they will understand. I also think he feels he is safe if he is seeing a dr. So he feels better being home but I can't sleep at night, can't eat and am having a major freak out.

 

[java]

No advice just a hug

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Sorry to say, I'm a bit of an expert on this issue. If he cannot work, he cannot work. I had to leave my job because the benzos I was taking did not make a dent in my panic attacks. They were nonstop. If it is situational, that of course is a positive sign. However, it can't really be diagnosed as such until he either gets better when the situation improves, or continues to be depressed regardless of the situation.

I'm not going to recommend any meds because, first of all, I'm not a dr. and second of all, none have been that great for me.
I did find an article just the other day online by accident. But it relieved a lot of guilt I have been feeling by being unemployed. I think you and your husband would benefit from reading it.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/0...can-be-worse-than-being-unemployed/24427.html

As far as the financial issues, I really wish I had some advice for you. But just keep in mind that depression is a real illness.

 

[ols386]

I'm sorry you and your dh are having a tough time, op.

I had a panic attack once a few years ago, shortly after going through a divorce. It is a scary thing and a very bad feeling to have. I can't imagine having them frequently like your dh does. I hope he is able to get his situation under control.

 

[sunnyday123]

Has he talked to his boss about it? They might be a little more understanding if they know what's going on with him. Also, has he been there long enough for FMLA coverage?

 

[Tiggeroo]

I understand there are people who can't work. But two episodes with no counselin or time for meds to work when you are living with some stress don't indicate that. Without work he will literally be out on te street.

 

[Tiggeroo]

He had two in a week.

 

[shortbun]

I've had panic attacks. I can not judge your husband. I suggest you find a way to talk to him. Perhaps a joint meeting with his doctor who I am assuming is a psychiatrist. If he is not seeing a therapist, he needs one. Meds should be combined with talk therapy when serious panic attacks/anxiety are involved. I wonder about a doctor who treats children and adults. Also, anxiety meds -depending on what they are-can take up to three weeks to kick in-or, NOT AT ALL. Is he taking something like Xanax to mask the panic or something like Lexapro which changes the brain activity and keeps the anxiety from happening? I do agree that the illness could cause him to lose his job but just that being true is not going to change his health issue. Good luck. Panic is not something you can 'suck it up' through.

 

[rie'smom]

my dh has been having panic attacks. We are going thru a very rough time financially although it is getting better. He is back to work with a pay cut at a job he can tolerate but not his favorite choice. He has had a couple episodes at work. I have learned that he took most of last week off because of this. He went to the dr. and then to the cardio to be sure that is what is going on. But he did not have to miss work. He has already missed a full week of work due to the flu a month ago. He is too new to this job to expect all of this time off to not be a factor.
I want him to feel better but I don't know what to do if he decides to not go to work again. He is our largest, by far source of income. We are planning on moving soon to a much less expensive situation. We won't be able to do this if he loses his job. He has started medication. The dr. believes it is situational triggered by the financial problems, the new job... If he loses his job we will not be able to recover. I have dealt with panic attacks in the past with two of my children and their dr. felt that the worst thing they could do was to alter their routine and stop going to work or the things they loved. If they avoided the situation it would make it more difficult to go back to it. This is the same dr dh is seeing. Both of the kids got help, support from home and temporary meds. They are doing fine. They have learned ways to cope if they have an episode, which thankfully are few and far between.
If his panic attacks are being brought on by financial stress, losing your job is certainly not going to help. But he thinks it isn't a problem and that they will understand. I also think he feels he is safe if he is seeing a dr. So he feels better being home but I can't sleep at night, can't eat and am having a major freak out.

Try to tell your husband when an attack happens that he can talk himself down from it. After he is able to do this a few times, he will begin to recognize the signs of an impending panic attack and he will be able to stop it before it becomes full blown.

 

[Buckalew11]

Try to tell your husband when an attack happens that he can talk himself down from it. After he is able to do this a few times, he will begin to recognize the signs of an impending panic attack and he will be able to stop it before it becomes full blown.

Yes, this.

I've dealt with them and self-talk really can help. The kind of work I do, if I do not work, I do not get paid. If I miss work for being sick, I do not get paid.

I had a panic attack once, years ago, while working and just could not walk back there and do that haircut. It was quite awful and after my pop-pop had died. I've had many, many panic attacks over the years. One day I had to call in sick to work--just could not go in. That was when I knew I had to get help with whatever was happening to me.

The self talk works wonders, really. I hope he can get help, meds, learn this technique or whatever it takes to move on. You sound quite desperate to me, Tiggeroo and I send you hugs, my friend. I know of what you speak.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It sounds like a lot of pressure for a guy who is having issues and for yourself as well.

We are going through major stresses here as well. It is tough out there.

I hope that this week sheds some light on you.

 

[Christine]

I've had panic attacks before and, it's almost impossible to stay at work when you're having them. They say that panics attacks generally last for 30-90 seconds. HA! If that were the case, no problem. Mine seem to go on for about 2 hours and it is THE WORST feeling. I even get physical symptoms that cause me to be in the bathroom if you know what I mean. It's like a huge surge of adrenaline hits my body.

Then you want to stay home and that's how agoraphobics are born.

Your husband probably thinks that he can get past it by staying at home. But it often doesn't work that way.

The best thing he can do (and this is hard for men) is to let his supervisor know what is going on. That he is trying to work through this and that the BEST thing he can do for himself is to STAY at work when it happens. When it does hit, hopefully, he will be allowed to go off to a quiet area alone (a vacant office, a restroom, etc) for a few minutes to try to breathe through it. Many people flee the office out of embarrassment of having people see them that way. I can't say enough how awful it is.

Then when you start having panic attacks at work, you start fearing the place (like work) where you have them as you think it's a trigger. It's important that he get on a med that will smooth them out while at work. I had the best luck with Xanax. It really works well with panic attacks. Not so much luck with the SSRIs. They seemed to aggravate it for me but everyone is different.

Edited to add: I can't say ENOUGH about diet and exercise for panic. Especially exercise. I *hate* exercising but I find when I do it regularly (going outside to walk, jumping on my treadmill) it seems to smooth them out during the weekdays while at work. But I can actually get panicky WHILE I take a walk outside because we have a lot of traffic and noise in my area, so sometimes just some quiet time in my basement with my treadmill really helps.

 

[phinz]

There was a long thread on panic attacks before. They're scary. I have mine mostly under control, but they still happen on occasion. You might be able to find some info and/or help on controlling them in the discussion we had.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356690

 

[maelstrom]

If with medication and therapy he still cannot work, it is time to look into Social Security Disability. I know how terrible panic attacks can be and how you can just feel like there is no hope. They are an awful thing and I find it incredibly sad that so many people just say to "suck it up and deal with it" about panic attacks, depression, etc. Right. I suppose people with cancer or any other illness should just suck it up and deal with it too, right? I wish your husband all the best.