Panic attacks..

[ge0rgette2]

I get them also.

I don't take anything (although I do have a prescription for ativan, I had that before emergency surgery (that happened to be my first surgery) and I was good as gold) I just force myself through them, I knew I was going to be having babies soon and I wouldn't be able to take the medicine while pregnant or nursing.

Since cutting out the caffeine to be pregnant, mine have been much improved!

I will take the ativan should I get a case of the crazies and want to fly somewhere ( I DESPISE flying...)

Me too, HATE take off -- flying doesn't scare me, just lift off
Caffeine? Hmm - had a hugeeee iced coffee today, usually everyday, could it be the caffeine? 1 coffee per day - causing panic?

 

[Uncle Remus]

Ahhh, you mean TONIGHT!!! Saturday night I'll be relaxing in NYC watching a Broadway show for my Anniversary.

Oh my goodness, well, I hope you have a wonderful time 'n happy anniversary.


*And if that slacker kid misses his driver ed on Saturday, it ain't your problem.

 

[jujube]

I had them often years ago and had Xanax. The Xanax though gave me headaches and a hung over feeling. I started paying close attention and was able to "catch" one before it became full blown. Then I could talk myself down from it. Just telling myself. " If this was a real heart attack, stroke, etc, you would have no control over it. " Then I would do the pursed lip breathing.

1. Take in a breath for a count of say 3.
2. then purse your lips as though you are going to whistle and exhale for a count of 6.

This breathing technique causes you to relax and relieves the shortness of breath that often accompanies panic attacks.

I have not had to take a Xanax for panic in about 10-12 years. Even though I'm not paying close attention anymore when I do begin to feel a bit panicky, I automatically start the self talk and breathing and it goes away. Just knowing that I'm in control makes the panic go away. In the last 10-12 years, I have had maybe 6 attacks.

 

[ge0rgette2]

Oh my goodness, well, I hope you have a wonderful time 'n happy anniversary.


*And if that slacker kid misses his driver ed on Saturday, it ain't your problem.

Nope! Not no'more
!

 

[momof1princess]

We are under a lot stress here and I have had a couple of panic attacks recently (never ever had them) and almost passed out at the dentist the other day after she shot me up with novacaine.

I went to my PCP and I started Celexa and I am on day 4. Wow, what a difference.

With me, I am sure the stress in my life is manifesting itself with "medical issues" and "comes out" that way.

It is going to be a tough yr and I know that thought does not help the situation.

can you tell me more about the celexa? i'm not trying to be nosy, but my dr. just gave me a prescription for celexa today. the last two years of dealing with my mom's mental illness have been a nightmare, and i feel like i'm tied up in a giant knot-the anxiety has even triggered my compulsive eating again (which i'd managed to beat a few years ago), and my weight is creeping up. i'm afraid to fill the prescription, as i've never heard of celexa before. does it make you sleepy? gain weight? a pm is welcome, if you like.

 

[ge0rgette2]

I had them often years ago and had Xanax. The Xanax though gave me headaches and a hung over feeling. I started paying close attention and was able to "catch" one before it became full blown. Then I could talk myself down from it. Just telling myself. " If this was a real heart attack, stroke, etc, you would have no control over it. " Then I would do the pursed lip breathing.

1. Take in a breath for a count of say 3.
2. then purse your lips as though you are going to whistle and exhale for a count of 6.

This breathing technique causes you to relax and relieves the shortness of breath that often accompanies panic attacks.

I have not had to take a Xanax for panic in about 10-12 years. Even though I'm not paying close attention anymore when I do begin to feel a bit panicky, I automatically start the self talk and breathing and it goes away. Just knowing that I'm in control makes the panic go away. In the last 10-12 years, I have had maybe 6 attacks.

Thank you!
I wish I knew when they were going to come. I get no warning at all. My back hurts. Feels like pain all over then boooooom! Like I said haven't had one since December 2010. I was going good!

can you tell me more about the celexa? i'm not trying to be nosy, but my dr. just gave me a prescription for celexa today. the last two years of dealing with my mom's mental illness have been a nightmare, and i feel like i'm tied up in a giant knot-the anxiety has even triggered my compulsive eating again (which i'd managed to beat a few years ago), and my weight is creeping up. i'm afraid to fill the prescription, as i've never heard of celexa before. does it make you sleepy? gain weight? a pm is welcome, if you like.

Best of luck, my doctor didn't know much about celexa and wouldn't give it to me. He liked lexapro better. Wish there was a generic though. I heard soon. It's very expensive and I have drug insurance.
I have to say lexapro has worked for a full year. I've had very little side effects but I must say weight gain comes with alot of anxiety mess.

 

[hambirg]

Panic attacks are AWFUL! So you have my heart felt sympathy!

I just wanted to throw this out there, in case it might help somebody else. I never had panic attacks before. . .but then I started not feeling well and after 2 years was having them nightly! I knew something was wrong with me, but after about every test under the sun, my doctor couldn't find anything and gave me xanax. They did help. . .but I still wasn't feeling right. It turns out I had a bad gallbladder and was having gallbladder attacks and they were triggering the panic attacks. I don't know if it was just the stress of not knowing what was wrong with me, or if it was the bad gallbladder itself. But once my gallbladder came out, I never had another panic attack. Thank gawd!

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Yep, lots of panic attacks at various times here, too. I was on Paxil CR for a while for it, and then our HMO had me attend a "managing your panic attacks" class. Initially, I was REALLY skeptical about it, but after I finished the series of classes, it really did work! They focused on cognitive behavioral therapy and gave us some strategies for managing panic attacks. Everyone had different things that worked for them, and I found a few things that really helped me. Since then I've been able to head off my attacks before they get too bad, and I've been off the Paxil for almost 7 years now.

I still get panic attacks at weird and random times, but now even my DH can't tell when I have one unless I tell him. I've also learned what some of my triggers are, and I've made changes to adapt for that. Some big changes - like finding a job that was less stressful, even though it paid less - and some were small - like making sure I get at least 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each day.

At least you know what's going on now...hope things improve soon!

 

[sasywtch]

Why Saturday Night? LOL I must have missed something somewhere...

It just amazes me you could be doing nothing - standing inline at the party store and you feel like a heart attack is coming on...

Eeek!

This is the club, no one really wants to belong to. 30 years + for me. Unfortunately, mine started out with the full blown agoraphobia. Severe panic that I couldn't leave the house for 3 months or eat.


About the party store, what I was told years ago is that I had a fleeting thought that I might not even remember that set me off. I thought my doctor was nuts but after years of paying attention, he was right. The thought was so quick, I forgot it a second later but it set me off on my panic attack. Other times, it was obvious. I had one about a year ago in the middle of nowhere (thought to myself, what if something happened out here and sure enough, worked myself into an attack). I hyperventilated so badly, my hands were cupped/cramped.

30 years, all is not lost and life goes on. If I feel one coming on, I always have a cup of coffee or soda with me (habit) so I breathe into the cup. Also, I start getting my brain busy by planning a trip in my head with minute details. If your brain is busy making details, it's not contributing to the attack. If that fails, a good massage and warm bubble bath sometimes will relax me an get it under control.

The worst part of a panic attack is it gets worse the more you think about it and it's hard not to think about it when you are going through it. The chest tightening, the breathing is the hyperventilating. An ER doctor told me one time that the worst that would happen is I'd pass out from hyperventilating and then my panic attack would be over. I guess that was suppose to make me feel better?

I just remembered, I had one on I5 right around the Los Angeles area where the traffic gets extremely heavy. We had been driving 6 hours in nowhere land down I5 all day and I get one 30 minutes from Disneyland! I know one is coming when I'm paying attention to my breathing cause normally during the day, I don't pay any attention to it. I know my daughter could tell because I started taking deep breaths and my talking is shorter. My trick is to get my mind elsewhere. Not every trick works for everyone. My idea is to take a xanax and read some books on the subject to see different methods. (I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes talking or reading about it, makes me have one).

Knowledge can give you power over them and not let them over power you.

**edited to add: years ago my doctor showed me an article in the New England Journal of Medicine which I thought interesting. Discussed people with continual panic attacks. They had a deficiency in one of "H" things in the brain that controls stress. They likened it to the part of the brain in little kids where it doesn't control temperature so if they get a fever, you have to sit them in water or else it continues to rise and they go into seizures (my nephew had that and grew out of it). They said the stress thing doesn't work so if something triggers it in the panic attack people, we have to manually bring it back down. They said its as if a bear is coming toward you. In all, the stress level (hyperventilate, fear) comes to us. The bear retreats. In those without the deficiency, their brain tells the body they can relax, their pulse goes down, the hyperventilating is controlled. Those with the deficiency, their brain isn't telling the body to relax and it may continue to rise therefore, one has to manually get their body to relax (think of your favorite place, massage etc). I thought it hokey at the time but after years, I've slowly began to believe it.

The bottom line is, whatever works for you. I still have my bottle of xanax I carry everywhere with me. It's my crutch.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

can you tell me more about the celexa? i'm not trying to be nosy, but my dr. just gave me a prescription for celexa today. the last two years of dealing with my mom's mental illness have been a nightmare, and i feel like i'm tied up in a giant knot-the anxiety has even triggered my compulsive eating again (which i'd managed to beat a few years ago), and my weight is creeping up. i'm afraid to fill the prescription, as i've never heard of celexa before. does it make you sleepy? gain weight? a pm is welcome, if you like.

Absolutely! Anxiety runs in my family so we have the whole gamut.

For starters, I will say that I started "My Fitness Pal" 2 weeks ago and I have started exercising as well.

Also exercise is a great way to combat anxiety/depression. I am just walking my dogs only 15 mins a day right now. I have a back injury and have to GO SLOW. But just a 15 min walk a day helps.

Counseling. Now I am not doing it but am considering it. We will see how much progress I can make with some of my goals. If I am struggling, I will see a counselor. They can really help you push forward.

Now onto the Celexa. I started it on Monday and I am splitting a 10mg pill in half. So I am taking 5mgs in the morning.

It has really taken the edge off my anxiety and my moods are not 0 to 60 in 1 second. I feel more "even keel" and normal.

I feel "happy" a little woozy at first but that is wearing off. I did go to bed on time last night and had good sleep.

I told my PCP I want to start slow because I am very sensitive to side effects and so I am going to do 10mg for 3 months and see how that goes.

My dh and my older dd are on 40mgs of Celexa. They split it up with 20 in the morning and 20 in the evening.

Older dd is not doing well on the Celexa however she has a heart condition and her cardiologist told her she had to get off the Lexapro. She is really struggling right now.

Younger dd is on Lexapro. Honestly, I am going to talk with her doc about switching her next time. I think it is just not working for her anymore. It is hard to tell. She has been on it for 3 yrs.

My mother and sister are on meds.

We are all on HIGH ANXIETY right now. Totally sucks but getting help to get you through it is the way to go. You don't have to suffer.

Many hugs to you finding the right path.

 

[SeeDisney]

Georgette....I feel for you.

I too suffer from anxiety and panic attacks for off and on about 10 years now. Sometimes I am just fine and sometimes I am so darn jittery and anxious and then sometimes (rarely) a full blown panic will set in.

What really helps a lot is Xanax .25 but I take it so very infrequently as I don't want to be dependent of them. My gyno prescribed my Xanax XR which is supposed to be taken daily and shoots out a slower release all day long. But I haven't taken that particular one and probably won't.

I am definately more anxious (sometimes) before my cycle is due.

Exercising like jogging for 30 minutes helps too.

The breathing exercise helps me a lot too what JuJu mentioned.

I also remember avoid caffiene and white sugar products. I do noticed that this was helpful for me.

I also take various vitamins to help.

You can manage your anxiety/panic attacks! You got this!

 

[momof1princess]

Absolutely! Anxiety runs in my family so we have the whole gamut.

For starters, I will say that I started "My Fitness Pal" 2 weeks ago and I have started exercising as well.

Also exercise is a great way to combat anxiety/depression. I am just walking my dogs only 15 mins a day right now. I have a back injury and have to GO SLOW. But just a 15 min walk a day helps.

Counseling. Now I am not doing it but am considering it. We will see how much progress I can make with some of my goals. If I am struggling, I will see a counselor. They can really help you push forward.

Now onto the Celexa. I started it on Monday and I am splitting a 10mg pill in half. So I am taking 5mgs in the morning.

It has really taken the edge off my anxiety and my moods are not 0 to 60 in 1 second. I feel more "even keel" and normal.

I feel "happy" a little woozy at first but that is wearing off. I did go to bed on time last night and had good sleep.

I told my PCP I want to start slow because I am very sensitive to side effects and so I am going to do 10mg for 3 months and see how that goes.

My dh and my older dd are on 40mgs of Celexa. They split it up with 20 in the morning and 20 in the evening.

Older dd is not doing well on the Celexa however she has a heart condition and her cardiologist told her she had to get off the Lexapro. She is really struggling right now.

Younger dd is on Lexapro. Honestly, I am going to talk with her doc about switching her next time. I think it is just not working for her anymore. It is hard to tell. She has been on it for 3 yrs.

My mother and sister are on meds.

We are all on HIGH ANXIETY right now. Totally sucks but getting help to get you through it is the way to go. You don't have to suffer.

Many hugs to you finding the right path.

thank you!!
i pray your DDs find the right medication, and that the celexa continues to work well for you.

 

[ge0rgette2]

Georgette....I feel for you.

I too suffer from anxiety and panic attacks for off and on about 10 years now. Sometimes I am just fine and sometimes I am so darn jittery and anxious and then sometimes (rarely) a full blown panic will set in.

What really helps a lot is Xanax .25 but I take it so very infrequently as I don't want to be dependent of them. My gyno prescribed my Xanax XR which is supposed to be taken daily and shoots out a slower release all day long. But I haven't taken that particular one and probably won't.

I am definately more anxious (sometimes) before my cycle is due.

Exercising like jogging for 30 minutes helps too.

The breathing exercise helps me a lot too what JuJu mentioned.

I also remember avoid caffiene and white sugar products. I do noticed that this was helpful for me.

I also take various vitamins to help.

You can manage your anxiety/panic attacks! You got this!

Thanks - like you, I don't want to become dependant on them either... I already take lexapro so unsure why all of a sudden it didn't work yesterday.

I'm hoping it was just built up stress.. I never heard about caffeine and sugar products doing it - could be too.

What kind of vitamins do you take?

 

[ChrisFL]

I've had panic attacks, and I have found that caffeine can definitely make things worse or even trigger them.

I think sleeping problems/depravation/apnea can also affect panic attacks, if your body isn't getting enough rest.

 

[136368]

The only problem with benzos like Xanax is that after a couple of weeks of constant use, their usefulness decays to a state of placaebo and - even worse - you run the risk of becoming addicted to them, where your body actually triggers panic states if you DON'T take them.

There are other psychopharmacological remedies. Antidepressants are the obvious class of medications, especially the more benign ones such as SSRIs (Celexa, Lexapro, Zoloft and so on). Beta blockers which slow the beating heart can be amazing for certain people. Then there are off label medications. I myself have resorted to drug named Trifluoperazine, which is actually a high potency antipsychotic - one of the old blunt ones. Oddly enough, in low doses, it is a POWERFUL anxiolytic.

So don't despair, if you NEED one, there are zillions of crazy meds out there that can help.

These sites may help:

http://www.cocoa.uk.com/seratis/
http://www.crazymeds.us/

 

[zurgswife]

This weeks attack was caused by the stress you had for the past few weeks. Your Lexapro was holding off the issue but I think when things were looking like there was a solution your body just completely let loose. Panic Attack ensued.

I get panic attacks when stress is serious....i know how awful they are.

 

[Micca]

Modern medicine is such that most people don't need to go through the hell of an anxiety/panic attack. Find a doc you like/trust, and follow the advice of that physician. I know people are hesitant to take prescription meds, but sometimes it's the lesser of the evils.

 

[low-key]

 

[136368]

Modern medicine is such that most people don't need to go through the hell of an anxiety/panic attack. Find a doc you like/trust, and follow the advice of that physician. I know people are hesitant to take prescription meds, but sometimes it's the lesser of the evils.

I'm a huge fan of psychopharmacology and echo your sentiment that drugs can sometimes be the lesser of two equals and would like to add that they are nothing to be feared, if properly applied. I mean, taking horse tranquillisers may be a bad idea, but, say, Celexa, may be a great help to a desperate person.

But who knows? In 50 years we may have evolved new treatments. TransCranial Magnetic Stimulation as an alternative to ElectroConvulsive Therapy is looking interesting and safer and light therapy gains popularity every day as a treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder and depression. Just as an illustration, in the '50s, lobotomies were so common they were routinely performed in doctor's offices - just see how far we've come already! I can't wait to see what the future holds

 

[cajunpeach]

My DD15 has suffured with Anxiety & Panic disorder for a few years (inherited from my husbands side), it's taken that long to find a good mix of meds to let her lead a "normal" life. Her extremely high metabolism (lucky her) caused her to need 3 doses a day. She still has the occasional panic attack which she takes Xanax for but thankfully, that's very rare. She's been doing Cognitative Behavior Therapy and that's really helped her learn to manage attacks. Good luck to everyone. It's terrible watching my daughter deal with it, I can't imagine how it feels to actually go through the attacks.