I have severe panic attacks can you help?!
Question: I'm Tiffany. I have had severe panic attacks since I was about 17. I did LSD and had a "bad trip" I went into convulsions it felt like my spinal cord was ripping out of my body. Every since then I have severe panic attacks no matter where I go or what I do. I was fired from two jobs because I ran out the door and fell to the ground (I felt like if I didn't my heart was going to explode.) One time I had to go to the hospital cause everything turned white I couldn't see, breathe, or walk. The dr's said I was having a real bad panic attack and nothing is wrong with my spine. I no longer have health insurance so I'm going to have to withdraw from my Zoloft(Which makes me angry all the time and deppressed but eases off the panic attacks for the most part.) How do I get cured? This is ruining my life. I'll be 21 next month and can't even go out like normal people. How did you over come your panic attacks? I have lost most of my friends because I never want to go out. I can't do this anymore
Answers: I'm Tiffany. I have had severe panic attacks since I was about 17. I did LSD and had a "bad trip" I went into convulsions it felt like my spinal cord was ripping out of my body. Every since then I have severe panic attacks no matter where I go or what I do. I was fired from two jobs because I ran out the door and fell to the ground (I felt like if I didn't my heart was going to explode.) One time I had to go to the hospital cause everything turned white I couldn't see, breathe, or walk. The dr's said I was having a real bad panic attack and nothing is wrong with my spine. I no longer have health insurance so I'm going to have to withdraw from my Zoloft(Which makes me angry all the time and deppressed but eases off the panic attacks for the most part.) How do I get cured? This is ruining my life. I'll be 21 next month and can't even go out like normal people. How did you over come your panic attacks? I have lost most of my friends because I never want to go out. I can't do this anymore
Hi Tiffany
Like you I suffered severe panic attcks for several years. My attacks were caused by the bad marriage that I was in, I was severely abused in every way except physically, so there were no scars or bruises to see. Sometimes I just wished he would hit me then my outside would be as bad as my inside. I was originally diagnosed with epilepsy, that's how severe my attacks were. I was under the care of a specialist physician and given just about every epileptic drug known to man. Of course none of them worked, after 18 months of unsucessful treatment and every physical test that could be done was done (all normal), I chose to go and see a psychologist, it was the best thing I ever did. He helped me see the relationship about what was causing my attacks in my personal life. Once I saw this relationship, I gradually was able to accept the fact that they were an actual panic attacks and that I wasn't going to die, even if it felt like it. Every time I would have an attack I would use all my will power to first convince myself that it was ONLY an attack, then I would concentrate on my breathing (slowly in and out), I use a cold compress on my face and walk around trying to shake it off. The attacks became shorter and not as severe, now a few years later, I only get them at times of high stress. I am still taking Alegron but am down from 100mg per day to 20mg (Zoloft didn't work for me nor did a lot of the newer drugs)
I highly recommend that you invest in a good psychologist, after the first three sessions I noticed a distinct improvement. They will help you identify the real cause/trigger of your attacks and once this is known you will be surprised at how your fear drops. I use to avoid going out anywhere and never wanted tp be far from a hospital, just in case I had an attack. I also found it helped to talk to someone when I was going through an attack, don't be afraid to take advantage of your friends or relatives. See if you can find any trigger yourself, just stop and think what has happened in the last 24 hours that could have pushed you over the edge, keep a diary of your daily events, you may be surprised at what pops up.
Right now I would advise you to take it easy and not try to pressure yourself too much. If you have family that will support you move in with them, offer to do the house cleaning and chores to keep active. Set simple goals such as grocery shopping or go out and pay your bills instead of doing them over the net. Find a volunteer group to help someone else once a week, look for part-time work 2-3 hours a day, even if it is washing dishes at a cafe. Start small and believe in yourself.
I would be happy to chat to you. It was 7 and half years ago that I had my first attack, I use to get them daily lasting up to two hours, now I only get them a couple times a year and they are not full blown ones. You can make it, don't give up.
All the best Katy
you need your meds. my wife was similiar to you she tried 20 different meds and finally they found her match she is like a totally different person. but you have to keep on your meds and see a doctor about it.. i lost most my friend cause i was so violent they were scared of me. i never hurt any friends.
i take cymbalta and lyrica and im now at peace with myself caus i found out i dont have to be perfect and i dont care what others say or do im happy with my wife and my life.
i hope and wish for you to find peace and happiness in your life as well
Please speak to some one who is qualified in dealing with this .I have many friends who have been through or are suffering with panic problems.There is hope if you seek it through the right chanels.Maybe even ring your local hospital and they can get help for you.Please feel free to email me .Please take care.
Bringing Phobias Under Control:
- Tormented by Phobias http://watchtower.org/e/19980722/article...
Watch Your Breathing! http://watchtower.org/e/19980722/diagram...
When Fear Leads to Panic... http://watchtower.org/e/19980722/diagram...
Avoid eating ALL caffiene & chocolate.
Read ALL labels,
ALL: sodas, OTC medications, Everything!
<CAFFEINE ALLERGY: Past Disorder or Present Epidemic?, by Ruth Whalen, Medical Laboratory Technician>
tell your doctor that you don't have coverage most doctors get plenty of sample packs of medications that they can give you for free. or you can go to your nearest MH/MR center and they can get you the medications that you need too. Please don't go off of your meds or your going to be in worse shape than you are now. your local hospital emergency room can also help you. I'm presently taking 225mg EFFEXOR XR for my panic attacks and it's working great! good luck and take care
What i would suggest is find the common occurance in each eppisode. and avoid being placed in those situations. for example, say im clostraphobic, i would keep out of small confined places. So figure that out, and maybe that will help.
See http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.g... For $4/month's supply (more in CA., and 8 other US states). Zoloft is an SSRI medication. Any of the 7 medications in the mental health range at WalMart, ending in "ine" could be an SSRI, as well, chemically quite similar to Zoloft, so, check them out systematically, in the taskbar at http://www.drugs.com and list all those which are SSRI's, and their strengths, (mg) and go to a free clinic, or contact your county/local mental health agency, to get a prescription, list in hand. Fluoxetine is on the $4 list, and it's an SSRI, but others may suit you better: I don't know; that's what professional get paid for: to know. I believe Target pharmacy also have low cost generics, but I'm in Australia (different system: national healthcare!). Also, view http://www.pparx.org/ and call 1-888-4PP-ANOW (1-888-477-2669), if financially disadvantaged in the USA, and seeking a medication subsidy. Also see http://www.needymeds.com/ & www.low-cost-rx.com/ PANIC ATTACKS: Have you seen the techniques for control of panic attacks, in section 8, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris yet? Begin by holding your breath for 5, or 10 seconds: this will give you the confidence to realise that YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR BREATHING, but not pass out, or die (your autonomic nervous system resumes breathing, if unconscious). Understand panic attacks, and what triggers them, in your life (if it is unresolved anxiety, see section 6). The paper bag method works for most people: have you tried it? If you are fairly suggestible, the following are reliable, and reasonably priced:
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Stop Panic Attacks
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Panic Prevention Program Tape
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Your last alternative is psychotherapy, to address its fundamental cause: read section 1, and examine the 1-800-therapist website, and use the locators, and phone book. I used to suffer from panic attacks, until I questioned what had changed recently in my life, to trigger them? I suggest that you learn, then practise the controlled breathing technique, until competent, then employ it, at the very first sign of a panic attack.
Hi,
One of my friends suffered too from panic attacks, and he felt pain all over his right arm, anyway he told me that he read an article about it talking how to deal with panic attacks and then he bought this book called Panic Away , and i don't recall that he suffered again from panic attacks , here is the link to the article http://www.amazines.com/article_detail.c...
well read the article carefully and I hope it helps.
Hi--Treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder is very effective. The outlook is good if you seek help, and most people are eventually able to resume everyday activities. Treatment may involve:
Medications: Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant medication, such as sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) or fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem). Antidepressant medications usually improve or eliminate the symptoms of panic attacks. To relieve anxiety, your doctor may prescribe a type of medication called a benzodiazepine, such as clonazepam (Klonopin) or alprazolam (Xanax), either alone or with other drugs. The effectiveness of benzodiazepines often varies, and they may be habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence), especially when taken for a long time or in high doses. If you think you may have become mentally or physically dependent on a benzodiazepine medication, check with your doctor. Do not stop taking your medication suddenly. The duration of drug treatment for panic attacks depends on the severity of your disorder and your response to treatment.
Cognitive behavior therapy:During sessions with your psychiatrist or psychologist, you learn to better understand your panic attacks and how to deal with them. In the cognitive part of the therapy, you learn to recognize things that trigger your panic attacks or make them worse. The behavioral part of the therapy involves learning ways of coping with anxiety, such as using breathing and relaxation techniques. If you're avoiding common situations because of fear of panic attacks, behavior therapy can help you overcome this avoidance, which may be limiting the quality of your life.
Good Luck & Take Care!