Will I be ok? Panic Attack...?!
Question: Hey everyone... I had my first and until now, only panic attack about almost 2 years ago now. It lasted very long like a few hours at night and then I remember being totally freaked out for a little while, thinking I had lost my mind or had a nervous breakdown, not being able to eat, etc. for up to a week.
Since then I have had some anxiety but nothing serious. No panic attacks! just some days I would feel a little anxious at times but I started seeing a therapist and my life was improving...
until BAM, on friday something at work sent me into a "mild" panic attack when I got home. My chest wasnt pumping pumping like during that first panic attack but I was just very worried and nervous for about an hour or so. I managed to calm myself down and eventually go to sleep. The next day however, thinking about it again caused me to have another mild panic attack, but once again I was able to calm down and go to sleep at night. (con't below)
Answers: Hey everyone... I had my first and until now, only panic attack about almost 2 years ago now. It lasted very long like a few hours at night and then I remember being totally freaked out for a little while, thinking I had lost my mind or had a nervous breakdown, not being able to eat, etc. for up to a week.
Since then I have had some anxiety but nothing serious. No panic attacks! just some days I would feel a little anxious at times but I started seeing a therapist and my life was improving...
until BAM, on friday something at work sent me into a "mild" panic attack when I got home. My chest wasnt pumping pumping like during that first panic attack but I was just very worried and nervous for about an hour or so. I managed to calm myself down and eventually go to sleep. The next day however, thinking about it again caused me to have another mild panic attack, but once again I was able to calm down and go to sleep at night. (con't below)
i used to have panic attacks really bad and was even on effexor and zoloft but the panic was still there. then i got the linden method http://www.lindenmethod.net and i made a full recovery. it works great and I really recommend it.
panic disorder can be controlled without medications. contact your local mental health clinic, they probably offer classes on the skills you need to control your response to the panic stimuli. A panic attack is self limiting as long as you know how to respond to it. Just get some training, you will be a much happier camper.
Don't go to the mhospital. Ask your therapist for a reference to a psychiatrist. They can give you meds that will help your anxiety a lot.
Been there, done that.
TX Mom
i suffer from panic attacks like that on a fairly regular basis i have missed so much work of it I'm out to be canned however there is hope medication Prozac and seraquil daily and toprol when it starts has greatly diminished the intensity and frequency of attacks. Although i still have moments the last 2 weeks on the seraquil have been almost magical i sleep all nite i don't blow up as often or as a bad
U dont need a mental hospital a regular dr by appointment or atr clinic /er will do
Panic attacks can be caused by both chemical/organic and emotional reasons. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people who suffer from them. In turn, many of those people are on meds. There is nothing wrong with that!
People who tell you that you can "self-regulate" panic attacks have definitely never had one. If they'd ever felt (what I like to call) the rabid wolverine of anxiety gnawing in their chest, they wouldn't be so dismissive.
Meds can help a great deal. You (and your doctor) can take a couple of different approaches. The first would be to use "emergency" meds, like lorazepam, alprazolam or clonazepam to treat attacks when they happen. The second approach is to use an anxiety reducing antidepressant, like Paxil or Luvox to reduce overall anxiety, and then use the anxiety specific meds when you have attacks.
I know what anxiety attacks feel like. It's about the most uncomfortable thing I've ever experienced. I hope you find what works best for you. Good luck!