Length of a panic attack and when to call the doctor?!
Question: I started to have a panic attack early Monday morning (around 3am, when we had to wake up and take my stepson to the ER--he is fine now, btw), and it mostly went away, EXCEPT for the feeling of shortness of breath, and really really tight chest pains. I CAN breath, but it's hard to take a deep breath, and I still feel anxious.... AFTER THREE DAYS almost!
My panic attacks in the past have only lasted about 3-4 hours at the worst, and I'm not sure if I should call the doctor or not, because I'm scared I'm overreacting, and just making myself worse.
So basically, what is a relatively normal length of a panic attack? After how long should you seek medical attention if at all?
Answers: I started to have a panic attack early Monday morning (around 3am, when we had to wake up and take my stepson to the ER--he is fine now, btw), and it mostly went away, EXCEPT for the feeling of shortness of breath, and really really tight chest pains. I CAN breath, but it's hard to take a deep breath, and I still feel anxious.... AFTER THREE DAYS almost!
My panic attacks in the past have only lasted about 3-4 hours at the worst, and I'm not sure if I should call the doctor or not, because I'm scared I'm overreacting, and just making myself worse.
So basically, what is a relatively normal length of a panic attack? After how long should you seek medical attention if at all?
You need to see a doctor quickly. Yahoo Answers is no place to seek a diagnosis.
That being said, I myself used to have intense and prolonged anxiety attack symptoms that included panic, disassociation, phobias, wheezing, loss of breath, and intense heart palpitations that would sometimes last intermittently for days. I amazingly got over it without meds but it took a long time and a lot of physical and psychological reconditioning. The physiological effects of anxiety disorder become habituated in the nervous system. Medication and other interventions are meant to help the nervous system (the brain and neurochemistry) to readjust. If your symptoms are worsening, you need to discuss this with your doctor. You need to examine the medications that you are taking, and you need to become involved in other interventions such as physical exercise and cognitive behavior therapy.
my panic attacks last hours but never days...I can't honestly say if that's normal...but I would contact your doc asap...make sure that you didn't have a minor heart attack.
You probably have tolerance to the ativan and you need to up your dose. PA'S are terrible I use to have them very bad
BTW XANAXX WORKS MUCH BETTER
well you are constantly feeling anxious because you keep thinking about it.Go for a walk or clean the house just to get your mind off it.If it doesn't go away after a week then i suggest you go and see a dr.Hope this helps and stop worrying and start fighting!
i could prescribe something green and smokable....but then again, the medical world doesn't have say over these things. we have to thank our legislation.
its a wonder we didn't have a referendum on penicillin.
you poor thing em...i'll send you some good thoughts.
Panic attacks dont usually last that long. If you are still feeling anxious then perhaps you might need to increase the dose of some of your medications, but you need to contact your doctor ASAP.
Panic attacks can last from 5 minutes to hours through multiple episodes. Anxious feels and stressed out chest pains can happen after an episode of panic, try to relax, if it doesn't improve within a day, if you really feel the need to call your doctor, but medical attention is not needed for panic attacks. Take benzos every once in a while to calm yourself, it will stop.
When you are having the panic attack, you need to breath into a paper bag, it must be paper and it will shoirten the attack.
Even if you pass out this is not a medical emergency, it rare to pass out but if you do your panic attack will instantly stop and your breathing will return to normal.
I would monitor why and how frequently you have these attacks to try and remove trigger points, and ask your Doctor for a referal to a councilor who can try and help you get over your anxiety.
I would also ask if your current medication is the best choice for the symtoms you have at the moment ask if there are any better meds which help.
Your feeling of anxiety would be better controlled on a different medication I would ask your Doctor for a review as soon as possible as I know how distressing the feeling of anxiety is.