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Real panic attacks...

Posted: Apr 5, 2012

This is very serious to me and is beginng to affect my everyday life. Short explanation: I left and extremely physically abuse situation about 3 yrs ago, shortly after that I have a MAJOR car accident. It totalled my car and even the concrete from the mail box went thru my windsheild. Luckily all a got was a bruised elbow. However this accident scared me so badly. I have panic attacks in the weirdest situations (not sure if they are coming from the abusive relationship in the past also). Last fall, I went to the ER with a heart rate of 154 beats/minute. Mostly I have problems with panic attacks when I drive, I think it is due to the massive wreck I was in! It was very bad. Here's my questions, short of living on Klonopin or Xanax, does anyone have any suggestions to manage these things. Some days, I even talk myself out of going to Walmart just out of the fear I might have one there. This is becoming debilitating. Drs' baulk at giving controlled substances for very long and I don't seem to be able to find a counselor who has a more hands on approach and suggestions for trying to overcome this. I would like to go to work outside of the house but I am too petrified to drive very far. Thanks so much for any info!

;

Paxil - kb

[ In Reply To ..]
Of course, you will have to ask your doctor, but Paxil is my miracle drug. After trying many, many different treatments, this worked so well for me I absolutely will never stop taking it. It changed my life 4 years ago. I know first hand how awful it is for you, I also could not drive for a while. I'm not afraid anymore of those attacks sneaking up on me from out of nowhere. They are truly devastating and nobody really understands unless they have had them. Keep trying and you'll find something that works. Good luck.

It gets better - tulip

[ In Reply To ..]
I started having panic attacks about 8 years ago. I was going through something really stressful at the time that I think triggered them. I won't go into a lot of detail, as my post would be super long! But, I got to the point where I couldn't shop, drive, go to restaurants...you name it, I couldn't go for fear of having a panic attack. I decided I didn't want to use medication to help me get through it because I didn't want to depend on that to get me better. Instead, I tried cognitive behavioral therapy. It's basically exposing yourself to the things you're scared of. If I was afraid to go to Wal-Mart, I go in and stand for a few minutes and just keep doing that until I felt comfortable to shop. It takes time, but it really does work. I'm to the point now where I really don't have many attacks anymore. I'm able to drive, shop, eat in restaurants again.

You just have to remember that a panic attack is not going to hurt you and keep that in mind when you find yourself about to have one.

Hope this helps a little. Feel free to email me privately if you want to talk further.

For myself, mine started just out of the blue. - When they told me what

[ In Reply To ..]
they thought was going on with me, I thought they were the crazy ones. I have tried most of the SSRIs, which either didn't work or had side effects that I was not willing to put up with. I'm allergic to Xanax, as in hives, so that was a no go for me. I now am on Wellbutrin, which is not really indicated for anxiety/panic, but for some reason seems to help me. I can take Ativan, but it is very, very rarely that I use it. What I have found is that medicines help very little and that most of it comes from yourself. It is a day by day process. You finally have to get to a mindset where you are not going to allow it to control you or your life. I don't know how to explain to get there, but it can eventually happen.

I think it is hard for people, such as doctors, to tell you how to handle them if they have never had a true panic attack (not anxiety, difference there). I also found that church and reading the bible helped a lot. I also listened to a lot of regligious CDs regarding fears. Not sure of your religious background, but might be something to think about.

I think you might find yoga helpful (sm) - Auntie Anxiety

[ In Reply To ..]
Beginning yoga, where you are taught proper breathing, etc., might also help if you don't want to go the benzo route. I used to have horrific panic attacks (like you, for no apparent reason and seemingly out of the blue when I thought I was relaxed). Yoga teaches you amazing focus that might just help you to learn to focus on your breathing (very important in yoga) and stretching and relaxing to help head off the panic attacks when you feel one starting.

You don't have to be a contortionist or be able to wrap yourself up like a pretzel to do beginning yoga, and you'll also learn to effectively meditate, too.

If all else fails, give it a try. I think you'll be surprised at how helpful it will prove to be.

Good luck to you.

I had several traumatic incidents that seemed - mthead

[ In Reply To ..]
to kick off my panic attacks. After going to one doctor and having her tell me I was "deconditioned," as a size 6 hiker/biker/skier and 119 pounds, I found another doctor who enrolled me in a group therapy program, and it worked wonders. Most of the other patients had lived through heart attacks and other near-death experiences so they were REALLY convinced they were dying when their heart rates went up and they got that sweaty/clammy feeling you get when you panic. The best thing I took away from that therapy was the "worst-case scenario," e.i., what's the worst that can happen when you're panicking? Usually the answer is: You will hyperventilate and pass out. Yes, you might be embarrassed b/c it may be in a public place, etc, but the key to remember is, it won't kill you. So when the attacks came I was able to say to myself, "Yes, I'm having a panic attack and yes, it is uncomfortable, but I will not die from it nor will I lose my mind." It took me several months of doing that until I got really convinced I wasn't go to die. Years later, though, I was diagnosed with PMDD and now I'm on Wellbutrin and Lexapro. I still get about one breakthrough panic attack a month, one week before my menstrual period, but they're nothing like I had before therapy and medication.

I completely disagree with your logic - kb

[ In Reply To ..]
I was told that worst case scenario stuff, too. But, hey, I had panic attacks when I drove and if you can't see or feel, you can crash and die. That is why I didn't drive for a long, long time. The only thing that worked for me was Paxil, and I am not afraid anymore because they are gone. I could not talk myself out of panic attacks. It is a chemical thing for sure.

that's what I believe too - betty

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I used to think it was just a bid for attention, but I eat my words now since I am going through menopause, I sometimes have what seem like panic attacks. It has to be the changing hormones/chemicals that cause these.

I was hoping that menopause would put - mthead

[ In Reply To ..]
an end to mine and the need for medication, but at 78 and 54 respectively, my mom and sister still have them.

When I was pregnant with my kids, I never had a panic attack, but the attacks always resumed a few months after delivery.

I see what you are saying and I agree that - mthead

[ In Reply To ..]
it is a chemical/hormonal thing (it runs in my family) but I did get a lot out of the group therapy as it kept me from going on meds for a long time. The therapy didn't make the attacks go away for me; it just kept them from escalating because I knew they were self limiting. In my case I think they are part of my premenstrual dysphoric disorder as they occur one week before my menstrual period begins. I still need meds and I think I will always need them.

You just made me realize something. I have had panic attacks in lots of places - elevators, subways, tall buildings, below deck on boats, tents, hotels - but I've NEVER had a panic attack while driving. My sister and my mom have had them while driving, but I haven't, and driving really stresses me out. Not that I'm complaining - I'm just wondering how I lucked out by NOT having them in the car.

Understood. I'm glad we are both dealing with this the best way we can ... - kb

[ In Reply To ..]
I guess you did "luck out" about the driving but it's still awful to have panic attacks in any form. Good luck and congratulations to all of us who have found relief.

If They Were Truly Hormonal/Chemical, then... - It would happen too while driving

[ In Reply To ..]
Not being mean here, so let's head off that discussion. My point is that if chemicals were the be-all end-all, then it would happen when you were driving, too.

I used to have horrible panic attacks and got some therapy from a wonderful psychologist (not from a psychiatrist, they just give meds) and the attacks are gone now, so I'm not a "strictly chemical" advocate as the cause.

I do believe that our brains react chemically to stress, so I'll give that there may be a chicken-egg thing happening.

You didn't read the above posts correctly ... - kb

[ In Reply To ..]
What I disagreed with was that you won't die if you have a panic attack. I disagreed with that because it would certainly be possible to crash a car and die if you had a panic attack while driving.

I know there are many successful treatments for panic attacks and each person has to find what works.

But I'm glad you had a chance to put forward your point of view.

Xanax XR - Angie

[ In Reply To ..]
My brother in law had Major panic attacks all the time and couldn't even get through an interview or go to the grocery store without having a panic attack. His doctor gave him Xanax XR and he is a new person. He got accepted to radiology school, went thru the interview without sweating...awesome. He tells everybody about that one pill a day that works all day. Good luck!

I take Xanax XR every night before bed. - and Celexa in the mornings.

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I was told that the anxiety was causing me to be depressed. I dont know, but I have been on Xanax and an antidepressant for about 15yrs.

A couple of times I stopped taking them off and on (without doctor's advice), but this past year, I decided to never take myself off of them again.

Panic attacks - Mg

[ In Reply To ..]
Having had some very bad things happen in a short amount of time, I'm having them, too, and I never have a warning. I know they won't kill you, but have had high blood pressure and heart palpitations to go along with them, so I'm not so sure they won't kill you, especially if you also have an anxiety disorder. So I take Klonopin. My doc also prescribed Elavil at night so that I can sleep. If not for those meds, I'd get about 2-3 hours of sleep nightly and did just that for appx. 3 months before I finally went to the doc. It must have looked like something the cat dragged in and looked like the running gears of hell, so he took pity on me and gave me those prescriptions. They really help and are inexpensive.

I tried Paxil several years ago and would never take it again. It took a very long time and some very unpleasant side effects trying to come off of that stuff.

I recommend the Klonopin and amitriptyline.

I hope and pray you get relief soon. You're not having a very good quality of life if you're feeling as I was, frozen in anxiety, unable to think straight, and feeling as if something horrible was about to happen. It's really bad and when you talk to your doc, don't hold back. He/she needs to know how badly you're suffering. All the best to you!

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