| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 8/8/2006 6:19:33 AM | Need some help. I have been reading alot of the threads and have responded to a few,there seems to be alot of good advice out there. Can I get some?.
I have delt with alot of issues in my life from being raped at 14, to being abused by a babysitter from14 -15 yrs old, a near fatal car accident when I was 17 that left my friend dead to a mental and verbally abusive marriage.
I don't think too much of the rape or abuse from the babysitter maybe I have buried that deep, not too many know about it and I never told my family. I think what bothers me the most is the car accident, I was in the hospital for 2 months and have numerous surgeries, I am badly scared and deal with misconfiguration of my left leg, I also deal with varicous viens from a thrombosis in my left thigh from the accident. I was always a very active teenager, I owned a couple of horses and enjoyed sports. I tried going to equine school after my accident but was only able to finish 1 yr. and after my second back surgery was encourage then by my boyfriend (who I later Married) to sell my horses. I loved working in the barn and to this day I still think of it. I married an older man, I met him when I was 17 and he was 33, I am now in the process of a seperation of 26 yrs. I have two lovely young adult boys, 20 and 22.
I have been suffering from Anxiety/Panic attacks now for aleast 4 yrs from what I can remember. I just went to my doc. a yr. ago to get help and I take effexor, they helped for a bit and then she double my dose - but I still get attacks now and then and they hit me without warning. This past weekend I have had about 6 attacks and they even wake me up at night.
I know I am under alot of stress with going through a seperation (my soon to be ex is an alcoholic and he has been mentally and verbally abuse over the years) and selling my house and I am also booked for another surgury Aug 22.
I went for conselling last year and she thought I was suffering from post traumtic stress aswell as currrent issues. I stopped going because I find it really hard to sit infront of someone face to face to discuss my problems.
This is basically my life in a nut shell -it would take a book to fill in the blanks.
Does anyone have any advise, It would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 8/8/2006 9:20:39 AM | I know this sounds corny but find a group therapy in your local health area.. usualy through a hosiptal.Even if your really afriad to go... I have delt with alot in only three years and I hated the idea about group thereapy but when I finaly went.. it changed my life. I mean it truly. I bonded with others who had same pains and experiances. It's such a healing place. I also have a trick when I am having a anziety attack. A nice cold cloth against my neck or chest. It feels really good and usualy makes the attack shorter. I also have used lorazapam. talk to your doc about the "pam" family ask if it might be a good thing to have when you get those attacks. They are a low dose pill that you put under your tounge. you might have them already or have tried them but if not find out from your doctor if its something you should try.
And I offer myself as a person to listen. if you need a friend to just vent on contact me. I know how hard it can be. I'm on effexor myself. 225ml. I am young but you'de be surprised how helpful it is to talk to someone who is young and going through alot of the health issues in common.
velvet | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 8/8/2006 2:16:47 PM | | i found for panic attacks that the Rescue Remedy (a homeopathic remedy you can buy in any healthfood store) calmed me mentally and emotionally so I could ride out the physical part of the attack. Having somone touch my lower back ( a person I trust) helped also. Getting out of a situation I was uncomfortable with and being medicated helped tremendously. I no longer have panic attacks. | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 8/9/2006 3:28:14 AM | I agree with VelvetKitten~ groups can be awesome. What I liked the best about it was that everybody spoke the same language ~ you could state how you felt and everybody just nodded their heads instead of looking at you like you were speaking greek.
As for the PTSD goes, it can't be treated with meds....... meds will hide the symptoms, but not the underlying problem. I cannot encourage you enough to get back into counselling. It sucks I know, I'm going through exposure therapy for my PTSD right now. Maybe if you do group work first, it might make you feel more comfortable. I don't mean to sound harsh, but in the beginning you need to just suck it up and do it ~ and in the end, you'll be glad you did. Let your therapist know you are uncomfortable with the process. It does get easier over time.
My panic attacks have lessened in both intensity and frequency since I started dealing with the issues behind them. I'm also very mindful of situations that may trigger an attack. I also take .5mg of Clonazepam for the anxiety and I was on Effexor ~ until they finally realized that I have bi-polar type 2 ~ and that the antidepressants I've been on over the years were actually triggering the hypomania aspect of the BP2.... so now I'm on Lithium.
Back on topic, I also offer myself as someone to talk to. Best of luck hun.
Spelly | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 8/9/2006 7:57:59 AM | I was diagnosed with panic disorder 5 years ago and have tried many of the things other have suggested. I'm not sure if you are familiar with cognitive therapy but it helps me the most. I read a book called Feeling Good by Dr. David D. Burns 5 years ago and it helped me to deal with the attacks when they happen. I am able to breathe my way through them and am able to self talk to the point where they don't consume me all the time. I was having between 15 and 22 panic attacks per day so needless to say, I was totally spent emotionally by the end of each day.
I have tried every SSRI on the market for my anxiety and for me, none of them work. They all make my anxiety worse. I don't suffer from depression and the anti-anxiety properties in the SSRI are just not enough for me. I have been on Clonazepam .5 mg x 6 times a day(if needed) for years and I've never taken more than 4 of them and they seem to keep the anxiety down.
Therapy was good to try and figure out where it stemmed from. I had no traumatic experiences in my life that were all that traumatic so we never did find the stem of them but my psychiatrist told me that it's not always something traumatic that causes them.
I started experiencing many attacks per day again in the last few months so I pulled my Feeling Good book out again and am re-reading it to reacquaint myself with his methods and to try and get this back under control. It's a book that deals mostly with depression but there are many methods that deal with both depression and anxiety. I skip the depression parts and simply read abuot the anxiety sections.
Mine isn't just situational anxiety, it's a true disorder with no known cause or reason why they happen so it might be a tad different than yours but anxiety is anxiety.
Good luck to you. | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 8/10/2006 11:34:54 PM | | I'd go off the effexor first of all, no need to mess with SSRI's, those things are nasty.I take xanax, most I've ever taken was 3 a day, can usually get by with just one a day and it helped a lot. | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 8/18/2006 12:28:22 AM | During the last days of my late husbands life, I began to have anxiety/panic attacks. We have small children and I knew I had to try and remain calm, or calmER for them. My doctor prescribed ativan 0.5 mg..take 1, 4 times a day as needed. I found that 1, 3 X a day kept the edge off my anxiety, but did not make me sleepy..
Good luck to you, I know its torment, but keep searching for whatever it takes to get you through it. | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 8/19/2006 12:03:05 AM | Im so sorry you went through so many horrifying things in your life I think one of the reasons people get panic attacks in the first place is because they internalize a lot of the pain that theyre feeling ,instead of talking about it with someone they trust.When a person is feeling stressed out or overwhelmed ,it can cause all sorts of psychological and physical issues.I think it would be really great if you got involved with a group of people where you could talk some of these things through.Staying away from stimulants such as chocolate and coffee is also very important.Excercise is also a wonderful way to get rid of all of the excess adrenaline and cortsol that is manifesting itself as panic in your body.Prayer or meditaion also seem to help a great deal.Some research has also indicated that B vitamins,and omega3 fatty acids which are found in fish (or you can take it in pill form) also help quite a bit.You can talk with your doc about this:)Ive studied quite a bit of health and psychology and I hope some of this will be helpful to you.Another thing to keep in mind is that most panic is brought on by fear.If you can think your way into a panic attack,you can think your way back to a calm state of mind.Fortunately,with behavioral therapy,most people who suffer with anxiety and panic fully recover form the attacks in time.It is to some degree inherited and chemical,but moreso psychological.Medication is helpful in the short term for some,but counseling is often more helpful in the long run . Good luck OP Kat | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 8/21/2006 9:51:12 PM | | I've had this most of my life from having gone through child abuse homelessness as a kid I too got raped and I took a child molesters life...Having all this shit run through your head over and over again I have never lived a normal life..Sometimes I don't leave my house for days I had enciplitics-meningitis at 17 and was in a coma also it all fu ked me up. But everybodys got something I pray alot take atavin when I cannot deal sometimes I smoke alittle weed, walk, cut down on coffee... | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 8/21/2006 11:00:39 PM | I've dealt with many of the same issues as well. Being verbally abused all through school, physically and verbally abused by my father, raped at 12...I internalized it for many years and it caused a lot of emotional problems and was even hospitalized at one point. There are many options first talk to your physician and work with him. If it's not depression than SSRIs won't help much, if it's panic attacks then something like atavan or zanex is a better solution. I agree with others that group and one-on-one therapy are good important. I found that it didn't do much good for me to just be on med, but a combination of meds and therapy was best.
I worked through my stuff but still struggle with depression, that is due to a lack of seratonin and a brain chemical imbalance. WIth meds, prayer and some counselling I do well.
All the best | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 9/16/2006 7:39:46 AM | I went for group therapy and they were certain it was something from within that was causimg my panic attacks, so they had me on celexia/effexor xr... you name it.. I tried it. I got pissed off one day and decided to talk to someone I knew that was a pharmacist, told him my symptoms and he suggested the thing that changed my life:
"Stop drinking caffeine".. Turns out that caffeine/dairy products are stimulants to panic attacks... I am actually allergic to caffeine as I found out after. The doctors could not figure this out when i was in group therapy.. I had panic attacks before, but they weren't anything MAJOR, my heart just raced and it hurt to actually breathe, but really, nothing to major, until I tried cutting my wrists, drinking bleach etc... Once I got on medication, they seemed to go away for a while, until i got more depressed then it turns out i suffered more panic attacks & they were actually caused by effexor as a RARE side effect of the medication is the development of the allergic to caffeine. I used to drink pop/tea all the time... (Not to forgot Iced Cappucinos)..
My suggestion, would be to cut down on the dairy and caffeine products (Drink rootbeer, sprite, grape pop.) Stay away from orange pop as some of it still contains caffeine.
Email me if you have any questions.... I am a true believe in this. Since if I have caffeine (yes ladies that means no chocolate)... My panic attacks seem to appear, even though I am happy with my life and have NO reason for them to come up.. | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 9/16/2006 2:37:47 PM | Obviously a well balanced diet is important. A multi vitamin that gives you all your essential everyday goodies is also very important. There are a few other things you can take to calm yourself naturally without the fear of addiction, or meds.
Take extra calcium and magnesium. Its a natural tranquilizer.
Make sure you arent iron deficient. This can cause panic attacks.
Up your intake of potassium. Its difficult to get enough potassium in your diet or thru supplements. The FDA only allows 99 mg to be sold at one time per dose. The average person needs a good 3000 mg a day. I get my intake from avacados. Potassium causes balance and can make you feel at ease. Helps your heart beat properly, as does calcium.
You will need lots of B vitamins. They directly help to reduce anxiety. If your mulit is good enough quality, you should be fine.
Large doses of vitamin C can cause a relaxing effect.
Amino acids, and there are many of them, all come from the protein you consume everyday. Not enough protein not enough amino acids. Many of those are directly related to calming the body and brain. When you dont have enough protein , your brain can start to misfire.
L-Glutamine is an amino acid you get from food that is as powerful as valium. You can take it as a seperate supplement if you feel you need to. But dont take to much of it, stay within the guidelines.
There are plenty of herbal remedies at any health food store. Ask someone there to help you out.
Dont try to go cold turkey off of your effexor. Effexor has side effects that will leave you feeling horrible if quitting cold turkey.
Take care.
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 9/27/2006 9:26:37 PM | There is always hope out there espeacilly when you are having an attack and feel like its never going to end. Panic and anxiety disorder runs in my family. It has gone from my mom , sister, me , my cousin and now my niece. My mother became an alcoholic because of it back then they didnt no what it was so she drank. Different things tend to trigger it . I think the main cause is depression even though many people would say they were not depressed. I was one of them . mine hit me like a ton of bricks after the birth of my daughter. I think some of it was post partum depression ,the other part was my body and mind was just worn out it could'nt take anymore and this is how it reacted. any one that has suffered from a panic attack most importantly should realize that all of the feelings you are feeling are all natural if you can get pass that your pretty much on your way. The doctors would tell me its a chemical imbalance somewhere in the brain . I didnt believe them i would tell them the more I thought about it the more it would happen and it did . My attacks would consist of being short of breath to the point where I would hyper ventilate and could not breath at all . then you get sick to your stomach ,cold sweats ,shaking dizzie , heart palpatations and so on. I would actually get to the point where I thought I was going crazy get my husband at that time to take me to the hospital to get help.I would say I was NUTs. it was the lack of oxygen going to the brain causing me these feelings of unreality. The doctor would say I was fine I thought rational I was just having a panic attack. At that point in time I didnt believe her I just wanted that feeling to stop. They tried several different drugs and talking to a shrink he pretty much just sat there and went to sleep which was conforting not. Prozac was the big drug back then i tried it for 2 days i was so scared to take it that I think it caused more attacks.lol. There were so many horror stories about prozac. then paxil came on the market they said it was a sister drug to prazac . I tried that and Ajax Pickering hospital ran a group specically for panic disorder I went to that . It felt like a long process but it eventually worked. In group they taught you so many things about it . the best thing was they would create situations for you where you would feel panicky and they would make you realize it was all natural responses your body was going through. For me I would do the step it would make me out of breath which would trigger the attack and I would use my calming techniques they taught me and it worked . I havent had a full blown attack in 12 years my daughter is now 13. unfortunately i still take the paxil. The doctor seems to think its done its job this long why ruin a good thing. All I can say is there is help and it works . I know it might take what little energy you might have left but it is well worth it . Push your self. I would Lie in bed and my mom would tell me the men in white coats were coming if I didnt get up . I would jump out of bed. I was afraid. If you have ever been on the physic floor you would understand why. anyhow I could go on forever maybe even write a book . If you ever need someone to talk to feel free to send me an email . I know lots about read many books and articles to . Good Luck Patti  | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 10/20/2006 10:39:10 PM | | Groups are good. Especially for anxiety and mental health stuff. I go to a group put on by these guys, specifically for anxiety: http://www.anxietycentre.com/ | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 10/22/2006 4:56:06 AM | my panic attacks are usually due to increased heartbeat..or while driving for long periods of time...i use a heart medication called Bisoprolol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisoprolol
it's not for panic attacks but it keeps your heartbeat slower no matter what which is usually the worst part of my attacks..seems to make everything worse.. | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 10/22/2006 7:19:19 PM | Hey, all:
I am amazed at the number of MDs suspensing prescriptions here! Wow, it's like WebMD!
Seriously, OP, if you MUST have any sort of medication, please make sure it is only on the specific direction of a real MD.
A couple of other people here have suggested some self-help reading, and one specific title. There is a large segment of the psychiatric profession who practice Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. In addition (here is where the reading comes in) there are numerous self-help books on the subject. You should check online for some reviews on some of these, and pick the best for you.
Self-discovery and self-help can be among the most powerful, revealing, rewarding steps you can take. Ultimately far better than any medication, because you know it is your work, not the pharmaceutical industry. It may be tough to do but the end product can be your happiness. Good luck!
David
Messages done with sustainable energy, with Wind and Sun! | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 3/8/2007 1:41:43 PM | | anyone having nocturnal panic attacks? I think i am having them. I notice that i wake up, my heart is pounding, and I'm confused and scared. They seem to occur relatively soon after i fall asleep. I know that this is one of the signs of an attack, but i question whether that is what I'm experiencing or perhaps its sleep apnea. So perhaps some of you who have sleep apnea and or nocturnal panic attacks could post some input? I do feel rather tired throughout the day, which is a sign of apnea. | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 3/8/2007 2:29:01 PM | well, i've gone through some of that. raised by a psychotic woman, sexually assaulted at 14, pregnant via date rape as a young adult, lost 2 babies in the first trimester, abusive relationships, etc, married to an idiot, cheated on by said idiot, divorced from said idiot.. found "prince charming" who turned out to be an even bigger idiot.. nearly died in childbirth, lost my home.. whatever.
i have panic attacks but honestly they don't stem from any of the above. if you have issues to deal with, find a means that works for you. group therapy, counselling, writing it out on your own.. it'll be different for every person. that's how to deal with your ISSUES.
as for how to deal with the anxiety and panic attacks, that's different. dealing with your issues will help. but getting a lot of physical activity and seeing a doctor is a must. the doctor can decide whether medical treatment is appropriate in your case, and physical activity helps the body naturally reduce stress levels and cope with panic attack triggers in the first place. effexor is great for generalized anxiety disorder and DO NOT stop them without first consulting with your medical team. you may however need to augment it with an anxiolytic such as lorazepam to stop the attack as it happens. effexor and other SSRI/SNRIs need adjustment periodically and until you find the dosage (and the right meds) that work for you, just keep monitoring your progress and stay in touch with the doc. and also, eat good foods. you'd be surprised how a good diet and exercise program can help reduce anxiety disorder.
and as for all that other stuff? forgive them. seriously. and move on. | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 3/10/2007 1:53:56 AM | Panic Attacks and Anxiety Attacks I found can be vastly improved by doing a few things.
1. Learn to control your breathing. When it gets too shallow, force yourself to slow it down. (takes lots of practice) - it also relaxes the blood pressure.
2. Limit Stimulants (Caffeine, Smoking, Sugar, etc)
3. Stay hydrated (lots of water)
-When you smoke, have caffeine or sugar, drink some water.
4. Learn to love yourself and rebuild confidence.
(May sound stupid but it's the primary reason your system excessively panics.)
5. Start taking baby steps to face your fear.
-You become so familiar with being afraid, it becomes an intinct in your subconcious. It's like riding a bike. You do it enough and it sticks in there, to the point where you just know how to do it...without even thinking about it.
-The extra stimulants I found just add to the excessive amounts of adrenaline.
-There is a great site to download self hypnosis sessions.
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 3/10/2007 2:11:42 AM | Drugs again isn't the answer. It's a mental problem...and the body simply reacts to it. Drugs might help some of the symptoms...but will only create more. Not to mention they are down right unhealthy for you.
whitestarmama is right when she says you must deal with your issues. This is something that has to be realised by you. You must train your mind to not overly fear what you initially trained it to fear.
With a calm mind...comes a calm body. | |
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| anxiety & panic attacks - how to deal with them
Posted: 3/10/2007 2:19:22 AM | "velvetkitten" has a point when she mentions group sessions. Talking to people in the same situations, and relating to what others are going through can offer such reassurance, and help you realize that there is a way out.
"pyjammez" also offers good advice. Self help books and audio sessions can help trumendously. | |
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