Panic Attacks

[Shari 6]

Hello. This is an embarrassing topic for me to bring up, but I need others' suggestions. I have started having a few panic attacks and I wanted to know if anyone else has these and what successful treatments there are.

First, let me tell you I had my first panic attack 20+ years ago when I was 19 driving alone in my car at night. I had all the classic symptoms, throat closing up so it felt like I couldn't breathe, hyperventilating because I was scaring myself, rapid heart beat, etc. I got to my dorm and was better when I got around people. I had my boyfriend follow me home every night I worked after that for months. I had a couple more but they subsided without medication after maybe 6-9 months.

Then nothing for 20 years until about five years ago. I had that one while driving alone on the interstate in semi-heavy traffic during the day. I pulled over, thought I calmed myself down, but when I got back on the road I could only go about 1/2 mile more when it happened again. Believe it or not I had to have my mother who worked closeby come and get me. Very embarrassing. I avoided the interstate after this and went back roads. That was the only one I had as I started avoiding the interstate and went back roads.

So now about two weeks ago I am driving alone, stuck in heavy morning traffic, and I feel it come on. Now I know what it is and I try to breathe in slowly through by nose and out slowly through my mouth, but it happends anyhow. I am massaging my carotid pulse to slow down my heartbeat which is out the roof, and my head is so lightheaded I feel I am going to pass out. I quickly call my husband who calms me down. I am so upset/frustrated/freaked out that I get off interstate, go back roads home, and call in sick. A week later I get in line at Subway and there are at least 8 people in front of me. I start feeling the panic kick in for no reason. UGH! I had to get out of line. I wanted to interview for another job and I couldn't even bring myself to make the appointment and go for the pre-testing thinking I would walk in and panic would set in. Double UGH!

So now I am avoiding heavy traffic (though I am fine when someone is in the car with me), am avoiding going alone and standing in a line, and worse yet, avoiding going in for simple testing for a possible new job. There is no reason for these to be happening to me. I am not depressed by any means, I am ecstatically happy with my fabulous husband. I am under the usual financial stress and I would like to change jobs, but that is the norm anyhow. By the way, by husband is very suportive of me and doesn't want me to feel like the idiot I feel like when these happen to me. He wants to help me.

So I ask those of you that currently have or have ever been treated for panic attacks, what was the best "therapy" for you? I know Xanax is not the answer and I wouldn't even ask for that (except when I fly which has only been 5 times in my adult life), but I know Lexapro and those type drugs are supposed to help with anxiety. I don't know if I need to call my primary care doctor or a counselor? I would prefer my primary care, but I sort of want to know why these are happening and don't really want to rely on drugs.

Any comments, suggestions? Thanks!

[almaty 19]

panic attack help

try there..it is a website dedicated to this issue ...

Edited June 12, 2007 by almaty

[doodlebug 3]

I too suffered my whole life with panic attacks. Normally it is triggered by entering into similar situations where they happened before. For you it is highways and for me it was restaurants. I'd enter a restaurant, order food and have to leave.

I tried therapy without medication for almost 7 years or so (not sure how long exactly but very long time) to no avail. I was adamant that I would not let it control my life but it is insidious and eventually I was unable to leave my house and even in my house they would happen.

Finally when I had children I refused to subject them to what I was going through so I saw a doctor and got a script for Paxil. Within two weeks I could go out to dinner and within one month I was able to take the kids to the park, work full days without leaving, even give presentations in front of hundreds of people!

For some the therapy does work, and I'd always recommend going that route first, since medication should always be a last resort. For me though, it was obvious that it was 100% chemical since years of therapy did not work.

I just switched from Paxil, which I had been on for over 10 years, to Lexapro, since I intend to get pregnant God willing within the next couple of years and Paxil doesn't have good results with pregnancies.

I am absolutely fine now, save the random attack which only happens when I'm on a plane, so now when I fly my dr. gives me adavan and I'm 100% panic attack free.

Unless you've been through the progression from panic attacks to agoraphobia, you probably won't appreciate the joy that being able to do simple things like go food shopping, work a full day, go to the park, take a vacation gives, but let me tell you I never want to turn back and live the hell that I was living.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

[jg_am 0]

I had them for about a year. They started in the back seat of a car, and then they were at church:whether I was playing in the band or sitting in the pew, movie theates, other peoples cars...any where I didn't have control. I thought it was because of a few things(mold, or issues in my own life). If you're religious try this: praying. I spoke to my pastor about it and he said to read throught the book of Psalms and to take note of every verse that deals with fear. I had six double sided pages of verses written down. When I felt affraid, I clung that much closer to God. I also talked with someone at my church about seeing a psycologist. He asked if I was trusting the man, or that God would use the man to help me. I decided not to go and things cleared up. They were clearing up at that point, but it helped all the more. Did I enjoy that time? No, but I wouldn't trade it for what the panic attacks cleaned up in my life and for the fruit it produced.

[Autumnchik 6]

Here is another website: http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx28t.htm

Generally, the recommended treatment is a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Your primary care provider may be able to offer some recommendations for therapists and may be able to work in conjunction with the therapist.

Good luck

[Cantankerous 0]

For me, research on the Internet and Counseling helped me understand the problem. I had weight gain with Paxil, tried Paxil CR later which worked about the same, now on 20 mg Lexapro which does work for me. Even though I would rather have a higher dosage to reduce my daily anxiety and stress I understand that I must eat right, exercise, and all that other healthy stuff before I seek solely a medicinal fix. If you do decide on medication it takes time to find the right one and the right dosage.

Good Luck.

[Shari 6]

Thank you all. I can go to free counseling through my work; they are counselors and do not write prescriptions though, so I think I might try my doctor and see if I can get a prescription to help reassure me NOW (example, Lexapro) and then start the counseling. I just don't want to get to the point in the next couple of days that I can't drive by myself worried I MIGHT have a panic attack, but I want to figure out too why they are starting.

I just got back from lunch with hubby, and again, he reassured me I am not crazy and he is extremely supportive of how I intend to get help on the matter. Thanks again for everyone's advice.

[Ladylethal 12]

I suffered from it a couple of years back. I had a treatment with anxiety pills and change of scenery since my attack was related to my house, which was huge and my family moved away to our farm and I stayed behind living alone to finish Law School. The attacks started a week after I was living alone in the house, and it took months of pills and finally finishing Law School and moving to be with my family that ceased the attacks. Even after I went back to my hometown to wait for my K1 interview I slept in my brother's house and would only go to my house during the day.

The anxiety medication I took was Alprazolam (that's the substance, dunno any medication names in English), which is designed for panick attacks and anxiety disorder (I have anxiety issues as well, even prior to my panick attacks).

Edited June 12, 2007 by Luis&Laura

[Ladylethal 12]

EDIT: Couldn't edit my last post.

My panick attack was that I'd wake up in the middle of the night and was 100% sure someone was getting inside the house to kill me, or rob me, or attack me, and then I'd have all those symptoms you described as well, which are horrible, worse than people can imagine. After it started I couldn't lie down in bed or close my eyes, I'd stay up all night sitting in the living room watching the street and hearing every tiny noise in the house. Like I said, it's a huge house and it's oldish (not much, but it has those floorboards that squeak and pop by itself, from the heat or cold)

Like you with the car, mine was attached to my house, and having these attacks is horrible 'cus you think you're being silly and weak, and you don't accept it's a condition you can't control. It's even hard to tell people 'cus you think they won't believe you, or think you ARE being an idiot. It was horrible for me. My house was in one of the safest neighborhoods in my town (which was all in all a pretty safe town since it was small), but I couldn't sleep there. I could sleep just fine in one of my friend's house, in the worst part of town. That doesn't help the overall feeling that we're being silly about having these attacks.

The pills helped, but getting out of my house was the only thing to stop the attacks completely. My husband LOVES my house and he keeps saying he wishes one day we could buy it from my dad (our house is actually being sold now, since the family made the move definite) so we could live there. I told him NO WAY I'd ever live in that house again (and all my life I'd been totally in love with my house as well) and I think that if I were to go there now and sleep there tonight, I still wouldn't be able to.

[Lizzy 0]

I recently passed my driving test and i have had one since being in the car, i felt like i could not control the wheel and stay within the road lines as well as the things you described.

I have had them ever since i started the visa process. I am thinking about starting some therapy regarding this. I do take batch's rescue remedy. Helps me i find, good luck

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Glad to read this. I have been having panic attacks for several months now. My physician gave me a script for efforexen I believe it was, it only exaggerated the panic I was feeling. So until I can get my butt down there on an empty stomach to rule out thyroid or other possible conditions, I am using Xanax. My physician seems to think it is some sort of anxiety that doesn't need to come from anything other than your brain chemicals are all out of whack. Of all times in my life I am at my happiest and then this sh*t has to happen. Tim convinces me that I am not nuts nor am I dying from a heart attack when I have them. Sadly I am long over due to go to the girly doctor and I strongly feel as if this is pre-menopausal just hate the idea I am getting old!

[kisschick1976 0]

I had panic attacks for about 4 years. I haven't had a full blown one in a couple of years now. I was taking Paxil then later paxil cr I think I was taking 27.5 - 30mg a day and I was still having the panic attacks. I stopped taking them because I got layed off from my job and couldn't afford COBRA. I went through one hell of a withdrawal period, thank god I didn't have to go to work then the weight started dropping off. Then one day I realized that after I started losing weight, I had stopped having panic attacks. So my problem had to have been chemical, I remember they had started just after I had hit 200 lbs, I did have other hormonal problems that went along with the weight gain.

I wouldn't say I'm completely cured yet. Like I said, I don't have full on panic attacks, but I do have that DREAD feeling if I have to go somewhere like eat in a restaurant, go see a movie in a theatre, and worst of all, getting on a plane or any other public transportation. As the weight is dropping I am feeling better emotionally AND the other hormonal problems I was having are clearing up as well.

Something that helped long ago was, talking to other people that had the same problems, or even those that have it worse than you. Talking is the best. Having someone you can talk to anytime when you have an attack is wonderful. If you ever want to talk about it, PM me.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I too suffered my whole life with panic attacks. Normally it is triggered by entering into similar situations where they happened before. For you it is highways and for me it was restaurants. I'd enter a restaurant, order food and have to leave.

I tried therapy without medication for almost 7 years or so (not sure how long exactly but very long time) to no avail. I was adamant that I would not let it control my life but it is insidious and eventually I was unable to leave my house and even in my house they would happen.

Finally when I had children I refused to subject them to what I was going through so I saw a doctor and got a script for Paxil. Within two weeks I could go out to dinner and within one month I was able to take the kids to the park, work full days without leaving, even give presentations in front of hundreds of people!

For some the therapy does work, and I'd always recommend going that route first, since medication should always be a last resort. For me though, it was obvious that it was 100% chemical since years of therapy did not work.

I just switched from Paxil, which I had been on for over 10 years, to Lexapro, since I intend to get pregnant God willing within the next couple of years and Paxil doesn't have good results with pregnancies.

I am absolutely fine now, save the random attack which only happens when I'm on a plane, so now when I fly my dr. gives me adavan and I'm 100% panic attack free.

Unless you've been through the progression from panic attacks to agoraphobia, you probably won't appreciate the joy that being able to do simple things like go food shopping, work a full day, go to the park, take a vacation gives, but let me tell you I never want to turn back and live the hell that I was living.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

That's awesome and inspiring! Thank you for sharing that!

[Shari 6]

Then one day I realized that after I started losing weight, I had stopped having panic attacks. So my problem had to have been chemical, I remember they had started just after I had hit 200 lbs, I did have other hormonal problems that went along with the weight gain.

I had wondered about gaining weight. I had lost 35 pounds about three years ago mainly by walking 5 miles a day, but I slowly put it back on after my hubbie moved over here and I stopped walking (he doesn't like to walk) and began cooking/eating more for hubbie. I think I need to seriously start the walking/diet again to help with these attacks, along with making me feel better in general.

I also called and have an appointment on Monday with a counselor to try to figure this out mentally as well as physically. Wish me luck! Thanks for all the comments/advice.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Oh Shari, I feel for you... (*and LAURA..mine were usually at night too, as I was drifting off to sleep...UGH..awful!) ...I've been there, done that too...and just recently, actually. About a year 1/2 ago, Craig was still having a really tough time adjusting (he's fine now ) and it was really really wearing on me as much as him at that point...I was wondering if we were going to make it after all we'd been through and even though we still loved one another...and BOOM..my first panic attack. SCARY stuff let me say for anyone who's never had one...and doubly scary when you first start getting them yourself and you've never had before!

I tried Xanax, did nothing, and Lexapro worked for me slightly...but the meds didn't really do it. To be honest, what really helped me the most was visiting websites about panic attacks and talking to my doctor about it...and realizing for myself that although I couldn't control what was happening to my body at that very moment...that it wasn't going to kill me....so basically..recognizing it for what it was was a lifesaver for me. I had mine, as I mentioned, mostly as I was drifting off to sleep...I would feel as if everything was "going black" ...basically that i was dying..and would come back from the brink of sleep gasping for air and leaping out of bed. They lasted about 8/9 months for me, and I'm SO very grateful that I've had not a one in the last several months.

When I say Xanax, etc. didn't work for me, I'm definitely not knocking it. My husband still takes an anti anxiety (though he didn't quite have panic attacks...severe anxiety though) now and it has been a wonder drug for him..he's himself again for the past several months! He has reduced his dosage by half and eventually be off of it, but the point is that different things work for different people...so whatever works for YOU..go with it.

Big hugs to you from all of us..and esp. those of us who know what those nasty things feel like...UGH! M.