Panic/Anxiety Attacks: Support, Advice, Help, Treatment Options (foot, chest, fingers)

[Wi_Girl]

I have previous experience with panic attacks as well. I used to get them while sitting in a car at a red light where I knew there was no way 'I could get out'. I also had them while sitting in meetings at work, etc. From the outside people cant really tell what's going on but from the inside I felt like I was going to pass out cold or die. They are very scary to deal with.

When I could feel one coming on, the first thing I'd try to do is to take my mind off of it. I could always tell they were coming, and sometimes I'd get them so bad it felt like part of me was going numb. I'd also feel like I'd have a hard time swallowing or that my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I'd always try to think of something to calm me down. What was for supper, where was a great place to vacation, what was my dog doing at the moment? Just anything to possibly get my mind off the current situation.

Panic attacks are very scary and I found out that when I started asking other people about them, others had them as well, I wasnt the only one suffering. I used to tell my sister in law about them and she didnt understand. When she had her 2 beloved dogs pass away (one from cancer, the other of old age) within a matter of months, she started having horrible attacks and then we were able to talk about them and relate to each other.

I ended up having to go on an anti-depressent. I spoke to my doctor about it and he put me on mediciation. It only lasted about 6 months, I was able to 'train my mind' to calm down and I also tried to relieve some of the stress in my life. I always knew the more stress I had in my life the worse they would get. I still have to battle them sometimes but no where near like I used to. I am not on any medication at the moment but when I was on it in the past, it helped me alot. It really helped me gain control of the situation and slowly be able to take control of my life again.

Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you. Just dont expect it to go away just like that. It does take some time and the more patient you are with dealing with the problem, the easier it will be for you to fight through these attacks.

[Huckleberry3911948]

Originally Posted by hollygolightly

Hi, I just wanted to put this out there. I have had serious panic attacks since 9/11. I have issues mostly with situations where I feel "stuck." Being on trains, planes, in automobiles especially. Even meetings or trainings at work, where I feel like I can't get out, I start to panic. I just wanted to know if anyone else had this happen to them, and how y'all handled it. I am seeing a psychiatrist now, but only every month and a half, she prescribes me Xanax XR, it helps, but it just feels like a band-aid. I want this to stop! Anyone have any positive feedback? Have you been able to conquer this? How? And what are your symptoms when you have one? Mine are: Can't breathe; feel like I'm going to die; think I'm having a heart attack or stroke (even though I know better). Any feedback is so appreciated.
Thanks, Holly.

the shrink should be able to help with this one.
but stimulation is often a cause. those glands that generate hydrinalin get messed with too much. cut way down on stimulants. basically the body its told to go into fight or flight way way too much, the switch gets stuck on the "on" position but the body does not respond. its getting out of that mode.
slow down.
i cannt believe she did not address any of this
a great book is anxiety and stress workbook a very thick workbook which tells a lot on overall issues that deal with stress. PTSD being a major contributor to the book content.
hope that helps.
stephen s
san diego ca

[tao]

I feel for you. I've been having severe anxiety attacks for the past couple of years and they're truly terrifying. When I'm having one my heart starts palpatating like crazy and I feel like I can't breathe and I get convinced that I'm having a heart attack which triggers further anxiety. I always have my prescription Xanax with me in a little pill box but I hate to take it so I rarely do. My husband knows what to say now, he tells me "it's not a heart attack, everything is ok - it's just a panic attack." That does help a little but the feeling of not being able to breathe and the heart palpatations are so physically real it's hard to think clearly. This might sound strange but I bought a piece of blue aragonite (that fits perfectly in my palm) from a store that sells crystals, gems, and rocks and for some reason as soon as I start holding it I calm down immediately. I bought this stone by chance because it looked so beautiful and it caught my eye but when I noticed it's calming effect on me I looked it up in a crystal book - it said blue aragonite is really good for anxiety. I can say from experience that I find it to be true, at least with the piece I have. Strange, but it works. Xanax works too but like I said, I don't like taking it.

[MrsMo]

You might try getting off of caffeine too. That helped me tremendously.I do breathing excercises to help me when I get one too. I also fix a cup of chamomille tea and play some relaxing music. I do take lexapro, as mine got so bad DH was taking me to the emergency room as he even thought I was having a heart attack. He has been my rock through all of this. Have been caffeine free for 2 years now, an occasional pepsi when I am bowling, but sure can tell when I've had the caffeine.

[Mattie Jo]

Chamomile tea, as MrsMo brought up is very relaxing because it is antispasmotic. I highly recommend it during an anxiety attack. The visualizions are a great idea too.

Sorry you are having anxiety attacks.

[hollygolightly]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I don't regularly take caffeine anymore, cut that out awhile back. Wi_Girl, I forgot to say that's one of my symptoms too, the numbness. Sometimes my hands and legs go completely numb, one time my entire face did, that was at my old job and one of the worst attacks I ever had. I was totally hyperventilating, the loss of feeling in my face is what led me to believe I was having a stroke. They had to call an ambulance. Pretty bad day. Tao, I will definitely look into the blue aragonite. I am very interested in the powers of healing that different crystals have. Stephen from San Diego, I do know that I should be seeing a therapist regularly, i used to but it didn't really help, so now I'm pretty dependent on the Xanax (I never go overboard on the medication, I just need to know they are there in case it happens). Maybe I just need to find the "right" therapist, and that hasn't happened yet. Thanks to all for your thoughts.

[GreenMachine]

I hope we back from this young man soon. It does sound like some type of seizure.

[ayersd1]

I'm going to the doctor tomorrow after class so I will let you know how it goes.. I do have a cousin who use to have seizures when she was in her teens so my grandma is very worried about it.

[Macrina]

Thank you for posting this update! Did you go to the ER that night? How have you been feeling since then?

[ayersd1]

I feel fine now. But, no I called the ER and they told me it'd be better to just go to the neurologist (sp).