Panic/Anxiety Attacks: Support, Advice, Help, Treatment Options (pains, more expensive, children)

[GLS]

Originally Posted by Allie Montgomery

Hi all. I woke up this morning with a panic/anxiety attack. I have been under alot of pressure (I won't go into details). But my heart has been taking a toll because of these attacks. I am now taking blood pressure medicine to regulate my heart beats. But my question is - how do you wake up with these attacks from a dead sleep? I understand during the day, but to wake up with one. It is almost daily now and it is very scary. Sometimes I wake up crying and I feel like I am suffocating and that there is a weight on my chest. Does anyone know why you would wake up this way?

The cause may be psychological, i.e. dreams/nightmares or an immediate adrenaline release ("fight or flight" response) in anticipation of the day (fears) before you at the point of awakening.

However, it is also important to consider the cause may be medical vs psychological. What you are describing MAY be sleep apnea, in which the
respiratory rate decreases to the point that the body tries to increase heart rate to compensate for low oxygen saturation. This is a complex subject, but common signs include heavy snoring, awakening suddenly in the night, and feeling tired in the day to to lack of REM sleep, even though you were in bed 6 to 8 hours.

Ask your physician to help you rule out sleep apnea as one possible cause, because if it is severe, it requires treatment. In addition, IF the cause is medical, you will quit beating yourself up feeling somehow it is your fault.
This will help reduce your overall anxiety. Good luck to you.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by Suzet2262

I hear you about having one or the other on your lap. For me, it would be my computer. When I get anxious, I just need to start typing and then before I know it, the anxiety has passed. I know this isnt the only way to get rid of attacks but it sure helps me when nothing else does.

The old Mario is so much fun!! I do love playing it. I cant get into the new ones, like I said they make me anxious just trying to figure out how to use the controls

I am the same exact way. I like to sit with my computer also. I used to do needlework as well. I also tend to stay away from things that I might find frustrating because I get upset about it.

If you want to play the old Mario on a hand held Game Boy, you can purchase them in that format and you could play them while your watching TV, or like on this trip your going on. The easiest way to do it would be to check out the site www.gamestop.com. You can purchase things over the internet and get the older games for the game boy. I am never far away from my gameboy.

I made a commitment to go down to Orlando tonight and I really don't want to go. I have had a couple things happen this week and one today and I am feeling really shakey. I just need to breathe deep and get up when I really feel like shutting the door to my room and turning the light off for total silence.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by GLS

The cause may be psychological, i.e. dreams/nightmares or an immediate adrenaline release ("fight or flight" response) in anticipation of the day (fears) before you at the point of awakening.

However, it is also important to consider the cause may be medical vs psychological. What you are describing MAY be sleep apnea, in which the
respiratory rate decreases to the point that the body tries to increase heart rate to compensate for low oxygen saturation. This is a complex subject, but common signs include heavy snoring, awakening suddenly in the night, and feeling tired in the day to to lack of REM sleep, even though you were in bed 6 to 8 hours.

Ask your physician to help you rule out sleep apnea as one possible cause, because if it is severe, it requires treatment. In addition, IF the cause is medical, you will quit beating yourself up feeling somehow it is your fault.
This will help reduce your overall anxiety. Good luck to you.

One thing I am so thankful for is my anxiety rarely follows me to my dreams, when it does, its not like a panic attack or fight or flight. I am sure thats why when I am really upset, I want to lay down and go to sleep. I feel like its an escape.

[HighlandsGal]

Do you gals take meds for anxiety or no?

I do yoga and deep breathing and take a tiny dose of Celexa everyday and Xanax in an "emergency." I haven't had a full blown panic attach since last April

[Suzet2262]

HighlandsGal, that is great. Its almost been a year for you. I am really happy for you. I am doing this detox thing right now, so I have pretty much been sicker than I ever have in my life!!! So no exercise for me, heck I cant hardly get out of bed to p**. And trust me, on this detox it is all I have been doing. It is for 45 days. People that have had anxiety and panic attacks have gotten great results from doing this detox, so I am going to do this and see. I still do take Cymbalta and Klonopin(only as needed), which has been a lot in the last 3 days as my heart has been racing like crazy. They said it was due to the detox getting all the poisins out of my system. Kinda freaked me out, but I am going to stick with it. I will try yoga after this is over. My breathing is really out of whack from years of having these attacks. Sometimes I find myself holding my breath and not even know I am doing it.

Lindsey my BD is on Sat, but we are leaving on the train on Sun. It is a 3 hour ride to get to San Diego. I have been getting nervous as it gets closer, plus I hope I feel well enough to go. My daughters are all excited about going. I hope I dont let them down. I keep telling myself that I will be able to get up and walk around, so it shouldnt be so confining. Plus they have like a snack car that we can go to also. So we wont have to sit in our seats in one part of the train. I think I will be ok. Sigh. I am going to bring my knitting, I am knitting a blanket right now. That is very theraputic to me. Thanks for the gamestop tip.

RH1, that picture is amazing. Thanks for putting it up. I hope you and your boyfriend have a wonderful trip.

[GLS]

Originally Posted by Lindsey_Mcfarren

One thing I am so thankful for is my anxiety rarely follows me to my dreams, when it does, its not like a panic attack or fight or flight. I am sure thats why when I am really upset, I want to lay down and go to sleep. I feel like its an escape.

Sleep does help some people, and I am glad it works for you. I would have to add the caveat that if it develops into hypersomnia (10 to 16 hours/day), then it can be one sign of clinical depression.

My point in responding to Allie M. was that suddenly awakening from a deep sleep with a rapid heart beat may be due to medical reasons. Working with her physician to investigate the possibility of sleep apnea is probably appropriate.

Lindsey, I have read a number of your posts and hope you are having a good day today.

[GLS]

Originally Posted by Suzet2262

HighlandsGal, that is great. Its almost been a year for you. I am really happy for you. I am doing this detox thing right now, so I have pretty much been sicker than I ever have in my life!!! So no exercise for me, heck I cant hardly get out of bed to p**. And trust me, on this detox it is all I have been doing. It is for 45 days. People that have had anxiety and panic attacks have gotten great results from doing this detox, so I am going to do this and see. I still do take Cymbalta and Klonopin(only as needed), which has been a lot in the last 3 days as my heart has been racing like crazy. They said it was due to the detox getting all the poisins out of my system. Kinda freaked me out, but I am going to stick with it. I will try yoga after this is over. My breathing is really out of whack from years of having these attacks. Sometimes I find myself holding my breath and not even know I am doing it.

Lindsey my BD is on Sat, but we are leaving on the train on Sun. It is a 3 hour ride to get to San Diego. I have been getting nervous as it gets closer, plus I hope I feel well enough to go. My daughters are all excited about going. I hope I dont let them down. I keep telling myself that I will be able to get up and walk around, so it shouldnt be so confining. Plus they have like a snack car that we can go to also. So we wont have to sit in our seats in one part of the train. I think I will be ok. Sigh. I am going to bring my knitting, I am knitting a blanket right now. That is very theraputic to me. Thanks for the gamestop tip.

RH1, that picture is amazing. Thanks for putting it up. I hope you and your boyfriend have a wonderful trip.

Suzet2262, please be careful in "doing this detox thing right now". I would suggest you discuss any herbal or medicinal components of the "detox" with the physician that is prescribing your Cymbalta/Klonopin. Some detox programs have supplements that include diuretics or stimulants that have drug interactions with your prescription meds or create a state of dehydration that may make your anxiety worse.

Do not interpret my comments as a criticism of your detox efforts. I am merely advocating that a medically SUPERVISED detox is safer for you.
Good luck.

[staywarm2]

Have you ever read "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne? It's a small book (also on DVD & CD) and is very helpful in teaching positive thinking in a practical manner. I know some of you have problems that are really bad, but maybe this will help a little. Good luck and God bless. I'll pray for you tonight.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by GLS

Sleep does help some people, and I am glad it works for you. I would have to add the caveat that if it develops into hypersomnia (10 to 16 hours/day), then it can be one sign of clinical depression.

My point in responding to Allie M. was that suddenly awakening from a deep sleep with a rapid heart beat may be due to medical reasons. Working with her physician to investigate the possibility of sleep apnea is probably appropriate.

Lindsey, I have read a number of your posts and hope you are having a good day today.

The only time I sleep too much is when I am taking 10mg of Paxil, it makes me groggy. Now I am taking 20mgs and I feel fine. I am sure that I do have problems at times with depression but they are nothing compared to the anxiety I deal with. I also believe the depression arises from the complications of the anxiety. Most of the time I feel fine, not manic but pretty good. I had a couple pretty bad things happen this week and I felt down afterward but I didn't have a panic attack, just some intense feelings of anxiety.

I did have an intense day today, I wanted to shut the door to my room, pull the shades and curl up in a ball. I had previously made a commitment to go down to Orlando and see a family member, distant who lives in California. I fought my urge to stay at home and off we went to Orlando AND stopped by Costco quickly.

They were staying in a Timeshare place down in Lake Buena Vista, my daughter went swimming in the heated pool and we had dinner and sat and talked until late. I'm glad I went because it took my mind off of what was worrying me and I felt a sense of accomplishment at having made the trip with no problems.

[GLS]

Originally Posted by Lindsey_Mcfarren

The only time I sleep too much is when I am taking 10mg of Paxil, it makes me groggy. Now I am taking 20mgs and I feel fine. I am sure that I do have problems at times with depression but they are nothing compared to the anxiety I deal with. I also believe the depression arises from the complications of the anxiety. Most of the time I feel fine, not manic but pretty good. I had a couple pretty bad things happen this week and I felt down afterward but I didn't have a panic attack, just some intense feelings of anxiety.

I did have an intense day today, I wanted to shut the door to my room, pull the shades and curl up in a ball. I had previously made a commitment to go down to Orlando and see a family member, distant who lives in California. I fought my urge to stay at home and off we went to Orlando AND stopped by Costco quickly.

They were staying in a Timeshare place down in Lake Buena Vista, my daughter went swimming in the heated pool and we had dinner and sat and talked until late. I'm glad I went because it took my mind off of what was worrying me and I felt a sense of accomplishment at having made the trip with no problems.

I am sending you rep points for a huge breakthrough today. You should feel a sense of accomplishment for enjoying the trip rather than letting your fear ruin it for you. By the way did you notice that being near the pool helped calm you. Water is the commonality that soothes you. Rain on your roof, ocean waves, a babbling brook, etc. This gives you a clue on how you can exercise some control. When you feel an anxiety attack coming on, try to seek out the sounds or visuals of water, particularly when it is rhythmic. Soft repetitive sounds appear to work for you. This is similar to the purring of your kitten. Best wishes.