anxiety/panic attacks...

I had my first anxiety attack in college, and had to go to the hospital in an ambulance. I thought I was having a heart attack/dying. Anyway the dr. told me that this could be my only one, or I will keep getting them. Well since then I get little panic attacks here and there, but I know what it is, and I kinda work my way through them. I have never been on any medication for them. But I find the older I get, they come more frequently and intense. Today I was at the dentist getting a cavity filled, and right after she shot me with novicane, I felt one coming on, it was really bad, that my heart was pounding and I thought I was going to pass out. I kept telling myself I was fine, and tried to read a magazine, But my question is what do you do when you have a panic attack? I was too embarrassed to tell the dr. and by the time she came back into the room I was calm.

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

thank you for posting this. i have been having panic attacks for the last couple of years. and recently due to some health concerns for my sister and myself. i never got to the point of needing an ambulence, but definitly have had the heart poundings, sweating, dizzy, nausaus feeling. i hope some people will answer. and heres some for you. i sort of know how you feel.

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

i suffered from severe panic attacks a few months ago. i took medication and saw a social worker. the social worker told me to "distract" myself, so i took her up on her advise. i had such a bad panic attack very late one night that i just got up and left the house and went for a walk, in my pj's in the rain with an umbrella it went away. also, when i felt one coming on i would go wash the dishes, get something to eat, light all my candles (candle freak here) so distraction is DEFINATELY the key. one night i thought i was dying, pounding heart, nausea, dizzy, hot and cold that i went to the ER, all of my tests came back normal and I was told i have anxiety due to my DH illness. i went to the ER a second time 2 weeks later and was told it was a panic attack again, i begged the hospital to keep me overnight, they said no. finally, i realized that there is nothing medically wrong with me and started medication.

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

If you do a search here, there is alot of info on them - many postings from me, I am sure. I used to get them all the time, so bad, sometimes I couldn't leave the house 'cause I thought I would get one. I saw a therapist and took meds, and now I am fine, haven't had one in over a year. Alot of my panic was quitting smoking and getting pregnant and I did both so, for me, that was 90% the cause of mine. Really try to find the root of the problem and work from there, that is what worked for me, I can't speak for others, and there are lots of different kinds. I would do alot of breathing exercises if you are in public having one, many people NEVER pass out from these. Xanax helped me ALOT during this time and BEFORE I became pregnant. if I can help at all please FM me ! Feel Better.

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

I get anxiety and panic attacks a lot. I have actually learned how to cope with them. I was taking xanax last year and I became dependant on it. I had to wean myself off of it and that was very hard. Now I am medication free and I feel soooo much better. I do still get panic and anxiety - but I recognize that is all it is. I have been to the DR so many times with panic and anxiety and I have had every test done and I know that I am 100% healthy - therefore, when I do get them, I just talk to myself and say - nothing is going to happen to you, it's just a panic attack - you can't die -

I know I make it sound easy - but I have had my bout with them for a looong time and it has taken a loooong time to come to this point.

I hope you feel better!! I know it is the worst feeling ever! But just know that it is a feeling that passes and can't harm you!
Lauren

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

I had a panic attack a few months ago driving over the Whitestone Bridge (some genius construction crew removed the middle of the bridge and I was driving in one lane with water on both sides and since I have an SUV I could see right over the side into the water and it thoroughly freaked me out). I just kept telling myself that I was okay and that the situation was not nearly as bad as I was perceiving it. But my irrational fear kept winning and I came very close to just stopping mid-bridge, but I was too afraid the guy behind me would slam into me and cause me to go over the side. Somehow I made it through. Luckily, the bridge is back to normal and I haven't had an attack since, but the fear was paralyzing. I think if I kept getting panic attacks like that I'd be looking into Xanax.

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

anyone suffering that is afraid of taking meds, should try the vitamin magnesium, i started taking it and it seems like it does a good job. I read a whole book on magnesium how it's good for a lot of things and anxiety was one of them. I also heard B complex is good for anxiety, have yet to take that one though.

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

My BF had episodes (that's what we called them) and she thought she was mentally strong enough and didn't want to be "one of those people dependant on meds" Well, after stuggling with it and not being able to control it, her GP rec. Zoloft. She was a much better person because of it. She used it for 1 1/2 yrs. Came off it and was OK. # yrs latr she wonders if she might have to go on it again. She is waiting and seeing what happens. She says for now she is OK, but will also be OK if she has to go back on meds. Good Luck, best bet talk to your doc. She just mentioned it to her GP one day and her life is better for it.

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

I have been suffering from them for a long time, since I was a kid. They do make you feel like your going to die, its horrible! I had one last week at the dentist right after she gave me novicane and she saw that I was shaking, and asked me if I was ok...I told her that I suffer from anxiety and that I will be fine, I told her to talk me through what she was doing, and she did and I was fine after that, I'm glad they had a T.V in the room too. I feel when I talk about it and don't hold it in, it helps me feel better.

I had one last night when I woke up cause I had this bad pain in my chest and It wouldn't go away so of course I started to panic, and got very hot and had to get up and put some cold water on my face and that made me feel a little better, I also go on the computer too, takes my mind off things that are bothering me.

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

I am wondering if I can take a natural rememedy for my anxiety...possibly the magnesium. Do you go to GNC for that... maybe it is my BC pill...

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

Do you know the name of some of the natural pills I should look for?

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

Posted by MelTodd604

I have been suffering from them for a long time, since I was a kid. They do make you feel like your going to die, its horrible! I had one last week at the dentist right after she gave me novicane and she saw that I was shaking, and asked me if I was ok...I told her that I suffer from anxiety and that I will be fine, I told her to talk me through what she was doing, and she did and I was fine after that, I'm glad they had a T.V in the room too. I feel when I talk about it and don't hold it in, it helps me feel better.

I had one last night when I woke up cause I had this bad pain in my chest and It wouldn't go away so of course I started to panic, and got very hot and had to get up and put some cold water on my face and that made me feel a little better, I also go on the computer too, takes my mind off things that are bothering me.

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...

MelTodd, I get them in the middle of the night too...chest pain even wakes me up!
Scary!!

Message edited 4/9/2007 2:12:47 PM.

Re: anxiety/panic attacks...