i thought i had panic attacks licked...
 

i'd gone almost 2 years without experiencing another one... but i'm in the middle of one right now. ugh, i can barely type.

dude, i'm here for ya

If i lived closer I would stop buy with some Xanax

What happens in a panic attack?

:(

you dont want to experience one trust me...

Diff for diff people.... but mostly its like a heart attack type feeling , you are breathing hard , and all that shit.

I know about them. dunno if I would be at GFY during one, though.

Quiet ask your doc for some xanax

Sounds shitty :(

Sorry to hear about it just take it easy and breath deep...

:( Try to remain calm, focus and it should pass.

it is :(

The best way to deal with it is to say fuckit.

It took me 6 months to figure that out.

i don't know man. i was actually given a perscription for xanax after my last one, but i never picked them up. instead i cut out all caffeine intake, started exercising everyday, moved to the mountains, etc. and that seemed to do it for me, other than the odd heart palpitation.

Yeah... you might want to talk to the doctor about them. I used to get them bad. I would either feel like I was having a heart attack, begin uncontrollably crying, or I would just hyperventilate. Fun times. The craziest thing is that they can strike at any moment, even when you are not stressed.

Breathe. You will get through it. Call your doc tomorrow!

((Hugs))

panic attacks can destroy your life - they are bizarre. what u can control to some degree is how you react to them afterwards but even that can get out of control.

yep, that's pretty much what i do too. it's already passing. i just don't want them to start coming back, fuck do they suck.

use em in emrgencies like now. Me I am on it daily but initially i was given a few for emergencies.

I tried Effexor the other day... took 4 pills total... felt like shit.. worsen my anxiety... which wasnt that bad... :feels-hot

anyone tried Celexa...? Im now afraid to try new meds... :feels-hot

if you can do that it's very good advice - most can't.

The heart palpitation is definitely something you need to mention to the doctor. Those can cause damage to the heart if they happen often enough. You may need a beta blocker to keep your heart in rythem. I wish you the best.

:thumbsup

i already have... did a whole swack of tests on my heart - apparently it's in very good shape, no issues at all, no meds required.

I was told that I'd never be able to totally shake them.

They're not what they once were, but I still freak out from time to time. Usually during my depressed stages. I know my cycles and can usually spot them coming down the pipe.

It all depends on what you are taking those for. Effexor can be pretty strong stuff... I take Lexapro, and it works great for me. It works for anxiety, depression, and panic disorders, so if you are being treated for any of those, you should ask your dr. about it. It gives you energy, but takes about a week or two for you to feel "good" on it. You have to stay on your meds long enough for your body to adjust to the change in chemicals. Give any medicine at least 2 weeks before stopping all together. You can cause yourself some nasty withdrawls.

:2 cents:

I really think smoking pot would help.

It definitely does.

Xanax is like a roller coaster as far as controlling panic disorder. A more steady medication like klonopin is better.

I suffered for 20+ years until a doc finaly had the brains to take the xanax away.

If you ever want to talk hit me on ICQ.

My mom went through it and got to the point where she didn't leave the house for a few years. She eventually worked on her thought patterns rather than take drugs and now has been all over the place counceling people. She's gotten agoraphobics out of their homes that were stuck there for years... no drugs needed. The root of any panic/anxiety problems lies in the thoughts you have consistently. Consistent "negative" thinking patterns are about like eating junk food every day but for your mental well being.

Anyway the drugs can certainly help short term but you might want to look into a more long term solution with someone who can help you with changing the way you think and the "self talk" you have running around in your head.

My anxiety doesnt create panic attacks..(had 2 in like 7 years) but symptoms like headaches, nervousnous, etc... The fear of feeling bad creates the symptoms basically... Anyone has something similar..? General Anxiety Disorder maybe?

quiet:

You mentioned this before.

Nothing is worth getting harassed over - it's all shit in comparison to your health.

I dunno what your lifestyle is like, - if it involves stress, try and kill that and stay clear of loads of pills that suppose to help, - many are more than useless. Good food.. and I mean good food *s* may also help.

I did have something probably close to what you are experiencing - then decided - what the hell and don't bother these days and just tell whoever to fuck off and get their act together.

Ya need to chill out man - there is loads of good stuff outside the world of webmastering! :thumbsup

have you ever been on the bottom of a dog pile and start paniking when they dont get off you quick enough? Thats how I feel.

GiantGnome:

Yep!! :-) That's it GG!

You get that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach?? :-)

Lithium

most defenatly:helpme

i know how that feels man. get away from the computer and go for a walk. keep reminding yourself that it's just a temporary feeling.

that just reminded me of what my therapist asked when i told her that.

Just how many dogs are on you? It was then when I realized she must talk to a lot of wachos to think I meant real dogs.

Had my first one ever two weeks ago tonight. I truly thought I having a heart attack. They rushed me to the hospital with chest pains, a numb left arm and all the classic symtoms. Totally freaked me out.

Never had anything like that before and it lasted for hours.

Hang in there!

that really sucks, feel better

I had one a while back, I was shaking and sweating like crazy. My heart felt like it was going to cave in as well. :(

GiantGnome:

:glugglug

That is definately stress. Sure most people have this and don't even know and some of it is "good stress".

I suppose webmastering is like programming - you end up totally immersed in it and that is not good over long periods.

That is one very valuable thing I appreciate probably far more than loads of other benefits - is that I moved offshore and literally dumped a massive amount of baggage in the process.
It took at least six months and constant confirming with lawyers that whatever was OK and legal - to realize I was freeeee!! :-)

Now, I get no harassment and no "obligation" to do any stuff that I can't be bothered doing - like filling in damned forms and all that crap :-)

Life has almost everything to do with lifestyle :-)

Yep... thats exactly it. Since I had never had one beforeI was certain it was a heart attack and I had my ass rushed to the hosptial. They hooke dme up to an EKG, id d mass blood work and a chest xray right there in the emergency room. I was just laying there waiting for them to crack me open. Not untill all the test came back showing I was not having a heart attack did I start to calm down. The chest pain slowly went away and I felt more under control.

My cousin the same age as I (41) had had a full blown heart attack just two week before my anxicity attack. I think the symptom that are heart attack like only fueled the panic and made it worse since I had never had that sort of attack before. I was sure I was dieing.

It just just hit whenever too. I was in bed. My stress level is MUCH lower then it has been in forever.

So hang in there man. I dont have much experience with it, but I know I NEVER want to have one again.

I am soooo sorry that you are experiencing this quiet. I've had panic attacks for the last 11 years, right after my second son.

Some are easier to deal with than others. Big breaths, try to watch some television, a movie or something to help get your mind off it. (MUCH harder to do than it seems, I know)

When I first started getting them I had no idea what they were. I thought I was going crazy so I didn't tell anyone because I thought for sure they'd stick me in the loonie bin. haha (yes, I can laugh now, but...)

After a VERY long night with one...I finally decided to 'stop fighting it'. I really thought I was going to close my eyes and never wake up...and by then, I didn't even care anymore. Well, I woke up. ;) ....and, went straight to the doctors that day after finally telling a friend what happened and she, quite 'matter of factly' told me what it was. I'm so glad I told her, and that I went to the docs.

They put me on Xanax when needed and it has been a lifesaver. I don't use it regularly...only when I REALLY need it. I haven't needed one in a few years now, but they're still in my purse. (probably expired now but...lol)

Personally, after my experiences, I wouldn't wish one on my worst enemy....they are horrible horrible things that can consume you....unless, you deal with them properly.

PerfectionGirls,
Don't feel badly about going to the hospital. For one thing, it's better to be safe than sorry...and secondly, you are one of MANY people who experience a panic attack and end up in emerg. It's quite common.

Quiet,
Good to hear it's winding down now. It's an awesome feeling. :)

But, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss meds you can take when you really need them. Just having the meds and knowing that if worse comes to worse they're there, helps relieve at least some of the stress. :winkwink:

I was diagnosed with Anxiety (similar to panic attacks). Had Lexapro and all...

My remedy... play Battlefield 1942 :ak47: :ak47:

Seriously would take my mind off it..

My father is a heart patient. 4 heart attacks and a quintuplet (5) bi-pass, so I get freaked out about my heart...

:2 cents:

just remember its bullshit ... its in your mind. youre still alive yea? i had HORRIBLE panic attacks. been to the hospital more times than i can count - now i realized what the fuck - ive been thinking this for 10+ years, and im still alive - so i tried to quit my meds (holy shit dont ever take paxil ... i still cant get off of it)

xanax can be good to have - even just to know you have it - not necessarily need to take it, but it will kick a panic attack square in the nuts within 10 minutes. but if its been this long since a panic attack, you are out of practice handling it naturally - remember, its bullshit.

excercise, all that shit you said is the best - you have real palpitations? or just panic induced? (panic can make you think youre having palpitations but really youre just freaking out)

real palpitations, id get a checkup for that - but im assuming (from my intimate knowledge of panic attacks) you mean just the freaking out. if its just that - just remember its all bullshit - tell death to go fuck itself and when you wake up alive, you will confirm it was bullshit - but go do something, get the fuck off the computer.

:2 cents:

Mark,
That is sooo awesome about your mom! I love to hear stories like that. I know how hard it is, and for her to break through like that is very inspiring. You are right....it is very much about negative thoughts...but, I still think there is more to it. I can be sitting there thinking about a beautiful flower I saw and WHAM!...here we go. Maybe it's an accumulation of negative thoughts bursting through during a calm time...I dunno....but they certainly can come at the oddest of times.

And for those who were asking what it's like....the best analogy I've read is standing in the middle of the road and then realizing there is a bus heading straight for you. A huge rush of adrenalin that gets you heart pumping....but for no reason at all. Not fun.

Sorry to hear about your panic attack.

I just had a blonde moment.

Was at the gas station and started to wash the windows on my SUV when I was filling up the gas tank and then drove off without realizing I hadn't put the gas handle back on the pump. Pulled the whole damn thing out.

Holy shit, people were all giving me that what a dumb fuck look.

:helpme :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

THe worse was lying in bed and psyching myself out about my "giving myself a heartattack" and the feeling its gonna burts out of my chest. Kinda like drinking 10 coffee's in 5 minutes. Not fun :helpme

I have attacks like once every few weeks now, so its not that bad anymore.

Oh how I relate. It's really a vicious cycle. It starts...you freak out cause your heart is pumping fast, so it pumps even faster, then you freak out more and on, and on and on.

Yes, very much like drinking 10 cups of coffee...lol. I cut caffeine out of my diet years ago and it's helped quite a bit.

Every few weeks is quite a bit if you ask me. I wouldn't be happy about that myself. I can count on 1 hand how many attacks I've had in the last few years....and only 1 of them was a 'big one'. And I think it has everything to do with cutting out the caffeine.

:2 cents:

Oh, and hangover days are culprets too.....I find I get alot of small ones after drinking the night before.....so I don't drink much anymore either. ;)

And for some, pot works...but for me, it actually gives me even more...haha. It gets me all paranoid....too bad...I live in BC too. ;o)

sorry to hear that quite. i have several friends who get them frequently. i've only expierienced one or two in my life (thank god) and they are a horrible thing. :(