Panic attacks or is it just me
 

Fuck I've been getting panic attacks lately.
Maybe I just have alot on my mind but they suck and I think its because i've been glued to my PC for so long.

It was something that came up at the vancouver show and alot of people have been getting them.

Does anyone else have the same thing happen to them?

yep going on 4 years but the acute phase has been over for 3.

I find when I have too much caffeine or too little sleep coupled with stress is when they hit the most.

lay down take a nap...listen to some music...go out for a walk these things help me.

actually i never had one, but i thought earlier that i was having one, my vision got blurry, i got a headache, i felt faint and had to sit down... was weird... funny you mentioned something about yours

thats how it starts:(

It really sucks its like I'm fighting a battle inside my head.

Feels like someone's sitting on my chest
also feels like I'm gonna faint or just die..

All my doctors can tell me is to work out a 1/2 hour a day
shit give me a pill that works.
and my stomach is all fucked up maybe I'm just getting old

:glugglug damn it sucks:(

this is a first for me, and i have been overly stressed lately, but if yours is an ongoing thing, they should prescribe you Xanax or something....

Got alot of stress going on with work and my girl is pregnant.

maybe i just need a vacation I'm over do.

I don't wish panic attacks on anybody

Yeah, your doctor should put you on Xanax or Paxil. If he won't and it's really bothering you, get a different doc.

do not bother with drugs for them, fight the bastards on your own. I used to get them alot and basically declared internal civil war against them. I won, I agree with the going out for a walk tactic..worked for me anyway.

RogerV,

We get them too, it has to do with sitting too long in front of a computer, working too hard on something that will never be finished fast enough. Wanting to do everything that's away from the computer.....At least this is the feeling we get. That's when we try to take a break from this scene. A warm bath with soft music and low light will normally ease it, a good long walk and taking full breaths, & sleep always helps. Taking a pill will temporarily make it better but it won't cure you.

Most importantly, trust that everything will be ok and you are stressing for nothing.

& God Bless, I hope your girlfriend is enjoying the pregnancy.

Do you have any problems with your neck or jaw ? Flying in an airplane can set it off ...


Tmj disorder ( jaw joints ) will cause severe anixety and millions of people have it !

http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health/pubs/tmd/text.htm
http://www.tmjoints.org/
http://www.drshankland.com/tmj.html

I had a doctor try to tell me I was just a stressed out mommy when my girls where small. I ended up with whiplash in my neck and had to quit working at my data entry job ! I MADE him take an xray , he found the whip lash and sent me to therapy. At the therapy, I read about tmj and knew I had it ! Unfortunately, mine includes arthritis in the jaw joints.. I bet to this day that DOCTOR would still say it's just PANIC attacks.


Also severe allergies will make you anxious ! Air quality is dangerous where I live . How's your air ?

Oh research before you let a doctor say it's just panic attacks !

it's just you.

You're a pussy and you need to face up to this. The sooner you realize you have no control over yourself and that you are destined to have people walk on you for the duration of your life, the sooner you will be set free.

Now shut the fuck up and bring me a beer you hahahaha.

I used to get them about a year ago.. Your doc is right.. Join a gym or something.. Haven't had one since and you feel a whole shit loads better...

crazy how many people get this now and days.

My first panic attack that I can actually recall being a panic attack (because according to my parents they actually occured at a much younger age as well) was about 4 years ago.

I was sitting in front of my laptop working on a project. I had just given up my 9-5 as a GM for the Taco Bell corporation and all the benefits along with it.

This project was sort of a do or die kind of project. Anyway I noticed i was getting lightheaded and nauseous.

I went to the bathroom and tossed my cookies and next thing I know I could not breathe.

I thought I was dying.

This set of a series of evens where I was in and out of the hospital every other night for about 3 months straight.

I just knew something physical was wrong with me and that the doctors were just failing to diagnose me correctly.

It got to the point where I was actually afraid to go to sleep...this was the "acute" phase.

It got to a point where I was almost afraid to go outside. I planned trips around town so that all routes would take me by a hospital, or at least near one.

I ended up in the hospital due to exhaustion from lack of sleep.

I was put on paxil and that drug was a life saver for me.

However I did not want to spend the rest of my life taking a pill so I did anything and everything I could to control these damn things.

I learned watching various documentaries and reading various reports that there is an actual thing in your brain that is triggered that tells you that you are suffocating.

And when you start to have a panic attack if you really pay attention you will realize you are actually holding your breath...and this is what helps trigger that suffocating feeling.

So slow down...step away from what it is you are doing and take deep slow breaths.

I know for some that all this shit seems crazy...and quite frankly it is. Because it's not real in the sense that you are suffering from any actual physical malady. But it is real...very real in the sense that your body and mind react as though you were.

Your blood pressure, adrenaline etc is all elevated as though you are actually experiencing a near death experience...and for all practical purposes you are.

But I sat down one night while laying in the hospital waiting for some adovan to calm me down to kick in and I just told myself that I was tired of dying...and it was time to start living again.

And that's what I did.

That is not to say I do not have any panic attacks at all.

I have a few small ones daily. They are quite insignificant it's my fear trying to win again.

Xanax, colonopin, valium etc...they work well when you are right in the middle of having a panic attack...but I found out real quick that once they take you off those damn things the side effects of that are increased panic attacks...it actually says that in the meds literature...not to mention the fact that they are highly addictive.

So stay away from those as much as you can, they can only increase your misery.

you pretty much nailed it.

I used to suffer from panic attacks on a regular basis a few years ago. I get them much much less now. It sounds really contrived, but I found it very helpful going to a shrink.

Something that helps me when I feel a panic attack coming on is smoking some herb. It really helps me relax, because I become incredibly stiff when I feel an attack brewing. The herb relaxes my muscles and clears my mind. It helps me calm down a bit and and control the feeling of overwhelming panic. Doesn't work all the time, but has helped me.








:BangBang:
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kevin
www.stunningcurves.com
[email protected]

Roger...I used to be a therapist...you've been given some excellent advice.

I have great empathy for anyone that suffers from a panic attack. Usually, the onset is quite sudden and very frightening.

I also agree, that, whilst Paxil and Ativan and other drugs are beneficial for the short term, they are, by no means, the cure all.

There is a reason for this.

If it's an overabundance of stress, physical exercise, even mild, can be very helpful. If there is something else going on, get a physical by a competent doctor, she said, realising that can be an oxymoron.....make sure there is nothing physiological going on inside your biological systems.

There are allergies that can precipitate panic attacks, especially those involving airway passages.

There are foods that can cause a reaction.

There are stressors, certain smells, memories, etc. that can trigger something from the past.

Do something. This is not the way you want to spend the rest of your life. I don't know how old you are; but, as we age, we do become more fearful, as there is more to lose and less time to gain it back. Our own mortality sometimes smacks us, especially when you realise you are going to be responsible for another life, such as your unborn child.

We live in precarious times. The events of 9/11 have caused everyone's stress levels to rise. There has been an increase in heart attacks and other stress induced ailments. Pharmaceutical companies are cleaning up, selling over the counter sleep aids. Doctors are prescribing more and more anti anxiety medications and anti depressants.

It's not enough to think positively, although that's a good place to start. It's important that you find out what's causing this, especially if you have not had these before.

I wish you well.

And, to those who have conquered this extraordinary syndrome, kudos.

I have horrible anxiety and panic attacks sicne I quity drinking alcohol everyday. Beats being a useless drunk though, whats worst is when I do have alcohol the anxiety and panic increases, sucks.

Anyhoo.

See a Doc and see what he recommends, you'd be surprised what chemicals really balance ya out.

Hope it gets better.

Insomnia is the other bastard I battle.

I get them once and awhile. Feel very nervous when there is no need to be.
Worst is when your out eating and get a panic attack. Feel like you'll be sick and that just adds to the fear.

Best to just ride it out. Don't bother with any meds - those are for pussys.
Its your own body, you just need to tell yourself there is no reason to feel nervous and they pass.
Used to get them once or twice a month but haven't had one in several months now so maybe its gone.

Working out can actually be a big help, and I'm not just talking about a pussy workout. Get a bench and some freeweights. Go at it full on at least 3 days a week. Working out produces a chemical that makes you feel better, and you'll physically feel better too. Not to mention feeling better about the way you look.

RodgerV

I have experianced panic attackes on and off for 10 years. You can email me at anytime and I will help you understand and fight it. My email is [email protected]

It is all about control, once you learn how to control it, you will be ok. I have to say that panic attacks are the worst thing I have ever experianced in my life.

Thanks for all the tips and insights.

The crazy thing is I live a great life. but you always feel you can lose it all at a drop of a dime.

Once again thank you for all your helpfull info.
at least I'm not alone

yes... you are.

One word... P-A-X-I-L

That cause of panic attacks is completely understood and 10 years ago doctors had no clue what it was. I've heard paxil is one of the best for stopping it.

--------------------

I pretty much drank my way thru college, same deal Fletch. As soon as you sober up you realize you were just self-medicating. The problem was there, you were just too bombed to notice it cuz the alcohol kills any anxiety you might have about ANYTHING.

Paxil is helpful but it's not the ultimate solution. I was on it for a long time and I really only started to feel whole again after I quit taking it. It DOES have significant side effects. If you react to certain situations more than others the meds can help you confront those situations and overcome your anxiety about them thru repetition, but after a while you start feeling more freaked out about the fact that you have to take meds to get thru the day than you did about the anxiety attacks in the first place.

Exercise, for some reason, REALLY helps! Start taking martial arts lessons, playing tennis, lifting weights, ANYTHING to get you moving, sweating, and get those endorphins flowing. You'll be extremely glad you did.

I hope things work out for you, anxiety doesn't sound like much but it's a BITCH to live with and it can wreck your life.

I get heartburn with the shakes and I can't sit still. Good weight loss program. Stress for a slimmer waiste

paxil is good for depression and social anxiety.
but if you are having full blown panic attacks that deabilate you and feel like a severe heart attack you need XANAX.

yep. usually. but it is possible that paxil can even worsen the situation in some cases.
those "new" anti-depressants can only be used through trial and error. you never know beforehand how a person will react to them.

xanax, however, fixes any anxiety.

Perhaps you have trouble relaxing while not working. Do you think about your job a LOT also during free time?

See a psychiatrist before it gets worse. If you get panic attacks regularly, you should be already on your way to a doctor in order to avoid long-term problems.

I hope it gets better.

anxiety and depression are two different things.

SmithKlineBeecham the owners of Paxil are nothing but used car salesmen when it comes to the marketing of thier product.

Too many doctors are mis-prescribing anti-depressants for anxiety needs.

xanax is not for depression, it is strictly for anti-anxiety.
anxiety is the cause of panic attacks not depression.

All paxil will do for a person with panic attacks is screw up the equilibrium of chemicals that is more than likely fine to begin with.

Im not a big fan of the Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac boom.
Its all do to marketing of these coporations, and has little to do with the need of the patient. Really sad.

ok im done with my soap box.
I almost feel like im back in the public health field again.
something i never want to go back to, but it just comes out sometimes

Holy shit, I'm not the only one. That is actually some relief.

I get anxiety attacks... never a full-blown shaking-and-vomiting panic attack, thank goodness. Even the little ones can be a bitch, though... It seems like the world has sped-up around me, though my heart is racing along with it. Generally, when I get in that state, what I need is to take a break and chill-out, but I all too often just try to keep working.

Given that most of us are self-employed and/or self-scheduled, I suspect many adult webmasters and people in related jobs get panic and anxiety attacks. Lots of stress, often without structure.

Panic / Anxiety disorder sucks. I have had this since about 1995. It started happening (although I didn't know what it was) when I was a paramedic/fireman. Then when I was going through my divorce in 1999 they got horrible.

I felt like I was having a heart attack, I could hardly move, I would start vomiting. Even when I played hockey I would get so anxious about my performance I would start vomiting and need to chill out.

I still suffer from these and I dont think it will ever go away, but what you need to do is manage them. Depending on how you feel about meds you can be on them, however, most are addictive. Paxil has worked for me in the passed and when I am in very stressful times during periods with low physical activity.

Otherwise exercising helps quite a bit, not only for mental health but for physical health. Don't get me wrong, anyone who knows me, knows I am not a body builder, but im not fat either, I'm just a big guy.

I have been a high-strung person since I was about 14 years old. You really have to take panic attacks seriously as they can manifest into something much more. Some people get them so bad that they will never leave the house, which basically just makes them shut-ins and makes their lives worse.

Also keep in mind that panic attacks are not just because you are going through stress. These are typically due to a chemical imbalance and it needs to be controlled through diet, exercise and sometimes prescription (or herbal medications like St. Johns Wart, Melatonin or Kava Kava).

Anything can trigger these events and they can be crippling. They practicially ruined my life in 1999 and I had to fight back to get back to a normal person. These things are triggered by almost anything as I said, for some people it's stress, others it's a fear of dying or another small item that they dont always think about regularly, but they have a fear of.

AJ

Although I agree on some points, this is not all entirely true. The doctors will prescribe medications to help treat the cause of the panic anxiety. Sometimes giving someone an anti-depresant is the best way to keep them on top of their game to battle the anxiety problems. Paxil has worked for me on and off for the last few years. I do not take it religiously because it is supposed to be addictive, so I try to depend on exercise (which I dont do enough of) and herbal items you can get from a nutrition store. I think they each have their own place, but I also feel medications in general are over prescribed. Example: penicillin. We will all soon become immune to it if doctors dont stop presribing it for every little ache.

But I do see most of your points.

AJ

Damn! I have been getting them too! It started over a year ago and I didnt know what was going on. I can see the pattern here, spending too much time infront of a computer fucks you up!
RogerV, try Xanax...especially if you have been having problems falling asleep....I used to lie awake at night with my mind racing, and my heartbeating really fast, and felt like there was pressure on my chest. The doctor gave me Xanax and ive been feeling alot better...but I know its not really fixing the problem, only masking it. Good luck dude!

Interesting thread.. I used to get these years ago.. Apparently it was the coffeine pills together with too much booze and lack of sleep that caused it, so I quit drinking and threw away the pills. (5-10 cans of cola/day works just as well). Also shutting off the screen a couple hours each night (no matter how much needs to get done) helped.. Long walks around the lake did good too. Need to start doing that again. Would not recommend xanax or whatever, being dependent on that shit is no solution.. I'm still messed up here but at least I don't get the panic attacks no more.

I can't believe this so many people here have this problem.

I get fucked up anxiety/throwing up/tight throat too.. have been getting it since I was about 15. Five years later it's all pretty much under control, but it has sure changed my life. The worst part of it was when it first started and I had no clue what was going on, I think I must have seen at least 10 differnet doctors. It just got ridiculous in the end, I remember this one guy I went and saw said I had a problem with my ears and organised these tests for me. Next week I go back to see him and he was no where to be found! Really strengthens your faith in doctors huh? :)

I'm no expert but I've gone through it all as well, so I'd suggest if you're just starting to go through this, take some time off if you can and don't touch anti-depressants or strong anti-anxiety meds, eg. xanax. Xanax has a long halflife, in other words it hangs around in your body for a long time and you can easily get addicted to it (hell I did, and trust me it wares off which fucks things up even more). Even now, I have a packet of ativan which I take once in a while if I really need it. So yea, if you're having a hard time coming to terms with what's going on it might be a good idea to try something like ativan just to prove to yourself that it can be kept under control.

It really is crazy that so many people on the board (or in this industry in general) have this problem. Obviously we're all working too hard and stressing ourselves out too much eh folks? Or at least not managing ourselves well enough...

The good news is that there's lots of help and answers out there, and as you can see now, you're definitely not alone :)

Cheers

-Dave

iCQ:6612223

PS- I dunno about you other sufferers, but just reading and writing about this makes me feel all tight in my throat, did you guys get that too?

Ya, I am also quick to panic. You have to say to yourself it will all be ok. That's what I do. :thumbsup

I am very surprised to see that many of you suffer from the same problem. I have to admit, it is comforting to see that others have had to deal with anxiety issues like I have.


I'm curious - were any of you raised in very religious or very catholic families?

One thing I discovered on my own and also from seeing a shrink was that alot of my anxiety and attacks came from feelings of guilt that had been shoved down my throat from a very strict catholic upbringing.





:BangBang:
----
kevin
www.stunningcurves.com
[email protected]

No, I'm just impatient, quick to panic, and give up. And fuck a shrink, you can work on yourself, I'm changing my whole personality right now. :thumbsup

Hey Rog,

Try looking up Celexa on the net....it isn't a quick fix but as far as SSRI's go it it has the best benefits to side effects ratio going.

It helps balance the Seratonin levels in your brain.

After years of hardcore Drug and Alcohol abuse i found that I had depleted the seratonin levels in my brain. Cocaine, Alcohol and E are the worst offenders for sucking the seratonin out of you.

After being on Celexa for 2 months now, the sheer overwhelming anxiety levels are almost gone.

IM me if you want anymore info.

(passes Roger a doobie) ;)

Do not take Celexa if your pregnant or nursing.
Do not take Celexa if you have advanced HIV.
Do not take Celexa if your body temperature is 98 degrees.
Do not take Celexa if your a human being.
Do not take Celexa if you have heart problems.
Do not take Celexa if you have hair on your head.

Some side effects include: dry mouth, nasty shits, headaches, nausea, death, addiction. In some cases people's asses have fallen off.

I take it you don't like Celexa?

A few years back I was having attacks. I would begin coughing until I could not breathe and would fall to the floor trying to calm myself down so I could catch my breath. Scary shit the first time it happened, I thought I was going to die right there. Anyways a specialist reassured me that I would not die but could not find the cause.

In hindsight the house I was living in was a typical college flop house. The carpets were filthy, moldy, the bathroom was a science experiment gone bad, you get the picture. Anyways I moved out and have not had one since.

I've done some reading, mold spores and other shit like that can fuck you up. In some cases cause death. Entire neighbourhoods have had to be burnt to the ground (Search CNN) to destroy spores that build up in the wood frames etc.

That's my story I sticking to it.

Burtman

Well, I'm not a doctor, but from what I've read and heard, as I mentioned earlier, these SSRI's do not necessarily help. Your seratonine level can be ok, and you might have panic attacks because of other reasons.

As someone mentioned, SSRI side-effects can be worse than the panic attacks themselves

I'm not saying, that in some, or even most cases, an SSRI would not help.

Cool down on the cocaine....


just me :2 cents:

the great thing about SSRI's is that if your seratonin levels are ok they don't do anything...except the side effects...which for me personally have been minimal.

Naw, its like those gay commercials. LOL, with all those side effects. :1orglaugh