Panic attacks

[miniestofmes]

Hi everyone, i just wondered if there are any other sufferers on this forum.I have not panicked for a few years, but recently my mum has been diagnosed with cancer. My stress levels have increased and i am finding that i am having an attack on a daily scale.On tuesday, i had to take my daughter to enroll at college, whilst driving her there, i suffered a major panick attack, crying,shaking,etc.., it came from nowhere!
I dont take drugs for it, although i used to, im determined i will manage it, but it really helps to talk about it.Would really appreciate any words from fellow sufferers.

(hope ive put this in the right place DT)

[bluebellberries]

miniestofmes said:

Hi everyone, i just wondered if there are any other sufferers on this forum.I have not panicked for a few years, but recently my mum has been diagnosed with cancer. My stress levels have increased and i am finding that i am having an attack on a daily scale.On tuesday, i had to take my daughter to enroll at college, whilst driving her there, i suffered a major panick attack, crying,shaking,etc.., it came from nowhere!
I dont take drugs for it, although i used to, im determined i will manage it, but it really helps to talk about it.Would really appreciate any words from fellow sufferers.

(hope ive put this in the right place DT)

{{Hugs}}} Minnie I know exactly what your going through and it's frightening About 4 years ago i pretty much went into meltdown,flipped my lid,breakdown whatever you want to call it.

Started with panic attacks,though at the time i really didnt know what they were They got so bad that my whole body would go into spasms and i literally couldnt move. I started researching why,read up about it on the internet, pestered the librarian for books and visited the GP.


I actually saw 3 GPs at my practice first one prescribed anti depressents (which i binned) 2nd Valium(which i did take when the spasms became bad but halved the tablet) and finally, managed to see my own GP,where i got what i needed ,not someone who hands out medication willy nilly,but someone with insight to what was needed.

He got me in to a class,which dealt with how to control panic attacks and everything that goes with it,and at the time i will be honest you do look for a quick fix and being told to relax,control breathing etc all seems far fetched,but i stuck with it enrolled in Tai Chi,bought some relaxation and sleep CDs and soldiered on.


I am not saying it all blew over in the blink of a an eye,or that it was easy,i went to hell and back on many occasions, and lost a lot of weight in the process.Took me 2 years in all to get back to where i am today,i still have to be careful not to stess out ,but i know the signs,clenching my jaw,bursting into tears and pain in my shoulders are some of my signals(everyone is different though).


If you ever need a shoulder to cry on or want to talk in private,send me over a PM,im usually online most days

[miniestofmes]

Thank you so much for replying.
I am fine in the house and garden, but if i get into the car, i seem to start almost at once.Mine starts with a cold shiver down my spine, i always burst into tears and tell whoever is with me why im doing it, as i feel silly and feel i need to explain myself.It can be over as quickly as it began, but after an attack i feel exhausted and usually need to sleep.I know its stress related, blowing in a bag doesnt work, it just makes me panic more.I have tried valium, but once taken, you are limited to everyday tasks and as i have a family and a job it really doesnt work for me. There are no support groups in my area and i really dont think i would be able to go as i would get myself in such a state.I know im doing this to myself, but i just cant seem to stop it.
To others it must sound crazy.

[bluebellberries]

I have sent you a PM Minnie,but will also reply here.

I think almost everyone's attack starts that way,i know mine did,the sudden rush of adrenaline,the heart pounding and fast breathing.

Basically thats all it is,your body is producing too much adrenaline for your system to cope with ,hence the feeling of wanting to run.


The fact that you feel fine in the house and garden is because they are familiar situations in which you can cope.Getting in the car is outside your safe zone,so you feel panicky.Mine was the opposite i felt more at ease outside the house,but that was down to the fact ,that the problems i was reacting to were actually in my home.

It would be easy for me to tell you to control your breathing,but in that situation when your panicking,its not the first thing that comes to mind.However it does work,concentrate on how you breathe,take one long breath,in through your nose ,hold it for the count of 4 (i found counting helped) then out from your mouth. By doing this you are distracting yourself from the panic and you should find that it eases off.

[juliejuliejulie]

I have to admit i was unwell about a couple months ago, but needed to go to doctors for tablets, to get better with - it was one of these type where you take 1 4 xs a day lol and i also was on pain killers for same thing 2 5 x a day believe i was like a walking zombie - anyways to cut short it short i ended up taking a wrong dosage for the 1 x4 a day and took 2. for the life of me i don't know what happend as it happened twice on same day - i felt like i was having a really bad heart attack my chest really hurt and i could barely breathe and if i lay down then it was worse. So im still unsure what actually happened these 2 times - whether it was a panic attack or something else

[miniestofmes]

Hi Julie, thanks for the reply.Im not sure if you experienced a panic attack or not, everyone has different experiences.I would go back to the doc and tell him what happened. I will say that i feel worse if im lying down, i think its the fight/flight thing, i even have attacks in my sleep now.I have found a really good site, i will try to post a link if anyone wants it ( not entirely sure how to link to a forum though lol)Let me know how you get on Julie, im interested xx