Has anyone here been diagnosed with panic/anxiety attack? I was diagnosed about a year ago with the assumption that they would eventually go away. I take a pretty strong medication (Xanax) for this and would like to get off of it. However, everytime I try the panic attacts get worse. I've tried breathing exercises, soothing tapes, less stress (yeah right!) but nothing seems to work. For those of you that have them, you know what I'm talking about. For those of you who have never experienced one, it's the scariest thing you can have happen to you. Your heart starts racing and you think your having a heart attack. You shake uncontrolably and there are many other things that happen you your body as well. Does anyone have any suggestions? I want to get past these things and live a normal life, without being drugged. Any suggestions? Thanks, Pup ******************************************************* 08-22-02, 11:25 AM displacedNYer I used to have them. I have (had) lymphocytic thyroiditis, and it went untreated for 15 years. (started when I was 5). It caused depression, anxiety, everything (then add to that moronic doctors telling my parents and I that nothing was wrong with me physically...but that's another post).
I had panic attacks for two years. They put me on Prozac, which gave me grand mal seizures. Then they put me on Buspar, which gave me hives. THEN they gave me a mild sedative - I can't remember the name, but I think it started with a P - and that made me sleep all the time.
So eventually I got away from the doctors and went for Reiki therapy. I've been panic and anxiety free for almost 10 years now.
08-22-02, 11:32 AM puppyblues Right now I'm on Depokote (for the seizures) Buspar (for the anxiety also) Wellburten (for depression) and Xanax (for the panic and anxiety. I have never heard of Rieki therapy but am interested in anything to help get rid of all the meds. The side effects really suck. Memory loss, slower to think than the average adult (as seen on most of my posts!) And many others. Please tell me about this therapy. Thanks, Pup
08-22-02, 11:42 AM kdp7773 I have found a couple of urls that might be helpful if not informative!
Try the first one and click on panic attack once you're there. It'll take you to another web page where you'll want to follow the right hand side of the page. I thought it expained a lot about panic attacks and what you can do as far as self-helps. smile Karen
08-22-02, 12:13 PM Georgia85 I've had them and they can be scary. But I don't take any meds for them. Sometimes I think all those chemicals in the body can actually make matters worse. So personally, when I have an anxiety attack I just sit down where-ever I am and ride it out. I know that seems silly but it works for me. I just "talk" to myself. Set my mind at ease that I am NOT having a heart attack, and take long deep breaths. The worse thing you can do is struggle - only makes it worse.
I know your docs prescribed all those meds for a reason but if you do decide to be weaned off of them go slowly (with your doc's permission) and then you might want to try the herbal supplement Kava Kava. It's anti-anxiety and it works for me.
Good luck and hope this helps!
08-22-02, 01:48 PM Wildflower63 I have had problems on and off with panic attack since my late teens. I know how horrible they are. I was always treated with an antidepressant and mild tranquilizer (such as Xanax or Klonopin).
The Xanax is addicting. Never try to pull off that drug at one time. That may be contributing to your problem with increased panic attacks, withdrawal symptoms mistaken for anxiety.
I have successfully gone on and off medication. It has been my experience that the panic attacks seem to appear during times of stress gone unresolved or prolonged without resolution of some sort.
For me, panic attacks will be a life long problem that I will have to deal with from time to time. I have gone for several years without them though. Personally, I have not found antidepressants helpful at all. The side effects weren't worth it at all. Xanax and Klonipin helped me a lot, although addicting. I have been advised to stop taking on a need basis as I tend to do because the withdrawal symptoms are mistaken by me to be stress in my life. I just don't see myself as an addict. You have to keep some sort of even level in your system to avoid more panic attacks.
I would consider working with a personal councilor to get the stress in your life in some balance. Medication alone isn't the total answer to your problem. I have found that when the stress in my life starts decreasing, the medication just makes me sleepy. Who wants to go around sleepy? I unintentionally just tapered the dose down to what I felt I needed. Then I didn't need it at all.
08-22-02, 01:53 PM displacedNYer I agree that the chemicals are worse. They give you one, then they give you another for the side effects of the first, then those two interact so they give you something for that...before you know it you are on 20 medications and still having attacks! Plus, the side effects of the medications are generally worse than what you are taking them for (I once was given a medication for nausea that had the side effect of nausea. What the hell is the point??)
Here is a link on reiki. (Dead Link - DG) You should be able to look right in your phone book for a practitioner near you. I also recommend seeing an herbalist for some natural treatments - such as chamomile, kava kava, ginseng - that will help you wean off of the drugs. And a hypnotist would be able to help you control your fear of having another panic attack (and the fear is nearly worse than actually having the attack, isn't it?) and perhaps find the root of the problem.
I promise you that I have found these things to work where the modern drugs did nothing. The modern treatments were much worse than the panic attacks themselves. A few months of holistic, natural treatment and no more panic attacks for almost 10 years.
Good luck!
08-22-02, 06:12 PM cattywampus I've had two or three, one just the other day. I've come to recognize them and usually take Vistaril to get rid of them. It helps. One thing: Xanax is one of those drugs they say you're not to mix with grapefruit juice.
Catty (who is panicked most of the time anyway) frown frown frown
08-22-02, 10:17 PM displacedNYer What does your name mean?
08-23-02, 08:20 AM puppyblues Who are you talking to displaced??
08-23-02, 09:21 AM samantha Puppy I was reading your post and thought about my mom. She used to have panic attacks. They tried her out on different meds and finally put her on Paxil and that has helped her so much. This is one of the antidepressents that works for not only depression but, anxiety which of course will add to panic attacks and the drug has caused no side effects on her. You may want to see about this in case something else doesn't work. Of course it is best not to take any drugs if you can get over it that way. Good luck.
08-23-02, 12:27 PM displacedNYer Sorry, I was asking Catty. I should have said that big grin 08-23-02, 04:53 PM Georgia85
quote:Originally posted by cattywampus: One thing: Xanax is one of those drugs they say you're not to mix with grapefruit juice.
Catty (who is panicked most of the time anyway) frown frown frown
Actually it was Seldane that you were not to mixed with grape-fruit juice. FDA took that off the market.
08-23-02, 04:57 PM cattywampus Sorry, I went to a site recommended by someone at AP and found a whole list of drugs not to be taken with grapefruit juice. Seldane was one of them, so was Xanax.
Displaced, my name means absolutely nothing, that's why I chose it.
Catty (who wishes she could remember that site) confused roll eyes frown
08-24-02, 09:17 AM Texan-In-Exile Have you considered seeing a different doctor? Seriously!
I haven't had panic attacks, but I've had depression most of my life so I know something about antidepressants. Wellbutrin can actually cause seizures! Why on earth doesn't Doc put you on a different one?
Paxil and Zoloft are worth trying - but don't be afraid to ask Doc to adjust the dosage either. There are so many alternatives out there!
I've done that "take this med to counter that med" too - not fun.
Really - think about switching doctors. Godspeed! --Mitzi
08-24-02, 11:16 AM displacedNYer Along with what Tex said, remember I mentioned it took 15 years to be diagnosed with thyroid disease? It also took 11 doctors to recognize the problem. Each one read what the previous one had written in my med record, and just agreed with out tests or anything (well, one tested, got results saying I had the disease, but didn't treat it because that would have disagreed with the other doctors). It took one doctor to test BEFORE reading the other's reports before I got treatment. Perhaps if you go to another doctor, and conviently "forget" your med record, they may have a totally different opinion of how to treat you.
08-24-02, 02:14 PM anguilla I don't think panic attacks ever go away. I take 20 mg of Celexa (prescribed) every morning to handle the freeway. There's nothing like panicking and feeling like you're gonna faint when you're in the fast lane!
The tradeoff is I'm a little light-headed most of the time. But I guess that's worth it.
Sometimes I feel an attack coming on anyway, and I'm able to convince myself it's just low blood-sugar. I say (to me) "it's just food, you can handle it," and the oncoming attack usually subsides.
I, too, want to get off the medicine, but I don't think I can. Whatever you do, don't change your medicine-taking habits without asking your doctor! Too risky!
Good luck. You have my sympathy & empathy. frown
08-24-02, 03:15 PM clarebear Georgia is right about the herbal supplement Kava-Kava.
You do need to check with your doctor. Kava-Kava can make certain birth control pills less effective.
08-26-02, 02:33 AM Wildflower63 Doctors are running a business just like any other individual selling lawnmowers for a living. People that come to a doctors office for help will usually be very disappointed if they are not prescribed something to help them with whatever problem they are having. Realistically, how long are most people going to continue making an appointment with a doctor that gives them a speech instead of a medical remedy? Not too many.
For people who do not like the current approach to medical care they are getting may like a holistic physician. Although I have never been to one myself, I have talked to a retired holistic doctor. They do not treat the body as if it were something to be studied under a microscope. They include diet, exercise, lifestyle, stress and other factors in your life when making a decision to the best solution for a problem and do not necessarily write an order for medication and send you on your way. Many insurance companies do offer these type of physicians in addition to traditional doctors. However, few doctors practice this sort of medical approach.
I have to admit, I have not researched the subject fully. Just something to consider. I thought it may be helpful to people who do not like the idea of drugs being a cure all for everything.
11-14-02, 09:36 AM ChiBrat Hi,
Have you ever considered using a Service/Therapy dog to help you with your Anxiety and Panic Attacks? Most people think they have to have a physical disorder in order to have a Service dog. Which is far from the truth! If you have a medical condition that limits your life then you are entitled to a Service Dog. You can even train your own dog for this. I have links and info on this if you are interested??
11-14-02, 10:17 AM puppyblues Can't afford another one, but I'd LOVE it if you'd post the link. I'd like to see it and know of some that may be able to use a service like that. Thank you. puppy
11-14-02, 01:13 PM Sherasi
quote:Originally posted by cattywampus: Sorry, I went to a site recommended by someone at AP and found a whole list of drugs not to be taken with grapefruit juice. Seldane was one of them, so was Xanax.
Displaced, my name means absolutely nothing, that's why I chose it.
Catty (who wishes she could remember that site) confused roll eyes frown
Catty, Here is a site you may have been talking about:
11-14-02, 07:26 PM DvdGStwrt Are you sure its panic attacks?
Could it be depression? Anxiety is caused by depression you know.
Could you be manic depressive?
Or maybe you are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome which also includes panic attacks as part of the symptomology...
Have you been diagnosed in past with these nice little labels too?
If so, lend me an ear further:
Your doctor may have misdiagnosed you, or worse, has failed to see the real problem and is treating just a symptom.
I have epilepsy. I am taking 1500 MG of Tegratol X - the maximum dosage per day of a relatively new and powerful anti-seizure medication.
I have a very real and physical brain injury which causes me to have seizures. It took three years for a doctor to correctly diagnose me and to find the right drug to treat the problem.
I had received 7 cat scans, all which revealed nothing, the first 2 EEGs taken uncovered nothing, it wasn't until I had a seizure right on the table that the EEG showed the brain-wave activity that is telling of temporal lobe epilepsy!
It wasn't until the MRI that the brain damage was found.
This is a physical problem, and it took a long, long time to uncover it.
Panic attacks do not have a physical location per se (in most cases). Further, panic attacks can be part of other symptoms which indicate an altogether different issue - for instance - recurring nightmares, flashbacks - together these point toward Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
Coupled with other symptoms, little things that can be passed off as having no bearing to a problem can mean that you are depressed, or suffering from manic depression.
I really do not think you doctor has all the facts here. And I am most certain that drug therapy is the wrong answer to the problem.
I am personally against drug therapy for emotional problems - I feel Western Medicine treats the physical manifestations of emotional problems, letting the emotional issues that cause the symptoms to continue to fester and grow worse.
I say it is a physical manifestation of an emotional problem - some issue that you have buried rather well and think you have dealt with, but in truth you haven't and it is coming back to bite you on the bud.
My partner thought he had dealt rather well with the passing of his sister. A couple of years later he is suffering from depression. The doctor asked if anybody had died in the past 6 months, No, but the doctor didn't know about the close sister passing. Thus the doctor wrongly attacked another issue (work) which was not the problem, but was affected by the problem. It was by accident and by a passing remark that caused my partner to well up in tears and start reliving and finally greiving the passing of his sister. Five years later. For three years he was buring the issue deeper and deeper, while working on the problem of Work, which suddenly stopped being a problem when the greiving finally started. All things connect.
I too have had panic attacks, coupled with flashbacks, recurring nightmares, chronic fits of depression, in past I had suicidal tendencies, a history of drug abuse, and other issues. Plenty of drugs were dumped into my system - these treated the symptoms, but never touched the real base problems.
It wasn't until I reached my breaking point with drugs and decided to clean up that problem that the real problems were addressed - namely the physical, mental, emotional and sexual abuse that I experienced during my childhood.
Once I started therapy and working through all of those issues - then and only then did real relief from the symptoms start to happen.
It was a wonderful time, it was a terrible time. For the first time in my life I had to face all those dark sinister things which I had buried deep inside and never spoke of before. I had to rely on another person to carry that load for me - It took a lot of counseling sessions, attending meetings (Victims of sexual abuse, AA, NA, and more) before I could be reasonably sure that I had accomplished anything.
I still have the occasional panic attack. There are for me specific triggers, a turn of phrase, a scent, a visual cue and suddenly I am terrified and reliving the terror of many years ago.
These instances of terror are farer and fewer now, and I gained a lot of emotional and mental tools which help me through the panic and give me something safe to hold on too.
What tools you may need I do not know. I do not know what is safe for you, and I have no idea of what is causing the panic in the first place.
Here is my prescription:
Go to therapy. Even if you don't have anything wrong, talking out day to day problems with a therapist will do a load of good.
Talk about the panic attacks - don't ignore them, don't hide them, and don't hide from them. Just talking about the monster takes the power it has away from it. A therapist can and will listen and hear what you are saying and will provide you with the assurances you need to face this particular beast.
Ask for tools to deal with the panic attacks as they happen and to deal with the affects of them after the attack is over. This will lessen the next one.
Stay on the meds for a while. But while on them, set reasonable goals on diminishing the amount of drugs you are taking. I would strongly suggest talking to your doctor and telling him/her that you desire to ween off the pills.
Deal with Stress. The all time, biggest causative behind the emotional and mental woes of humanity is stress. We are not designed for the world we built, we are not designed for all of the trappings of our busy lives. We are simple hunter gathers that uses tools to hunt and gather. Our world is so complex and so full of dangers that our brains are unable to properly absorb all of it.
Meditation, Aroma Therapy, soft, gentle music, more hours of sleep, proper diet, exercise - all contribute to leading a life of reduced stress. Reducing the stress means you will have to make life style changes, minor adjustments.
Figuring out what are stresses in your life can be done through therapy - trust me, therapists have a few tricks up their sleeves and will be able to point you in the right direction.
Good luck and God bless
David
11-15-02, 02:43 PM puppyblues And really all of you. Thank you so much for taking the time to write all of this.
I am currently in therapy, and David you are right, I do have PTSD and am working on that.
I will keep all of your suggestions and advice in mind.
Thanks again, Pup
12-25-02, 11:40 AM ChiBrat PuppyBlues.. I'm so sorry for not responding to you sooner! I am not used to using Answerpool and forget sometimes to check back. You don't have to get another dog to use a Service Dog. You can use one of your own! All you have to do is train your own dog or have yours trained. But it's not required by law to have your Service Dog prof trained. All that is required is basic obedience and whatever else you need the dog to do for you. Like "hug" or "Lap Up" in order to calm you during a panic attack. They can be trained to steady you when you are shaky and unstable. The list goes on... Go to Deltasociety.org and it will tell you all about using a Service Dog for Psychiatric use. You can also e mail me at ****Please do not post email addresses in open forums. Registered members can view your email address in your profile, if you wish to provide it. I am more then happy to help and explain this further.
I use my Chihuahua Bella Blue as my Service Dog and She's been my life saver! (Thanks Shawn for my-our Bella Blue) I am currently on Wellbutrin Sr for the depression but that makes my anxiety worse. This has been the only drug to help my depression so I have to take the good with the bad. I don't like to use a lot of drugs so I choose not to take meds for the anxiety. This is were Bella comes in and helps. Please e mail me with any questions!
Barb & Bella
[This message was edited by Karrow on 07-06-03 at 06:46 PM.]
12-26-02, 06:31 PM Nadca2 I have had a few run ins with panic attacks, went through testing and all because of severe chest pain. I would end up with bruises on my chest from holding it because of the pain. I figured out my self it was all stress related. The doctor said she may want to medicate me if it continues. But what I find strange is it is a person who stresses me out so bad. How does one deal with stressful people? I cannot ignore this person it is my bosses spouse! Think they are a waste of skin. Do I need to be medicated??
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,
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