Anxiety attacks....how do you cope?

To, the OP, first I want to tell you to try and pay no attention to those people who say "pull yourself up by the bootstraps". "you are just overly sensitive", "you aren't doing this right or that right" and most especially the bummers who unknowingly feed your fear by saying that your problem may be exactly what you fear it is. Don't listen to them. They don't know what they are talking about.

I'm sorry I came to this topic late but I am compelled to write you because, when I read your OP, I said, "oh boy, there's another person like me." I know it's not easy and it's scarey and your feelings become totally contradictory.

I've had panic disorder with and without agoraphobia since my early 30s and I'm in my 50's now. At one time, I was so paralyzed by so many fears....mostly related to my health, but other fears as well, that I could not leave the house. Why? Because if I walked outside my legs turned to jelly, my face became tingly numb around the lips, my feet and hands got all tingly, breathing seemed to be hard but I was actually just breathing shallow breaths, I had a knot in my stomach, and overwhelming fear that something was WRONG, a urge to FLEE the situation (that old adrenaline pumping) and a fear I would think I'd just go whacko crazy in public.

This went on for about 6 months. Finally, I found a doctor who understood about panic attacks (they were just emerging in the medical literature at the time). I saw my md and I saw a therapist and learned that I wasn't crazy, and I wasn't "sick" in the traditional sense. I had an inherited disorder, from my father and his side of the family. I was not "at fault"...it was not a character flaw...I had a problem with the chemicals in my brain going all whacky for no reason.

We all have a primitive fight or flight mechanism. It saves us for danger. Unfortunately for people like us, we are uncommonly sensitive to the feelings of our body as well as empathetic, generally kind people, and we are not "mentally ill". Simplistically, our adrenaline pump, which is supposed to aid us in an emergency, gets stuck like an old clutch. Adrenaline keeps pumping for no reason and it's scarey. You feel the same way you would after almost having a traffic accident ...but then you'd understand the physical sensations and not worry. But, when it comes out of the blue, for no reason, it is scarey as HELL.

There are many, many ways of coping with this whole mess.
I can only tell you what worked for me. First, it was reassuring to understand that I wasn't the victim of some dread disease, wasn't about to die, and began to understand how my body worked....that these were just sensations and they would pass in time. Understanding what a panic attack was made me stop fearing them as much. I found anticipatory anxiety was almost as bad as actually getting outside and doing something. I began to go out of the house...slowly at first and then, after about 6 months, went back to college for my Master's. Sometimes I still had panic attacks but they weren't as intense because I knew what they were, knew they would pass, and learned to deep breathe and calm myself.

I've found that, in my particular case, medication works well for me and I generally feel "normal"...or, to put it better, I feel like myself again. It's been a long road but I have managed to move from being totally agoraphobic, to going back for my Masters, to doing post grad work and eventually teaching in community college for many years. I always found it funny that I had no problem with public speaking (which is the #1 phobia) but had fears of other things that wouldn't scare anyone else.

To this day, I take an antidepressant (I've used different ones throught he years and different strengths), but, for me, I find Prozac helps lift my mood and also works on anxiety. I take a benzodiazapine under careful watch of my shrink (but don't let fear of addiction stop you....the people who generally become addicted are people who use other forms to cope ie" drinking, recreational drugs etc."

Today, I live a good life. I've done all I told you about plus was a caregiver for both my parents, been married, and moved 1200 miles from home and started a new life after a divorce and the loss of mom and dad. I still see a psychiatrist and still take medication and, believe it or not, panic attacks aren't the center of my life anymore. They are an occasional nuisance. Sometimes I become a bit depressed, but know the signs and work with my shrink on that.

I apologize for the length of this post, but I feel that it's something I have to communicate to you. As I said, you OP mirrored my feelings so many years ago and I know it was hellish.

Take care. You are a good and sensitive soul and probably very smart as well (studies have found that most panic attack patients have a higher than average intelligence)

The best of luck to you.

the sunglassed woman

ANXIETY attacks occur because you know something is wrong that needs to be fixed. figure out what needs to be fixed and you lose the anxiety1

Very nice post - you make your point eloquently. Thanks you for sharing a real part of yourself.

You're welcome! I'm glad it helped.

I am going to use this technique religiously.

You are truly a twisted person and YOU need help.
I find it amazing someone can be so callous and cruel as well as irresponsible.

Thanks for this. I have anxiety disorder, too. This is all true. And yes, Prozac is great for them if it works for you. That and occasional xanax help and keep me level more or less, but I also have to work on my thoughts, too. It's a hard road. But it can be done.

Ya herb brudda? 'scuse me sista

Last Edited by cloud4strife on 09/05/2009 01:42 PM

True but there are some people with anxiety due to chronic health problems that are life-long, not curable (aka severe arthritis, hep c, cancer, heart issues, diabetes, the list goes on). I think the anxiety stems from the fact that these people KNOW there is no out until they die. In a nutshell, some problems don't have a solution, or an attainable one.

'Course! :)

^.^

I love to smoke marijuana, it gives me a deep meditation.

This is because you are such a flaming anti-semite and anti-Israel Jew hater.
You have been cursed with a spirit of fear because you presume to touch the apple of God's eye.
Just like King Saul.
You dare to defy the God of Israel.

Cut down on coffee, sugar and stressful people in your life...

I have had panic attacks for years. I find a full strength aspirin can help. Water can be calming, drinking it and bathing in it.

And something that helps tremendously is the new Armed Forces technique for returning veterans: pressing on the lower part of the abdomen. It works, it will shut down a panic attack or a scary thought immediately. Wish more people would try this. I know I have advised this before. Sorry about that but I want to help. Hope you feel better soon.

cutie

Google for Magnesium oil, ie magnesium chloride..
and also look for Lithium Orotate, very helpful !

Try a Liver/Gallbladder cleanse first. It has changed my life! It is difficult to describe, but I have been changed by it. I have done colon cleanses, but not this type of cleanse until a couple of months ago. Continue to do this cleanse every few weeks for a period of time, and then a couple of times a year. I truly feel everyone would benefit from this simple & natural cleanse. Google it, try it & you will not be disappointed. Cleanses and this cleanse in particular will help you immensely regarding stress, panic/anxiety attacks, food/alcohol cravings.

Peace & Blessings...
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You have been to GLP to many times.

You need to know for yourself that you do not die.
Your body dies but not you.

But you need to find this out for yourself.

Also what you can do is make small goals.
To get out more and put yourself in unknown area's

living in fear is no way to live.

Maybe join a good dojo.

Maybe get a dog and take him or her for walks.

Let go of your fear and be free of it.

Life is but a dream.

also lay out on some grass on your back and look up at the blue sky.

get 30 min of sun everyday.

Watch shows that make you LOL

eat clean food.

make all your own meals..

NO fast food no soda.

Don't watch the news.

Don't read the news for a good 6 months to a year.

Fasting helps also.

And find someone you can talk to.

Get out of the city...

get around trees and nature more.

if you live close to the beach walk up the the ocean and stand in it just with your feet and look off in the distance.

Look at the blue sky and understand that you are always and only in the NOW... And right now there is no danger or fear.

Right now is only peace. :-)

This person shows signs of not getting enough love.
And there actions prove it.

Who is in love and speaks in such away?

-peace

No caffiene.
Seredyn (natural). Read directions carefully!!! Cannot be
used with some prescriptions. Contains magnesium, etc...
Avoid nutrasweet (aspartame). I use Stevia for sweetness.
Exercise. Healthy diet.
The best relief I've found is the Seredyn. Works in as little as 15 minutes. No, I don't sell this or own stock in the company.
Also, consider B complex and fish oil supplements.

I recomend alcohbol, tobacco, and all illegal narcotics to cure that, and if you are doing any scripts, stop that immedialtly, because those are the real dangerous drugs.

And try getting laid once in a while, even if it means going to Nevada and paying 300 bucks for a chick.

No sex and no drugs and alcohol will make you bat shit crazy...

"5mg valium"

seriously noddin'

consider having a neurotransmitter profile done. should be available through a good alternative MD. test uses urine and saliva analysis to get baseline levels of serotonin, dopamine, cortisol, ect. from there you can do natural supplementation to increase the availability of the precursors of these compounds, effectively increasing levels and addressing underlying issues while your body does the work of making these neurotransmitters. adrenal exhaustion, low serotonin are two root causes of anxiety/panic based disorders. to cope with the symptoms, try valerian, skullcap, passionflower, low level 5-HTP, vitamin b-5 or regular b complex vitamin therapies. adrenal supplements like iso-cort can work wonders as well. stay away from pharma based solutions like SSRI's or benzo based therapies (ativan, klonopin, ect). they are dangerous and cannot be abruptly stopped should the side effects of their use become overwhelming. good luck to you. diet and regular exercise in concert with this therapy works wonders.