Panic attacks suck

big time. I am sitting here at my desk just about to go home because I had a huge one about an hour ago and I want to go to bed.

They suck. They really do:(

:hug:

Take care and get some rest.

I'm sorry. :(

:hi:

I hope you feel better soon.

I get them a lot. :(

What helps me is a nice double shot of Jack Daniels...but you're at work so that's out of the question.

Hang in there. It'll get better. :hug:

That's what helped me.

Also, do you drink a lot of caffeine? I did before, and when I stopped, the panic attacks decreased dramatically.

I went through a very unpleasent time many years ago having panic attacks, and Xanax was a danged life saver!

But I definitely have noticed a direct correlation between caffeine and anxiety/panic attacks. It's definitely prompted me to cut back on the caffeine!

:hug:

:hug: and lots of slow, deep breaths. I hope it gets better soon for you, Sannum. :hug:

I had my first a few weeks ago. Felt like I was having a heart attack. It was HORRIBLE. Not sure how you can manage to get through work with one of those. I couldn't even drive when I had mine.

I thought/feared I was having a heart attack. Pain and tightness in my chest, cold sweats, difficulty breathing, for an hour I refused to leave my desk but did leave the office a little early. The next day I still felt the tightness and the pains so I went to a doctor. My E.K.G. was fine and he asked me if I had a stressful job (I'm a commodities broker). He diagnosed a panic attack and gave me a script for Xanax and a few individual samples.

I took one immediately with no discernible results. I took the next day off and took another one. I ended up shopping and bought presents for a lot my friends. I know that I can not rely on a drug to do my job. I also asked around and found out that Xanax is a gateway for addiction or relapse to addiction for many people. Since I am susceptible to certain behaviors I've cut down on the coffee, and just try not to let things get to me. I haven't had to deal with another attack yet.

:hug:

I started getting them at the beginning of the year. Some were really bad. I haven't had one in a while.
I feel for you. :hug:

from 180 also subject to PANIC!

Hyperventilating during an attack can deplete the body of carbon dioxide which in turn suppresses the automatic breathing response. The body (acid-base) pH goes haywire.

This method works for some people: Breath into and out of a paper bag to restore the pH level. If a bag is not handy breathing into and out of your cupped hands might help.

It helps me and some others that have tried it. Ask your doctor.

180

They're horrible and the shorter of breath you get, the more you tend to panic. Not fun. My doctor used to tell me to avoid stress. :wtf: If I knew how to avoid stress, I wouldn't need the damn doctor, now would I? :hug:

Other people upthread mentioned caffeine. Cutting back on that has helped me, as has cutting down on sugar. But this time of year is always hard. Take care. :hug:

Whatever movement happens is appropriate to what you're currently going through. Brings balance, cleans, refreshes. Frequency brings more. :)

Where, pray tell, does one get a circle of gently flaming gold? ;)

Sit comfortably. e(Initially, you may want to do this in a quiet spot. After you practice, you can do this *anywhere.*) Once you're comfortable, see/feel or imagine yourself in the center of a perfectly formed, very comfortably sized circle of light. Whatever color(s) you get is right for what you're going through at the time. Your intention will bring it about for you even if you can't see/imagine it. Don't open a vein if you don't get this instantly. If you find yourself struggling to shape the image, stop; it's there. You may feel a slight something different than normal. Once you have your circle, lock it in with a key word or phrase.

The circle itself is a wonderful meditation. It's nature is peace and it will fill you with that peace as you spend time with it. Once you have your circle, see/ tell/ imagine it full of gently flaming gold. Hang in with that image/ feeling and breathe normally. It works very quickly so you don't have to spend any kind of duration in it although that's helpful. Frequency, too, helps, during the day and over the course of time.

This brings clearing, balance and rejuvination. Let me know if you have any difficulty/ success with this. I do this for a living.

Very few in the last 15 or so, though.

Xanax is indeed a life-saver. :thumbsup:

Some things that worked for me when I was at my worst with PA's.

--No caffeine!
--Cut waaaay back on sugar
--Eat more fruits, veggies, and whole grains (I read in a good book about anxiety that the nutrients in strawberries and carrots are particularly good at promoting mental health.)
--Watch a very silly comedic or cartoon movie, or sitcom reruns (like those on Nick At Night..."I Love Lucy", "Three's Company", etc.)
--Listen to lighthearted music like oldies or even Christmas music

Anyway, those tips were a big help to me. But you gotta do what works for you. Rest is definitely important. I hope you feel better soon!

Best of luck to ya. :hug:

... no argument from me. The last full-blown one I had was in 1991. I hope it's the last :(

I re-learned that if you just keep doing whatever you're supposed to be working on or just keep talking to whoever you're supposed to be talking to to distract yourself, all the effects will be gone in a few minutes. In college I got so skilled at this that once I was talking to someone and had one and it shut down in a few seconds and I just calmly told him "I just had an anxiety attack". He was surprised; he thought you spaz out on them, but I'd learned to just know what they are when they first start and could keep them from escalating. But before all that, yeah, they sucked bad.

... I've learned to distract myself when I feel one coming on, and thats the only reason I haven't had a serious one in a long time.

There is no way to even describe one to someone who's never had them, they are beyond horrible :)

put me in the hospital. B/P went to 230 over 110. Never been so terrified in my life. Turned out I had a hiatal hernia, which contributed to the pseudo-heart attack symptoms.

I opted for herbal over pharmaceutical, remedy-wise. Started a routine of kavakava capsules 3/day. Never had to go valium or Xanax and the attacks went away.

Caffeine also went out the window. Can't tolerate the stuff at all now.

My sincerest sympathy. You'll get through it. You can't help it, what with all the good juju this thread's generated.

The best thing to do is
a) keep a small rock or squeeze ball with you at all times and start squeezing that sucker.
B) Tense your hold body up and than release it.
c) Deep breathing. Touch the tip of your tongue to the top of your mouth breath 3 in 1 out.
D) Stop what you doing and go for a quick walk, and than get some water. Not pop or coffee just plain water.
i hope this helped anxiety attacks suck big time.

until I began to consider that perhaps my entire life has been one GIGANTIC PANIC ATTACK!

I mean, compared to what! :evilgrin:

I've had them and they're not fun.