Anxiety and panic attacks

[Porcelain]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

I think (I hope) once our body gets used to all this energy and we can figure out good outlets for it then I think I will be fine. I figure I just need to get up like every hour or two from studying, etc and do something like walk on the treadmill or go outside. I am planning on starting Yoga. I used to have the majority of the paniced feeling when I went to bed too but I am in a trial study now for my fibromyalgia and they have given me sleep medicine so that nips that int he bud. BUT, if I go to bed before midnight, I wake up around 4:30.

[Mirya]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

see im also a hypochondriac, which people i know make fun of but it is a real condition and i worry myself sick over illnessess, even when i get the ok from a doctor im fine for maybe a day or two and then i start thinking what if they missed something, and that is usually the base of my anxiety. But when i eat properly, and excercise it really helps me, now it doesnt get rid of it all together but the episodes are far and few.

This is another of my flaws aside from ending up in the emergency room with way too young heart attack fear I also am constantly worried something is wrong with me. Blood work is fine, physical was fine, I see a chiropractor 1ce a week and a massage therapist the same day. I feel fine most of the time but There is always something wrong and if theres not there will be. What if??????

[Dimple_Flirt]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

I'm so happy ! After a bit of calling around I found a clinic that will take me Monday for a work up! And its only $10. All drugs and blood work will be normal priced. Wow !! If I get this all straight I can go back to school! My major had been Nursing but I switched due to my shaking hands and inability to take verbal test due to my physical reactions.

[Mirya]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

congratulations and good luck. I am sure you will feel much better.

[Atkid]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

I'm so happy ! After a bit of calling around I found a clinic that will take me Monday for a work up! And its only $10. All drugs and blood work will be normal priced. Wow !! If I get this all straight I can go back to school! My major had been Nursing but I switched due to my shaking hands and inability to take verbal test due to my physical reactions.

Sounds good, hope everything works out for you.

[Mirya]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

update:

I have been taking 20mg of celexa everyday now still have until thursday to go up to 40mg.

I have been taking 300mg 2ce a day of neurontin so far eveything is good here too.

PDOC up'd the doses of the hydroxyzine to 50mg from 25mg as it was not doing anything. My first time i increased to 50mg was yesterday morning. I woke up at 8 took my neurontin and celexa and at 10 took my hydroxyzine and 2 hours later I was asleep again until 3pm. lol talk about badly needed rest. I woke up feeling freaking fantastic.

Anyway thats my update.

[Dimple_Flirt]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

Well, they put me on sertraline which is a generic Zolof 50mg and Clonazepam .5mg. I just started them today and I'm told it takes about 4 wks for it to build up in your system. I hope it calms me down. I also have an appointment next week to get my heart checked out too....So hopefully they will fix me and I'll get my life back to normal!

[Mirya]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

Well, they put me on sertraline which is a generic Zolof 50mg and Clonazepam .5mg. I just started them today and I'm told it takes about 4 wks for it to build up in your system. I hope it calms me down. I also have an appointment next week to get my heart checked out too....So hopefully they will fix me and I'll get my life back to normal!

ask you dr if you woudl be able to get a script for somethign to help with anxiety until those start working. there are things out there.

[Dimple_Flirt]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

I didn't want to be popping too many pills but I think I will need something to help me sleep at night.I'm only getting 3 hours per night on average.Other wise I'm able to stay at home and quiet so I'll be patient. I'm feeling like it christmas being able to get these problems fixed! I'm really hoping I can continue to loose weight now that I have the meds to take the edge off so I'm not reaching for food to sedate myself.

[carl1000]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

Do NOt take anything at first. My sister had Panic and Anxitety like myself..she is now kinda addicted to the pills - Those pills do nothing but mask the problem you have inside. Panic and Anxiety is something that can go away forever without pills - Now, if you have alot of depression with the P/A ...then you may need some meds if it is too much.

I had panic and anxiety really bad a few years ago - I was scared to deah of it. I would wake up and it would creep up into me and I would be scared and panicy all day - It ened up being this "loop" that was hard to get out of fro weeks. I found Lucina Bassett's program "Atacking anxiety and Depression" I remeber seing the infomecials about and laughing at - Then I had it...wasnt funny anymore - Go to Stresscenter.com. This program changed my life. At least watch the videos and join the forum to see what it is- I havent been panicy or had anxiety in 3 years. I know the symptoms now...most inportantlly I realize it is nothing to fear at all. No one ever died from it. I hope this helps!

Carl

[Mirya]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

Do NOt take anything at first. My sister had Panic and Anxitety like myself..she is now kinda addicted to the pills - Those pills do nothing but mask the problem you have inside. Panic and Anxiety is something that can go away forever without pills - Now, if you have alot of depression with the P/A ...then you may need some meds if it is too much.

I had panic and anxiety really bad a few years ago - I was scared to deah of it. I would wake up and it would creep up into me and I would be scared and panicy all day - It ened up being this "loop" that was hard to get out of fro weeks. I found Lucina Bassett's program "Atacking anxiety and Depression" I remeber seing the infomecials about and laughing at - Then I had it...wasnt funny anymore - Go to Stresscenter.com. This program changed my life. At least watch the videos and join the forum to see what it is- I havent been panicy or had anxiety in 3 years. I know the symptoms now...most inportantlly I realize it is nothing to fear at all. No one ever died from it. I hope this helps!

Carl

I have found that my anxiety and such is not something that is able to be stopped. It just happens. It is triggered on occassion from caffiene and stress but usually just shows up unprovoked. I am on med for it but ONLY take them when I am starting to have an attack that way I do not get addicted to the narcotic.

I am also on meds for bipolar @ 150mg of Lomatrigine (Brand Name is Lamictal). I can definitely tell a HUGE difference in how I feel, physically and emotionally and do not have anymore instant anger feelings (the heat build up and aggitation before flying off the handle) when someone does somethign stupid. I still get irritated but with the meds I seem to be able to breath and calm down now where before I jus twent off. It bothers me to know that if I ever were to lose my insurance I woudl so be up a creek because that person I knew for 10yrs is gone now and do not want become the "She Devil" again. I am starting on 200mg after the end of this script to help with the rest of the mood issues that still fluctuate.

Not everyone, obviously, can stop thier own anxiety although I personally wish I could but as far as no one ever dying from it that is not what I have heard from Dr's and other resources. It increases the chances of pysical ailments that can lead to death. There have also been reported cases of people having Heart Attacks because of Anxiety attacks although they are usually already having heart issues.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1701335,00.html?iid=perma_share

Anxiety of itself is never a direct "cause" of strokes or heart attacks but if you are predisposed to having a stroke due to already present health problems such as severe hypertension, it can be a contributing factor or trigger for these. I know this from much research I've read by PhD MDs and Psychiatrists over the past five years.
The anxiety "flight or flight" response temporarily elevates bodily functions; heart rate, BP, respiratory, sweating etc..., the same way exercise does, which can also be potentially dangerous for people with already existing health-risks.
Anxiety itself is a natural emotion and is designed to be triggered often if needed without physically harmful effects. Anxiety is not stress but a "bodily reaction to stress"; a pressure valve in a sense or the body's way of trying to shed off the stress (eliminating danger from stress).
Adrenaline/epinephrine that occurs naturally in the body, has a limited effect, or a cut off level of strength and is counteracted by noradrenaline/norepinephrine. It is metabolized by the body in such a way, that it cannot continue to escalate and cause death or severe health effects, in otherwise healthy people. If it could, people would be dropping dead from anxiety left and right every day because statistics state that up to 25% (1 in 4) people have an anxiety problem/disorder at some point in their lives and for a large percent of these people, it is chronic. If anxiety frequently caused severe health problems, then God or nature has made an error in giving us this mechanism.
My purpose in pointing this out, is to differentiate anxiety from "causing" and "contributing" to severe health problems. Anxiety among many other things, can contribute to all kinds of health problems but in most of these conditions, is not a direct cause.
One aspect of anxiety is "worry" however, since everyone on earth with very few exceptions, has worry, it has to be severe and chronic (ongoing) to be classified as an anxiety disorder. This type can contribute to a variety of health problems as well because chronic worry increases bodily functions, but more subtly.

While some people may believe confusing these terminologies is not that important, it really is because in some cases it results in wrong diagnosis, proposed causes for health problems, etc... It probably sounds like "semantics" or "playing with words" but it's really not and in my opinion people should know the difference.

Increased adrenaline over long periods of time, does contribute to serious health problems, such as hypertension and high cholesterol that can then directly cause heart problems and stroke, so these are the direct causes, while anxiety can be a contributor.
Anxiety doesn't cause these problems in all people, some don't develop hypertension or high cholesterol from prolonged anxiety, which are the things that almost always do cause serious health problems over time.
Just like everyone else, anxiety sufferers need to incorporate daily exercise into their routine and improved diet practices because this alone can offset any harmful effects from prolonged anxiety which can contribute to the hypertension and elevated cholesterol we have discussed above.

It is important in my opinion, for people with anxiety disorders, especially those who experience panic attacks, to know that the harmful effects of anxiety are almost never immediate unless as stated above, there is already a co-existing, serious health problem. By believing the anxiety is so very harmful in otherwise healthy individuals, it makes it very hard for these patients to learn not to fear any immediate effects from anxiety. Learning not fear anxiety symptoms is a major feature of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) but an aspect patients will have little benefit from, if they are told the anxiety will directly cause them strokes, heart attacks or sudden death.

[adajim]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

People suffering from anxiety, panic, stress and depression should consult a specialist and only then should use the medicine, as there can be various reasons behind the disorder. Medicines used to cure such disorders are habit forming and should be used for small duration, so consulting a specialist is very essential. As per my personal experience, I have used Xanax and it helped me in getting over my panic and anxiety disorder. Along with medicine, the concerned person should take a break from his/her regular schedule, go out and take good sleep.

[Dimple_Flirt]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

Ah here it is January 2010, I'm off the sertriline for 5 months and not depressed but still scared of the job/money situation. After 2 yrs of counseling I've discovered the core of my issue is low self esteem from my child hood and early teen years. The food has been a way to medicate since I don't do drugs or drink. The panic attacks for me are an internal escape mechanism and from feeling sorry for myself. It happened when I couldn't escape a situation or when I would get near my goal and knowing I would get more attention after reaching the goal. My whole life I've been told by many people I don't deserve....to be happy..be successful...a good job ...an opportunity.....be part of the group...and it goes on. I need to learn to love and protect myself and feelings first and every thing else will fall in line. I agree it is not good to get hooked on the pills they mask you from digging down to the real issues ...Good luck to everyone in 2010!

[d33na]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

I know no-one believed me when I lost a lot of weight before BUT I went through this horrid time of feeling naked and vulnerable and the stones dropped off....and I put all the weight back on plus more!

This time when I started to feel anxiety...I saw a therapist...exposure is frightening...when people think we ought to be excited....I am terrified...I had 3 men offer to help me with some carrying in a department store the other day and all I wanted to do was disappear....that never happened when I was FAT!

The layers of fat were security...if people didnt like me I could easily say...they dont like me because Im fat and brush it off...

Finding the real me inside this stratifed conglomeration is harder than changing eating patterns or excercise...handling compliments is new and scary...

I know Im doing the right thing...I know its good for me...but it scares the **** out of me also

[Dimple_Flirt]

Re: Anxiety and panic attacks

It is different getting attention from men, even positive attention when you have not had it or even willing eye contact while large sized . I'm quickly getting use to it!