Panic Attacks

[Sammy48]

I am worried about my sister, she has just admitted to me she is suffering from panic attacks. I have no experience of these and am not sure what to advise her to do. My first thought was her gp and she has tried but has an attack when the appointment comes round and she cancels it. Has anybody any advice I could give to her.

[firewatch]

she needs to get someone to go with her, and talk her down from panicking when she there. Also advise her to practice breathing techniques, it takes the mind off whats causing the panic attack. But she does need to see someone fingers crossed she gets helpxx

[missprim]

I agree with firewatch.Lots of support and help whenever possible, but she does need to see the GP as first port of call.

[Sammy48]

I dont live near her, but will suggest she take a friend, pehaps. Thanks for your quick answers.

[divegirl]

Also, if you or a mate can book the appointment for her and explain to the receptionist the reason for the visit, they will hopefully be understanding and try to give her the first appointment of the day. As a fellow sufferer I know there is nothing worse than having to sit in the waiting room and wait.

Lisa x

[Sammy48]

Thats a good idea Lisa. I think the fact she has been through a divorce last October and then back in September she lost one of her friends to breast cancer, may have a lot to do with the panics.

[firewatch]

sounds like she needs to talk to someone asap, she has had a lot happen in such a short space of time, poor lass no wonder shes suffering. I get panic attacks too hun and know how crippling they can bexx

[VHG]

Panic attacks can be caused by a mixture of depression and anxiety. If, as you say, she has suffered a few major problems in her life recently this could have a big impact.

Often people suffer panic attacks due to "loss of control". We all like our lives to be ordered and we like to feel we are in control.

But if something happens out of our control, like a divorce or death of a close friend (and she has had both) then we feel we are "losing control".

This makes us afraid of change, or meeting people, or going out and so on. We like the world to be a "safe" place, and by staying in we feel safe.

So it is a "mental" problem and is all "in the head". However this can still make it very real and if left untreated the panic attacks can continue.

There are tablets that can be taken to stop or reduce panic attacks, so maybe if she wont go to the GP get them to visit her at home.

[VHG]

A good intro here to panic attacks

http://www.mind.org.u...ditions/panic_attacks

[fliptheswitch]

Just a quickie, this website is very helpful http://www.nopanic.org.uk/
I used to use it at the height of my panic attacks (several years ago) when I was getting them 3/4 times a day.
They have a telephone number, which you can ring 24 hours a day, with a pre-recorded message, which talks you down.

I've recently started feeling "panicky" again, and have just discovered this other website http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/ which is very good, too.
They have a live forum, where you can talk to other people who know exactly how you are feeling. (I mean your sister, when I say that)

Do get her to visit her GP, as they will be able to refer her to someone who can help.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is often used for panic and anxiety problems, although there will probably be a waiting list if you go via your GP/NHS.
If it's really bad, and you don't think she can wait, have a look online or in the yellow pages, and find someone local to you who you can go through directly.

The longer she leaves it, the worse it will get.
I'd never really read up on panic attacks, until I got chatting to a fellow "sufferer". He emailed me the details of a website (above) and when I read the symptoms of panic attacks (racing heart, cold sweats, tight chest, sickness, pins and needles in the hands, trouble breathing) I realised I wasn't going mad after all, and these feelings were perfectly "normal" and quite common.
I felt very alone when I was suffering, until I did something about it.
The best thing you can do is be there for your sister. Make sure she knows that you're only ever at the end of a line, day or night.

The best bit of advise I was given was, nothing bad can happen to you.
I would sit there, concentrating on my heart beat, feeling for my pulse to see how fast it was beating, breaking out into a cold sweat, convinced I was about to have a heart attack.
Then the breathing would get more rapid, and I'd start feeling my hands tingling.
They would tingle so much, they'd eventually seize up, and almost lock.
I later found out, this was due to lack of oxygen.
Worst case scenario, I'd pass out. BUT... when I came round, everything would be back to normal. No fast heart beat, no rapid breathing. It was almost like a on/off switch, and would "reset" me.
If she does start hyperventilating, tell her to cup her hands over her mouth and just breath into her hands, for as long as she needs to. It may take a while, but it does help.

Definitely get her to the doctors, though. It won't go away, it'll just get worse.

It's really nice that you're asking on here. It shows how much you care.
Good luck :-) x

[Sammy48]

I have just got in and have been reading all your lovely answers, yes she has been through a lot recently and I think this is triggering these panic feelings and feeling very low and depressed. I will pass on all this info to her. I live at the other end of the country to her so am not there bodily to support her, but by phone I am.

Thank you all once again.

[tinkerbell23]

I get them - took a few big ones about october and thought enough was enough went to docs and was really upset...im embarrased too ...

Anyhow i was given propanolol which is a beta blocker so stops tge heart racing....happy to take as & wen because i didnt want to rely on anything too strong such as anti depressants and its worked great xxx

[chas2008]

these are more common than you think(been there myself), half the problem is knowing exactly whats going on extremely frightening if you dont then learning how to control them especially breathing, ie hyperventilating.
I suffered 30+ years ago and still now i get the odd attack but have learnt how to get through them. Originaly i had no idea what was going on and was given some tablets but i ended uo like a zombi, i then found and article in a magazine (pre internet days) which explained what was going on and why, this helped enormously.

[craft1948]

I have been hospitalized twice with panic attacks............after having every test the doctors could think of they were happy it was just panic attacks and the diagnosis itself seemed to make them virtually go away.