Panic attacks?

[andrea81]

I suffer from panic attacks and although I don't get them all the time, I do sometimes feel anxious about getting them, which still has an effect on my life. If i'm stuck in a traffic jam o'r in busy shops or restaraunts I'm terrible!

I've tried verious methods but I just can't get away from them. I know all there is to know about them.. accept how to get rid!

Does anyone get this at all? Feel that proffesionals just don't care. Thought talking to others may help!

[xroads]

I have panic attacks.
I don't want to seee anybody because they don't believe me.

[whiffey]

One explanation is that you dread situations where you are not in control. Stuck in a traffic jam, particularly on a dual carriageway you are not in control (on a single carriageway you can always U-turn). Similarly in a busy shop, you may feel that you can't reach the exit fast enough if you needed to. (p.s. never visit IKEA in Croydon - navigating out of the place is virtually impossible !!).

Agoraphobics are much the same. It is not a fear of open or enclosed spaces but a more generic loss of control. A severe agoraphobic would be upset if told to stand in the middle of a field for 10 minutes without moving - it's the loss of control.

It varies in severity from time to time, you are unlikely to entirely lose the propensity, but if you can remove any underlying stresses in your life you will make it a whole lot better. It is possible to live a happy life without ever driving on a motorway too !

[andrea81]

I agree, being out of control is what is hard. I think that I'm getting on with it though because I do try to do things even though I fear an attack. I guess I'm facing my fear, which is what I know I should do.

I just hate the feeling that I get when I'm anxious but don't know why. It always happens during change in my life.

I'm glad that I have a supportive husband, but I sometimes think that other people don't take them seriously and that includes my doctor too! I was told to come off the waiting list for pychotheropy as it has a year waiting list. I agreed, but now I think it was a cheek to ask me... I deserve help too!

[country_boy]

Hi there
I know exactly how you feel. I used to get mine when driving at night (think the trigger was being first on an accident scene one night). Every night I'd drive home and I'd start to get tingles in my fingers, then sometimes end up with palpatations and even paralysis!
Dr told me I was hyperventilating, thought it was bull but it was from shallow breathing cos I was so anxious about the drive home. Still not comfortable at big dos or crowded places/having people behind me/in a supermarket queue, but thankfully not had a full on attack for 10 years now. I used to always plan my escape route, or make excuses not to go places.
I found it became psychosematic, I was having panic attacks cos I was worried about having panic attacks! Eventually with becoming aware of my breathing (at first I couldn't breath naturally cos I was monitoring it all the time!) and with time doing it's healing bit, I worried less with each successful drive at night. I've had them elsewhere but nothing like the driving ones!
Also negative thinking wasn't helping, so I got a book on self-hypnosis and managed to do it and replace bad thoughts with good ones!
Dr gave me beta blockers as they stop the adrenalin which kicks off the palpatations, but I only use them if I know of a tricky situation coming up, such as a speech/presentation.
So I'd say become aware of your breathing but not obsessed by it, if you feel anxiety coming on, take a slow deep breath and hold it for a bit, exhale slowly, and repeat a couple of times.
Bad posture may be making you breath more shallow.
If you can pinpoint a particular thing that is making you anxious then maybe the psychotherapy or hypnosis would help.
By the way, you don't stick out as much as you think you do when you are having an attack!
Also people won't understand unless they've had them too.
Try not to go on a negative train of thought of what if I get an attack

[country_boy]

<chopped me off a bit soon there>
... Try not to go on a negative train of thought of what if I get an attack here or wouldn't it be bad if I had an attck there... etc
You can get over it too. It does take time and a positive outlook, plus a bit of stubbornness and determination not to be beaten!!
Take care and good luck

[andrea81]

Thanks for that, So glad to hear that these things can get better and that time does heal. It really helps to know that I'm on my own and I have plenty of stubborness to beat it!!!!

Thanks a lot country boy

[Rubyrose]

Hello Andrea,

I was the same as you. I used to have them all the time. Although mine weren't panic attacks, mine were anxiety attacks. Apparently the difference is panic attacks can hit you at anytime for no reason at all. Anxiety attacks are brought on by a situation. Mine was due to my epilepsy. I was always worried I would have an attack and because of that, I used to have anxiety attacks instead. I went to the doctors many times for it and each time they told me I was depressed! I wasn't at all. I was towards the end but only because no-one could help me and they all kept telling me I was depressed. It was a long time before I got the help I needed and I didn't get it through the NHS or my GP that is for sure.
I made private appointments and went and saw a Hypnotherapist. I knew my problem wasn't medical. It was emotional. Something in my brain was making me have this fear and no amount of drugs the doctor could prescribe me would help this. I refused all the pills the doctors offered me because I knew they wouldn't help. I could tell you every detail of an attack from heart palpataions to sweaty palms, to not being able to breathe and I could tell you the medical reasons behind them all but nothing stopped them happening until I went to the Hypnotherpist. All in all I had 6 sessions with her which was 1hr and a half per session. My attacks stopped after the first session and I have never had one since. I swear it's the way forward. The NHS will try and quick fix the problem by offering you pills but in the long run they are only prolonging it because either way, the problem is still there and it needs to be dealt with properly.

If you want to chat - [email protected]

[andrea81]

Thanks for that rubyrose. I think you're right, I have also refused quick fix solutions. The Doc didnt think I was depressed, just stressed out with worl, but I know that's not it! I've been like this for many years, just getting sick of being this way.

I'll be sure to keep in touch

[someonesgirl]

apparently you are supposed to get through it by putting yourself through it and seeing that nothing bad happens!! I get them myself, not so much anymore, but when i do, i tend to chew strong minty chewing gum or pick my nails (i find, getting engrossed in something else calms it down after a while). try getting a self help book.

[Rubyrose]

I tried self help books, EMDR Therapy (this was a type of therapy through NHS that I demanded but found it never helped because the Therapist's method involved talking constantly about how an attack made me feel, which always bought on an attack), Chemist remedies, leaflets from the Dr on beating it. Nothing helped. Nothing. You know why? Because it was all in my head and I needed someone to help me with that... not give me drugs etc!

Also my ex broke up with me just after my first session so I think that gave me a mental kick I needed too! I realised then that I was on my own and no-one could help me but me.

[andrea81]

I have read some self help book but I think I'm too sceptical to believe they will work. I think they will work eventually, but I need something to click in my head before I can take it all in.

Will keep working at it and facing my fears!

[flump1]

Hello Andrea, when I suffered any form of anxiety (which in my case usually led onto a panic attack ) I focused on whatever I would do when the situation causing my anxiety was over. It is a form of distraction that worked for me. if I was driving I turned on the radio and sang along ( albeit very badly ) and thought of what I would do when I was through the flow of traffic. Cook a meal , take a long bath, even if you do not have any real intentions of doing these things , try daydreaming. In shops just take a look around at things other than the queue. See what other people are buying and wonder why !. Remember nothing as bad as what you think will happen will actually happen to you, for instance , you will not wet your knickers while you wait in the queue. !! One of my old worries !! And if you do...so what !! Chin up, andrea, keep working at it , you can develop ways of coping. Good Luck x

[andrea81]

Yea, I think I have to think of ways of coping. Saying that, I remeber my first attack and it was over ten year ago. It hasn't stopped me doing my school education or uni. Maybe I'm better at coping that I think. Just need that extra step to get rid completely!