Panic Attacks

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Beautifulmess

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I've never once suffered with a panic attack but this last month I've had 3 miniture ones (I've managed to stop before they escalated) and last night traveling to a comedy show (Frankie Boyle) I had one massive one that seem to go on forever :'(

I don't know whats causing them, who has suffered with them, how do you cope and calm down?

x (I've studied them in Psychology)
 
wow, i havent but i will be interested in following this thread as i do panic a lot and worry about situations and things.

Hope you ok now x
 
I used to suffer them in my old job. I hated it so much that I used to get panic attacks and palpitations. The doctor put me on beta blockers which I could take in work if I was feeling stressed out and it definitely helped. I have since left that job and no longer need to take them.

Panic attacks can be a very stressful thing and really frightening when they happen. I would go to the doctor tho as they may be able to find out the reason you are having them
 
I first started getting panic attacks in school, but I didn't know what they were then. I just remember being dizzy, not being able to breathe, tingling upper lip, not being able to feel my hands etc. Since I started taking medications for my mental health my anxiety is pretty much non-existant in comparison with those days.
My little brother has had a few major panic attacks as well, out of the blue.

Can you think of anything that may trigger them? Do you remember what happened the first time you had one?


My tips:
- Remove yourself from the situation. Eg,, crowded room --> go outside.
- Breathe in calming green thoughts, breathe out the bad red thoughts.
- Avoid caffiene.
- Stop and think about why you are anxious. Reason with your thoughts. Are you actually in any danger?
 
I can't even get down to the reason why I started having one. I was in the car with my boyfriend traveling to the venue, it's about 1/2 hour away from us, I've been 3 times within the last month.

I remember feeling nervous, the butterflies in the stomach thing. It built up and moved further up, under my lungs and then hit my heart, I felt like I was trapped, hyperventalting, my boyfriend couldn't stop the car and couldn't find anywhere to park, I was drinking water and starting to feel my throat close, my heart was thumping, my stomach wanted me to throw up. When we finally stopped, I was shaking, hyperventalating whilst also trying to control my breathing and count to 10. I got out the car and instantly felt better, but also felt like crying, my boyfriend just held me whilst I violently shook and I developed a lump in my throat the whole evening :(
 
Oh dear...perhaps you should visit your GP?

You must try and carry a paper bag with you, honestly it is the best thing to calm your breathing down until you find out what is causing them...
 
I suffered from panic attacks when I had my children, and my mum used to get terrible panic attacks were she couldn't leave the house:(


Stress, hormonal imbalance and hereditary causes are the usual causes.

Try to cut out some stress/worry in your life and they will pass.

I don't get them now but I have felt a bt breathless and panicky when I am tired or run down.

I try to take my mind of it when I start to feel odd and think of happy things to curb it.

Peter Andre admits to having panic attacks too so it is widespread problem
 
Thank you, I've had a low motivation day today, apart from getting some job seekig done, I've done nothing, I had revision and house work to do >.<!
 
I try to avoid drugs whenever possible. I'm a firm believer in self healing (I'm buddhist) I don't believe in healing vibes, but that unless its cancer, tumour, big things, your body will cope and over come it. I tend not to take headache pills and such either.
 
I suffered from them too, I'd suggest going to the docs if they get worse he could help with medication etc. and when you get a panic attack move yourself from the situation, take five mins to yourself calm yourself down and breathe, i still get panic attacks if I'm going to social occasions with lots of people- i dont know why but they really stress me out!I also found swimming helped my panic attacks oddly enough, i think it's because it helped me relax and unwind after a busy day at work, perhaps you could find something that would help you relax at the end of the day? :) Hope they ease up soon
 
Ooh ive just read about your post on meds sorry! The doctor can also advise you on self therapy groups in your area which can help you with techniques to relax yourself in that situation :))
 
you must believe in Qi and acupuncture points then. people who are unwell believed to have their Qi points blocked. yoga may help to unblock Qi. :)
 
Well the fact that you know you're having panic attacks and doing something about it is the first step WELL DONE :)
My girlfriend has them a lot and has lived with them for years, she has had meds and phsyc treatment which all have helped.....but she still says that being able to control them has helped her the most :)
It sounds like you've got a very understanding boyfriend too, that was lovely that he supported you like that :)
Take care

Glynis, Velvet and Onyx xx>>>xx>>>xx>>>
 
My daughter had recurrent very severe panic attacks which culminated in her being hospitalized for two weeks last year. The very best method we found for off setting one was distraction tactics. Whether it's putting on the telly, making yourself think about something else, it has to be an activity that totally focuses your mind. The paper bag never helped her. She needed to be somewhere where she felt safe. It's probably just your anxiety levels running really high. You need to learn some coping strategies, a book can help, or your GP could either help or refer you. It's not fun, you have my sympathy. <3
 
I studied part of this in Psychology A level and have read further about it in my home study books. I will see if I can check out some of the basic 'help' and 'how to control' guides on these attacks, okay?

You will be alright, the answer to begin controlling these attacks is in 'your breathing'. Don't worry.

Beth xx
 
oh just read this and feel really sorry for you. I get panic attacks for no reason too- they just come out of the blue for no reason- I once had one in a room full of people who I was having a good laugh with and couldn't understand why, and another when I was hoovering the living room?
Unless they are causing a major impact on your day to day living I wouldn't rush straight to your doctors- they usually just pile you full of pills and send you away.
I realised i was getting them as a delayed reaction to something that had stressed me out maybe three weeks before- usually housework/ too much time on internet/ relationship/ kids/ weight.ect.
Best thing you can do is talk to a good friend and maybe get some books on the subject to help you work out when you are getting too stressed ect.
Hope this helps try not to worry too muchxxxxxxx
 
I have a severe phobia of crowds (Agoraphobia), and being anywhere near, close to strange people. I freak out if anyone I don't know touches me.

I get panic attacks pretty much whenever I am in crowds of people, just takes one person to touch me. People often think I am having an asthma attack with mine. They are always severe attacks too, close to passing out kind of attacks. I am not able to get myself out of mine on my own yet as I am spending all my might trying to breath over the pain. Isn't that just the worse part of panic attacks? The lungs in a vice?

But at least I know what causes mine. I have no idea what to recommend, other than once you get to the bottom of what causes it, never ever run from them. I MAKE myself face crowds every week, because if I didn't I would end up crippling my own life.

I cannot recommend any medication as I don't beleive in it for phobias (But then yours may be far deeper than a phobia). But I WOULD recommend going to see a psychologist, I think you are going to need to get to the bottom of it, otherwise you will never be able to cope and live with it if you do not know the cause.

But then, that's coming from me, and I am a bit of a masochist when it comes to dealing with stuff hehehehe. I have never ever heard of ones that are not triggered! How odd!

-Carma
 
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Meditation may help - especially if you're a Buddhist - I guess you've perhaps have practiced Buddhist breathing meditation? It may help calm the mind and focus on your breathing.

If you want to use homeopathic remedies, how about Dr Bach's flowers?
I swear by Bach Rescue Remedy it's amazing, just a few drops can help calm you down - takes the 'edge' off any sense of worry, anxiety etc.
http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/remedies.htm

Incidently it's also very good for animals!
http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm

Hope this helps a little :)
 
Passaflora complex is a good herbal remedy to help with anxiety.
I went through a period where I was very stressed with work and getting palpatations all the time. I started taking this every day and it really helped.
I do still get the occasional panic attack so always keep some to hand.
I hope you manage to find the cause and a way of coping with them. (or getting rid of them ideally!)
It's so scary when it happens, I always find I feel better if I go outside.
 
a panic attack is your body dealing with stress/anxiety and it goes into the fight or flight mode its a massive adrenalin rush iv known 3 people in my life to suffer from them and its not nice for people to go through.

* have to remember that a panic attack is all in your mind and it wont harm you, you can stop it. try and reduce any stress, worry in your life.good luck x
 
I suffered with a mild one yesterday (Wednesday) whilst on the coach with my boyfriend travelling to London, 4hour+ journey. I was fine for quite a while then I had to close the curtain *** outside bothered me, I started feeling anxity in my stomach and it build up and hit my heart and the pain was horrible, it isn't a type of pain that would hurt you nesserssery but it grips your heart quite badly. In the end I had to go to the bathroom to breath, horrible little white box at the back, I went there twice, when I got back, I put my hood around my head and put my boyfriends headphones in and tried to fall asleep, I was okay for about an hour then I managed to keep myself calm until the coach stopped, had to be in the bathroom for 20 minutes, take some immodium (helps you not go the bathroom) and I felt sick a good chunk of the day, with a lump in my throat and any disgusting sight or sound setting me off (I can't stand people who snort, cough with flem sounds and anything disgusting on streets) I can usual not care and forget but when I already feel ill.... well..

Anyhow, I enjoyed the day eventually, and I had no problems on the 4 hour+ trip home AT ALL. I eventually got my stomach to accept some food at 4pm (we set out at 5am, got to London 12pm). We left at 7pm. I'm busy until Sunday :( I'm not looking forward to it because I tend to have a tiredness thing where one-two days of excitement and action, knocks me for down for about a day-3.

The very mild panic attack, altho I don't think I got to the top, I managed to control it, lasted over 2 hours.
 
oh just read this and feel really sorry for you. I get panic attacks for no reason too- they just come out of the blue for no reason- I once had one in a room full of people who I was having a good laugh with and couldn't understand why, and another when I was hoovering the living room?
Unless they are causing a major impact on your day to day living I wouldn't rush straight to your doctors- they usually just pile you full of pills and send you away.
I realised i was getting them as a delayed reaction to something that had stressed me out maybe three weeks before- usually housework/ too much time on internet/ relationship/ kids/ weight.ect.
Best thing you can do is talk to a good friend and maybe get some books on the subject to help you work out when you are getting too stressed ect.
Hope this helps try not to worry too muchxxxxxxx
The internet makes me feel like cr*p if I'm on it too long! :o
 
I started having these after I started a new job this year. I worked there 5-6 weeks and for the last 4 weeks I was having 2-4 panick attacks a week. It was a high stress selling job. After one attack when I nearly passed out alone I basically quit.
Went to my doc who noted in my file iv had a few stress realted issues in the past and decided meds where the way to go. I had a few more after when we had money issues but my oartner really helped and I havnt had one for a few months. Now though me and my docs have disscuss and agreed that I cant go back into call centre sales enviroment as this appears to be my main trigger.
I hope things work out for you
 
Ok, now it's riduculas, last night I was lying in my bed after a full day fo activity, then my lungs started feeling uncomfortable my heart ached a slight bit, my breathing became difficult and in the end my boyfriend ended up coming frm home on the night we shouldn't see each other (we have two nights, mon and thurs were he does his own thing, xbox, mates playing pool, just dossing at home) and i do the same, but he shot down *** of how I was feeling and I rang NHS direct today to make sure it wasn't my heart... and they think it's related to the panic attacks :( in my own bed.

The way I got through wednesday was to picture my bed and being snuggled in it, as my safe place.
 
I've had some attacks these past few days, what with all the stress of losing my partner/house (we've just handed the keys back now). I was so ill with it yesterday, so ill to the point where I thought I had heart problems, I nearly fainted too. :(

My throat was closing and my chest was hurting and I had to take deep breaths.

I think all the stress that has built from July is releasing and my body can't cope. :(

It is so scary and the more you think about it, the more it happens.

Sorry to moan but no one else I know understands. :(
 
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