Anxiety/Panic Disorder?

tariana · 09-16-2007, 12:48 AM

Does anyone have anxiety or panic issues? I'm wondering if I actually have some sort of anxiety or panic disorder, and I'd like to know what your symptoms are, so I can see if I think I might.

Also, what do you do to help with them? Meds? Counseling? Anything else?

Thanks.

ScreamingBeauty · 09-16-2007, 01:20 AM

hey hun

adorable baby girl! congrads. I have an anxiety disorder. i had A LOT of panic attacks in high school. its hard to get a handle on t hem. do you think you're having them? what does it feel like? for me i just get really hot, my face heats up, heart rate increases, i truly feel like i can't breathe which upsets me so much that i'm actually not able to breathe. every now and then if i have one that involves crying my throat closes up.

it sounds corny but a good way to overcome them really is to find a happy place. have the same image in your head. close your eyes, get yourself away from whatever situation is making you upset and go to that place in your mind. different things work for different people. some people count backwards, go somewhere else in there mind, have a little saying that brings them back down or whatever. I also take Kalonapins (sp?) as needed. If you see a doc its rare they will give you those right off the back. They are very strong and therapists usually recommend Ativan first which works well for a few people i know. it didnt for me because i have a very high drug tolerance. I suggest that if you don't have a therapist, get one to help find out if what you are feeling is anxiety and what the root of it is!

HealthyCyster · 09-18-2007, 05:26 PM

I also have panic attacks. I feel overwhelmed at the moment and my mind and heart races and I can't think. And my mood swings! Is this related to PCOS? I'm currently not doing anything about it now... just trying to live through those moments : )
What a beautiful baby, by the way!

bec415 · 09-18-2007, 08:40 PM

I've experienced the things already mentioned - feeling hot, throat closing up, crying, also I feel very dizzy, head throbbing, everything's spinning and blurry. And I've actually been told after the fact that I was yelling when I didn't feel like I was being loud. Also shaking like I'm having a hypo, chest tightening, feel like I can't breathe.

This happened a lot in high school for me too, when I was being bullied, one year in particular a teacher kept giving me a hard time. I had kept it in for so long that it came out when I least expected it to. I think it's happened a total of 4 times while I was in high school. I've had maybe 2 or 3 episodes since then. I try to remove myself from situations that cause it, I beleive it's situational for me, that's why I don't think I actually have a disorder. I just can't be around people, relatives, employers etc. who talk down on me and make me feel worthless because I dont' know how to handle it....I keep it in until having an explosion in the form on a panic attack.

Pamster · 09-19-2007, 12:05 AM

I've had social anxiety since I was a teenager. In highschool and in crowded places my heartrate would race, I'd get sweaty, and I'd feel lightheaded.

I think I have had a few panic attacks...once on the night before I started college. I felt this pressure on my chest and I was hyperventilating. I also couldn't stop crying and I generally felt like the world was going to end.

Since then I've been put on meds and I've been to counseling. Even though I don't think my symptoms are completely gone...I don't feel like they hold me back anymore.

Good luck finding answers

utgrrl82 · 09-19-2007, 01:11 AM

I have had some. I can usually tell when they are coming on so I can normally take a minute to stop what I am doing and breathe deeply and slowly. My doc has wanted to put me on medicine but I hate pills. When I do the breathing it seems to stop after a few minutes and really helps.

Its hard to explain but my chest would get tight and I get butterflies in my stomach. My heart races. You know the feeling you get when someone or something scares you senseless of if you are driving and someone nearly hits you? That feeling. I would then black out for a few seconds. It scared the crap out of me the first few times it happened but for the most part now I can take care of it before it gets too bad. Hope that helps

lily08 · 09-22-2007, 01:13 AM

I suffer with panic attacks,have since age 14, right now have been getting them more guess being in nursing school does that to me. My symptoms are I get shaky, legs get weak, feel faint, trouble breathing, arms go numb, those are some. Im on lexapro 30mg and xanax as needed and started therapy again.

What do you guys do during an attack to stop it?

PureLife · 09-22-2007, 04:12 AM

I've been suffering with a panic disorder for about 10 years. Much to my Dr's dismay the only thing that really helps is xanax. I can usually feel them coming on and a lot of times I'm able to use breathing techniques to calm myself. I only use the xanax for the major episodes.

ladyinautumn · 09-22-2007, 11:37 PM

I have a habit of dismissing the symptoms described above when I experience them. I fear being accused of seeking attention or a pity party. So, I just deal with it as it comes.

MarianneUnfaithfull · 10-01-2007, 03:49 PM

I have panic disorder which unfortunately led to agoraphobia. My attacks are severe and can last for hours, leaving me exhausted for days after.
I do take Dosulepin now which helps a little.

annem84 · 10-01-2007, 06:03 PM

I have anxiety/panic disorders...I have them under control now. I haven't had one in over a month and mine started out of the blue on 7/28, due to internal stressors. I'm on Zoloft 50 mg and Welbutrin 300 mg. I'm also in Therapy, use a Chiropractor and a Massage Therapist to help with my stress.

scottishsweetie · 10-01-2007, 07:35 PM

I have Severe Anxiety Disorder-

I take 25mg Xanax and 10mg Valium 4x a day and 150mg of Zoloft a day. Sometime it STILL does no good. My therapist told me to close my eyes and breathe slowly when the meds don't even work.

Good luck!

ErinT · 10-01-2007, 09:19 PM

I have had panic disorder for as long as I could remember. I haven't had a panic attack in a long long time. Not sure how I did it but I was able to get off my meds too. I have been off for 6 months or so. I still get 'panicy' but I am able to turn it off before it gets full blown. I just try to rationalize my thoughts. For instance, part of my panic was a crippling fear of throwing up on myself in public or while driving. Well I was able to shorten my daily commute from 45 mins to 15. That helped. But more importantly, I am able to say, "So what if I throw up who the heck cares." That is a huge help.

Meetings at work are still really bad. I feel like I am closed in and can't get out.

I am convinced that the panic is somehow caused by the hormones going all over the place. During certain times in my cycle, I can feel the panic coming on.

Betwixt · 10-04-2007, 09:16 AM

I have the anxiety and agoraphobia too. Since my husband has been deployed since April, I've been living with relatives. Right now I'm living with my father and mother in law, and I feel like the relative living in the attic, since there's always too many people downstairs for me to cope with.

I'm tired of people telling me to "deal with it" or nagging that I should get a job because that would help me, (HA!) or to volunteer for something. I just don't want to go out, and face the rest of the world! I want to do this on MY terms!

lily08 · 10-04-2007, 09:17 PM

I ordered an e-book and it has actually helped me its quiet diff than most books, this one doesnt tell you to breathe and what not it actualy shows you how not to liver in fear of your panic attacks , If ne one is interested let me know I can share more info about it or try and send you a copy of it.