Severe Panic Attacks

annem84 · 07-30-2007, 02:13 PM

I had a horrible one while driving...not the best place to be when your legs are numb and fingers are rigid. I was able to call my "safe person" but she couldn't do anything to stop me from being deep in panic mode. I have NO idea were it came from. Just tooteling along and BAM--fingers were instantly tingly but was able to pull off to the side of the road, somehow get my fingers to work and call 911--those were the longest 4 minutes of my life. I literally thought I was a goner...kaput, done with--my time to go. They gave me O2 on the way the hospital and my BP was 144/85, pulse rate was 111, resps were 22. I have never been in that state before and truthfully NEVER wanted to be there again--well ANOTHER one hit yesterday morning and my mom finally got me doing the Lamaze breathing and that calmed me down. I've never had them hit without warning and have NEVER been taken to the ER because of them. I really hate the feeling of having NO control over my body. My ER. Doctor gave me Ativan and if I keep it in my system, I'm OK but I can even feel it wearing off now and then and it sucks...anybody have any idea would could be causing them. I'm NOT under any HUGE amount of stress, been sleeping pretty good...I'm just so scared one will happen and I wont be able to work my body to dial 911.

mix · 07-30-2007, 02:53 PM

hi there,

i'm sorry to hear about your panic attacks! i have them too, but most of the time they are under control. however, they can strike at ANY moment and knowing that can sometimes bring one on. i try to go into denial and not think about it lol.

sounds like you are doing all the right things. i just think sometimes our bodies are thrown into panic attacks because of various things... dehydration, hormones, lack of sleep, stress (which messes up hormones) etc. it's not your mind going crazy, it's your mind reacting to things going on around you and in your body. it helps me to know that it's hormonal a lot of the time - that way i can put it down to a chemical reaction and i know it will pass.

*big hug* i hope you feel better soon.

by the way, what about listening to something in the car while you are driving? maybe something like a talking book - something funny and light hearted. getting your mind off of the looming panic is key.

Dolphin39 · 07-30-2007, 04:58 PM

Ive been having them for the past week and they are no fun i think my thyroid levels could be off and that may be causing them im just waiting for my bloodwork to come back to see if my levels are off

Coastal · 07-30-2007, 05:59 PM

I've gotten pretty bad attacks since being pregnant. It scared the crap out of my husband b/c he had never seen me have one until a few weeks ago when I was crumpled onto the bathroom floor hysterical. He took me to the ER b/c he thought I was seriously dying and had no idea what the heck was going on. That said, now I'm suddenly afraid of driving alone. I never minded it at all until that one horrid attack a few weeks ago eventhough it didn't happen when I was alone OR in the car (??) When I drive now without anyone else in the car I start to feel that familiar panic setting in, like everything is tighening up on me. I don't deal with it very well. I try to make sure someone else is in the car with me. I tell myself its just all those crazy pregnancy hormones but who the heck knows any more.

mix · 07-30-2007, 06:06 PM

it probably is the hormones from your pregnancy, plus the stress that comes from changes in your life - even if they are going to be wonderful changes.

annem84 · 07-30-2007, 07:14 PM

Thank You for the replies. I am, to, now afraid to drive without anybody in the car cause that is when it happened before--nobody to be my focal point, persay. I will take the suggestion and try to find a book on tape and also have a relaxing tape also so that might be able to help. I see my Counselor on Wednesday and picked up a book about Panic at the LIbrary today so will skim through that. Just totally frightened/scared that it will happen again and I know that mindset isn't the best right now.

Coastal · 07-31-2007, 01:38 AM

I got a good book a few weeks ago called "The Anxiety Answer Book".... it's really helped me thus far

jenn86 · 07-31-2007, 01:47 AM

I see that your on yasmin....that could be the reason for your attacks!

Annw · 08-03-2007, 07:25 AM

Hi, I'm new here (first post actually). Not officially diagnosed with PCOS either (just suspecting it about to see the doc).

I've had bad episodes of panic attacks about 8 years ago and was put on prozac. It was wonderful for me and not only solved the problem but made me a happier and more confident person. About a year ago I decided to quit and did it very gradually. All was well until a few weeks ago when I had a major panic attack. I was so terrified, I got to scared to even take the relaxant that my psychiatrist prescribed in case I ever had one. I did take it the next day cause I was still feeling bad, and it did help break the cycle.

I looked up online resource and found some good sites dealing with panic attacks that really helped me get over the worse of this. Just reading about what happens during a panic attack and why, helped sooth me in a way. Knowing that I am not really going to go crazy helped, if that makes sense. No major panic attacks registered since then, but some close calls. Hence, I decided to try short term cognitive-behavioral therapy. Already been through the initial diagnostic session and my treatment is scheduled to start next week.

My point is, there are solutions for panic attacks. It's a horrible horrible thing to go through and you should work to eliminate panic from your life.

Here's the site that helped me the most (it includes info about both anxiety and panic attacks):
http://www.anxietynetwork.com/helphome.html

Kathy2579 · 08-03-2007, 10:33 AM

yaz is nasty I took it and ended up in the hospital for a 3 day eval after a really really bad attack..

SnowFlower · 08-03-2007, 12:00 PM

You will see many posts of mine about panic attacks. I felt like I was going to die constantly and when I wasnt having one I was worried about having one and wouldnt go anywhere alone, drive, etc. Mine were so bad that no matter what medicine I took it took too long to work so I am on a timed schedule of medicine so its throughout my body the whole time to keep them away. It took going through many other things before with natural remedies breathing etc that didnt work before I did that but it has given me back life. I am still not a calm person and I still get mini attacks but without medicine I simply couldnt do it on my own. I did go to therapy to try and find out what was causing them because they came out of the blue and did Cog. Behaviour therapy and learned breathing techniques and while some of them did help they were not enough. I also find lavender and lavender/vanilla along with origins peace of mind peppermint really relaxing and do help me. Feel free to PM anytime as I feel I am the Queen of Anxiety. I did get diagnosed with Panic Disorder. Hugs!!

annem84 · 08-06-2007, 05:55 PM

Thank you for all the kind replies. They mean a lot to me. I'm doing "fair to partly cloudy". I had another bad one on Friday morning--I wasn't driving but was a passenger and it "started out of nowhere". The only person who can talk me down is my Mom and thankfully she was home or again it could have been a bad one. I'm in Therapy and we are working on breathing exercises so hope, in the long run, they will help.

SnowFlower · 08-13-2007, 12:32 AM

Hope all is well

Coastal · 08-13-2007, 11:29 AM

"fair to partly cloudy"... I like that