My Panic Attack Solution

i seem to get them when i am driving

First, you should talk to your doctor about them and see if there is a medical reason that can be addressed.

Second, try to identify situations while driving that seem to set them off so you can be aware and possibly avoid those situations until you have a cause for the attacks and they can be controlled.

If you do have an attack, concentrate on breathing slowly and deeply, open a car window to let in fresh air if that helps and pull over as soon as it is safe. Remind yourself that you are aware of what is happening and you are in control and take control of the situation as best you can.

I personally don’t want to be doped up on prescription medications… Those are chemically altered drugs and are far more dangerous than marijuana… So i must ask… Is marijuana a legitimate way to calm down a person’s mind when they are having a panic episode in which they are having trouble staying still, having thousands of thoughts rushing through their head at one time, and having trouble maintaining a stable breathing pattern? It seems that since i started smoking weed when it happens, i’m much calmer… of course a big hit will make me hardly able to stand but it does relieve my stress… and don’t get onto me with this "drugs are bad" routine… marijuana is a plant, not a drug… unlike some prescriptions… and i live in a med-weed state… so is it an approved method to treat high spectrum autistic panic attacks with weed?
it stops my hyper-ventilating, shakes and twitches, and the flood of thoughts… it puts me in the here and now…. i don’t do it to get high… i do it to calm my mind….
cathy… it CAN… does not mean it WILL… besides it actually stops the stuff… and it’s actually calming down… i don’t even smoke to get high… of course i do anyways XD but still… it stops my panic… and i am starting to panic less and less… in fact i only smoke about a bowl or two a month… tops…
choco… you obviously don’t understand asperger’s syndrome…
DAMN IT!! sheesh… please at least talk from a standpoint at which you look at my case to see what i’m trying to get at? i just want to know if from what you see, is this helpful… i’ve done all the meditation and i’ve done prescriptions… none of it works… but this does….
star… how can you say it didn’t TRIGGER it? some people have the issue underlying until it’s brought to the surface somehow… that’s what happened to my ex… she had the makings for schizophrenia and didn’t show symptoms till she was 10… and that’s when something traumatic happened… it triggered her schizophrenia… so maybe marijuana can trigger underlying issues… and treat ones on the surface…

For some people yes. But it also triggers panic attacks in many people. Usually I’m the one to argue for the benefits of pot. If somebody were to say it kills brain cells or causes lung cancer, I’m the first one to post links to Harvard and UCLA research that states it doesn’t. I can’t stand how people demonize it and use weak sources to back up their facts. But I have to admit that it does trigger panic attacks in many people who are already suffering from anxiety. I myself suffer from anxiety, and use both marijuana and xanax to treat it. But I can’t ignore the other half of the room who come on here all the time asking people if their weed was laced (when in reality, the weed just triggered their anxiety). It’s like how some people can eat sweets and not have any reaction, while others gain weight easily. Or how some people can’t have caffeine or they start bouncing off the walls. Marijuana is good for some people, bad for others. It’s not for everyone.

Some people only see the other half though. They will state that it triggers panic attacks, and fail to mention that it only happens with some people. They act like those side effects happen to everyone.

I am 16 years old and i just started birth control for the first time.

in the past, i suffered from panic attacks and anxiety. i didn’t have a panic attack disorder or anything, but i would constantly get them because i would over think about getting them,

and thats when they would start up.
i used to do ecstacy a lot, and when i stopped cold turkey i got withdraws and that’s where my panic attacks even began in the first place.
i stay away from that drug, and haven’t done it in a number of months now,

they went away and i had no problems. sometimes, even would i would over think about having another panic attack.

i have been taking birth control for seven days so far,
and the first two days were good, i had no pains, no change in my mood or body.

lately, i have been getting shortness of breath,
a few episodes of panic attacks here and there
i can’t sleep at night because i have shortness of breath
and i over think about what’s happening to me

i have bad aches in my eyes,
shoulders,
neck,
back,
head(sometimes)
numbness in my legs, and hands
cold sweats
real bad side pains in my left rib cage- i feel the ache of it when i cough or sit down or move a certain way
random little jerks through my body
random aches in my legs out of nowhere

and i’m sure a few more sypmtoms that i can’t remember right now,
but those are the mains ones i suffer with daily.

and i don’t know if i’m getting all this from over thinking,
because i tend to over think especailly after expiercings panic attacks,
or if birth control is just not for me.
what should i do?

I had a similar experience with NuvaRing. I started getting panic attacks and couldn’t remember a thing that happened during a couple of them. Like completely not being myself saying things i had no intentions of saying, or even had any thought of it in my head. Ya i know that whole subconscious stuff but i think it was more than that. I really think it was related to my birth control. I’ve been off of it for about 4 months now and no other panic attacks. I dont know in you case, but i think it was the birth control in mine.

i get panic attacks when ever i get nervous my chest hurts, i cant breathe, i feel light headed how can i control this? thanks.

Check for a gluten sensitivity. There is a huge link between gluten and depression. (There is a theory that some people suffer from leaky gut syndrome, the wheat goes through the gut and straight to the brain, acting as a drug, which can make you feel ‘crazy’ with thoughts.)

Keep a food diary and note what foods trigger the onset of ‘fearful thoughts’ – this could be anything from wheat, dairy, eggs or oranges.

If you are lacking in Vitamin B, You can suffer the following symptoms: Feeling unreal, Hearing your own thoughts, Anxiety and Inner tension, Inability to think straight, Suspicion of people, Good pain tolerance, seeing or hearing things abnormally, having delusions and frequent mood swings. Read Patrick Holford’s "Optimum Nutrition for the Mind"

www.foodforthebrain.org is a charity and it has a free questionnaire you can fill out in order to get feedback on what you might be lacking in your diet.

Try doing Byron Katie’s "The Work" – this is a free cognitive therapy consisting of four questions to help you unwind any fearful thoughts.

If you get panic attacks, sign up for the free emails on the panicaway website.

Keep two journals. One for writing down all your feelings, this is really good for clearing out your anxieties and getting all your war onto paper, you can delete it straight after if you need to, it’s just good to really see your stressful thinking. And the other can be your gratitude journal – write down all the things you are grateful for that happened today.

Go to The Option Institute! Here is a link: http://www.option.org/custom:single,595
If you cannot afford their programs, write to them and they can help you out financially.

Talk and seek out any people you can confide in. Helplines are usually free and usually leave no mark
on the phonebill

Best wishes.

I’ve had anxiety issues for years now. Everytime I get upset, I have a panic or anxiety attack. It’s getting to the point where I can’t control them and they happen more frequently. My boyfriend is unsure of what to do when the happen and they usually happen when he’s with me. I don’t know how to control it or make it better. It’s interfering with my everyday life and I can’t concentrate at school. Somebody help me please

Pills cant fix you- you have to be fixed from the inside- pills are just like a bandaid.

Hurting people hurt others. Theres nothing wrong with you its the people who are mean to you. They are sick and being mean makes them feel better. People/kids/parents do mean things or lie and control. They just want the reaction so they can get high feel good from it. The words are not true. They have a problem.

When you have a bad past/rejection/father gone it lets other things start. Cutting, OCD, anxiety, panic attacks, hearing voices can all come from a tramautic past. Its opens doors to the negative and they start to dwell closeby.

You can talk to me or google "emotional abuse" and see all the definitions and see its all true. Knowing the truth is the step to freedom from pain. Negative people and abuse brings spiritual problems so praying to get rid of negative things of a spiritual nature is often needed after years of abuse. Its not you its them.

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Collosians 3-21

1. Read online about verbal abuse. Read 20+ sites.
2. Realize its their problem.
3. Realize anger hurts you not them.
4. Google "Sinners prayer"- stops sadness.
5. Google "Deliverance Prayers"

Source– Experience

I had my first one this last Friday and I experienced them all weekend. They’re interfering with my classes and I left school already once because of them. I can’t continue to live like this. Please help.

I understand how hard it is. It will help you if once under a panic attack you actually try to relax your mind, unwind and think of good things and even close your mouth and breathe through your nose.

recently iv been having some pretty painful and dis-stressing panic/anxiety attacks, the last one was wednesday morning and i was took off to hospital. (they didn’t know what was going on because iv only just figured it out myself) i need to know how to deal with em as i can’t control em. they are pretty painful and worrying
thanks

Hey, I understand how you feel…

The uncomfortable symptoms like sweaty palms, "jelly" legs, extreme alertness, "impending doom" feeling and the fight-or-flight response.
I’ve been there. I’m an ex-victim. Sometimes the deep breathing or distraction techniques doesn’t work – a full-blown panic or anxiety attack happens later.
Sometimes you experience panic attack out of the blue and such.

Do NOT buy Panic Away, Linden Method, EasyCalm or the Panic Puzzle. They do NOT work – I’ve tried them and their solutions are similar – it DOESN’T WORK.
Medications do NOT work – I was under many antidepressants (Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft) and anti-anxiety medications (Ativan, Klonopin, and Xanax) but my condition was the same – no improvement at all.

The only program that really work is The Panic Attack Solution. It’s found by an ex-victim. You can check out his old blog in his official website to read up some useful tips.
But the package is the best – it teaches 17 powerful techniques and the real solution to panic attacks. I’ve bought it and it really helped me – it’s the BEST anti-anxiety package or book I’ve read.
His theory really makes sense and it works effectively!

You will learn why your panic attacks can happen without warning sometimes; why having stimulant causes panic attacks; and many-many other useful tips!

Check out his official website:
http://www.ThePanicAttackSolution.com

This is my second child but i never had anixty so bad when i had my first, this time around im so scared, everytime i got a pain i keep thinking its time and start feeling all funny like now i keep going to the toliet and have runny 2’s and im all sweating and my stomach feel upset plaese help i dont want to start panicky and lose control in labour and end up making myself really bad.

Well your getting pretty close. So if you feel you need to get yourself to the doctor. But until then Congrats!

HELP ME!!
I am at work!!!

If this is a chronic problem for you then obviously get help from a professional. But ways that ive find to cope is put a rubber-band or something on your wrist. Every time you feel a panic attack coming on snap the band hard on your wrist to get you out of your head and back into reality. Also let the band be a reminder that the panic attack is causing you thoughts and feelings that are totally irrational and theyre not real. Also take deep breaths into your stomach. This will greatly help you to relax. Often times panic attacks are caused by a lack of certain chemicals in the brain. Many people get over chronic panic attacks by getting a more balanced diet. If you get anything out of what ive said it should be to remember to tell yourself when youre getting a panic attack that ITS NOT REAL.

I was really anxious last night and had uncontrollable muscle spasms, mostly in my stomach and then I started hyperventilating. Does this constitute a panic attack? Any advice on how to control these symptoms and to get calm again quickly?

Sounds like an anxiety attack. The advice given about the paper bag, and the advice about regulating your breathing by counting, are both good.

Given the connection between this question and your previous question about how not to have such pronounced negative reactions to upsetting situations, though:

I’d advise seeing a doctor or psychologist. Your symptoms, taken as a whole, are looking like you might have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Especially if you were abused or otherwise traumatized in childhood or adulthood.

PTSD is not a psychosis. Normal people get it, including soldiers who go to war. Sometimes also emergency med techs or doctors get it from seeing lots of people die. It is an anxiety disorder which often also causes depressive symptoms. It is *not* only found in those who deal with death. Anyone who is traumatized enough, including victims of abuse or assault, can get it.

Its symptoms include anxiety attacks, and highly intense emotional/physical responses to stressful stimuli which seem out of proportion to the present time. This is because the present stressor is connecting to the subconscious mind and setting off a big reaction which is based on some earlier trauma.

For example, my mother used to have anxiety attacks if she had to be in an urban decay zone at night. And she also avoided going downtown at night. This had no connection to the present, it was connected with a nasty assault she suffered in the downtown area of a big city at dusk.

And I used to have anxiety attacks whenever I had to deal with angry or verbally abusive customers. This isn’t in connection with the customers. It’s because from ages 6-8 I had an alcoholic relative in the house who used to get angry and verbally abusive when drunk, and then beat various family members.

People who have PTSD are often mislabeled as "depressive and anxious" as well as "overreactive, oversensitive, too thin skinned."

I cannot make this diagnosis since I am not a MD, so I might be mistaken. But if you do have PTSD, then your problems will not respond well to meds and will really improve as soon as you get the right therapy! It responds best to EMDR therapy.