How do I overcome my panic attacks…I don’t even know whats causing them…?
I use to have panic attacks when I was 5-16 where I would pass out.
Then they disappeared for about 8 years and now they’re back with a nasty vengeance.
EVERYWHERE I go I get panic attacks, and I mean EVERYWHERE.
I’m currently seeing a psychologist and she’s diagnosed with me with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (from a car accident). But it’s not only when I go in a car, it’s ANYWHERE, like even at home sometimes.
It really blows big time, because I WANT to go out and do things but these attacks make my life a living hell and I’m finding myself choosing not to go anywhere just to avoid having a bad time, but I’m ansy and sitting at home 24/7 (I’m on employment insurance from this illness, cause my boss laid me off cause I couldn’t function, but I’m going back to work after my insurance coverage is over in 1.5 months) And I need to get rid of these, I’ve tried ignoring them, but then it just takes a serious toll on my energy.
Medication doesn’t work, I’ve tried 6 pills and they make everything worse or they cause horrid stomach pains, or I get so dizzy I can’t stand up.
Any suggestions on how to just deal with them?
Hey sweetie, sorry to hear about your situation. I’ve suffered from severe anxiety for many years, and as with you, sometimes better sometimes a lot worse.
These problems started at five and that makes you an anxiety prone person. Your body and mind do not respond to physical and psychological stress the way most people do. It is not uncommon for symptoms to disappear as you get a grip on things and then suddenly a traumatic experience (like a car accident) can jolt your system, and symptoms will resurface.
I am assuming you also "hyper-react" to stress. What I mean is that things that stress people will take hold of you and put you in a state of panic/stress more magnified than the normal response level. It can really get in the way of normal everyday functioning.
The only symptom you’ve mentioned are panic attacks, so let’s deal with that. When a panic attack comes, face it head on. Tell yourself "THIS IS JUST A PANIC ATTACK. IT’S NOT GOING TO HURT ME." Do that every time. Be firm as if you were a parent and the attack were a bad child. "IT’S NOT GOING TO HURT ME." You can literally remap neuro-pathways in the brain and "train" them to respond in a better way.
This alone will help curb the attacks that happen just because you’re afraid an attack is going to happen! I know you know what I mean.
Learn relaxation techniques. Learn to meditate. The internet is a rich source of techniques you can use. You need to retrain your body to be calm. Remember, you did it for 8 years and you’ll do it again. Every day twice a day for 15-20 minutes, relax and meditate.
Do a search on Yahoo or Google for anxiety disorder forums. Their are MANY people out there who suffer in the same way and reaching out to them will help you cope, lessen your fear, and keep your dignity about you as there are those who will belittle you as if it were all "in your head". It is NOT. It is NOT YOUR FAULT. Don’t EVER forget that. When family or friends doubt you, look them in the eye and say "I need your love, your support, and an attempt to understand. What’s happening to me is real, if you don’t believe that you are only hurting me. I only have time for people who love and support me at this difficult time in my life. I hope you can be one of those people."
Also, anxiety is often linked to chemical neurotransmitter levels in the brain. These "mood chemicals", when low or depleted, often trigger or exasperate stress. Before you try medication there is a natural safe alternative called "tryptophan" which was once by presciption but is now available in health food stores. It is the same stuff you find in turkey among other foods. Take one tablet, 500 mg, 45 minutes before breakfast, and one more 2 hours after dinner but before bed. This is basically a natural form of Prozac or Zoloft, is much safer, and has no side effects. Tryptophan can help restore low chemical levels in the brain. Remember to give it at least a few weeks to fully kick in.
You may want to get a quality B-complex vitamin as well. B vitamins are used by the body to combat stress. Don’t get the cheap stuff at Wal-Mart. Once again, get this at the health food store.
As well, a diet with 3 meals rich in both protein and carbs is another natural way to restore balance in the brain. If you feel this is still not working, eat a plain potato right before bed for an extra boost of serotonin, a mood chemical that can help fight your stress.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Regarding the problems with medication you have: Many times people with chemical imbalances will be VERY sensitive to their meds at first. Just like you overreact to your stress, you also overreact to your meds. Trying the things I’ve suggested may help boost your levels to the point where you will have a more stable and less symptomatic response to the same meds you tried already. I have had the same issue myself, and balancing my chemical levels has improved my reaction to doctor’s meds a dozen times over. This is the kind of thing a doctor will not tell you, mostly because it takes a person with intimate knowledge of stress to notice and understand these side effects (i.e. the patient, not the doctor).
Okay, this is getting long so please look into what I’ve suggested. I’ve been there. I’ve experienced the worst of it. Good luck to you, and drop me a line if you feel like it. Take Care!
Will
Comments
Comment from yakult
Time December 27, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Well….are you stressed?
If you are stressed then the most logical course of action would be to reduce yourself of it. I guess its not as easy as it sounds especially if its financial or relationship based.
I know panic attacks arent simply based on stress and they are recurring…I have a friend who suffered from them she tried cognitive behavioural therapy. I dont know if youve tried it but it has to do with going through a process when the symptoms start appearing.
Meditation helped for my friend too she said the interval between each panic attacked increased. I suppose it relaxes you and rids you of the anxiety and fear.
oh and i found this site: dont know if youve seen it before but :
http://www.cureforpanicattacks.net/cure-panic-attacks/learn-how-i-cure-my-panic-attacks-naturally/
some book?
hope i helped. even in the slightest dear.
References :
http://www.cureforpanicattacks.net/cure-panic-attacks/learn-how-i-cure-my-panic-attacks-naturally/
Comment from shaneris5
Time December 27, 2009 at 8:58 pm
See Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris in sections 33 – 34, and examine the http://1-800-therapist.com/ & http://www.metanoia.org/choose/ websites, and use the locators in sections 33 – 34, and section 1, and phone book, and/or various associations for psychiatrists and psychologists, to find the nearest one using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy).
If unable to afford it, or to locate one nearby, contact the county/local mental health agency: any therapy on offer may prove helpful, particularly if combined with appropriate medication. (The following is a variant of EMDR therapy, which has been used successfully for those people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, insomnia, and anxiety: it is easily learned, quick to use, yet can be very effective.
It is easy to be dismissive of it, because it may seem a little strange, but is well worth trying, for at least a few weeks, to see how it effective it is in your case). First, sit comfortably, and take a deep breath. Then, without moving your head, move your eyes from the left, to the right, and back again, taking around a second to do so (say: "a thousand and one": this takes approximately a second). Repeat this procedure (without the words, although you can count, subvocally if you like) 20 times. Then close your eyes and relax. Become aware of any tension or discomfort you feel. Then open your eyes, and take another deep breath, and repeat step one, closing your eyes, and relaxing afterwards, in the same manner. Then, repeat the procedure one last time.
Some people may find that this is all they need do: others find that they need 2 sessions in quick succession, but professional treatment is the best option, if you can access it. With practice, you may find that you can employ this technique with your eyes closed, thereby enabling a much wider window of opportunity to use in public, without attracting unwanted attention. If you can’t access EMDR, you can request someone you trust to instruct you to focus on the event(s) which caused the PTSD, while you are performing the eye movements, and just before you are due to finish, (they count your eye movements, as your eyes follow their finger, as they move it from left to right; back and forth) and ask you what you are thinking/feeling at that time.
Professional EMDR is always much preferable, and Opester, (who gives it a glowing recommendation) a therapist with more than 20 years experience, and a former contributor, here, stated that it was one of only 2 disorders which can be completely cured. Panic attacks are addressed in section 8, at ezy build; see PANIC – COMPREHENSIVE POST &
PANIC ATTACKS PANIC ATTACKS: GROUNDING TECHNIQUES, first.
References :
Comment from hereatthesoulsplayground
Time December 27, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Hey sweetie, sorry to hear about your situation. I’ve suffered from severe anxiety for many years, and as with you, sometimes better sometimes a lot worse.
These problems started at five and that makes you an anxiety prone person. Your body and mind do not respond to physical and psychological stress the way most people do. It is not uncommon for symptoms to disappear as you get a grip on things and then suddenly a traumatic experience (like a car accident) can jolt your system, and symptoms will resurface.
I am assuming you also "hyper-react" to stress. What I mean is that things that stress people will take hold of you and put you in a state of panic/stress more magnified than the normal response level. It can really get in the way of normal everyday functioning.
The only symptom you’ve mentioned are panic attacks, so let’s deal with that. When a panic attack comes, face it head on. Tell yourself "THIS IS JUST A PANIC ATTACK. IT’S NOT GOING TO HURT ME." Do that every time. Be firm as if you were a parent and the attack were a bad child. "IT’S NOT GOING TO HURT ME." You can literally remap neuro-pathways in the brain and "train" them to respond in a better way.
This alone will help curb the attacks that happen just because you’re afraid an attack is going to happen! I know you know what I mean.
Learn relaxation techniques. Learn to meditate. The internet is a rich source of techniques you can use. You need to retrain your body to be calm. Remember, you did it for 8 years and you’ll do it again. Every day twice a day for 15-20 minutes, relax and meditate.
Do a search on Yahoo or Google for anxiety disorder forums. Their are MANY people out there who suffer in the same way and reaching out to them will help you cope, lessen your fear, and keep your dignity about you as there are those who will belittle you as if it were all "in your head". It is NOT. It is NOT YOUR FAULT. Don’t EVER forget that. When family or friends doubt you, look them in the eye and say "I need your love, your support, and an attempt to understand. What’s happening to me is real, if you don’t believe that you are only hurting me. I only have time for people who love and support me at this difficult time in my life. I hope you can be one of those people."
Also, anxiety is often linked to chemical neurotransmitter levels in the brain. These "mood chemicals", when low or depleted, often trigger or exasperate stress. Before you try medication there is a natural safe alternative called "tryptophan" which was once by presciption but is now available in health food stores. It is the same stuff you find in turkey among other foods. Take one tablet, 500 mg, 45 minutes before breakfast, and one more 2 hours after dinner but before bed. This is basically a natural form of Prozac or Zoloft, is much safer, and has no side effects. Tryptophan can help restore low chemical levels in the brain. Remember to give it at least a few weeks to fully kick in.
You may want to get a quality B-complex vitamin as well. B vitamins are used by the body to combat stress. Don’t get the cheap stuff at Wal-Mart. Once again, get this at the health food store.
As well, a diet with 3 meals rich in both protein and carbs is another natural way to restore balance in the brain. If you feel this is still not working, eat a plain potato right before bed for an extra boost of serotonin, a mood chemical that can help fight your stress.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Regarding the problems with medication you have: Many times people with chemical imbalances will be VERY sensitive to their meds at first. Just like you overreact to your stress, you also overreact to your meds. Trying the things I’ve suggested may help boost your levels to the point where you will have a more stable and less symptomatic response to the same meds you tried already. I have had the same issue myself, and balancing my chemical levels has improved my reaction to doctor’s meds a dozen times over. This is the kind of thing a doctor will not tell you, mostly because it takes a person with intimate knowledge of stress to notice and understand these side effects (i.e. the patient, not the doctor).
Okay, this is getting long so please look into what I’ve suggested. I’ve been there. I’ve experienced the worst of it. Good luck to you, and drop me a line if you feel like it. Take Care!
Will
References :
Comment from Ginny Jin
Time December 27, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Take a good look at your diet, sleep and exercise patterns. The problem will lie there.
References :