PANIC ATTACK!

[Rising Phoenix]

a really bad one, have been sweating profusely for two hours, shaking, can't do anything....had to skip the gym, even though that might have helped...too many people and I was scared to get my heart rate any higher...its like its beating out of my chest.

yuck!

[EFerrari]

1. I'm so sorry, Mrs. Sniffa.

:hug:

[mopinko]

2. dang

:hug:

[Forkboy]

3. They suck immensely

Hope you're doing better today.

[Irishonly]

4. I'm sorry

Panic attacks suck

[Rising Phoenix]

5. they sure do...has been going on for three days....for the most part

the only thing that helps is the gym, but in a few hours I"m back in super anxious mood....yesterday I debated going to the hospital....

[EFerrari]

6. Have you talked to your prescribing doc? There's no reason

that you should be put through this. None.

:hug:

[Rising Phoenix]

7. he won't up my anti-anxiety

I'm on 3 mg of Ativan a day...he doesn't even really believe how long they last....I don't know

[EFerrari]

8. You need a new doctor. He's not doing his job.

Ativan is for pain, not anxiety.

[Irishonly]

9. I Agree

You should never, ever have to suffer like that.

[Rising Phoenix]

10. thank you, you guys

my only problem is I dont' want to see a different therapist, and they are kinda a package deal...yes I've spoken with the therapist about this....we are trying to work out a solution.

[EFerrari]

11. Well, you could see a shrink who only monitors your meds

and stay with your therapist.

All I can say is, I used to go through that. Prozac and a little bit of Klonopin took it away ALTOGETHER. My life changed completely and it was really so simple. It was like someone let me out of a cage. :hug:

Good luck, my dear. Let us know how you do.

[smirkymonkey]

12. I just had a bad one the other night - I thought it was a heart attack

They are terrifying! The Paramedics had to come to my apartment. Have you seen a doctor or a psychiatrist? I find it intolerable. I got my shrink to prescribe a low dose of ativan, but I don't take much because I don't want to get used to it and it doesn't really help that much - I am going back Tuesday for an actual appointment.

I have been drinking herbal teas and trying homeopathic remedies, but I am still anxious beyond belief. Strangely enough the only thing that helped today was going to a remote part of Central Park (or maybe for you somewhere in nature) and just sitting and getting away from it all. What is going on in your life that might be causing it? For me it's work and living in this F**ed UP city. I suddenly feel like I can't handle modern life anymore. I need nature, peace, quiet, dogs....

Maybe you need some time to yourself but you should definitely get checked out to make sure it's nothing more serious (like a heart condition or anything else.) good luck!

[IndyOp]

13. My therapist's advice: Steer into the skid...

When a car is skidding on ice, you steer into the skid to regain control of the car.

When a panic attack hits, be with the panic, surf the waves, don't try to distract yourself, don't leave the place where you were when it hit, just sit with it. If you can, you can write out what you are thinking and feeling just to experience it more fully (and to relieve it a bit).

The fear of fear is much, much worse than whatever events in the world I think are causing the fear.

My last panic attack was when I went to see the Harry Potter movie from two years ago. I completely missed about an hour of the movie, because I was having a panic attack. I just sat there and noticed my breathing and let myself think all of the scary thoughts I was having about selling my house, etcetera and let myself sweat and let my heart race. I did occasionally interrupt my "being with the fear" to tell myself that there was nothing that I needed to do to be safer, that I was perfectly safe sitting in the movie theater and did not need to leave to go anywhere else or do anything else.

As for the gym -- go multiple times a day if it helps! The faster my legs move, the slower my mind races.

:hug: