Panic Disorder

Question: Panic Disorder? I am 14 and have Panic Disorder. The thing is I always get this: On the side of my rib cage where my heart is it hurts like 20 times a day for 1-2 seconds sometimes 3 seconds. This gets me very anxious thus causing more fears. I am growing my parents say it can be because your rib cage is getting larger im 5'6" 105 pounds. Skinny and tall basically. Could a professional or anyone who has experienced this for like as long as me which is 2 months respond . Thank You, I appreciate it

Answer: I was diagnosed w/panic disorder 3 years ago. This is NOT what you have. Do you have Doctor to diagnose your physical problem? Go see a medical doctor....your descriptions are physical, not mental. Best wishes.

Question: What is the best antidepressant for panic disorder? I have severe panic disorder, next week I see the doc, I want to suggest an antidepressant for me for this. I am weening off of xanax right now, he wants to put me on an antidepressant. Anyone have any expierience with this?

Answer: Theres several...and really it all just depends. The effects of any of the medications (Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Lexapro, Welbutrin...aka Zyban...etc., etc., the list goes on forever) on any one certain person varies so much its kind of a guessing game. For me, none of the above so far, but Elavil and Trazadone are good and they are antidepressants, but they make you sleepy. Although I dont really think that matters much since you are being weaned off xanax right now. Elavil (amitryptiline) and trazadone are inexpensive, but they are older medications and they may be difficult to get a dr to prescribe since they tend to prescribe the newer ones with less side effects. Good luck

Question: How long does panic disorder typically last? I've developed a severe panic disorder (lots of panic attacks and general anxiety) over the past couple months that seems unusual to me. I'm seeking therapy for it and the medication I've been put on for it, Xanax, hasn't been helping me. I'm considering taking an SSRI the doctor recommends but I don't know if it will help either. Does this stuff typically go away on it's own or am I just stuck with this?

Answer: Hi - for some people panic attacks occur seemingly out of nowhere, and go away as fast. But for others panic disorder is something that they have to deal with for many years or their entire lifetime. Part of the challenge is that the causes of panic disorder are not completely understood (no mental health condition is actually!). There's quite a bit of evidence from clinical studies that the condition may result from a genetic imbalance of the the neurotransmitter serotonin. Of all the anxiety disorders, Panic Disorder has been the most extensively studied from a genetic standpoint, and family and twin studies have consistently demonstrated that PD runs in families. Studies have found that an individual is 8 times more likely to develop Panic Disorder if a family member has been diagnosed with it. Other risk factors for Panic Disorder include: alcohol, smoking, or drinking large amounts of coffee or other caffeinated beverages; taking medications known to trigger panic attacks, such as those used to treat asthma or heart problems; having mitral valve prolapse, a heart condition in which one of the valves in the heart does not close as it should; and experiencing an episode of major depression. Current thinking is that if you are having panic attacks more than a couple times a week, that an antidepressant might be a better treatment strategy than a benzodiazepine sedative like Xanax. A newer SSRI like Lexapro (Escitalopram) seems to work well for a lot of people with panic, and is a relatively "clean" med in terms of side effects compared with other antidepressants. Good to hear that you are doing therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is generally viewed as the most effective form of psychotherapy for treating panic attacks. CBT has been found to reduce sypmtoms in 70-90% of individuals with Panic Disorder and agoraphobia. CBT involves the use of such techniques as thought-stopping, gradual challenging of irrational behaviors, identifying triggers and separating them from the attacks themselves, systematic desensitization that is focused on the physical sensations of a panic attack, etc. Hang in there...panic disorder is considered to be one of the most treatable of the anxiety disorders, and you can have every reasonable expectation that your attacks will lessen with time and treatment.

Question: Does Serendyn really work to aliviate anxiety and panic disorder? Iv been looking for a Natural Supplements to help alleviate anxiety and Panic disorder, and I heard that this is a Natural Supplement to significantly alleviate Anxiety and Panic attacks. Has anyone taken Serendyn? Does it really work?

Answer: There are 2 programs out there that are famous for treating Panic Attacks and Anxiety successfully. They are: Panic Away and The Linden Method. You may wonder, "Which one is better?" Don't worry, you're not the only one with that question. The Panic Away program is more appropriate for people who can cope with their Panic Attacks or Anxiety well. Linden Method is more for those who aren't really good in coping their Panic Attacks or Anxiety well. Check out the reference for the full comparison.

Question: What are the side effects of the medication prescribed for panic disorder? I heard that the medication for panic disorder is unhealthy and brings side effects in the future. What kinds of side effects does it bring and how is it unhealthy?

Answer: It really depends on the medication, and how your body reacts to it. You didn't list one here. Everyone is different and may have different side effects. They can range from sleeplessness, to dry mouth, to loss of libido. The biggest concern dependence on the medication. If you can work with a health professional to confront your panic attacks in a non chemical way, that would be awesome. This is no small task, I realize. But I've had friends who've used this approach (with a doctor) and it gave them proper perspective. After all, it's a mental condition and it's something you can take charge of with the right help. Best wishes to you!

Question: What are some good jobs for someone with social anxiety and panic disorder? I have been struggling with social anxiety and panic disorder since I was 16. I am almost 21 now and have been to many job interviews, but have not been able to make it through a single one without having a panic attack!!! I take medications daily, but with no luck!! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Answer: Hi Olivia I’d like to give some solid advice to you about panic attacks, especially as you seem to have a trigger point which is the job interviews. There are many dead ends you can go down tryin to deal with this problem. I have a history of them and now I have dealt with them. When a person has a panic attack they are frozen in fear. This is not cowardice. Panic attacks become a private hidden secret inner prison that destroys a person’s life and self-esteem. A person tries so hard to hide it even from him/herself. Panic attacks come on like a heart attack without a warning. It is a very similar feeling and hard to detect which makes it even scarier. The chest tightens, there is no way to handle the fear factor, the feeling that is paralyzing and comes from out of nowhere. Physical discomfort like a rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, hot flashes and trouble swallowing regularly accompany the attacks. Panic attacks usually peak within ten minutes but can last 30 minutes. Sometimes panic attacks can last as long as a day. Many feel very tired and worn out after the attack subsides. Learning how to stop panic attacks is a priority for the majority of those who have ever experienced them. This is because panic attacks are emotionally, mentally and physically draining. Some have gone so far as to describe panic attacks as emotional nightmares. Although a doctor is a good port of call first in case there is some health-cause, medications do not always alleviate the panic attacks, especially long term, and those prescribed with anti-psychotic medication are on the road to further problems resulting from the consistent use of chemicals that eventually have a permanent negative effect on the brain. I am not a doctor or a professional person, but I am a person that lived with panic attacks and has overcome them. I’ve had to read information and misinformation from sources that proscribe to know about panic attacks but they don’t. People give so many varied points of view on how one should deal with them. Persons that have panic attacks not only have to deal with the panic attacks, they have to deal with people who have a lack of understanding and arguments at the same time. Sometimes that even includes doctors! There are now simple techniques you can learn to help you stop panic attacks quickly and easily and eventually cure panic attacks completely. These techniques have been tested and proven through research and actual application to stop panic attack quickly and effectively. The deep breathing technique is one of them and is also called diaphragmatic breathing and is a very important technique to learn if you what to quickly know of how to stop a panic attack. The challenge now is when you are experiencing anxiety, focusing on proper deep breathing can be very difficult task. The deep breathing technique requires you to breathe directly from your diaphragm and is the type of deep breathing you do during meditation. This technique is simple and anyone can practice it when you begin to feel the symptoms of panic attack. I’ve included a link if anybody wants to really get to know more about these techniques and how to stop the panic attacks completely and for good. I’ve been there so I wish you and all those on the search the best, and I offer lots of optimism because this affliction can be overcome. Good Luck!

Question: How to help family member who has panic disorder? One of my family members has panic disorder with agoraphobia. She's been to therapy and the doctor, but does not want to take pills. She's housebound, and seems to enjoy being domestically helpful and content being at home. She doesn't seem to show much interest in the outside world. But, I do want to see her get better and regain her independence. How do I help get her out of the house and interested in life without forcing her to take pills?

Answer: You can't make her do anything she's not ready to do or doesn't want to do. You can only control your actions, not hers. If she's content to be a homebody, then why mess with her happiness? She'll have to deal with it sooner or later. Personally, I just wouldn't go out of my way to help her if she's needing something outside the home but is too fearful to go get it. This will force her to have to do things without the help of others and she won't become co-dependent on you.

Question: Will i have to deal with Panic disorder the rest of my life? Im 33 years old and i have been battling anxiety/panic my whole life. I used to take Klonopin for many years. I stop taking them. Awful withdrawl. Anyway its been a year with out zero meds and now after i have had my son i have had two full panic attacks . My doc put me on klonopin just to get me to a calmer place . Anyway im just frightned this disorder will never go away.

Answer: You won't have to deal with it your whole life if you fight back. Letting yourself think you will have the problem forever is the worst thing you can do. Read this ladies story it should help you. http://panicdisorderanxiety.com

Question: How do the doctors diagnose someone with Panic Disorder? I was reading somewhere that they take blood, and check you out for other illnesses, before they actually diagnose someone...So, How(or what.) do the Doctors do, before diagnosing someone with Panic Disorder. Thanks to anyone who answers.

Answer: I think it's Heart RAte -- Mine was over 160 beats a minute or something when I was having one. Also sweating, clamminess, just the usual physical symptoms I'd think. If there's a blood test for it, I've never heard of it.

Question: What do you do when you have panic disorder with symptoms of depressions and can't schedule an appt w/ a doc? I am so tired of feeling like a disabled person because of my panic disorder and the depression-like symptoms, and I WANT TO seek treatment, but everytime I call a mental health center, hospital or doctor, they are booked for at least a month. What do I do? I have a job, a life, and I need treatment ASAP. Emergency Rooms are not for treatment!

Answer: Go to the Emergency Room, they can & will give you meds right away untill, you can get in to see your DR.