Panic Attacks

Question: How do I stop Panic Attacks before they start? I get frequent panic attacks after my "run in" with a heart problem I had a year ago. Panic attacks for me comes in waves and does not leave me for 3 - 4 days. It makes me feel very scared and depressed and I am edgy all the time. I keep feeling pain sensations in my chest, back and arm and can't get over the feeling - that I am going to die or get a heart attack. I did go to the doctor and my heart specialist. They can't find anything unusual in my heart ...they have given me some medications for this panic disorder - xanax - but that freaks me out and the withdrawal symptoms are awful. Thanks

Answer: a panic attack is the worst type of anxiety... it means that you haven't used proper coping mechanisms when the anxiety started as mild, then turned to moderate, then to severe, and lastly into panic attacks... your symptoms such as your chest pains and other referred pain may be the result of your anxiety. your body reacts to what you are feeling so your heart beats too fast, that makes your chest painful...(since it pumps faster and lesser oxygen-rich blood is circulated to the body) think of ways to deal with your anxiety, so that you will not get to the panic state...because if ur already in the panic state, the anxiety meds (anxiolytics) wont work unless you lessen the level of your anxiety back to severe, then to moderate...then if possible to mild... honestly, it is hard to do that..so people just try to pop anxiety meds.. xanax is a potent drug...(meaning its very effective) but if it worsens your condition, if you feel worse after taking it, then that's not the anxiolytic for you.. Diazepam (Valium) is a milder one....and yet effective unless you're not in the panic state... so i hope that answers your question....take the drug once you feel you are a bit anxious.. but the best way to manage that is through non-pharmacologic means... do some of your hobbies, make yourself busy talk to your friends, eat, cook, listen to music, enjoy yourself, dealing with anxiety varies from people to people.. you just have to know whats the best coping strategy for you.. thanks

Question: Why do they say panic attacks are not good for us, when excercise is? I have been reading online about panic attacks. They say that panic attacks aren't good for us, at more risk for this or that. They teach people with panic attacks that it will not harm them. But excercise is good for us. What? Panic is like running. Fight or Flight responds.

Answer: Panic attacks raise your heart rate, blood pressure and respirations by causing the release of hormones such as epinephrine and dopamine. While these are very useful hormones, and necessary to us in small doses, they are not good things to have floating around for the long term. They lead to chronic hypertension, poor circulation to the limbs (epinephrine and norepinephrine cause the blood vessels to constrict), and they increase insulin resistance leading to a greater risk of diabetes. Not to mention, it's very distressing to feel anxious so it's bad for your mental health. Exercise, on the other hand, raises our heart rate and respirations in a short-term healthy way, strengthening to cardiac muscle to give us a better cardiac output and increased circulation to the limbs, which eventually leads to lower blood pressure. It also makes your lungs fill more efficiently and increases your body's sensitivity to insulin, which leads to a lower risk for diabetes. Exercise also helps you to blow off steam, leading to decreased stress levels and it's also shown to improve body image even if you haven't lost any weight yet. This leads to better mental health and higher self esteem

Question: Will my panic attacks reduce if I start taking zoloft and drink less alcohol? I have bi-polar and am taking medication for it. But started having panic attacks 3 years ago. I drink quite a large amount of alcohol because to self medicate. I cant drive at the moment and cant even go for walk on my own. The only time I go out is with another person. Does anyone know if zoloft is effective. Please help as I want to be free and independant again.

Answer: You are supposed to avoid alcohol when taking antidepressants. I do not take Zoloft, but I am currently on Lexapro. It reduced my anxiety and I feel a lot better. Talk to your doctor.

Question: How many panic attacks does one have to experience to be diagnosed with Panic Disorder? I was curious about this. I have been recently diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder and I think I have been also diagnosed with Panic Disorder, but I am not sure. How many panic attacks does someone have to have to be diagnosed with Panic Disorder?

Answer: Negative emotions (like sadness, stress, anger, etc.) causes your Serotonin production to be low; when your Serotonin level is low, you are more prone to getting Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, etc. Medication like Antidepressants (SSRI - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) helps to boost Serotonin level. But there are natural ways to do it without medication. There's this strange herb called "St John's Wort" - it is said to be more effective than Prozac. No, it is not for mild depression only and ignore those sayings. In fact, it does help anxiety and panic-attacks as St John's Wort works like prozac. Other natural ways will be exercise, diet, more exposure to light, etc. The problem is that, even if your Serotonin is balanced... you have that "learned behavior" in your mind. You need to break that initial cycle to destroy that learned behavior - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) does this. A technique that you can use without CBT will be Distraction... There are several other techniques to help cope them! Ok, to use Distraction: Firstly, try to.... Extracted from Source.

Question: What are some ways to get rid of panic attacks? I have been having panic attacks a lot lately. I have seen a doctor and was put on some medication. When I have panic attack I seem to hyperventilate a lot. Is there a way to stop panic attacks but if not how can I stop the hyperventilation?

Answer: I don't have time to tell you everything about it that I would like to, but PLEASE check out the Attacking Anxiety and Depression program by Midwest Center. You can get a new one on ebay for about half as much as it would cost you to order directly from the company. This program changed my life!!!

Question: What is the difference between Panic and Anxiety Attacks? lately i've been having panic attacks, and I'm going to the doctor soon about it. But I want to know what is the difference between Panic attacks and anxiety attacks. Also when i do go to the doctor. what will they do actually, like how will I be test and what do I tell them.

Answer: Most of the time the terms panic attacks and anxiety attacks are used interchangeably. Panic and anxiety are different things though. Panic is usually the feeling of intense pressure that you feel, such as when a panic attack sets on. It's triggered by the 'fight or flight' response which is a system in our brain that triggers adrenaline when a threat is detected. The idea is that when you face a threat you're likely going to need to 'fight' that threat or 'flee' away from the scene. Either way you'll need the extra energy the adrenaline will give you. The only problem is sometimes this fight or flight response, which is actually a pretty handy in many cases, is triggered in situations where fighting or escaping aren't the best options! Anxiety on the other hand is usually used to refer to that general feeling of almost dread which you may feel in your chest or stomach. The reason why 'panic attack' and 'anxiety attack' are used in place of each other is because anxiety often leads to panic and panic can lead to anxiety. A strategy that I find particularly good is to relax your breathing as soon as you detect any panic setting in. By doing this you can counteract the effect of the fight or flight trigger by reassuring your brain that you are not actually in a life or death situation. As for what the doctor will do: it's always a great idea to see your general practitioner when something like this happens just to make sure that there is nothing physical wrong. However that being said, most doctors will advise you to relax, deal with any stress and then recommend if the problems continue that you see a therapist who specializes in panic and anxiety who will teach you some strategies to help you deal with the problem. If you're interested you can find our more about this and several other simple but very effective psychological techniques in the free ebook 'The 10 Psychological Secrets Of Eliminating Anxiety & Getting Confident Now' at http://www.anxietytoconfidencenow.jfl.com All the best with getting rid of your panic/anxiety attacks - I know you can do it. From my experience it is possibly to complete eliminate them.

Question: How do you get through your panic attacks? I get panic attacks and I want to help myself through them. What do you do to calm yourself down during a panic attack?

Answer: When I would have panic attacks I would start breathing irregularly. What really helped was breathing into a paper bag. I know it sounds cliche but basically when you start hyper-ventillating you are getting too much oxygen. Breathing into the paper bag forces you to slow down your breathing becasue you stop getting enough oxygen. I also had someone I could call no matter what time of night it was who could usually talk me down out of my panic. I also have medication (xanax) that I take when I start to feel a panic attack coming on. And I have gone through DBT therapy to pinpoint WHY I feel so panicy and try to head off panic attacks (this has actaully worked the best for me as I haven't had a panic attack in 3 months and don't even know if the xanax would work becasue I have never had to take it)

Question: How do you get over panic attacks and fear? I have a friend who keeps having panic attacks, and is constantly afraid of crowds, new people and other such things. I'm really worried for her, and I want to know what I can do to help her, along with tips I can give her to help her get over the attacks and fear. I want my friend back, and healthy again. What can I do?

Answer: You could always watch out for your friend if he/she starts to feel uncomfortable with his/her surroundings. here's what you can do: 1) Be there, and remind/administer the steady breathing techniques when the panic comes surging in 2) Do consult a doctor/ behavioural psychology simultaneously for long term remedy of panic anxiety. -Medication to help your physical state be in control over the attacks -Therapy to control your fear and evade from another panic attack. 3) avoid consuming harmful substances 4) keep healthy by having a routine, fun physical activity. for more information on overcoming panic attack, do visit : i) http://panicattacktips.com/ ii) http://offto.net/ImmediateAnxietyRelief/

Question: How do you help someone having panic attacks? I know someone who has been having panic attacks for 2 weeks now! They have already been to the doctor and diagnosed now I guess it's just a waiting game for the meds to kick in. Anyway since they have been having them she doesn't want to be alone. If she is for the smallest amount of time then she freaks out. Should someone always be there with her or should she be better off getting over it herself? She feels as though she CONSTANTLY needs someone there during the day! Is this even normal for a panic attack?

Answer: mine used to be triggered by loud noises, and yelling. i immediately felt safe every time i went into a hospital, and i went to the clinic so many times they eventually banned me from going there because they couldn't help me. i'd say get her to go outside, mine just eventually went away as i grew older. If she doesnt want to be alone, dont let her be alone! Get one of her friends to come over... family... it will go away, trust me. Yeah I'd say it's normal.

Question: How do you deal with anxiety and panic attacks during pregnancy? What is the best way to deal with anxiety and panic attacks,especially during pregnancy?

Answer: Quit whining and take your Midol Scott!

Question: Panic Attacks? i have been suffering from panic attacks now for 3 months and really cant learn to deal with them. when one comes on, i automatically think i am going to die ie im having a heart attack, i have a blood clot. its ruining my life. i have had acupunture, tried yoga taken tablets, used bach remedies but nothing. i know i have a fear of death but this is beyond control. i have been checked and i have a healthy heart and healthy lungs. but what are the chest pains i always get?? help someone please :(

Answer: Hi Vicky- A lot of what's going on with panic attacks is that you start to fear the panic attacks themselves, and that makes the whole situation worse. It becomes a whole vicious cycle that's really difficult to control. You need a way to feel (and be) in control of the situation so you're not living in fear of the next attack. I'm a massage therapist, and I've worked with a lot of people who deal with panic attacks and anxiety. I don't know what's going on in your life, but stress is usually a huge component. You say this has been going on for 3 months. What happened in your life 3 months ago? Was there some traumatic experience? That's just some stuff to look at. On a practical level, caffeine can contribute to stress and anxiety, so if you drink a lot of coffee or soda, that's something you could cut down on and see if it helps. Also, are you getting enough sleep? When you're already stressed out, sleep deprivation can REALLY mess up your system. Try to get up and go to bed at (reasonably) regular hours. That could help regulate your body clock and system, which in itself could help with your attacks. I'm not saying that just stopping caffeine and getting enough sleep will stop your attacks, but while you have the attacks, it's important to take care of yourself and reduce stress in as many ways as possible. There's a program I've recommended to a lot of my clients that's helped quite a few of them. You might want to take a look at it. It's called Panic Away, and it does a great job of teaching you how to regain control and stop living in fear of the next attack. You can get a free 5 part email mini-series that lots of people find really helpful all by itself. You can see what other people have to say about it at www.backfaqs.com/panicaway. I couldn't figure out how to make this link clickable, so I also put it in the Sources area. As far as the chest pain, you didn't really describe it, but chest pain is quite common with panic attacks. Is yours sharp, and does it go away pretty quickly, or is it more like a "catch" that stops or interrupts your breath? Either way, as long as you've been checked out physically as you said, it's nothing to worry (more) about. The pains are caused by the fact that your panic attacks cause really rapid breathing and heartbeats, and that can make the muscles in your chest contract. It's not uncommon for a person's chest to be sore for several days after a panic attack. Anyway, I hope some of this helps, and feel free to let me know if there's any way I can help. I wish you the best of luck! I know how awful it is to be in the grip of something you can't control. Jan

Question: How can I cure my Trichotillomania and panic attacks? I suffer from Trichotillomania (an OCD) and it is getting worse. I also have anxiety nervosa and panic attacks. I have seen my doctor and I've been on Zoloft for 2 years now. I've also seen a Psychologists and tried various diets. I know my disorder relates to post traumatic stress. I exercise regularly which helps in some ways. Maybe I should try accupuncture or hyponotherapy. What is the most effective way besides trying to deal with my hurts and depression?

Answer: Therapy. Have you tried paxil, it is FDA approved now for PTSD. I think you need an anxiolytic for the anxiety. I am all for alternative therapies, whatever works. Trichotillomania is pretty rare, I have only seen a couple of cases (5) in 20 years

Question: What natural remedies work for panic attacks? My 15 year old daughter is having panic attacks which include feeling faint, becoming very hot, vision blurriness and fear. She recently was given glasses by our optometrist that are basically "placebos" because she didn't need glasses but was convinced she did. I got some herbal supplements but I am afraid of the prescription medications for her. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: Dear Amy: Take a look at a natural remedy called Panicyl. It is effective yet mild and non addictive. Good luck - Ben

Question: How can I cope with panic attacks if I have no medical insurance? The panic attacks I've experienced very infrequently over the last several years have suddenly become horrifying and almost constant since I quit drinking. I am twenty-seven, uninsured, and have very little money. My options seem to be: 1. Keep drinking (and even this is becoming less effective); or 2. Buy some kind of benzodiazapines off the street. Any suggestions? Is there some kind of free detox program?

Answer: Funny you should ask; that sounds very similar to my situation for the past few years. I also used to self-medicate with alcohol...caused me a lot of court-mandated stuff and general misery. I've since quit drinking, but I remember the initial period was rough with the anxiety. If you're in the U.S., I think most average-sized towns have a health facility for flu shots and counseling for lower income folks. It is possible to go in and see a counselor about the anxiety, and possibly a psychiatrist will prescribe small-dose Xanax tablets (Alprazolam). I take 1-2 .5 milligram pills when needed. I must stress however, that these are considered addictive and classed as such. A lot depends on a person's individual body chemistry. Alprazolam is the most widely-used and also the most effective short-term treatment of anxiety, if my memory serves me well. The most important part is that I finally learned that when I drank, I actually had MORE anxiety. Because the morning after, you're coming up from extreme relaxation into what seems like an agitated state, in comparison. I tend to be long-winded, but mostly try to get in and see one of those counselors. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, by the way. Everyone and their dog needs to see a counselor every so often. Also, please note that I am just an average Joe- A Professional will have the real answers.

Question: Is having occasional panic attacks which raise ur bp bad for your health? I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and if I get a bad one, I notice at the ER that my blood pressure shoots through the roof. Nothing TOO high but it can go 130/140s and very close to 150s, and the lower number can go into the 100-110 range. Is this something I should be highly concerned with? It normally drops to like 100 over 60 afterwards when I'm sedated, and it never stays at that level, but it can shoot up there in a matter of MINUTES! Should I be concerned, becuase none of my doctors seem to be at all, whatsoever, but people on this message board go crazy if you mention anything over 120/80. I n eed some true advice. I just saw a cardiologist today and he didn't seem the slightest bit concerned. He didn't do any extensive tests on me since I Had heart palpitations frequently, but im also sick, so maybe during illness its more normal? He said the palps and the anxiety/panic high bp are nothing to worry about. Is this true? I also notice that SOME times my LOWER number seems to be the most dramatically increased, and other times its the HIGHER number. What could cause the lower one to increase, and what would cause the higher?

Answer: idk but its certianly not good for you. i have social anxiety with panic attacks, it sucks im on prozac for it and it really helps.

Question: Can panic attacks be caused strictly from alcohol alone? I have never had any panic attacks until a few days ago. I drank heavily for 3 days straight and have had two panic attacks since. I have never taken any medication at all for anxiety, depression, etc. Also, are there any ways to never have them again?

Answer: I always feel more anxiety after drinking heavily. And the only time I have had true panic attacks is after drinking very heavily.