Help with panic attack please

[yellodolphin]

Hi,

Alright i had like the scariest day of my life today. I had what i think was a panic attack can anyone let me know if this is correct. I got off the subway and all of a sudden my heart start beating fast, i then hyperventilated and felt really scared. Now i am walking with a heavy load of fear and anxiety and i got dizzy and felt like i was going to die or that i lost my mind or something. I think ive had panic attacks before but they werent this bad. My anxiety problems went away and now here they come out of nowhere and i dont know what to do. id really appreciate any input, thnx.

Thomas

 

[Cat Dancer]

Re: help with panic attack pls

It sounds like it could be.

Are you seeing a doctor about your anxiety?

There are some good tips here about dealing with anxiety:

http://forum.psychlinks.ca/index.php/topic,3873.0.html

I hope you feel better soon.

 

[yellodolphin]

Re: help with panic attack pls

Thanks for the reply. Nope i am not seeing a doctor about this. I think i will though because i dont want panic attacks to continue. I did some thinking though i think what triggered this one was because i havent eaten alot the past few days. The only thing is if i see someone about this it has to be free because im a student and i dont have alot of money.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Re: help with panic attack pls

It definitely sounds like a panic attack to me.

 

[Heather]

Panic attacks can be so scary as they can take you by suprose and they sometimes seem to stem from no where.

If you haven't by now I would suggest seeing a Dr, I thought that I didn't need to for mine, then they got worse and I was told that I should have come when I had the original onset.

I have found also that reading about them helps, not to stop them but to be more aware of them, by understanding them better I have found that I panic less when having one if this makes sense!

Heather...

 

[Rosa]

Hello and wellcome to the boards! It sounds like a panic attack to me as well. Perhaps you could see a counselor at your school or even your regular doctor can likely help you with this.
Take care
Rosa

 

[Meg]

Hi Thomas,

I know it's been a couple of weeks since you posted initially and I don't know what you've learned in the meantime about panic, but, just in case you don't know, a lot of the symptoms of panic attacks stem from your breathing. If you feel a panic attack coming on it helps if you can try (I know it's hard!) to focus on keeping your breathing deep (from your diaphragm) and steady, breathing out for longer than you breathe in (for example, breathe in for 4 counts and out for 5). If you can control your breathing this will probably help your heart rate and dizziness. Relaxation exercises are also a good idea, I understand. If you can can practise identifying when your muscles are tight and when they're loose when you're feeling fine, it helps you to be able to notice tension and manage it in a panic attack. There's more to it than that, but those things might help manage it a little. I hope you were able to see a doctor and that they were helpful to you.

All the best,

Meg

 

[yellodolphin]

The breathing exercise is calming and helps get through an panic attack. I didnt see a doctor yet but i had another panic attack i thought it would go away. I started a job in a factory for the summer as i am a student and i had a panic attack while i was working and then anxiety lasting for the rest of the day. i cant go back to work because i know i will have another panic attack.

I dont know what to do about this. It can be from one of two things either i have a messed up adrenal gland system or it is psychological. I have some social anxiety and i used to feel agoraphobic when the panic attacks first started, and chronic depression so there could be something that causes all of these. I know im really sensitive though and have self esteem issues because i feel like a loser and i dont have much confidence.

Going through these things has been extremely hard for me and i have no support because no one close to me understands depression or panic attacks everyone think its some harmless thing. These things jus make me feel like i cant cope with the world im only 19 and i have all these problems.

 

[Halo]

Yellodolphin,

My suggestion to you would be to go and see your doctor. I know how overwhelming it can be to have no support or understanding and I think that if you went to your doctor, they may be able to offer some solutions or alternatives to the panick attacks and anxiety that you are feeling.

Take care
Nancy

 

[Meg]

Hi again, Thomas.

I'm glad that you are able to use the breathing exercise to help you through an attack. It sounds to me, though, like these panic attacks are developing into a problem that is interfering with your ability to go to work and I don't imagine that that is going to help matters at all, particularly if you are also dealing with depression. Panic attacks can also develop into something called 'panic disorder,' I don't know if you've heard of it or not. I agree with Nancy that it would be helpful for you to go and talk to someone about it. It's really frustrating when you have a problem such as the ones that you are currently experiencing that the people around you don't seem to understand about, but there are people who you can talk to who do understand how hard it is and who can give you help in overcoming them. There are good psychological treatments available for panic attacks and panic disorder.

It must be a lot to cope with, and I can imagine that it might lead to feeling like things were out of control. I'm sorry to hear that you don't feel like you have the support that you need. I know it's not quite the same as having a 'real' person to lean on, but post away here as much as you need to. Sometimes getting thoughts down on 'paper' can make things seem clearer.

All the best,

Meg

 

[JA]

Hi yellodolphin,

I'm currently doing an internship in a clinic specialised with anixety disorders. I had been away from the forum for a few weeks and know it's been a while since your last post, but I just wanted to add a few things to what others already posted, in case you haven't yet seen a doctor.

First, it is a good idea to speak to a physician, as it's true that a few medical conditions (such as problems with the thyroid gland) can trigger panic symptoms. I'm not guessing that's very likely, but it's always good to rule it out before begining any other form of treatment. Also, before panic attacks, did you consume alot of cafeine? ...just something to watch, especially on an empty stomach. One cup of coffee is usually ok, but 10 (I actually did that once :red on an empty stomach could trigger panic attacks.

I also agree with the others here, in that getting help would be very important. Many of the people I see for panic attacks at our clinic waited a long time before they came to therapy. Some waited many years. In most cases, their situation bascially got much worse as they waited, and they came to therapy when the problem was really just taking over their lives. It takes longer to treat something that has been a habit for years, and they usually really regret waiting. Although it's not impossible, I haven't heard of many people who's reccuring panic attacks got better on their own. There is a very good news, though : panic attacks are VERY treatable, and it usually doesn't take long to see very significant progress. So you can totally do this.

I know you don't have much financial resources, but if you're in Toronto, I'm preaty sure there are places you can go to get free therapy. You can always ask your family physician for a referal, or try it at your school. If that doesn't work for you, I can always ask my supervisor if he knows where you could call in your area. And as you may already know panic attacks are really common (unfortunately), and approximately 1 out of 10 people who start therapy have a panic disorder... Also keep in mind that many therapists, like you, have been through alot themselves, maybe even panic attacks. They're usually in a preaty good position to understand.

...Sorry if I rambled on maybe you already started therapy and you're doing better... I wish you the best of luck anyway! Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Halo]

JA

I just wanted to say that I thought that it was really nice of you to offer to find some resources for yellodolphin. You are truly a gift and what makes this forum special.

- Just needed to say that.

Yellodolphin, I too hope that you are doing well and have been to the doctor about the panic attacks.

Take Care All

 

[yellodolphin]

thanks again guys for the support. I ended up going to my schools counselling center and am going there now for therapy. It felt really good to go there and just tell someone everything thats been going on because no one knows really. Ill update if i have any progress or anything.

 

[Halo]

Yellodolphin,

I think that going to the schools counselling center was a huge step in the right direction. You are taking steps towards helping yourself and that is fantastic.

Great Job, keep it up and we look forward to more updates

 

[foghlaim]

hi YD: all i can do here is to say i agree with nancy. well done!!

i too look forward to more updates from you soon.

be well YD

nsa

 

[ThatLady]

Good news, yellodolphin! I'll be looking forward to hear how you progress now that you have someone to talk to, and help is available to you to deal with those things that are painful to you. Please, keep us informed!

 

[Tink]

Panic attacks have got to be the WORSE feeling. I'd rather feel my depression hard sometimes then deal with symptoms of anxiety....

The best thing that I do that works when I'm on the verge of a panic attack is positive self talk. Reminding myself that yes I'm uncomfortable, this sucks but it will pass. It always does, I'll be ok.

Some people think that doing that doesn't work, but take it from one whose practiced this for 10 yrs or so now, the more you do it the better it works, my pdoc taught me that.

Also abdominal breathing helps, as well as CBT ... (besides meds).

 

[David Baxter PhD]

See When Panic Attacks: New CBT book by David Burns.

 

[yellodolphin]

well just an update. Well i still get anxiety and panic attacks but I can deal with them now. I went to therapy but left because it wasn't helping much.My psych wanted me to take benzo's or ssri's which i declined.

I think the most important thing with a panic attack is to always be aware that is just the physiological response that makes u feel fear, and nothing bad comes from it. And all the negative thoughts u develop when u get anxiety u have to break free from them.

My panic attacks have evolved more into a general anxiety which is better to handle. I still havent cured whatever source for the physiological anxiety symptoms im assuming.

If u have panic attacks i wish u all the best, it is very difficult to go through.

 

[miromir]

One rule comes here: To overcome your panic attack, you must fully enter into here and now. Leave thinking and emotions to flow, don't stop them. Read the power of now by E.Tolle and Mastering your Hidden self by Serge Kahilli King. All the best.