Panic / Anxiety Attacks

[Flower1000]

Just a bit of a vent really, so apologies for the long thread, and if anyone has any tips on how to handle that would be really helpful.

When I was in my 20's following a divorce I had my first panic attack, I had a handful afterwards and suffered from heart palpatations for a while but they subsided after a few months.

It's now around 10 years later and I've started to have the panic attacks again, generally in work when all the attention is on me. I have a fairly decent job which intails speaking to groups of people on a regualr basis which I've always been pretty good at. So why this is happeneing now I don't know. My heart races, I hyperventilate, sweaty hands etc. To such an extent that I sturggle to continue talking. This is causing real pain and problems at work as a lot of my job is around chairing meetings, speaking infront of people etc etc. I've done this type of work for years and never had a problem before.

I've been to the doctors and been given betablockers to take when I know I'll be in a stressful situation or the situation might trigger an attack. But just a moment ago I went into a friendly meeting, with people i've know for years and 'bang' off it starts when I have to say something. I'm so embarrassed as it feels like I'm failing. It's a huge vicious circle as the more I worry, the more likely I am to have an attack, the more likely I am to have an attack the more I worry. I go through stages of getting really upset about it, then angry - I dont' know why this is happeneing, i'm normally a very confident, outgoing person.

I've had issues in my personal life of late that won't have helped, but they all started after I had my first panic attack recently. My home life is now settled and I'm happy - apart from work, I love my job but this is making me dread the mornings, as I don't know when they will strike. I'm on a waiting list for CBT councilling so hopefully that will help.

As I said, sorry for ranting, I just needed to get it off my chest.

[LordofthePies]

I didn't want your post to go unanswered, I guess an appt to see your GP asap is the first step.

I'm sure someone will come along with good advice shortly.

[RockLover]

Hi Flower, just wanted to answer your post as I suffered from horrid panic attacks for quite a while and I know how terrifying and debilitating they are.

I managed to recover from the anxiety that caused the PAs by using a combination of meds and CBT, however my anxiety is on the way back although the panic has not turned into a full blown attack yet.

Anyway, I digress I had a fantastic book that was recommended by my CBT therapist and it really helped me make sense of the PAs and I continued to refer to it even after i was better. <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_13?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=panic%20attacks&sprefix=panic%20attacks&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">//www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_13?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=panic%20attacks&sprefix=panic%20attacks&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21.

I would say definitely visit your GP again and buy this book if you can. It goes through everything, what PAs are, why they happen, when they happen, what they feel like, coping strategies and available treatment. The woman who wrote it was a sufferer and that makes a real difference because she everything she writes you can identify with.

Good luck with everything and I hope the panic improves for you.

[Flower1000]

Thanks for the replies.

Rocklover, I'll order that book it looks really helpful. I start my CBT next week so fingers crossed it helps as I really REALLY want to get off the meds as i'm hoping to start to try for my 2nd child in a month or so's time and I don't want to be taking them whilst I'm preggers