Having a panic attack...

[Ladyem]

I am at home alone with my 2 DCs (3yo and 10m) and I cannot get a hold of this panic attack. I feel sick, anxious, shaking, need to gag, feeling of dread.

Had this since I had my DS and Dr has not been sympathetic, but usually I can distract myself away from it. Today it is bad.

I hate the shakes afterwards - but I like them in that I know the attack has finished iykwim. Glad you'e feeling better - bet the little ones are up and ready to cause mayhem

Cup of sweet tea is good if you feel shaky.

Damegladys - I'll have to remember that one! I tend to count in my head to distract myself, too! Funny how we all have these different coping mechanisms!

Piggymad - Yes, that's exactly how I feel afterwards!

Thank you all so much for taking the time to help me. I think I am feeling much better now!

Already on the sweet cuppa!!

When you're up to it, think about asking for another doctor at your GP practice if poss.

They should be more sympathetic. Sounds like there was a trigger to do with having your DS.

Mine have only started since an ectopic pregnancy.

Hmmm, thinking about the blood sugar thing, wondering if it is because I had my tea at 6pm last night. I usually have it later when the DCs are in bed, so my blood sugar might have gotten too low.

DG - I keep making appointments with a different Dr, but bottling out when it comes to it because of how I was treated last time. I must go back, though. Need to get it sorted.

I hope you get help, too.

Glad you're feeling a bit better.

Please do go back to Dr. IME they are a bit cautious about over-reacting to what could be a one-off bit of stress. It's only if you go back two or three times that they can see that the problem is not going away by itself and they will then start to treat.

I have had some anxiety in the past and have had counselling, beta blockers and ads all from the GP. But when I had a bit of a relapse late last year I still had to go in and cry at least three times before they really did anything.

I have to log off in a minute as I've got to work, but I'll check in a bit later.

Does it help you to get out of the house for a bit?

Cheers, I must do it too. You've reminded me so that's one positive of your panic attack if that makes you feel any better!

Thanks dearprudence - I must go back. I will have to see a different GP, though as he was just horrible, for many reasons. When I said I felt silly, he replied with 'well, yes, it is silly.' and when he wanted to give me medication I told him I was still breastfeeding and he rolled his eye and said that I should have given 'that' up before now. But I digress!! I will go back. That was the worse attack for ages, and I really don't want a repeat if I can help it

Damegladys - Thanks! Good to know I helped, too!

Thank you so much everyone! I feel so much better now, thanks to you all!

Ladyem

Thanks, Esmee

i'm so late to this, but for future reference, singing out loud helps to control your breathing...i can't tell you how many times i have had to do this....luckily whilst in the car with the radio on!!

also, i read a really helpful thing about panic attacks....your fear fuels the attack, so if you take away your fear, your attack subsides. i try really hard on this and sort of chant slowly and clamly "don't fuel the fear" and talk myself down...of course, its easier said than done, but i find it works really well if i can catch it early.

do go back and see your gp.

chimcar do you have a lot of panic attacks in the car? i have a problem with this, hard to distract self if meant to be driving (hijacks thread and waves at ladyem)
i'm off to see my gp tomorrow, hope you manage to get a more sympathetic response next time ladyem

its sort of self fuelling in the car (scuse the pun!) i had one once at a particular point on my journey and every time i drive past that point i get all worked up....i pre empt it now by singing loudly!! lol.

im more positive now too....i control the attacks rather than them controlling me iykwim?

i hope to get to that stage eventually chimcar, well done you

Hi Chimchar and Concordia!!

Chimchar - I will remember the singing out loud one! DD and I are always singing (Mary Poppins songs at the moment! ) so it won't seem too weird if I suddenly burst into song!!

Hope it all goes well at the GPs. I dread going back, but need to, so think I'll just bite the bullet and ring tomorrow. The sooner I do that, the sooner I am onto the road to feeling better! Let us know how you get on!

Chimcar is right about the singing aloud. As well as controlling your breathing it's also a good distraction.

Hope you had a good weekend Ladyem. I've been away so just wanted to check in with you tonight.

Are you making a GP appointment this week?

Hi Dearprudence! I had a lovely weekend, thank! I had my first night away from the children since having DS! I met an old friend in Cheltenham and we did shopping, ate lots of nice food and stayed in a lovely hotel, so it was nice to have a change of scenery and some time for myself! Funnily enough I had no panic at all, probably because I was having a lovely relaxing time and as occupied the whole time, so I think that having time to think about things is part of it as I am a SAHM and I think sometimes little things can become huge if you have time to think about them!

Did you have a nice weekend?

Right, off to ring the GPs now!

Did you do it?

And yes, great weekend thanks. Camping with old friends

Panic attacks are caused by 'catastrophically misinterpreting" a bodily sensation as meaning that something terrible is about to happen, e. G. Misinterpreting heart palpitations (a symptom of anxiety) as meaning that you are about to have a heart attack. As a quick fix the best thing is to take your attention away from your bodily symptoms by distracting yourself by singing or counting etc. If you've had more than a few panic attacks and at least some of them happen out of the blue, it would be worth getting a referral for primary care CBT via your GP - it tends to work very well for panic disorder. Good luck!

Finally rang up (thanks for the gentle nudge!! ) and have an appointment for next Thurday afternoon. My Mum usually comes down to help every other week, so hopefully she'll come down on that day, then I won't have to take the DCs in with me!

Lizzabadger - Thanks! I had panic attacks in my teens, then managed to sort them out myself. Then I had a long time where I was ok and now they have come back since having DS 10 months ago. My GP said something about CBT when I went last time and promised to refer me, then got the receptionist to ring me a few days later with this website, which was all very well, but not the same as actually having the therapy! Will try harder this time!!

Well done

Thanks Now I just have to not chicken out!!

just thought i would restart this thread to say chimcar i have made good use of the singing aloud - can only think of nursery rhymes - it sounds a bit eerie to me ears if i am singing at such times but has really worked in the car.
however, i have to say that my panic attacks are def spreading from motorway driving to other forms of driving too which is a bit worrying.
gp prescribed me valium (whcih i don't really want to take) as i can't have beta blockers as i am ashtmatic.
and she told me to take the pressure off myself. so that is what i'm trying to do.
she was lovely thou. hope it went ok at the gp for you, ladyem.