panic attacks

[pinkchoccy]

Hi I suffer from panic attacks and they are starting to make my life a misery. Why do they start to happen and how do you overcome them?? They make you feel like an idiot. So so awful. I have seen my doctor who has advised cbt. When will it end? Will this work or am I doomed?

Hi, Just wanted you to know you are not alone. I have had them in the past.
It can seem really scary when you have trouble breathing etc.
Mine seem to be anxiety related caused by certain social situations. A feeling of not feeling like you can cope with whatever the situation is.
I haven't really got any advice, I'm probably not doing the right thing because some times I avoid going out. When I am home I am fine.
I don't know what the answer is. Hopefully someone else will come along with some advice.
Do they only happen at certain times/places with you?
I don't like crowds so the supermarket or town can be difficult for me but If I have to go out and buy food etc then I make myself. I just try to keep calm although on the inside I might feel a bit like a frightened rabbit.
Also if you have small dc I find if they are keeping you busy, it takes your mind off things a little.
HTH

Hi Blackcatinawoolyhat for responding to my post. I had the worse ever one this morning and I could not control it at all. Managed to get back to my car calm myself and drove home. I think mine are anxiety related and because I work from home very isolated. I have children so when they are around I am kept busy. When I am home I am fine. I have started to avoid going out. I know this seems a bit weird but I have them mostly in the morning. I also seem to have worse ones the week before I am due on?
I never used to be like this and one day out of the blue it just happened!

im in the process of having cbt, and it took me a while to find someone that i trusted and that understood me, around 9 months so far, but im also on fluoxitine and my life is 100 times better than it was a year ago when i was having loads of panic attacks, so bad i kept getting taken to hospital. you should defiantly give cbt a go. nothing to lose just an hour of your time a week.

Hi pinkchoccy, I used to suffer with panic attacks (for me hyperventilating, racing heart, feeling nauseous, fainting) and was prescribed beta blockers. Mine were triggered by out of control anxiety usually when my environment was "too busy" (lots of people, colours etc) or when worrying. I do still suffer with anxiety but haven't had a panic attack since circa yr 2000. I've learnt to breathe my way out of them, but I do also have diazepam for when I get too tired to breathe properly. If you have a MIND nearby might be worth seeing if they do an anxiety management course. I did it at my local MIND and it included doing breathing and relaxation techniques. Might be worth a try.