Shall We Have A Panic Attack Support Thread?

[Ulysees]

I've just started with them again as going through loads and loads of stress. I didn't realise how stressed I am but it's coming to the surface. GP has put me on Citalopram again..starting on 10mg and going up to 20mg.

I know a lot of people do suffer too and thought it may be good to help each other?

I felt really proud tonight as I went to pick the boys up from school and started with one. It was the worst one I've ever had The dr's surgery is over the road from the school and I was ready to fly over there. I rang some mates who picked up ds2 for me and were ready to get Ds1 as well. Then I thought, no it's a panic attack...it will go. So I went in the supermarket and got myself pulled round. Managed to go and meet mates and get the boys and brought them home

You really feel as if you're dying when they're bad I hope the ads work soon as it's awful. I was on SJW but feel I need something more than that.

I suffer with panic attacks which was brought on while I was in labour.I thought I was having a heart attack.
When I have an attack I feel breathless, and dizzy like I'm going to faint, my chest tightens and it feels like i'm going to have a heart attack. I also get a choking feeling like I'm going to be sick and sometimes pins and needles. Driving on motorways makes me panicky and most social situations makes me break out in a sweat, it's awful.
My Dad also suffers with panic attacks and is now practically housebound.
I do have reflexology, excercise regularly, eat healthily (well try), meditate and do yoga when I can. They all help and I have noticed an improvement.

I have started having panic attacks again. I had quite a bad one today while travelling in the car & felt an overwhelming urge to get H to stop the car, so I could get out. It only lasted a few minutes, but it was really horrible.
Sympathies to all of you who suffer with panic attacks.

when i get panicky you can tell cos my whole face and neck flush BRIGHT RED and even my dd loves to point it out to people! its sometimes just embarrassment, but just when people come and talk to me unexpectedly. Other times its when i feel anxious,like if i cant find someone im meant to be meeting, or cant park the car in a small space when someone is watching me.i hate knowing people are watching me. i cant even go to the hairdressers as i get so anxious, i also have a mate who is like this with hairdressers!!
do i sound odd????

It doesnt sound odd t all. Most people have something that triggers the anxious feelings.

ooh hello

right, I had panic attacks for a while after dd1 was born

actually Ihad the first one while on holiday in Kenya about 10 years ago and I totally blamed Larium (ant-malarial pill), then none for ages, then they got quite bad after dd1 was born.

I saw the gp and talked a lot to my HV about them. the gp was very cool about it. He told me that they are a purely physical response to extreme stress. Once I came to believe that I could control them by deep breathing they went away and I have never had one since. If I ever get panicky I do the following - deep breathe with 'yogic' breaths - curl your tongue and suck/breathe in as deeply as possible (ok best to be on own when doing this!), hold breath for a couple of seconds then release while saying 'mmmmmmmm'. Do this 10-20 times. When panic has subsided, think about why you are panicking and comfort yourself by agreeing that it is a stresful situation - eg driving on motorways IS stressful, don't try and pass off your worry as ridiculous. Give yourself a goal - ag when you get ot the next service station you will buy yourself a Twix as a congrats for doing so well so far.

Then think about your general lifestyle atm. I found STOPPING DRINKING, gentle exercise and LOADS OF REST - even when I was a bit hyper and didnt think I could sleep - works wonders.

Now panic attacks hold no fear for me, and I had one that was so bad that I ended up curled in a foetal position on Waterloo tube floor I can laugh about it now but my lord it was horrific.

I used to have very bad PAs, but I hope I've solved them too. That's to say, that now when they threaten, I can usually make them go away. As Enid says - trying to minimise stress, not drink too much, and get lots of sleep definitely helps (I used to get mine a lot in my 20s, in a very stressful job, drinking too much, staying up too late etc). Mine are also linked in some way to indigestion - but which causes which I don't quite know: Could be that if I have indigestion I automatically hold my breath, or could be that if I am panicked, am more likely to be indigested.

Anyway, I found the more I read about them, and that the symptoms (tight chest, pain in left arm, pins and needles, breathlessness etc) were normal and down to physical reasons, the easier it was for me to rationalise them away and control them with deep breathing.

bramshott you have prob associated indigestion with panic which triggers panicky feelings

I am a bit liek this with nausea

Thanks Enid for that, and please forgive my at your Waterloo incident.

Breathing excersies have helped me a lot but sometimes I still find that ADs are necessary. Its sort of like a build up and when the breathing alone doesnt work anymore I make an apointment with my GP.

I think I found my way of coping by realising that this is 'my pattern', and accepting that this is how it is going to be. I'm definately much happier all round now.

I still have problems with the health anxiety side of things from time to time but Im hoping that my 'CBT for dummies' book is going to help me with that one. Otherwise I'll lie on my GPs floor in foetal posision until I get a referal .

dont worry

even my gp laughed when I told him

Oh can I join this thread?! I started having PA's after ds was born. I'm on citalopram at the moment but in the process of coming off it. My worst symptom is the crushing chest pain....OW it frickin hurts. Feels like someone has just got hold of your bra back and is tightening it really hard. I get so mad when I have them when I'm not feeling stressed (had one at farm with children and dh the other day) it ruined the whole afternoon as the chest pains went on for hours. I feel so betrayed by my own body like I'm not the one in charge of it. Dh and I are going away for a few days on our own soon, my parents are looking after the children. I am ABSOLUTELY fine about them having them but I know it is something that could trigger off a panic attack (it happened last time we were away) and I don't know how to stop it...so stupid I've been through a course of therapy to deal with some old family issues which has really helped my general outlook and confidence but the PA's are the one area I can't seem to sort out.
Anyway, I'm sorry to hear other people are suffering too but glad I'm not not alone.