I beat Panic attacks without drugs - Can I help you??

[horseshoe]

Hi,

I just wanted to offer support to anyone who might suffer PA's. they ruined my life and career for over 5 years but i found ways to get through them without drugs and now I have them completely under control. Mainly by breathing techniques and self talk. I saw someone mention a PA support thread and think it's a great idea as I know how disabling they can be.

Hi horseshoe - well done for beating the panic attacks. Im sure there are lots of people here who would benefit from suggestions from someone who has managed to overcome panic attacks. Maybe you could tell us what your PA were like / how they started and some of the main techniques you used ???
I know for me personally one of the things that has always helped me is reading about someone who has been through something similar.
Kizziex

I would love to hear about how you did it.
I've heard alot about "self talk". Does it really work?

Hi,

My panic attacks started when I was 18. I am now 25 and still get them. They manifest themselfs in wierd ways and sometimes they just start. I'm extremely sensitive to stimulants and they will set one off. If I'm nervous I get one etc. Those ones ae the easy ones to control because I just cup my hand over my mouth and breath deeply.
The other ones though turn me into a hypocondriac. First off I was gonna have a brain hemmorage because I heard someone my age died of one. After that every headache I had caused a panic attack and because I was having them everyday I was getting alot of headaches. Then the panic attacks worsened and I got chest pain. After that I was having heart attacks and was forever in A&E. So much so that my ECG started to show an irregular heartbeat. Somehow I was doing it to myself. I had to leave my job as I was having daily panic attacks.
The worse bit was to come. My new job sent me on a first aid course and we discussed alergic reactions to food. That was it. I refused to put anything in my mouth apart from Mcdonalds(strangely). If i read that someone had died of tomatoes I refused to eat them as I was so scared. This all started in 2002 and although I still wont eat peanuts or tomatoes or any strange sauces...I am alot better. I am able to force myself to eat it.
I have learned to control how bad my panic attacks get and so even when I get a chest pain or I am about to eat something i just get on with it and cope with the panic attack. I just think OK having one and calm my breathing down. Once I have eaten something once, I can do it again with no problem.
The best thing is..I have been so open about them to everyone. My job, my friends and family. My husband accepts that if we are in a resturant, i may have problems eating....and because he is aware of it..I dont feel like I need to force myself and the panic attack isn't so bad.

FF,

Did you find a direct link to the cause of your panic attacks???

Same here. I have never found a reason. A doctor did tell me that they were herediatary and I think so too as my whole family suffer with them although they dont seem to get them too badly.

I'm my own worse enemy and like you I was emotionally consumed.

I dont think I will ever get over them as I still feel them coming on now. I do control them now and I can quite happily get over them quickly. There was a time when I would have one after the other from morning through to night.

I started getting them after we suspected DS2 might have ASD, although I'd describe them more as anxiety than panic attacks. I took ads for a while and have had counselling but have found that diet, exercise, sleep and a shedload of vitamins have lessened the anxious feelings. Fio - your phrase 'emotionally consumed' really hit home to me - that's exactly how I felt (and still feel from time to time) - and I'm sure that my body reacts to that by stressing out.