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ANYONE ELSE HAD A PANIC ATTACK ???????? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 replies

piscesgirl · 26/03/2008 15:10

Am now on my second valium of the day after having a panic attack trying to take my 2 & 3 year old to the park. Didnt even make it out of the car and sadly we had to come home and they were so upset that I have had to bribe them with sweets and fizzy drinks to get 5 mins so I can post on MN and try and off load! They have been stuck in the house with me for so long now as I have been having panic attacks on and off for about 6 weeks now. (Now my 2 year old has spilled all his cola on the carpet - great!) Have become a total housebound nutter since my dad died in January (we were not close so not sure why grief is making me so anxious). Have 3 people to talk to - Aunt/Best Friend/DH & between them they are all trying to coax me to get out of the house and do things. That is why I tried to go to the park today - I am trying and it is so bloody hard. They all say "just stop thinking about it" but that is impossible when every time I leave the house I think I am going to have one. I had one whilst taking my 3 year old to nursery the other day so now cant go back there so am stuck in the house with both the little ones!!!!!!!!! GOING OUT OF MY MIND. Anyone else out there with panic attacks crippling them? And if so what has helped you?

Oh yeah .... I refuse to go to my doctor as his bedside manner is dreadful and when I last saw him (3 weeks ago with a chest infection) I asked why I felt so awful he said it was probably my personality

All I can say is good job the house is full of the kids easter eggs so I can OD on chocolate!!

OP posts:
hattyyellow · 26/03/2008 15:59

I'm so sorry to hear that, you must be really sick of panic attacks. I suffered from them for a while after a series of traumatic events.

Doctors were useless and the only thing that helped me was cognitive behavioural therapy. This actually takes apart your behaviour and teaches you what is happening when you have a panic attack and ways to recognise that one is about to occur- giving you some control over the situation and less anxiety about one "suddenly" starting.

For instance the process of a panic attack beginning starts long before you actually feel the shakes/cloudy head/sweaty palms etc. Your brain is processing faster and faster, your heart rate accelerates. My CBT therapist taught me to:

Stop the panic. Slow things down when the panicky feelings started. Think logically to myself what exactly I was panicking about - "I might be sick" would be answered with "okay, but what's the worst that would happen, I would be embarrassed but I would still survive, I'd be okay and I've never actually been sick with one before".

It's also really important to learn how to breathe properly. If you can slow your breathing down you can slow your heart down and feel calmer.

Do you see what I mean? It was the only thing that worked for me, betablockers didn't help and I really didn't want to take Valium having seen friends really not happy on it.

Your doctor should be able to refer you for treatment. Can you ask to see another doctor? I generally just say I need an appt that day and don't care who I see if I don't want to see a particular doctor and then just keep saying I can't do that time until I get another doctor.

I actually went private for my CBT in the end, which I couldn't really afford at the time but long term it was the best money I ever spent - it treated the cause not just the symptoms.

Big hugs to you though, panic attacks can be crippling. I hated them and used to get them loads at really crowded stations/London Underground. I thought they would never end but they did.

piscesgirl · 26/03/2008 16:25

Thanks hattyellow! Whats your friends experience of valium - I thought it would help but it just takes the edge of my stress rather than stops the panic attacks. I will enquite about CBT - My doctor is the only one at the surgery so will have to see if I can go private and how much it costs. Have been in counselling for over a year but obviously that is not working! Thanks again for your advice. It does help to hear others experiences x

OP posts:
Twiglett · 26/03/2008 16:30

online meditation podcast

online free CBT

write down your issues and the worst thing that can happen then work out if that's real or not.. the act of writing can help

ensure your diet is good .. lots of B vitamins (take supplements), magnesium, lots of water

exercise

sleep

and give yourself a break

hattyyellow · 26/03/2008 16:34

A couple of my school friends and my brother were all prescribed Valium. They all seemed to find that like you it just numbed the fear and anxiety but didn't actually make it go away.

My brother in particular said that it numbed all the positive/happy feelings as well as the negative ones and he just felt like a zombie.

I guess it depends on the individual.

Does your counsellor do CBT? Have you talked to him about your panic attacks and asked him for ways of coping with them?

artichokes · 26/03/2008 16:46

Piscesgirl - Four years ago I lost my Mum and started having panic attacks. It was horrible and I really feel for you. I would urge you to go and see a doctor, change surgeries if you have to, but get some help. I was referred for CBT and it made so much difference.

In conjuntion with the CBT various things helped me. One was taking up regular yoga. It taught me how to relax and I did it everynight at home. Another was persevering with going out and getting on with my life. Sometimes it was horrible but I always tried to tell myself that a panic attack was less bad than a life not lived due to fear.

Please get help. Taking valium and staying inside is not a nice way to live for you or your DCs.

Ledodgy · 26/03/2008 16:49

thread from last night with some useful stuff on

piscesgirl · 26/03/2008 21:21

Just been to see my counsellor and have talked to her about the panic attacks. She has made me see that they are related to the death of my father and issues that were unresolved. The fear that I now have to face those issues is probably bringing on the panic attacks.

Thanks everyone for your messages/posts and support. Am gonna try to keep the valium for sheer emergencies.

The thread from last night was really informative Ledodgy.

Thanks again xxxxx

OP posts:
Chockypot · 26/03/2008 23:03

Hi there. Sorry to hear you are feeling panicky - it is really grim and totally frightening. I suffered panic attacks for a while after the birth of my ds1 which rendered me virtually housebound. Doctors were not very supportive and put me on prozac. I ended up doing a lot of research myself and found a website (www.nomorepanic.com) which is fab and was a great support. Also found alcohol aggrevated them (unfortunately - can't beat a good bottle of vino )but agree with Artichokes that yoga was a great help. Don't let them beat you!

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