please please help me with these panic/anxiety attacks xxx

[nikcola]

this is from my other thread .....

ok been taking tabs for 2 weeks now, no side affects thank god but the panic atttracks are getting really bad so bad i dont want to leave the house today was really bad....

today was dd's x mas carol concert at nursey at 10.30am so i dropped her off at nursery at 9am then went back at 10.20am for the carols i felt ok was prepared but felt sort of calm, i stepped in to the hall there was about 20 people in there so i got a seat then i started to swaet and shake my heart was pounding so i fanned my face with paper and tryed breathing exercises,

then it got worse so i went a sat in the loo for 5 mins then i came back even more poeple where in there,

so i sat back down and it got so bad my eyes went black i couldnt see properlly so i rushed out in to the loo sat down and blackedout i couldnt control it im so embarresd emagine if id have faitnted infront of dd

i watched out side from the door, what the hell is wrong with me why arent tabs working im too scared to go out now

[nikcola]

thanks hun i feel a bit better but that cause i havent been out !!! hope your ok xxx

[feastofsteven]

shops are rotten this time of year anyway! hopefully you'll find it less stressful after xmas anyway. you not going out of the house/flat at all, or just not to the shops??

[nikcola]

no i wont go anywhere with lots of people,

went to docs he said to stay on the tabs as there is only 11 days left of them then to come back when they have finished to see what else he can do,

i want to see somone like a shrink or councellor how do i go about it do i ask my gp to refer me ???

[feastofsteven]

sorry that doc was less than helpful. did he give any advice about how to handle the panic attacks?

It would usually be the GP that refers you to psychiatrist or counsellor, but if they are unhelpful there are a few ways round that:-

1.turn up at A & E, explain how dreadful you feel and ask to see duty psychiatrist

2.you can refer yourself directly to your local Community Mental Health Trust

3.some branches of Mind offer cheap/free counselling depending on where you live

[nikcola]

how do i go about referingg myself directly to the local Community Mental Health Trust?

[feastofsteven]

CAT me your address/or e-mail me on hotmail and I'll do a bit of googling and see if I find you a web link/phone no.

[spruceylucy5]

I always carry mints and water with me if i think im going to be in a situation where I might panic, e.g plane, cinema, theatre etc. Just focusing on sucking the mint can ward them off. Its psychological for me, i associate it with controlling my breathing. I also do risk assessment, I sit on the end seat near the door if I can. I have asked people to move on the bus so im not blocked in, they have a lot of coaches instead of buses here and they are worse. Yours sound more extreme than mine but it helps to find distractions to ward them off. I read on here once about squeezing the flesh between your thumb and fore finger. Keep yoou chin up you will get better

[feastofsteven]

sprucey - are there any self-help books you could recommend to nik?

[spruceylucy5]

No I never read any, i just knew if i felt my breathing was under control, i.e that i could breathe I would be alright. Will keep bumping though as there must be others on here who are/were more severe than me.

[feastofsteven]

bump!

[nikcola]

thanks , heres my email


[email protected]


xxxxx

[Enideepmidwinter]

I found this book extremely helpful when I went through a phase of having panic attacks

it was a phase and they went away

I also had a relaxation tape at night to help me learn to relax

[Enideepmidwinter]

also friends have said

Feel the fear and do it anyway by Susan Jeffers is very good but I haven't read it.

[nikcola]

thank you will look into them books xxx


well today i am really pleased with myself cause i done the x mas food shop with dd with me too!!! i went to the huge asda in milton keynes about 20 mins away from me and it was packed but i dont it and i went ok until i had to pay then i panicked dont no why but i just carried on with the packing and was ok

maybee the tabs are working x

[feastofsteven]

glad you managed to get your shopping done Nik. It's important not to let the fear of panic attacks rule your life/stop you going places.

[nikcola]

just a quick update, i just got back from docs as tabs run out today he has put me on a higher dose 20mg so lets see how they go xxxxxx

[evansmummy]

nikcola, haven't read all these posts, or your other thread, but my dh used to suffer from the most awful panic attacks, his usually at night. He was taking Bromazepam which was prescribed by a French doctor, and which helped, but really knocked him out and was thoroughly addictive. He was getting worried about taking too much of it so we went to one of those alternative medicine shops to ask about homeopathic remedies etc.

We were recommended two things: firstly, Sympavagol, which is homeopathic and good for mild attacks. Secondly, and this is the one I would really recommend to you, an Enzymatic Therapy called L-Theanine. You can take this daily or as needed, and I was amazed how well it works. My dh had awful attacks, once needing a doctor to come out in the middle of the night to give him a shot of morphine to knock him out! And well now, he has none at all. He took the L-Theanine for about 2 months every day, then for another year or so as needed, and now he has no attacks at all. I really would recommend you find a good alternative medicine shop and ask for some advice. Read this
Good luck!!