Sick after a panic attack /melt down

[MissisBoote]

DD had two almighty melt downs which lead to panic attacks (one last night and one this morning).

She's just been sick. It's this related to ask the adrenalin /cortisol that's been running through her system or just a coincidence?

Stress makes me nauseous. How old is dd?

She's 13 and has had anxiety for the last 4 years or so.
This is the first time she's been sick though. It was about an hour after her last panic attack.

Sounds like it is most likely related to the panic attacks. I suffered really badly in my 20's and would often be sick after bad attacks. I'd get a really upset stomach too. I think all that adrenaline makes your digestion shut down and unable to cope with food. It resulted in massive weight loss as I'd get into a cycle of panicking again after being sick, then not being able to eat properly for ages. I didn't have anyone to look after me though so it just continued.

I'd encourage her to have a little bit of toast or soup when she's feeling better or just sweet lemonade (no coke or energy drinks because of the caffeine) if she can't mange to eat, she'll feel panicked again if she goes too long without anything and the cycle will start again.

Reassure her it will go eventually, I really suffered for a good 8 years buy it's completely gone now. I had some counciling and CBT which helped loads.

Poor love, hope she feels better soon.

Thanks - she's managed a bit of toast and is looking a bit brighter. I think it's given her a real scare.

I'm glad you're better now - she's having some counselling sessions which are helping but this time of year is always difficult for her with the new school year starting.

Does her blood sugar dropping low help trigger the attacks as well as beung caused by them? Get her to drink coke or lemonade after

During the panic attack would she do star jumps with you? Used to work for me. Poor her and poor you. I would do star jumps or if I was out I would fold a piece of paper.
Distraction while I calmed down. They are horrible I'm not surprised she is sick.

No there doesn't seem to be any link with her blood sugar.

I like the idea of star jumps. It would help regulate her breathing too.

Hello op, sorry you and dd are having a rough morning!

I suffer with anxiety attacks and one of the worst symptoms for me is my stomach. I usually get the runs and then throw up once or twice. On the plus side I do find that once I've thrown up the anxiety calms down.

My therapist explained that it's part of the natural fight or flight response and very common.

I had such bad anxiety as a teenager and my mum would make me so star jumps. It regulated my breathing and just strangely calmed me down. If we were somewhere public she would just get me to fold paper or doodle and slow my breathing down. She would tell me about what the panic attack was and how I could chase it away. It worked. Also Vicks on a tissue helps as you slow down the breathing. I got quite good at calming it before it was full blown.
I'm an anxious person, I know I am and I know a lot of my triggers. She always made it into quite a good thing strangely. She would say I was anxious but sensitive and creative so I just had to remember that.
I had to get on a packed train the other day and it was in a tunnel for ages and I could feel my anxiety rising. So I remembered what she said and slowed it all down.
Another thing I used to do was concentrate on thinking about something nice... Like planning everyone's christmas presents. Or redecorating my house in minute detail.
If you are anxious you need to kind of accept and manage it. Also to visualise your panic, when you have a panic attack you feel like you are under attack, the world is ending and you are running around screaming... But you aren't. It's all internal, it's all small and nasty and destructive but because it's small and self contained you can banish it.
Sorry hope this makes sense. I really feel for you both xxx