I've had 2 panic attacks this morning

[Mercy]

And I'm really annoyed with myself and feel very tired now.

I hate the bloody things

do you suffer with them usually?

you need to relax

don't be scared of them

it is your body trying to rid itself of a build-up of stress

Poor you. What trtiggers them? Keep apaper bag handy so you can try to divert it if another begins.

Thanks everyone.

I had my first attack 2.5 years ago but they have become more frequent in the last year. I think the trigger is that I was diagnosed with high BP last year and I've got it into my head that I'm going to have a heart attack or stroke. I then go into a real spin as I have visions of my children being left without a mum or dh having to break the news to them or dh coming home and finding me dead with ds crying his eyes out (he's only 3).

Actually, I think maybe the real trigger is remembering what happened when my father died. My parents went out shopping and he had a massive, fatal heart attack. My mum came home on her own and had to break the news to my brother (he was in his mid-teens). I wonder if it's related to that?

What doesn't help is my lifestyle and that I'm in the early stages of the menopause. I'm turning into a real hypochondriac and I hate it.

oh mercy, how awful!

Have you been to the GP? How high is your blood pressure?

One of the pills they hand out for anxiety and panic attacks (propanonol - a beta-blocker) is also used for high blood pressure so you could kill 2 birds with one stone. You might find it puts your mind at rest.

oh mercy no wonder

second the advice about beta blockders

if you aren't keen on pills though, perhaps you could look into doing some relaxation exercises - have you learned to do any deep, yoga breathing? Do you get much time to yourself to just chill?

That's awfull {sad}. Becoming a mum has clearly raked up a terrible memory - we all worry 'what would happen if...?', but know that it won't, whereas you know that it could. You need to find a therapist so that you can offload your fears and learn new behaviours to deal with these perfectly real and legitinate feelings.

and some counselling

tell your gp

Before you try beta-blockers, do you know about the paper bag, and the connection between exercise and lowering high blood-pressue?

I was put on beta-blockers for the BP actually and I noticed a big difference! Not only did I not have any panic attacks but I just felt better in general.

However, a few months later there was new medical advice for people in my age group to switch to ACE inhibitors. And sure enough, the panic attacks returned - with a vengeance.

Christ, I've just re-read my other post and I feel very upset now . This isn't like me at all, I can't understand what's changed

oh Mercy - it sounds like it might be worth going back to the GP. I don't know about ACE inhibitors but maybe you could ask if you can switch back to the beta blockers whilst perhaps getting some counselling and then when you're feeling a bit stronger, going back to the other medication.

You know, a sudden death, like your father's, can have a profound effect on you and often it hits you well after the event. Perhaps it's worth seeing if you can get some bereavement counselling - you may find it is quicker to access this sort of counselling than the general lot your GP may refer you for (iyswim).

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