panic issues?

[monocyte]

Life is stressful; and Im not sure Im handling it well.

Back in May, I had a mc, which left me a week later with heart palpitations, and my first official panic attack. I honestly thought I was going to die. And the more I thought that, the worse it became.

Finally I went to my primary who told me to reduce the stress in my life; and things will get better. Well, they haven't. He did do a holter monitor, and my heart was having palpitations...he told me to stop drinking coffee. I hadnt had a sip since I was pg.

Fast forward, I had another mc a few weeks back, my husband was hospitalized for a week, and we are moving 4 days after Christmas. All unavoidable stresses of life.

I've been having mini-attacks daily, often 3-4 times a day where I get this overwhelming dizzy feeling, I feel like my heart skips a few beats, and I just feel incredibly lightheaded. Sometimes it passes quickly, and sometimes it can last for 30 mins or so. Once it was so bad, it lasted well over 2 hours and I had to get driven home from work.

We have IF issues, so I started seeing a grief psychologist to help me through the issues of possibly not having another child. Im just in the beginning of therapy, and really havent seen any resolve yet, only more panic attacks/dizzy spells. I feel fine otherwise, not totally depressed, but more of a blah about life in general.

Im going to see my primary on Friday, and am really considering drugs. I've tried relaxing teas, rescue remedy, and a few other natural approaches, but am not feeling relief.

Suggestions? Comments? This anxiety issue is a new one to me.

[PiePie]

I couldn't read and not write. Ugh! When my panic attacks have gotten really bad in the past, here is what has helped: just sit with a friend (this works well in the office), deep breathing (lie down and put a book and your belly and make it go up and down with your breath -- this does not work so well at the office). Try to prevent triggers -- common ones are hunger, anger, loneliness, tiredness. Sometimes depression expresses itself as anxiety; I have read that sometimes antidepressants (SSRIs) have been used successfully to treat them when they are "really" depression -- whatever that means. Sister, it sounds like you have enough going on to make anyone feel anxious AND depressed right now. I will keep you in my prayers.

[koru]

i know exactly where you're coming from and it does get better....with conscious effort. i started having panic attacks last august and have had the exact symptoms you describe (still do, sometimes). what has worked best for me is "mind over matter" techniques. i try to relax & tell myself i am not dying, my heart is ok and i do not need to go to the hospital (like i did the very first time). in the moment i would listen to my body & sometimes feel the need to take a walk...other times i'd lay down. if it got really bad it would progress into whole body shaking which was only relieved with hot baths.

i agree that we need to learn how to cope with stress but when life throws 5 things at us at once, it really is difficult to put it into perspective. i really felt it helpful to talk about it, too. i openly admited to what was going on & didn't feel embarassed or ashamed. i think this helped because all my family & friends were able to support me.

one more suggestion....cognitive behavioral therapy. it's a form of therapy designed specifically to help realign your thought patterns & deal with stress & panic. i've recently started this myself (can't tell it's benefits yet) but have heard wonderful things about it's success.

wait....one more suggestion....exercise! my husband used to suggest this to me & i would become so defensive but really, it works. all the symptoms we feel during a panic attack are a result of excess adrenaline racing through our bodies. a little self driven, purposeful release of this adrenaline seems to do the mind & body so much good!

i haven't gotten to the point of taking medications yet so i can't speak to that side of the coin but i do know that consciously fighting it works! our minds are amazingly powerful!

hang in there, sister!

[Eli's_mommy]

I used to have horrible debilitating anxiety that was turning me into a borderline agoraphobe. I am basically better now with the occassional, very very minor anxiety attack that I have complete control over. It's definately a matter of reminding yourself you ARE NOT dying (and you're not!). Heart palpatations are scary! I used to get dizzy as well- not just regular old dizzy, but all the sudden somebody flipped me upside down and I think I'm going to hit the floor dizzy. If you're anything like me, at the second you feel that heart palpatation you fly into an anxiety attack. 5-HTP and Valerian root both helped me a lot to get to the point where I could help myself. When I start having an attack, I generally will get a close friend or family member on the phone- let them know I'm having an attack and that I need to talk about something else. My family/friends are wonderful and will go right into to telling me a story about their day or whatever, and it completely distracts me after a couple minutes. Might not work for everyone, but worth a shot.

[PiePie]

Are you doing better??

[monocyte]

thanks for checking on me!

Uhm, somewhat, I guess. I do still have anxiety issues, but the therapist is helping me get to a point where I know I can try and breath through them.

But, seeing my primary was interesting. The dizziness I have probably isn't related to anxiety, but I have a whopping case of vertigo. He did this sit up, lay down, look one way, sit up again test...and I went into the drunken bedspins. I had an MRI last Wed and am still waiting on results...so, I get dizzy, and that sends me into panic mode. He did give me some meds to help with both the vertigo and anxiety (xanax) which I find I am taking daily to get me through the day without freaking from every dizzy spell. And Im panicky now just waiting on finding out why I am dizzy.

Im looking into trying the 5-HTP and Valerian root that Eli's mommy suggested as well. But, for now, Im doing the deep breathing to try and slow my heart/breathing down a bit. I've been using some quiet music - rain, waves, etc to try and focus a bit to relax...DS has actually been ok with doing that with me once or 2x a day.

I just want to be and feel normal again!!

[Eli's_mommy]

nak

I get vertigo too and it's because I'm anemic...probably isn't a huge health issue so try not to stress mama! It used to, scare the pants off of me too!!! It's weird how little vitamin deficiencies can completely screw with you.

[monocyte]

Ok, so I probably have Meniere's disease. :

Some testing today, more next week, spent a day in the hospital due to extreme vertigo.

Got put on celexa and ativan for the short term to help me cope with this. Not exactly a diagnosis I wanted....

[Imvishta]

Originally Posted by monocyte

Ok, so I probably have Meniere's disease. :

Some testing today, more next week, spent a day in the hospital due to extreme vertigo.

Got put on celexa and ativan for the short term to help me cope with this. Not exactly a diagnosis I wanted....

I looked up Meniere's disease and am wondering if you have had any viruses/colds that might have affected your equilibrium? I once had the experience where, while in bed watching television, the "horizontal hold" on the room went out, so to speak. Turned out I had a horrible sinus infection. When I stood up I could not even walk straight. That was 20 year ago, and I've had something only similar twice since then. The last was just a few weeks ago when I was really sick and would at times feel like the room was spinning just a little. Nothing like before, though. If you're feeling ill or I should say ARE ill from having your immune system stressed by other anxiety, then you could also experience these physical symptoms that aren't just from panic. Just a thought...

Otherwise, I've had mild panic attacks before, but it was really clear what was causing them. I did have one full-blown one where I seriously thought I was going to have a hear attack or stroke. I'd heard of those, but had never had one like that before or since. It was really frightening. So, just words of empathy... You are not alone and they can pass. Just know that. I hope you can figure out what is the underlying cause of it all. Best wishes to you.

[monocyte]

Thanks for the well wishes!

Yup, I did have a cold and strep throat - the cold was nothing, but I actually needed steriods for the strep as I was so swollen and having a hard time breathing. And this was about a week before my first vertigo incident. The doc's are thinking that is what provoked the vertigo attacks. I've had a humming in my ears on and off now for a while, and Im supersensitive to most loud sounds. The doc I saw yesterday said that many, if not all with active Meniere's disease have anxiety issues, always wondering when and where the next spin will be. As much as I dont like taking meds, I have barely a quality of life right now, and Im hoping this will boost me up and destress me a bit. My therapist who is usually so non-med agreed fully that it was time as my attacks were full blown out 0-10's with the Im going to die and pop right now.

[Jilian]

I dealt with the same thing for a long time and it's really scary. I found that kava kava helped best (after trying several other things). Exercise helped but it was scary to go out and walk alone because I never knew if I was going to get dizzy or not.

I hope you're feeling better soon mama

[stirringleaf]

migraines can also cause vertigo. i get painless migraines...and have had spontaneous vertigo. .. migraine is a syndrome that can cause alot of weird stuff ... anyway just thought i would suggest it. i also have panic/anxiety.. so i understand how debilitating this stuff can be, and how confusing... also i just posted this link in my own thread but i thought i would give it to you also in case you are just checking this thread and not the whole mental health board. i hope you feel better soon

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/default...s&c=firststeps

[HaveWool~Will Felt]

I am with ya mama!!!
I know all about loosing babies, IF and life that comes along with it.
I want you to know that I am thinking of you and sending lots of love and hugs your way!!!!
Someone mentioned triggers for panic/aniety attacks...and I agree.
!!!!

[monocyte]

Thanks, and s back to you as well.

I'm doing ok, working on trying to reprogram myself into not needing closure from the mc's...and really trying to let my feelings out. Crying is feeling good, I need days of it. Opening many Christmas card from those who have had 2nd kids, some 3rds in the time we've been trying for DC2 helps the tears along. I need to let down the wall and acknowledge the pain I've been in for so long.