Panic attacks

[mum22dd's]

Does anyone suffer from panic attacks? I have since I was 12, now I'm almost 30. Actually they 'went away' at age 13 and then came back 4 years ago. I've done a lot of work on myself to overcome thie problem: psychologist, yoga, books, introspection...I've improved A LOT in these 4 years, but I am still prisoner to panic.
Has anyone overcome the problem?
Do I have to live through the panic until it doesn't scare me anyomore? Like, expose myself to it?
I know what triggered them at age 12, I also think that they went away because of constant exposure to situations that triggered them until they finally dwindled away. And 4 years ago came back FULL BLAST.
Help!
I want to live my life in complete freedom, this is soo limiting.

[Sativarain1]

mama (((HugS))))))))) I know how frusterating they can be, I've dealt with them for the last five years and truly dislike that feeling.
It usually happens when I've gone long periods of time without eating, so now I have short meals spread through out the day and that helps soooo much, oh and high protein snacks in between.

I'm not sure what caused mine, I've dealt with stress it seems a lot in my life I heard that can cause them.
I also heard some medication will help, I haven't told my doctor yet but want to everytime one happens.

Goodluck and I hope they occur less frequently for you! =)

Valerie

[cielle]

It's interesting that you mention eating. I was reading in a book today that low blood sugar can mimic the symptoms of a panic attack, specifically the heart pounding aspect. I often have them at night, I wake up, heart pounding, sure that something is horribly wrong with me. I'm wondering now if it's low blood sugar at night and if a healthy snack before bed would help.

I think if the attacks are very bad seeing a therapist is probably the way to go, esp. if they are limiting your activities.

[Mamajamz]

So sorry you have suffered with this so long. I used to have them, then discovered they were related to some traumatic experiences in my childhood. I have two thoughts:
First, I think it might be good to have your thyroid checked. S naturopathic physician can give you supplement that is completely natural to boost your thyroid (which can cause anxiety and mimic emotional symptoms when out of balance).

Second, have you ever heard of something called NET (Neuro Emotional Technique)? A competent practioner can trace the root of your problem and eliminate it. No joke. I've experienced it.

Best of luck

[bebe luna]

I suffered panic attacks all throughout childhood, on and off through teen years, and terribly in my early 20's...
My mother also suffered them.
I no longer have severe panic or anxiety attacks. I do get mild anxiety occassionally, but it is mild.
I found that changes in my diet made a big difference! By eating little sugar, adequate protien every day, minimal caffeine, and lots of essential fatty acids I keep them gone.
I was raised a vegetarian (I am no longer), and although I think being a vegetarian can be very healthy, one needs to be sure to get plenty of protein, B vitamins, and iron. I always tested for very low iron all through childhood. I was a picky eater and I am posative I was not eating enough protein or iron rich foods.
When I was in my early 20's and had terrible anxiety issues and panic attacks (I ended up in the ER about 4 times), I also was batteling Candida issues, and I believe they were definately linked. After a few months on an anti-candida diet the severe anxiety went away.
In my mid 20's I went to school and was trained as a practioner of Oriental Bodywork and Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM). TCM sees anxiety and panic attacks as a symptom of blood deficiency (linked to Yin Deficincy). Blood Deficincy is a "pathology" that develops from poor diet (usually a diet lacking proper protien, leafy greens, and nutrient rich foods), and is also very common post partum, and in people who have been chemically dependant.
Diet is the biggest factor, IMO, for overcoming anxiety. Go for a diet that has plenty of healthy protien (fish, soy, poultry, nuts, legumes, etc), as well as lots of greens, and complex carbs. Avoid refined sugars and starches. Replace coffee w/ green tea.
Exercise also makes a big difference! Both exercise and bodywork (massage, shiatsu, etc) help the body to produce higher levels of Seratonin.
Essential Fatty Acids (hemp, flax, fish oils, DHA, borage oil, Evening Primrose, etc) have shown to make major posative influences on moods, and dramatically decrease depression and anxiety.
To help deal w/ an attack when it happens, controlled breathing can be very helpful. Inhale slowly, bringing the breath into the abdomen until it is fully expanded, then exhale (slower than you inhaled) until it is completely deflated. (Repeat until you feel noticably calmer.) This creates a posative physiological response in the body and can drastically shorten the attack.
I also really like Bachs Rescue Remedy (flower essences), as well as Kings Bio "911" homeopathic oral spray, and kava kava tincture.
For frequent, severe anxiety, I suggest seeing an acupuncturist or shiatsu practioner. The bodywork, as well as some Chinese Herbs may make a big difference!

[Susana]

I've had panic attacks as well. They were especially horrible about 3 years ago when I had mono and no doctor could figure out what was wrong with me (til I found wonderful doctor who helped me with the mono AND the panic!).

I found the Bach Flower Remedies to be very helpful.
I guess the one thing that helped me most with my panic was realizing what was happening to my body at the moment and just letting it flow, instead of tensing up and thinking that something horrible was wrong with me. For instance, when my panic began, I would have a tense feeling in my chest and I would think "I'm having a heart attack!" and the feeling would get worse and other things would start to happen, like being lightheaded...pretty soon I would be having a full blown panic attack. They were awful!
After a few months of that, I finally began to see the panic attacks for what they were...like evil little occurrences trying to mess my body up! I'd feel the first parts of the chest tightness or whatever and I finally got to the point where I would say to myself, all right, I know what this is....do your thing body, I know I am going to be all right....and I swear, the panic got less and less each time I did this. It might sound funny, but it really has worked for me. To this day I still feel panic beginning for me sometimes, but I go with it, and try to relax...it's weird because sometimes I have those heart pounding episodes and I just work through them thinking how weird it is my body does this!

I hope my little message can help you in some way. Panic is just awful, I know. I hope you feel better very soon!

[seedgirl]

I suffered from anxiety through my childhood andq now, in my early 30's have finally dealt with it. Heres what helped and didnt help for me:

Helped:

1. Cognitive behaviour therapy. Basically works on stopping the cycle of panic and teaches you to not FEAR your panic. It took the power away from the attackes. I really reccomend you try this. This technique does not focus on the possible root cause of ther panic, rather it helps you ocntrol the symptoms by riding them though. Accepting what was happening.

2. Rescue remedy!!

3. When times get too tough to cope, crisis time; try meds. Short term drug therapy can help some people.

4. Watch the caffiene intake and make sure you're blood sugars are regulated. (meaning: eat when you need to and watch the carbs)

5. Telling others I had anxiety. Again, this takes the power away from the attacks.

Didnt help:

1. Regular talk therapy. It made it worse for me. I began to dwell on the panic.


Good luck on this. You will get through this.

[shine]

Just a question:

Did any of you find your panic attacks caused changes to your monthly cycles?


sandi

[Sativarain1]

Sandi-
I'm not sure if panic attacks caused changes to my monthly cycle, but I've noticed that every month before I start is when I start getting panicky, and throughout my period is the worst. Why is that??? It seems once my period is over I function a lot better.

another thing is, to all of you that had panic attacks have you ever had episodes so extreme that you feel somewhat confused and mentally unstable for a few minutes? I know it sounds really out there but sometimes I have been really clumsy and confused for a awhile until I eat and feel better!..........

And I think its awesome that so many of you have beat panic I hope someday I can.

Valerie

[Lindy]

I agree with Bebe Lunas post. I have read that a magnesium deficency also causes panic attacks. Almost nobody gets enough magnesium any more. Good Luck

[Lindy]

The Pain and Stress Center has books and supplements that deal with panic attacks. Their web site is www.painstresscenter.com

[BathrobeGoddess]

I have very, very bad and very long anxiety attacks. I have become very good at "heading them off" before they get out of control but sometimes I just can do it. This is my solution:

Once it is clear to me that I can't control the attack with breathing or meditaion, I take Rescue Remedy.

Then I do something I was taught by a fellow psycholgy student that sounds awful but really works. I lay down and let the attack take over. It is really awful, terrible, and I sometimes vomit but once the attack goes over the hump at its worst, it then goes away very, very quickly. I also have found that they don't last nearly as long as when I try to control its course.


Good luck...

[Bestbirths]

I can tell you what I did, and WARNING-its a long post.

I think I had a combination of Post Traumatic Stress, Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, thyroid, "thing" going on after my last baby. The worst part of it all if you ask me, was the anxiety. I don't know if this is the same as a panic attack, but maybe it's similar. At first, I thought I might have Sheehan's Syndrome (a dysfunction of the pituitary gland), from a really bad hemmorrage after my unnattended homebirth. I was unable to lift my head off of the pillow for three weeks following the birth. This ordeal was followed by a lovely uterine infection ending in a D&C from a doctor who made me feel like sh@@. I went on to have a car accident when my baby was seven weeks old and couldn't hold her or wear her in the sling, yet another devistation piled up. I was mourning some great losses at the time, on so many levels. We had recently moved across country, away from our support system.

I thought something was askew with my endocrine system, because I was really sick with no energy, headaches, tired, mood swings, and 'inside shakes'. I didn't cry or feel "depressed", so I was confused as to what could be wrong with me. The endocrine system is complicated to try to understand when you are well, let alone sick and trying to figure it out. Our family had dealt with trauma during the pregnancy which I really believe had predisposed me for the postpartum depression. During eight previous pregnancies, this was the first pregnancy where I had any ppd symptoms or anxiety. I didn't have a backup doctor for the birth, and I felt like some midwives that I called afterwards had a "you made your bed, you lie in it" attitude about helping someone with an unnattended homebirth who was having problems and now calling them for advise. It felt so...well....tacky...to be calling midwives at that point. I was just feeling that desperate that I didn't care, so I called anyway. I did have a feeling like I was on my own to figure it all out after midwives would say things like "I don't know, no one hemmorrages that badly at any of MY births, so I wouldn't know what to tell you".

One dear midwife I did call recommended rescue remedy. Rescue Remedy made me worse, I spent a solid week in bed locked in my room with some pretty ppp (postpartum psycosis) thoughts rolling around in my head after rescue remedy usage. I was too embarrassed to call the midwife back and tell her what happened, I just quit taking the rescue remedy after the first day, but the symptoms lasted for a week. Some people say that if a homeopathic remedy makes you worse, it could be a proving symptom. What ever it was, it was pretty terrifying.

I came upon a combination of hormones and herbs that allowed me to continue nursing and controlled my symptoms. I had the help of a homeopathic doctor, who put me on natural progesterone and estrogen. Then after doing more research, I asked my son's allergist if he could prescribe some more things along this line. He added testosterone, hydrocortisone, 5HTP, and armour thyroid to that. I was stable, and this combination, although costly ($500 per month), literally made the difference in my mental health, and stopped the anxiety symptoms.

I should say that, before I had started taking all of these natural hormones/remedies, I had come home with all of the prescriptions, but my family said we couldn't afford to fill the perscriptions (aka-not a priority at that time). They said things like "wouldn't prozac be cheaper??". I could handle the loss of a lot, but the thought of discontinuing nursing was too painful. I wanted to continue that relationship, and these natural things would allow me to get better and do that. A couple days later the woman in Texas with PPP tragically killed her five children. The money for my medicine was suddenly found after that, the prescriptions from the compounding pharmacy were filled the next day. My Mom and dh started being more sensitive and supportive. They took care of all of my kids, cooking, and house for the entire summer.

I was able to continue nursing dd. I feel very blessed and fortunate for the support I did recieve. I do wish deep down, that they would have supported me before the Texas incident. So, that's a little sad for me.

From this point I began to see the correlation between stress and my symptoms. I was completely stable by 9/11, and almost ready to begin taking care of my kids again, but as I watched the horror on television, my anxiety symptoms doubled. I went to a CNM to talk about monitoring me should I need to double my medication or what she thought I should do. She didn't think I needed to increase the meds, but sent me to the counselor that worked in her office. I adored this counselor (but couldn't afford to see her more than once or twice). We talked about different coping skills like lowering the bar on expectations, and using the childbirth breathing exersises that I used during birth to cope with anxiety attacks. I was able to use my doula training and breathing techniques to relax myself enough to get the symptoms back they way they were before 9/11, without having to increase the medication. This caused me to think...."hmmm...If I can chill out enough to deal with 9/11 and control those anxiety symptoms with breathing and relaxation, could I get twice as relaxed and go off all my meds?"

As luck would have it, I had a chance meeting with a very well respected retired midwife that same week. I was able to pull her aside and ask her some questions about my situation. I was concerned about the cost of the medication and the stress my condition was putting on my family. She gave me the best advise, that if I would keep things "simple and sacred" in my life, I would get better and be able to go off of my medication.

I kept repeating "simple and sacred", "simple and sacred", it was my new mantra (or my first one). Anything that was not simple or sacred, I removed from my life. (for example, the homeschool group we belonged to was fighting amonst themselves, so we quit going). Unbelieveably, I was able to go off of all of the medication cold turkey. Our family was going on a vacation, so I thought it would be a good chance to relax and try to go off the medication. I did have a months worth of meds incase I should relapse. I went off the medication with no problems as long as I didn't let anything stress me out. I went from having several anxiety attacks per day to none while on medication to symptoms coming back twice as bad after 9/11 to going off of medication and having very few anxiety attacks. WHEW! Now I'm tired! It's been almost 2 years now off of the medication.

I can't remember my last anxiety attack before a month ago-this was after my first colonics treatment-uggh! It brought back my symptoms big time that were previously under control (I thought?) I have recently taken thyroid and adrenal support from Natures Sunshine, and started using the extra month of medication that I had left over from 2 years ago. I went back for a second colonics that cleared those symptoms, and she saw a lot of candida. I have felt some little twinges of anxiety, like yesterday morning when I put my son on a plane. Or recently when we considered moving again. I just every once in a while remind myself again of "simple and sacred", and it seems to give me a clearer focus for what's really important. I think I may always have a little anxiety, just under the surface if I get under too much stress, maybe that's the post traumatic stress part of it. Recently I found out (from the colon therapist) I have Candida, so I am going to try a course of that special diet. Anxiety has been an ongoing thing to deal with for me over the past three years. I hope that sharing this story may help someone!