Been Having Unexplained Panic Attacks Posted: 01-21-07 17:35pm
On the night of january 14th, I noticed I
started feeling strangely. I felt a
little anxious, and I felt off. That's
the only way I can describe it. I woke up
the next morning at about 4:30 shaking
terribly. I started feeling a very
disturbing amount of anxiety around
6:30am, and it peaked at about 6:45 into a
full blown panic attack. It subsided
about 8:00am. I felt fine the rst of the
day, except for bouts of anxiety, fearing
I would have another. I'd had panic
attacks before, due to withdrawal from
medication. That should not have been the
case this time, because i'd not taken
anything. I had started exercising,
though, about a week before they
started.
The next morning, monday the 16th, I had
another panic attack. It wasn't as severe
as the first, but was still horrifying.
The time duration was the same. I tried
taking magnesium, drinking water,
breathing exercises used just for panic
attacks- nothing made it stop. The rest
of the evening was spent crying in fear
that i'd have yet another. Only two
unexplained panic attacks, and I felt like
it was tearing my life apart. The next
morning, I woke with the same trembling
that preceded the previous two. Then the
anxiety started. I took about 750mg of
phenibut, remembering that it acted on the
benzodiazepine receptors. It helped. The
forming panic attack didn't progress any
further. I've been taking it until today
(01/21), when I took a smaller dose at
around 2 in the morning and went back to
bed. I woke up about 3:40am. Unable to
go back to sleep, I got up. I started
feeling the shaking and anxiety. I
quickly took a little more phenibut and
stopped it in it's tracks. I'm convinced
that I would have had panic attacks every
day this week if it were not for
phenibut.
Something is wrong, and I don't know what.
I seem to have developed panic disorder
out of nowhere, which makes no sense to
me. It doesn't even have any triggers. I
have a doctor's appointment. I'm going to
demand that they check my thyroid, but I
fully expect to be told that I need some
weird meds like paxil or xanax (which I
refuse to take). I want to solve the
problem. Not slap a bandaid on it.
Besides, I spent 7 years on paxil and
never want to be on it again. I don't
want to become dependant on something like
xanax. From what i've heard, the
withdrawal is hell.
Now, after filling out a questionnaire, I
fit hypothyroidism 42%. I'll give some
oddities/changes of my health and
lifestyle.
I've been 10 weeks pregnant then had an
abortion.
My most recent period was alot heavier
than usual.
I have tourette's syndrome, and it's been
more severe.
I quit taking paxil 17 months ago.
Family history- my mom has benign
pituitary tumors.
Personal history- I have pcos.
I've had diarrhea for the past week,
intermingled with periods of
constipation.
I started exercising about a week before
the attacks started.
That's about it. If anyone can think of
anything- anything at all- please let me
know. Except for "it's in your head" type
crap. I don't buy in to that stuff.
|
clare 123
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 3 Location: great yarmouth
Posted: 01-23-07 09:07am
Hi I started having panic attacts in
october 2006 I thought I was dying..An so
did my kids im 25 , I dont want to live
my life like this most days I dont go out
an dont do as much with my kids, I have a
lot of panic attacs but even when im not
having one I feel that its hard to
breath... Do panic attacs ever go or is
there enything I can do to help stop them
|
johnR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 229
Posted: 01-23-07 20:10pm
clare 123
wrote:
hi I started having panic
attacts in october 2006 I thought I was
dying..An so did my kids im 25 , I dont
want to live my life like this most days I
dont go out an dont do as much with my
kids, I have a lot of panic attacs but
even when im not having one I feel that
its hard to breath... Do panic attacs
ever go or is there enything I can do to
help stop
them
hi clare,
have you tried cbt? It has changed my
life dramatically more than I ever thought
anything could. I highly recommend cbt
for panic, anxiety and depression. If you
can't afford a cbt group pick up a copy of
been there, done that? Do this! By sam
obitz and start doing the tea form
exercise in it. This is one of the two
books we used in my group. Take care and
know you can get better if you learn to
think more objectively about your symptoms
through the cbt exercises. The more you
work on the exercises the more relief you
get, I am still improving today. Good
luck!
|
clare 123
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 3 Location: great yarmouth
Posted: 01-24-07 10:39am
johnr
wrote:
clare 123
wrote:
hi I started having panic
attacts in october 2006 I thought I was
dying..An so did my kids im 25 , I dont
want to live my life like this most days I
dont go out an dont do as much with my
kids, I have a lot of panic attacs but
even when im not having one I feel that
its hard to breath... Do panic attacs
ever go or is there enything I can do to
help stop
them
hi clare,
have you tried cbt? It has changed my
life dramatically more than I ever thought
anything could. I highly recommend cbt
for panic, anxiety and depression. If
you can't afford a cbt group pick up a
copy of been there, done that? Do this!
By sam obitz and start doing the tea form
exercise in it. This is one of the two
books we used in my group. Take care and
know you can get better if you learn to
think more objectively about your symptoms
through the cbt exercises. The more you
work on the exercises the more
relief you get, I am still improving
today. Good luck!
hi thank you so much
|
johnR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 229
Posted: 01-29-07 18:40pm
Hi clare, let me know if you have any
questions or if I can be of any more help.
Doing the exercises in cbt are difficult
at first but once you start doing them the
learning curve is not too steep
|
trying_to_cope
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 31 Location: Seattle
There Is a Simple Answer Posted: 02-01-07 02:10am
The obitz book is helpful because of those
tea forms that johnr referred to. It
also sounds like you only have one enemy--
and that is resentment. It sounds like
you harbor lots of angry judgments and
resentments toward authority figures.
All of this manifests into guilt and
anxiety, and makes you feel like there are
millions of things wrong with you. Your
symptoms are the result of a war going on
inside of you for your allegiance.
You need to get the obitz book and learn
to quiet your mind through a meditation
program of some sort. When you truly
quiet your mind, a lot of that other stuff
magically disappears. All of that stuff
you mentioned. You won't even be able to
understand what happened! I'm telling
you this from experience. Trust me.
|
kennio
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Hollywood
Magnesium Posted: 02-03-07 14:15pm
I know you said you took it and it didn't
work but all signs point to it. As you
must know mag def causes panic. I am not
sure what type of mag you took and how
much but some magnesium is not absorbable.
I would try magnesium glycinate or the
hot mag drink called `natural calm'.
Take this test to see if you have more mag
deficit symptoms.
----
here are some studies on your other
symptoms that point to mag deficiency.
"we found significantly lower serum mg2+
and total magnesium and a significantly
higher serum ca2+/mg2+ ratio in the pcos
patients compared with the controls."
We learned the tea form exercise in my
group and it has become a staple in my
life that helps me keep my anxiety at a
minimum. I think cognitive training would
probably help you overcome your panic
attacks. It worked for me and the book by
sam obitz someone mentioned describes the
right and wrong way to use the tea form
and was generally easy to read and
identify with.
|
stoppanic
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 2
What Happen When I Am Frustrated. Posted: 02-19-07 14:59pm
hello all i am new in the forum i am 25
years old and i have panic attacs since my
18 years.When i was frustrated or get
anxius i was starting to get red in al
over my face and then also my back and my
chest.My face could stay like that for
about 30 minutes and is very unpleasand
for anyone to see me.In my 21 years i
start to understand that something was
wrong with me and i couln't leave this
continue.So i went to an expert doctor who
gave my the medicine Seroxat.In about 1
month i start to feelling better when i
was feeling that i was getting red then i
different feeling was coming and i felt
OK.I took Seroxat for a year and then i
felt that i didn;t need it.
I was feeling good for many months then
the same symptoms start to coming again i
took again Seroxat and i was feeling that
it couldn't help. I ask my doctor to give
me a diferrent medicine and she gave me
Efexor.
With Efexor i feld like the first time i
took Seroxat.
Right now i am not taking any medicine and
i can't say that i am totally cured.I am
not like i was before i am less anxious
but sometimes when i am very frustrated i
am getting red.
I have learn to live with it.
|
cece7
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 134
Posted: 02-22-07 22:06pm
Personally I felt meds were good at
boosting me up and masking my problems but
I don't think you can ever get better
without something like cbt where you learn
exercises to help yourself and attack the
anxiety at its root cause rather than
treating the symptoms.
|
johnR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 229
Posted: 03-09-07 19:19pm
I agree about meds. They have their place
but are often used as a mask rather than
part of a solution. Until you learn to
eliminate the thinking errors that lead to
anxiety I think you are doomed to repeated
bouts of anxiety and depression.
|
ocdengineer
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 48 Location: SA, TX
Don't Forget the Genetic Role Posted: 03-10-07 11:35am
Guys,
CBT and meditation are both extremelly
helpful for a lot of us, but they are not
a cure. Don't forget the genetic aspect
of this disease. Some people have to take
medication to even begin the CBT and
meditation. Tokia has been daignosed with
Tourettes which is genetic and is usually
accompanied by OCD, so a lot of the
anxiety felt could be a result of this
OCD. There really is no cure for OCD or
any other anxiety disorder out there, but
there are many ways of managing these
anxeity disorders. CBT and meditation are
two great options. Eating well and
exercising are also very helpful.
Quitting all recreational drugs including
alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine can really
help. And in some cases medication may be
needed. Many of us, including myself,
have been skeptical of meds and their
value, but after almost 10 years of
suffering I have to say that Xanax has
changed my life band-aide or not. I have
a genetic disease that will have to be
battled until the day I die and I may need
the Xanax that long as well, so don't
dissuade medication. make sure everything
has been tried before medication and as a
last resort medication should be
considered. I battled OCD (Pure O) for my
entire life and finally decided meds were
required for me to live a real life with
the stresses that a normal American has to
endure. I finally started taking Xanax
about 8 months ago and it has really
changed my life. I still eat well
exercise quit all my vices and meditate
daily, but I couldn't do that without the
Xanax.
Take care,
OE
|
johnR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 229
Posted: 03-20-07 15:51pm
OE I think we are basically on the same
page. If you re-read my last post I think
you will see that I am not against meds,
but rather leary of they way they are
used/overused in many cases. Meds were
helpful to me but without cbt, exercise
etc I do not believe I would be where I am
today. I was told my panic and depression
could not be cured without meds but I have
been off meds and feeling great with no
panic attacks for a long time now. Am I
cured? I hope I am and think I am, but
time will obviously tell if that's the
case. My main point is if meds help that's
great, but don't get complacent and rely
on them exclusively and expect them to
control all your problems by themselves in
the longer term.
|
ocdengineer
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 48 Location: SA, TX
Gottcha Posted: 03-31-07 10:04am
John,
I get ya. I misinterpretted it as a
warning against medication. It is just
important to be careful when saying things
that could dissuade people from seeking
help because some people really do need
medication.
I also totally agree that just because you
are taking meds you can't be compacent.
In fact I still have to pay attention to
what I put in my body, exercise, and
meditate every morning. If I don't watch
these things then my anxiety will come
back even with medication.
I do however need the medication and
probably will for the rest of my life.
Some may be able to get off the drugs, but
some may not. I think we basically
agree.
Take care,
OE
|
johnR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 229
Posted: 04-14-07 00:02am
Well said oe and I too think we are on the
same wavelength. Thanks for the thoughtful
reply
|
cece7
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 134
Posted: 04-23-07 20:58pm
It sure seems like you guys are saying the
same thing to me for what it is worth.
|
dandrew
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 4
Posted: 04-26-07 19:17pm
Ocdengineer, I hope you are fairly old.
Xanax is a horrible and addictive drug. I
am now 58 years old and have been taking
Valium for 35 years. It worked fine at
first, but now I'm much worse than I was
with my original problems. Both Valium
and Xanax are drugs in the benzodiazepine
family of drugs and these drugs are more
addicting than heroin! If you are still
young, you should definitely reconsider
taking Xanax.
|
dandrew
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 4
Phenibut Posted: 04-26-07 19:22pm
Tokaia, what is Phenibut? I've heard of
it but haven't been able to find out
exactly what it is or if it is a
prescription medication. Thanks for any
info.
|
johnR
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 229
Posted: 05-04-07 14:43pm
fwiw, I never tolerated xanax well, but I
only took it when I was having an attack
an never regularly. The downside was I
always had horrible anxiety the following
day or two after I took it.
|
cece7
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 134
Posted: 05-20-07 10:01am
dandrew
wrote:
Ocdengineer, I hope you are
fairly old. Xanax is a horrible and
addictive drug. I am now 58 years old and
have been taking Valium for 35 years. It
worked fine at first, but now I'm much
worse than I was with my original
problems. Both Valium and Xanax are drugs
in the benzodiazepine family of drugs and
these drugs are more addicting than
heroin! If you are still young, you
should definitely reconsider taking
Xanax.
really that addictive? I took them before
but never on a regular basis and thank god
for that if this is true
