Kgirl16~
it does sound like you are under alot of stress. You have to relax. I've had alot of strss in my life too, and thats where my panic attaks came in. They were really bad too. As soon as I cut a few things out of my life, it got better. I still have anxiety, but not as much. Just know that there are alot opf people here to support you. Im sure you'll make the best choice for you about the school, and as for your parents, thats not your place to deal with. You need to worry about you! When you go to sleep try counting back from 100. I know it sounds funny, but it works..
I hope things get better for you..

What position do you sleep in?

I began getting panic type symptoms around age 32 including racing heart, irregular heartbeat, shotness of breath, could not sleep at all.

I was afraid to lift anything exercise, take a walk or do anything that would set off my symptoms. I was 32- I thought I was dying! While I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse (supposedly) and put on medication to control heart rhythm, I continued to have episodes almost daily! I was in an out of emergency rooms at least once a week.

Finally my wife mentioned cutting out caffeine completely from my diet which I thought I had done already. She reminded me that I drink quite a bit of decaf coffee and Iced tea and I replied but it’s decaf? Come to learn all decaf is not the same. After cutting out the decaf stuff for only a day or two I began sleeping like a baby and feeling like I was 15 years younger!

I'd also read that taking a Calcium Magnesium Zinc plus a Vitamin B complex supplement once a day helps keep teh nervous system in balance. With the combination of the supplements and zero caffeine I have gotten rid of 99% of my symptoms.

I fgured, cutting out the caffeine and the decaf will never hurt you anyway and a supplement- ask your doctor but I don’t think a moderate amount of a vitamin supplement can hurt you either…. Best of Luck. I’d love to hear back and see if it helped you….

I have decided that the reason I panic in bed is because that is down time. During that time I let my mind wander and the next thing I know I am gasping for air and the whole works. Then it ends with me vomiting in the bathroom. Lately, I keep a few good books beside my bed. At least one fiction and one inspirational (The Secret is what I am reading now, and it really helps!). I read until I literally fall asleep with the book. If I wake up in during the night, I grab a book. It keeps my mind off things until I can nod off again. Good luck and keep us posted on how you do!

Right after I had my second child i woke up in the hospital on the second night having a horrible panic attack. I did not know at the time what was happening to me. I was shaking, crying, and thought I was going to throw up. After I went home with the baby things got much worse. i found a great therapist and took some Ativan for a little while. they tried me on zoloft, but I found myself clinging to the ceiling in the ER after that! In my case the panic attacks were both hormone and lifestyle driven. I attend Yoga classes and receive acupuncture and have not needed to take Ativan for many months. Sometimes I have periods of feeling like the world is a little off-kilter and I feel some panicky fluttering in my stomach, but most of the time I am OK. If you have not already done so, you might think about seeing a good psychologist or counselor. They have many tools and experience in treating this.

Please tell me more about the acupuncture. I don't want to change the subject, but I am bipolar too and have wondered how effective it would be.

Aupuncture works to "clear" blockages in "chi" that can be found in your body. It can help things run more smoothly. The premise is that energy flows in your body in predictable ways. Certain things can cause blockages or sluggishness in chi which manifest themselves in a variety of ways. By inserting very tiny needles in certain areas this can help redirect and clear blockages so that your energy or chi can flow more smoothly. I have to say that I did not fully believe in its effectiveness until I tried it. The nice thing is that there really aren't any side effects. I figured I didn't really have anything to lose. i am not saying it is a cure-all, but it certainly helped me a great deal. By the way, it did not hurt at all.

You've really got to try something called Breatheasy. It combines a therapeutic breathing method with music and you do it 15 minutes a day. It not only lowers general stress and anxiety in your life but you can use it to relieve panic attacks, like when you wake up. Don't wait until you hyperventilate! That just sets you up to repeat it over and over.
This breathing method is proven to lower high blood pressure, that's how powerful it is. It gives you direct, immediate relief. Get free instructions and an online audio demo at http://www.control-your-blood-pressure.com /demo.html

If you are getting recurring panic attacks, it sounds like you have panic disorder. There are a lot of ways to deal with panic disorder, some of which have been mentioned. There is also therapy. The thing that many people don't know about therapy is the it is extrememly effective for anxiety disorders, especially panic attacks. If you get cognitive behavioral therapy, basically what they will do is cause you to have the symptoms of panic attacks, (like hyperventiliating, raising your heart rate, etc.) and stay with you to guide you through it. (it's called exposure) and the more you experience it without actually having a panic attack, the less worried about panic attacks you will be.

It really is extremely effective. I would make an appointment with a psychologist who uses cognitive behavioral therapy. It is the most proven method right now for anxiety disorders.

I suffer terribly with panic attacks and have done since i was a child. Im 37 now and every night when im just dropping off to sleep i think im choking and that ive got something stuck in my throat. I pull and grab and basically rip it to shreds make it bleed sometimes. I sleep on my back and on 3 pillows so i am high up and at an angle. I just want them to go away. One thing i forgot to mention is that since the break up of my relationship 2 years i go i have developed a social and a death phobia. I live the life of a recluse almost and wont and cant talk to anyone. Strange for someone who used to have a huge social life and work in retail and enjoy it. Now i have nothing and apart from my parents and 2 friends i am alone by choice and the scary thing is that im so used to it now im beginning to like it. have had therapy but nothing seems to work for me. Relaxation i cant keep still long enough to do that. It would be great if there is anyone else feeling like me with regards to death as nobody seems to understand what im going through.

I have panic attacks, having a small one now. I am 53. Mine started 2 weeks before '9/11'. I am on Zanex wich usually works pretty good. Except sometimes when alot is going on. They started while I was taking wellbutrin to quit smoking; not sure which caused which in this case. Mine started in dreams (of being chased, and someone trying to kill me). When I would lay down to go to sleep, thoughts of myself as a small jewish girl being imprisoned in a very small metal box by the Nazis would come into my head, The horror of clostrophobia and not being able to move around ugh... it was bad. Not so bad now, not so often. I mostly have chest pains with my attacks.Also chant 'Nam Myoho Renge Kyo' over and over. A Buddhist teaching that puts you in tune with the law of life. Very calming, powerful, awesome. Take you're life back.

Hi there do you know what started them off? I stopped smoking almost a year ago but i dont think that that has made any difference, because of my feelings about death and dying i found it really easy to quit this time. I dont dream as vividly as you its just as im about to go to sleep and i sit up heart racing. Do you know where the thoughts of you being in this small metal box come from, is it from something that has actually happened to you? Thank you for taking the time to reply to me

I am a 38 year old woman. In late September I had an episode of racing heart in my doctors office. It went up to 180 bpm. Since then I have been treated by a cardiologist for inappropriate sinus tachycardia-basically fancy way of saying fast heart beat. I get light headed, feel like I cant swallow at times, chest tightness, and my vision gets "funny". I have been in and out of the ER and three hospital stays. I am now on anti-arrythmia meds and I think they really may just be panic attacks as I have had this feeling for years just not as severe or as long lasting.
Basically, I am scared. I feel like I am going to die at times. But, I do notice I can feel fine then walk into a store and the symptoms hit me. This has adversely affected me and my family's lives. I am afraid to be left alone for long periods. I feel trapped. These past few months have really taken a toll.
Please-anyone who can relate-I am open to suggestions. Thanks.

sorry ive not been back but not been good over the last couple of days. i think you should keep a diary of when these symptoms occur and what causes them. there is not a day goes by when i dont have an attack no matter how small. I always think im going to die, or pass out. Its a hard thing to deal with especially if those near you dont really understand. I wont sleep in my home at night i go to my parents because i think im going to die, and suffer if im on my own. try keeping a diary and if that helps then it could possibly be panic attacks and high anxiety the question you need answering is what is causing them? Hope this helps u a little.

I have always had anxiety, but the panic attacks with chest pain actually started while I was trying to quit smoking, and was taking welbutrin; wich was prescribed for that purpose. And no the metal box was not in this lifetime. However we did live in Germany when I was a child, {Dad was in the Army) only ten years after the war. I imagine I heard alot of horror stories from my parents.

Also don't eat to close to bedtime. Especially not cheese or nuts.