Panic attacks ???????

Question

I have suffred with panic attacks for almost 4 years i can go months without having one then i'll get lots all at once my symptons are chest pains and tingling arms I used to think i was having a heartattack lol but my heart is fine.
I am not taking any kind of medication as everytime i go to the doctors they are very dismissive can anyone give me their take on panic attacks and what are your symptoins??????

Answer 1

Hi Rachael I have had panic attacks before. yes it felt like I was dying, cinderblock on my chest, I couldnt catch my breath, eyes went blurry, arms and hands went numb couldnt evn wiggle them or anything. This worst case happened to me when I left my ex home from visiting my child and seen someone in my ex home that just fueled the blaze inside of me,...he was dating my exwife because she still lived there. I left, drove 2 tenths of a mile and had to pull over in a funeral home. I luckily knew what was happening to me and was able to give gestures to someone to call the ambulance, they arrived I couldnt move or barely see,they hooked me up to an oxygen tank and said that my oxygen level was around 90, which is supposed to be clearing 100. A few minutes on this machine and I was back to normal. They told me that I had only hypervintilated.I thought wow, just being deprived from a little bit of oxygen made me feel like i was dying. Now it's been almost 10 years since this occurance, I 've managed to handle my feelings in a much better way. I havent had one since. So if youre going through some tough times please dont let it get the best of you, you have to stay strong and fight back against this thing that could possibly take over your life. Don't let that happen. best wishes to you

Answer 2

I have read some litterature about panic attacks. But they allways seem to have a more scientific approach and that is nothing I need in my struggle to survive those horrible panic attacks. This is a "hand on" and very practical book. I felt it was written to me. I am sure that you are going to feel the same.

Joe Barry writes exactly how I think. The examples are perfectly described. And the method is genius. I recommend this book and thanks Joe Barry for writing it. It changes your life

Answer 3

First of all, do you smoke? Cause smoking can worsen it, although, it is all psychological. My husband was suffering from panic attacks for a while. He went to GP who could not give him any drugs either and was referred to a psychologist, who then prescribed him relevant medicine. Panic attacks are like a vicious circle, after you have one you start worrying about having next one, and worrying that's what causes it. The medicine is supposed to keep you calm, so it's not antidepressant. You'll need to check with psychologist about the name of that medication. Also when you start getting that tingling sensation, try to calm yourself, breese slow and deep - tightness in your chest is caused by too much O2 and low level CO2. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 4

I have had a few panic attacks over the last couple of years.
I don't get the same symptoms as you.

One day I was lying in my mums bed (I am probably much to old, but it was a Saturday), my sisters and best friend were in there too. I was in the middle of most of them, and found I couldn't breathe. I wasn't squashed, and could breathe fine before. It was more like claustrophobia.

It has happened in similar situations, but I know I am not claustrophobic, as I am fine in other situations such as in lifts, small spaces.

I was told it was panic attacks, but I am not on medication. What I have done is cut out a majority of rubbish from my diet. Caffeine was the first most significant change. I didn't cut it out completely and I started drinking green tea and it help. Not getting stressed, and not over thinking situations.

The worst panic attack was one night, I woke up in th middle of the night and my whole body was vibrating from my heart beat. I honestly thought I was having a heart attack.

Just keep calm if you know it is a panic attack and try cutting out additives from your diet.

Good luck!!

Answer 5

I used to get them but have found away to supresse them...my symptoms was swetting, tingling in the hands, light headedness, the feeling that my heart was about burst out of my chest and this uncontrollable urge to RUN AWAY!

The symptoms came on very quickly and with training you can make them go just as quick.

You need to realise what creates the panic symptoms...YOU!
Your subconcience say's "OOH... don't like this better run and hide". So your adrenelin gets pumped in to your heart ready to take flight and react if needed. when it passes you feel Knackered!

Try to control your breathing when the feelings start Slowly breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. Listen to your heart and try to talk to it with your mind and slow it down.

I know it all sounds hard and far fetched but it isn't really your mind creates the panic so it can take it away. The hardest thing is trying to remember all this while your having an attack!

Answer 6

I had a couple before Xmas. Heart racing, feeling dizzy. Told i may be taking too much iron. So i cut out the iron supplement & haven't had any since.
Panic attacks are anxiety based. Counselling such as CBT can help, or try homeopathy.

Answer 7

Panic attacks are quite common. Most people get them occasionally. They are caused by an adrenaline rush - the same as you get when you take on dangerous sports. Now this is much easier said than done - but if you can convince yourself that the build up of adrenaline is an exhilarating experience, you won't get any more panic attacks.

They are usually brought on by stress. You need to think through your life, work out what's causing your stress and deal with it.

Answer 8

They could be panic attacks, but equally they could be pulmonary emboli (blood clots inside the lung) When you have these attacks do you also find it difficult to breathe???? - I've had 5 known emboli - but could have had many more. Doctors now treat me with Warfarin - an anti-coagulant (it thins the blood) - its the same stuff that Environmental Health Officers feed to rats to kill them off.

You perhaps need to be a tad more assertive with your GP and insist that S/He sends you for some tests to find out exactly what is going on - for instance an MRI scan.

Pulmonary emboli are nasty, so I do hope you are not suffering from those, but good luck and be well soon

Answer 9

You must search for a doctor who is not dismissive about your panic attacks. Then you can work with him or her about proper treatment. Panic attack symptoms vary from person to person. Many people experience your symptoms. Other people's panic attacks are mental rather than physical, for example - the mind "racing," uncontrollable thoughts and worries.

Answer 10

Go to your regular doctor and tell him your experiences with the physical symptoms. Then tell him that you need to be referred to a mental health group. There a counselor will talk with you and help you to understand what brings on your panic attacks, the doctor at the mental health department will be the one to give you prescriptions. I highly recommend the drug Paxil for your panic attacks.