Quick cure for Anxiety?

Question

For the past almost month and a half I have been having real bad panic/anxiety attacks. The first one I had I was at work and had no prior medical history or anxiety. And just like bam I didn't know what was happening. My heart started to race,had problems breathing, got the tingles in my entire body and worst of all I felt like I was going to black out. (Has anyone blacked out or passed out from anxiety?I have since had 2 more attacks the others as well have happened at work. I start a new job I had to quit my last job due to pride issues I got carried out on a bed. Now that I am starting a new job I need to try and be over this before it starts. I have had all the norm tests done EKG,Holter monitor 24hrs etc. I am on xanaax, don't like the side effects. I am going to see the Phy tommorrow. Once again any tips on how to overcome this would be great. Last part does anyone else feel as if they are going to pass out or has passed out. That is my biggest fear. Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

When I first started reading this, I thought it was about your having an anxiety attack. But as I kept reading and got to the part about "I had to quit my last job due to pride issues I got carried out on a bed" I realized you really need to see a psychologist. Something is in there that needs to be dealt with.

Answer 2

1. Don't worry about passing out. It is like the reset button for the body. It is what your body does when it doesn't know what else to do. Even other animals do it, like dogs. It is actually really helpful, it can even SAVE your life.

If you feel faint, take a deep breath, and sit down. Mostly your head just needs air. Even in the grocery store, just have a seat. If you are worried about someone asking you, just say you have a bum knee from a highschool sports injury and need to sit for a second, no shame in that right?

2. Anxiety is a real medical condition. It requires treatment just like diabetes or cancer. If xanax isn't working for you, that's okay. Talk to your doctor specifically about what side effects you don't like. Often they will prescribe an antidepressant for anxiety because they are closely tied together. Instead of treating an immediate attack, it can help prevent them.

3. Consider what, if anything may have changed recently to increase your stress load that might be bringing these symptoms. Sometimes people get anxiety attacks because they feel like they are in a situation they don't have control over or don't have a choice in.

If you can, try to lessen your commitments if you are over booked. But DO NOT start planning your day around your panic attacks. This is an ugly downward spiral that can take years of therapy to undo.

4. Remember, the panic attacks are unpleasant, but they are not life threatening. You have ALREADY lived through one, and you are just fine.

Good Luck

Answer 3

Get counseling and get with a psychiatrist. The list of medications that can effectively treat panic disorders is huge and finding the right set of meds will make life much more enjoyable. Been dealing with panic attacks since I was 13 years old. A good SSRI and a benzodiazapine for break through anxiety is generally a good plan, (if you don't have a family history of addiction). Of course listen to the doctor prescribing the meds, over any advice you get here. Check with family member to see if they have panic attacks and find out what they take and let your doctor know. Counseling helps with making the attacks less frequent and less severe.

Answer 4

I too have had panic attacks for almost 20 years. And although they are terrifying they will not kill you. I used to be housebound and had to get a therapist to teach me how to get out of the house again. With exposure therapy and lots of practice, I am no longer housebound. The medicine for anxiety problems is not Xanax it is an anti-depressant.
Try to nip it in the bud. Don't let it stop you from doing anything or phobias will develop. And know that you are not alone, many many ppl have this.
Also, try to do some exercise, it really helps.
Good luck to you.

Answer 5

Firstly have you been diagnosed with social anxiety? or like so many (im guilty here as well) did you go onto wikipedia and try and "find" out what's "wrong" with you. There is no quick nor temporary cure for anxiety and/or shyness. The best thing to do is to start very small conversations with people, and build on them.

Answer 6

Poor baby. I know EXACTLY how you feel. I, too suffer from anxiety attacks. I had my first one 4 years ago and ended up staying overnight at the hospital becouse I thought I was dying. I have been to the hospital atleast 50 times in four years from anxiety. I could not work, got laid off and fired for my attacks ( I was a temp so I could not collect unemployment nor sue) I am taking Lexapro 10 mg now and I have not had a major one in atleast a year. I know how you feel, girl. Hang in there and pray. I found that listening to your BREATHING and trying not to lose control helps. There is nothing wrong with you and you will NOT die nor pass out from one. Its just your body kicking into Fight or Flight Mode and it gives you a SENSATION of dying, fainting and losing control. Fight it, honey, fight it!

Answer 7

I do, I do. I had the same symptoms. Then they found put that I have sth called Mitral Valve Prolapse. This is more common for women and it starts "showing itself" in mid 20s or sth like that. the thing is that one of your heart valves is a bit longer than it should be. if you get excited or stressed, some blood passes from one chamber to another. if the prolapse is not serious, meaning no operation, you just take beta blockers daily. that's what i did for a year. and now everything is getting better. but i mixed smoking, the pill and of course, they had to find sth. many people live with MVP without ever noticing it. Good luck!

Answer 8

Calm down. I am still here and I have had them since I was young. I have never passed out or even felt like it, when I'm really going through a bad one, I trip out and think my heart is going to F up, but that's about all. Best thing is to pt your hands above your head and breathe deep, go outside in an open area and just breathe. Tell yourself you are going to get through it. People don't die from panic attacks, and they are not related to any serious cardiac disorder, so relax. It's your mind playing tricks on your body's "flight or fight" response and parasympathetic nervous system. It's mental, and chemical. Open spaces help mellow you out. Remember that. Go out for a break next time, and mellow yourself out.

Answer 9

The best cure for an anxiety attack is to breath, seriously. Just close out everything else and make yourself breath. And yes they can make you feel like you are going to pass out or even actually do it. Doc put me on meds but I took myself off cause I learned to control them.

Answer 10

Yes, it is possible to pass out from anxiety attacks. Do you know what's triggering them?

Meanwhile, yes, exercise might help: It helps release the body's natural 'feel-good' chemicals, endorphins.

And yes, a count of 4 then breathing should help with the black-outs.

Good luck!