How can I make these anxiety attacks stop?

Question

I've never had panic/anxiety attacks before until this morning and so far I am on my third one today. My heart starts pounding so bad I feel like it is going to explode, I cant breathe, I cant think, I start crying I just dont know what to do!?! I am Effexor as it is for depression. I know alot has to do with the severe stress I am under, bills mounting, bill collectors calling left and right, possible divorce, my oldest daughter started kindergarten this week, I just dont know what to do anymore! How do I make this stop? I feel like I am going insane!

Answer 1

firth things first...calm down by doing something you like to do...next talk to your doctor...you may be on the wrong drug to treat your depression...go to a company that deals with dept management and have him/her create a custom payment plan to help you get out of dept

Answer 2

Do you have any close friends or family near by.
You need to get hold of yourself, just hearing from bill collectors can make you feel this way. You are not the first to experience it,
See your Dr. and maybe he can give you a better drug, until you get through this, Bill collectors can be put on hold and so can your bills, sorry to hear that a divorce is possible, but if there is nothing that can be worked out with your marriage let it go, you only get one chance around this merry go round, so you don't want to fall off, and you owe it to your self and your daughter, and also your husband if he is not happy.
Try whatever will work for you, practice breathing properly, if you have panic attacks you are breathing too shallow or holding your breath. If you are a prayerful person, try and pray, you can just say Help Me Lord and that is enough.
Your daughter in kindergarten needs her parents, its a big time for her.
I will say a prayer for you and yours.
Please check out site below

Answer 3

I had panic attacks so bad many years ago that I had my husband take me to the emergency room thinking I was having a heart attack. I was under alot of stress after losing a 5mo pregnancy. Stress! It can zap some people worse than others. I have never heard of the meds you described. But since you have been perscribed that, that means you have a doctor. GO tell him what has been going on, and try a low dosage Paxil. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE IT FOREVER I swear, but it will level off things. Then you can gradually taper off of it. If you feel like one is coming on, grab a bag and start breathing in and out, you are hyperventilating. Try to get some time alone, and look up breathing excercises for anxiety attacks on the internet. I will bet there is a web site with that information cause' trust me you aren't the only one who has them.

Answer 4

I had panic attacks many years ago that came on at the oddest times. Turned out it was a symptom of partial seizures. Some of these seizure disorders can cause all sorts of weird symptoms including irregular heart beats (not all seizure disorders result in falling or loss of consciousness). Some medications can lower the seizure threshhold, so you really need to mention this to your doctor. By the way, some depression medications some people cannot quit cold turkey without problems, and that includes provoking seizures. See your doctor.

Answer 5

OK, your not going insane dear. Contact your doc and tell him, or her what you just told us. He may want to up the dose of Effexor, or switch you to another drug. There is also Xanax. ( kicks the crap out of anxiety!) It might be beneficial to inquire about some counseling. Drugs and counseling work well together. You are a lot stronger the you think! Everything is going to be OK. Anxiety can't hurt you! It just feels bad. Take care

Answer 6

Dear Jane, I have suffered from depression for many years. Like you, there have been times when I thought I would just come unglued. I was so tired. But I got through it because I got help, took my meds, and started to believe that there was more to life than living in chaos. As hard as it may seem for you to believe, there really is a better life for you. You can find peace and balance in your life. Just don't give up. Ever. You are a truly beautiful person. And you are a survivor. I will be out here, thinking about you, praying for you, wishing you all the good things I found. Please come and be with me. You can do it. I know you can. I love you and I respect you. I always will.

Answer 7

1 st of all, may i share a mutual UGH! fir you problems i am in a
very similar situation and you are not alone, i widh i was on exxefor, i heard its really good, i take xanax when i need one and I just had a really bad day and i had like a bunch of those lol!
its really not funny but you have to laugh or you cry, ya know?
i hae two anaxity attacks today and they are really scary and I end up crying too. and i hate when i get them at work b/c i feel embarresed, but its okay, they come and go and then they are over;) i try to manage mine withhumor and stuff like that, plus
not like youu, i have an AMAZING BF whos very patient and is helping me through mine. i wish you had a good realtionship with your guy, that sux.
i wish you the best and feel free to email me if you need futher support, i like being able to help people and Im not a siko i promise lol my email is [e-mail]. email me whenever.

Answer 8

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 9

Feel like your going insane-Huh- don't worry about bill collectors,they are just cogs in the machine-kid starting school should be a slight relief- and don't worry be happy -lucky your not in Iraq or Beruit or living in the Gaza Strip,could be worse and stay off anti depressents they just get you on a roller coaster mentality.Think of living in the so seas on a tropical island w/ no phones working as a tourist guide

Answer 10

There are a few prescription drugs out there like Paxil or Welbutrin but they often have negative side effects and you could be stuck on them for years. For a natural remedy, incorporate St. John's Wort and also try calming down with Chammomille tea each night.

Answer 11

Hi and lots of (((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))) for you. I understand how you feel as I had panic and anxiety attacks when I was at University.

I was given exercises to do and some of the ideas on this website under the self-help section really remind me of them. They helped a lot.

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/default.asp?t=cms

Hopefully they'll disappear as quickly as they've arrived.

If you feel that everything is getting on top of you perhaps you could also try to speak to a counsellor or a close friend.

Good luck

K x