Panic Attacks?

Question

I have infrequent panic attacks, which although mild are still very scary. Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with them without medication? I find that Bach's Rescue Remedy is good and is all herbal. When it happens to me I feel sick and dizzy and like I need to get out of wherever I am. I also feel hot and clammy, my mind races with thoughts and my heart beats fast. Please tell me your experiences and what you do cope so I don't feel so alone! This has only been happening in the last year. Thank you!

Please don't tell me to see a doctor, I have already done this and she just told me there is nothing wrong with me.

Answer 1

I am 45 yrs old, my first panic attack was at 15, only I didn't know what it was at the time....Stress, I believe triggers the initial onset of panic attacks...and though I am no doctor, I have had enough of them to give my opinion...I haven't had one in a very long time, mostly because I have removed anything in my life that was emotionally, mentally, or spiritually harmful to me...for example, being married means extended family...there are some in laws that are Toxic, and therefore, I do not associate with them AT ALL, and I do not care who doesn't like it...I grew a back bone of sorts, the "I don't give a sh** factor" kicked in and I refuse to let anyone, family, aquaintences, co workers, etc. ever make me feel uncomfortable in any way....Used to constantly worry what other people thought of me, thats how I measured myself, and for what...they are no better than I am to try to drain the energy out of me...toxic people who want to dump all their problems on you or criticize so they feel better....I just don't let that happen anymore, and that suffocating feeling just went away...I have had panic attacks so bad in the past that I was in the ER thinking I was having a heart attack!...I had a bad one due to stress 8 years ago brought on by me being pissed at what my sister in law was trying to do, and I guess I had a panic attack because I wanted to hit her, literally, and I went to a counceling center to just talk to someone to see if I was right in being that ticked off, and I was...I was put on a low dose of Paxil, and within 10 days, it seemed I regained myself, got off the meds, and haven't had and won't allow an episode, since......sorry so long....hope yours lessen as well......

Answer 2

OK, as someone who is fresh off medication for anxiety and panic disorders, let me take a crack at this: A fair few of the symptoms could be either, but all of them could be panic attacks. However, here are a few things which could help you determine which: Do these start after you've been thinking about your health, and wondering if you are OK. Panic attacks normally start with a thought, and build up based on it. Are you mentally confused at all during them? When I had panic attacks, I was never able to sit still. I would try to calm down and breath normally, but the slightest thing would set me off and I'd have to move. Does the shaking happen usually after things start to calm down. Your body produces a huge amount of adrenaline during a panic attack, and coming down off that causes shaking for people who have had panic attacks. If you really try had, and breath slowly and normally, and try to clear your mind, does this help it go away? Does the headache come after as well? I often got them from the physical exertion, which is usually quite extreme during a panic attack. I hope this helps...

Answer 3

well first off you have a incompationate doctor that doesn't understand what you're going through. see a different if it gets worse. i've been going through this for about 3 years now and you feel like your heart is racing, you feel sick, and dizzy like you say. honestly you think you're gonna die. actually you're fine. though i haven' had a panic attack in a little over a year now. i've had small ones here and there. you just have to tell yourself sometimes "what are you doing? you know you're fine" i mean sounds dumb but it helps. another good thing is focus on something else, don't think so hard about what's happening, i mean talk to someone, watch tv, something to distract yourself from yourself if that makes sense. actually as much as i hated working, just going to work kept my mind off of things. it's such a pain to have in your life, cause i actually left school when i was younger because of this. so you don't want it controlling your life and don't let it. i take effexor which is an anti-anxiety medication and it has the lowest amount of side effects. so if you do find a doctor that cares that is the best medicine for it. if not you'll be fine just tell yourself you're stronger than this. good luck!

Answer 4

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 5

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your panic attacks. I've had them for years and at one point, my doctor prescribed Zoloft to help aleviate their frequency. (Zoloft worked well, but I was afraid of potential side effects, so I stopped taking it after a few months.)

I get attacks about once a week. Most are mild -- a feeling of being hemmed in, somewhat agitated -- and sometimes, I get a full-blown attack, with the sweats, shaking, claustrophobia... the whole works :-)

Rather than depend on medication, I try to reassure myself. Remove myself from situations (it once happened while I was driving, and I pulled off to the side of the road) tell myself to hold on, and let it pass. It's about a 10 minute joyride on the back of a whale!

The most important aspect to remember, I think, is that you are not alone, and you are *not* going to die or "go crazy."

Good luck.

Answer 6

you went to the wrong doctor. My daughter, who is 17 was having the same problems, and like you it was just in the last year and like you the 1st doc (our family physician) said there was nothing wrong with her. I checked the yellow pages for another well recommended psychiatrist and he was upset that the first doc did not take her more seriously. He told us that panic attacks are a very real condition that can ruin lives!
He put her on a very low dose of Zoloft. Like magic, no more panic attacks.
Behavior modification therapy works good too. There are lots of books on how to do it if you search on Amazon.com
Good luck ,but please give the doctor another try.

Answer 7

HI Claire:
I have suffered for years with panic attacks. I am on medication. However I find that deep slow breathing helps. And trying to focus on something other than your feelings..for example..if you are in a store, focus on a piece of food or something, so that you distract yourself. Hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 8

I have been there, done that, yes it is scary especially in a grocery store checkout lane.
First, u take deep breaths, breathin thru belly button.
Then in your mind repeat a bible verse fast and it goes away so quick ,u will not even know u had a panic attack.
Works miracles.

Answer 9

5HTP at the healthfood store. Are you sure it's anxiety and not your heart rhythm? Go to a doctor to make sure, if you haven't already

Answer 10

i know they can be bad. i think certain things trigger off mine. last time i had one i felt i couldnt breath, try breathing into a paper bag i find this regulates your breathing. its good to have someone with u because they can talk to you and help you relax