How do you get rid of everyday shortness of breath, dizzyness, headaches from a panic attack sufferer?

Question

I suffer from panic attacks and mild agoraphobia. Currently I am seeing a Psychologist who is working with me using Cognitive Behavior Therapy but I have seen him only one time. My last major panic attack which is my first was back in December of last year. Ever since then, most of everyday I have a problem with shortness of breath, a choking feeling in my throat, dizzyness, feelings of faint, having a tight band on my head, headaches and visions problems like squinting and burning of the eyes. This is beginning to be bothersome to me and it feels like it would trigger a panic attack and of course, I dont want this to happen. Does anyone have a cure to this? I've been perscribed Zanax for my immediate panic attacks and later perscribed Klonopin for everyday use. I have not used my Klonopin yet because of mixed feelings about it. Does this medication help with this? I heard that relaxation exercises work to cure this. If so, where can I find out how to do it? Any info is appreciated.

Answer 1

I Know exactly what you are talkig about. A panic attac can be a really scary thing to experience. I remember the firat one I ewver had. I was sitting in a board meating at work. The room was kind of small, and there were too many people cramed in. I was sitting there, the room was quiet because the meeting had yet to start. All of a sudden I started to notice I was begining to breath kind of heavy. Then I started to break out in a sweat. Then the room felt like it was closing in on me. I had to run out of the room and head towards the mens room. As I was walking I felt like my heart was going to pound out of my chest, and my head was going to explode. I could actually hear the blood swishing through my veins in my forehead. I thought O was going to die right there at work. Then as sudden as it all started, it all just stopped. I was never so scared in my life.

I went the medication/therapist route, but the meds made me feel like a zombie. Klonopin was one of the meds I was taking. I would suggest you stay away from it. You should work with your Dr. to find something else. After sitting through way to many shrink sessions, I was sitting in the waiting room waiting for another round of sessions. That is where it hit me. I took a good look around the room at all of the other people sitting there. A vast majority of them appeared to have real mental problems. It is right then that I said to my self, What the heck am I doing here? There is nothing wrong with me. I am stronger than these panic attacks. I got up, told the lady at the front desk I could not stay for my appointment, and never had another panic attack.

Whenever I felt one coming on, I just mentally would not allow my self to have one. I learned to control the attacks instead of the attacks controling me.

You really do have the power in you to overcome panic attacks. You can be stronger the the urge to freak out. It takes a while, but it can be done. I am living proof.

I wish you the best of luck on overcoming this bump in your road of life. Stay strong, you can do it!

Answer 2

PA's are successfully treated by medication but you have to take the med. You can do yoga and meditation, sites on the internet, lots of info free. You may need to see an MD about all of your symptoms and don't just assume that all of this equals panic attacks. PA's are so debilitating and scary. I hope you can get a program that works for you. National Alliance for the Mentally Ill has support groups that are so helpful because you get a lot of ideas to try. One lady thought she was having PA's but she was really having an allergic reaction. Don't be ashamed to ask for help if you go into an attack and can't breathe, etc. Best of luck to you. Give the meds a try. It would help the agora. too.

Answer 3

I also have this problem. Whenever I start feeling really anxious or panicy I just breath deeply and try and relax. I tell myself that this can't hurt me, I'm not having a heart attack, I'm not dying, I can get through this, Nothing bad will happen.
Panic attacks can't hurt you. That's something you need to remind yourself.

I wish you all the best and if you have any more questions feel free to email me, I'm very willing to talk about it.

Answer 4

i had the WORST panic attacks ab 2 years ago and they can last from a few min of feeling like the sky is closing in and you cant breathe, to days of just feeling sick. If you think youre having them go to the doctor and get some anxiety medicine. Also i know this is weired but breathing into a paper bag helps (a lot) hope you dont have them though..

Answer 5

I know what it is like to have a panic attack. Here is what I do to get it under control. If you can, get away to a quite place where you are alone, do breathing exercises and think on the positive. If you try these tricks you should do fine, however, if you try these tricks and they don't work, I strongly suggest you get some medical help.

Answer 6

I have the same as you. Medication they say is all that will help a chemical imbalance, which is what this is.

Like you, I have mixed emotions about drugs. They gave me paxila nd I dont recommend it.

Do what you can yourself. Positive thinking, eat and sleep on a regular basis, try to calm your own nerves. If this does not work or alters a 'normal' life then meds may be the answer unfortunately.

Answer 7

u just need to sit down relax, breath in deep and exhale. Think of something good. Just settle yourself down. Try not to use medications unless absolutely needed otherwise ur body will become dependent upon them.

Answer 8

Headache is a pain in the head, scalp or
neck. Headaches can becaused by minor problems like
eyestrain, lack of coffee or moreserious reasons like
head injury, brain tumors, encephalitis andmeningitis.
Taking painkillers continuously can have harmful side
effects, so it is better to modify your lifestyle. More information
available at http://tinyurl.com/q8696

Answer 9

have a wild party with some girls and booze

Answer 10

if you smoke, stop!