anxiety and panic attacks?

Question

the first anxiety attack i had was i was at a football game, i started to get a headache then nauseaus, i walked to the bathroom, i was blacking out the whole time i was walking..i sat on the toilet i was sweating horribly, seemed like it was coming out of every pore in my body, i was throwing up and was having bowel movements it also felt like small needles were sticking me from the inside out. i felt like it was because there were a lot of people around me and i was getting closed in, but my God, why would all this happen due to me being closed in??? i went to the doctor, i have been on paxil, lexapro and prozac none of them worked. i take zanex when i feel it coming on, but i dont want to be addicted and i heard zanex makes you fat. i get plenty of rest and i take a multivitamin. i dont have time to exersise and i dont have the money for a phychiatrist. someone-please tell me what i need to do to be normal again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

You really need to see another psychiatrist . . .studies show that people who work through a psychiatrist have a better chance of recovery . . . sometimes it takes a long time to figure out what meds work best for you . . .

Zoloft might be another possibility . . .

If you can't afford a psychiatrist, ask around for a community health center, or if you're in school, talk to the school medical staff.

Answer 2

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 3

I suffer from panic disorder - it would come on strong if I was in a crowd, or in line at the grocery store, etc.. I suffered for years, I knew something was horribly wrong when I started having them in my sleep, it would just wake me up and "wam" I was in a full blown panic attack. I had the same symptoms as you described, it such a horrible feeling, you think you're going to pass right out or you're having a heart attack.
I take Effexor and have been on it for almost 3 years. It really helped me! One pill a day and I'm free from the panic attacks and from being afraid of having them in public.
I actually lost 10lbs when I first started taking Effexor. It took a while to get my appetite back.
My doctor didn't send me to a phychiatrist, she knew these meds would help me. She was right!
Do some research on-line and see the difference between all the different meds. they have for anxiety and panic attacks.
Please don't let yourself suffer, your family doctor should be able to get you on the right medication.
Take care!

Answer 4

You might not have the money for a psychitrist or a phsychologist but you can find someone to talk to like a counselor at work or school. They are free and they can help you in anyway possible. Also check with you state to see if they have a sliding scale fee service for those who can't afford a private DR. You also can find groups who have the same problem and make friends who have the same issues as you so when you feel one coming on you can talk it through with someone who understands. I get anxiety attacks when I am in large crowds. I usually advoid them at all costs until I feel like I am a hermit. Then I will get out and make myself go to a crowd. I tell myself I put me here and I can leave anytime. You can also take it minute by minute. When you feel an attack coming on you can say I am going to try to work through it for a minute and when that minute is up try for another minute. Then go to five minutes after you know you can handle it.

Answer 5

Are you sure it was a panic attack? Sounds like a stomach virus.
You mentioned not having enough $ for a psychiatrist. Where I live they have mental health facilities where you pay nothing or it is based on your income. Check this out in your area. The doctor would even give me samples so I didn't have to buy meds.
Also try deep breathing and meditation if you don't already. They are suppose to help. I use to have anxiety attacks when driving in large cities or on the freeway. This helped me.

Answer 6

I am currently contending with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of my daughter's murder that occurred in February.

I can tell you what I've done and what I've found to be effective:

1) I take .5 mg of Clonazepam in the morning, .5 mg in the evening and 1 mg before sleep. I also take 225 mg of Effexor every morning (primarily for depression).

2) I've been to several therapists / psychologists and am still evaluating them in order to find the "right fit."

3) If I start to feel an anxiety attack coming on I have medicine (.25 mg of Niravam) that I carry with me to help make it more manageable. It dissolves on the tongue so I don't need to worry about having any available liquids to swallow pills.

The above is my "prescribed regimen" but I've found that for me there are several other things that help:

1) When I feel the symptoms coming (instantaneous sweating, chills, numbness and tingling, racing thoughts) I do what I can to move to a "safe place." My house is definitely one of my safe places and as a result I've spent quite a bit of time in it since Jennifer's murder.

2) If there are no symptoms but I want to help prevent them from starting I focus on projects that make me feel *empowered* and allow me to focus my energy. For me this is primarily related to working on the organization that I've formed in Jen's memory. I'll work on the website, write blogs, just anything that I can do that makes me feel like I'm making a difference.

3) I've spent a LOT of time evaluating what my triggers are and haven't figured all of it out yet but have identified enough of them that I avoid situations that may contain triggers. This is not an easy process - especially alone. The therapy helped tremendously in helping me to identify these.

An important thing to remember is that this is *your* mind, not mine. What works for me may not do anything for you.

I would highly recommend finding a therapist that you are able to establish rapport with and through the therapist get a referral to a psychiatrist that they work with on a regular basis. If money is an issue there are several options. Many employers have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that will give you a pre-determined number of free visits to a therapist every year. Colleges also offer free or discounted therapy. Additionally, if you explain your money issues to the psychiatrist they will likely give you plenty of free samples.

There are many organizations and people out there that will do all they can to help you. You don't have to face this alone.

Best of luck and feel free to contact me if you need any further information (or just a sounding board).

Good luck,
Drew Crecente, Director
Jennifer Ann's Group
JenniferAnn.org

Answer 7

This question sucks a lot of energy cause I don't really have enough details to give you a convenient answer. Nevertheless, if being in a crowd makes you feel uncomfortable, ask yourself why! Simply...In the intimacy of your bedroom.All questions have an answer and so does yours. Meditate and bring your mind to zero and ask your soul! The answer is right there waiting for you to unwrap it like a gift.Maybe are you a psychic sponge like me and absorb/feel too much from other ppl around you!?

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

I have them for many many years, exercise helps a little, I know you can't avoid everything and everyone, I prepare myself for the outside world if i have to go out into it. so i do take a 0.25 mg a day of xanax. I was told i,m not addicted to it from doctors. So i still beleive if your having these feelings take a low dose of xanax.

Answer 10

When you have these attacks, you have to talk yourself through them. Tell yourself that you are OK and you will get through this. Do not hyperventilate because that will make your symptoms worse. I have not heard that Xanax makes you fat. Only take it when you feel that closed in feeling coming on.