Anxiety/Panic Attacks?

Question

I'm used to be a perfectly normal person, but now my heart races constantly, I get dizzy and can't think, I have difficultly breathing, I shake and get sudden chills. I seriously fell like I'm dying. I've never been like this before. I went to the ER 6 weeks ago and they did everything to me, from an ECG to a Catscan of my heart and they couldn't find anything wrong with me. I started looking at panic attacks and anxiety, but they say they last only 10-15 seconds, but mine last up to an hour and afterwards my heart still races for hours after that. I get them all day, everyday. I'm to the point I don't want to drive my car or even go to work or school. Do these episodes last this long? or is it something else? I don't smoke or do drugs; however, I do lead a stressful career and life, which I'm currently going through a divorce. That's one reason I'm looking at them as panic attacks, but these things happen out of nowhere. I can't even sleep at night anymore. Help!!!

the main question is.. can they last that long? or could it be something else?

Answer 1

It sounds like classic panic attacks. Tell your Doctor exactly what you said here. He will be able to prescribe a mild tranquilizer which will do wonders for you. I`m taking Ativan for the same thing as you described. As time goes on I find that I am taking it less and less.

Answer 2

Hello. I have been living with GAD (general anxiety disorder) for about 19 years. Trust me, the attacks can last alot longer than 10-15 seconds. My attacks are often over 1 hour long and I do feel bad afterward sometimes for several hours. Like you, my career is very stressful. The fact that you are going through a divorce can certainly trigger the anxiety or panic attacks. My heart races, I feel dizzy, I shake, sometimes feel like i'm having difficulty breathing. I have a wide range of symptoms and they vary from time to time. I have tried soooo many meds for this over the years and I have finally found one that works pretty well for me. It does not always keep me from having the attacks but it does make one stop when I take it. I work long hours and I have 2 teenage daughters. I spend a great deal of my off time volunteering at my kids school. My stress level is very high all the time. Believe it or not - I think it actually helps my anxiety to keep my mind and body busy. This seems to give me less time to think about having an attack.

I know of a couple of wonderful websites that have alot of useful information and even a test to find out if you have anxiety. There is also a great online support group that I am a member of. Everyone there has anxiety and/or panic attacks so they truly understand. They are all extremely nice people too from all over the world. I would be glad to share this information with you. If interested feel free to email me through my yahoo answers profile. I also have yahoo messenger if you'd like to chat or have any questions.

Best of luck to you. I know how hard and scary these attacks are!

Answer 3

Hey, I've have the same problem for many years. and I've gone to great lengths to try to "cure" it. There honestly isn't a cure. But you can control it so it doesn't control your life. I highly recommend that you don't resort to medication! Although they can be effective for a time, the chemicals can make it much worse. You really don't get results into a few months into taking it, and stopping suddenly can cause a withdraw. When you have an anxiety/panic attack, sit or lay down close your eyes and breathe through your nose and try your best to clear your mind. Listen to music or think of something pleasant. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress, as well as a hobby to take your mind off things. Since I've been doing these things I haven't had a panic attack in months. Even though its hard to live with, you will find a way around it!

Answer 4

First of all, those morons in the ER are 100% wrong. A panic attack can last substantially longer than 15 seconds. Some can last hours. I can't believe that they told you that.

I started having them at age 16, out of the blue. After a year they just stopped. They re-appeared at age 37 ( 2 years ago ) out of the blue again & this time I got help.

I would run, not walk to your primary physician to get a full medical checkup & a referral to a psychiatrist who specializes in panic disorders.

Here is a great website to educate you:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/panic-attacks/DS00338

Lots of luck to you!

Answer 5

Yes they can last that long. I get them once in a while and they can mess up the entire day or night.

The first one scared me so bad. I thought I was dying. Then they began to strike at any time in any place. I am rather strong-willed, so I am able to tell myself not to be worried. I know that it will soon end, and I can usually keep going with my work.

I was put on medication for them three years ago, but they have now returned (I just divorced). At least they are not as bad with the medication. I should go to the doctor and get the medication increased, but I don't want to be on a larger dose.

Some have been so bad that I shut myself in the bedroom with no lights on and refused to answer the phone. I spent the entire night that way last Halloween because I got an attack when the trick or treaters knocked on my door. I can usually live with them, but that one lasted the whole night.

Answer 6

Everything you have said, and i mean everything, happened to me about seven years ago.
I was like you very normal one minute, the next i was like a hypochondriac, going to doctors, hospitals etc.
When someone told me it was panic attacks, i thought they was stupid.
It wasn't until i realised that i wasn't dying, and i accepted it was panic attacks that i got a control over what was happening to me.
Whenever you feel one of these attacks coming on, just sit down, tell yourself that you won't allow it to take control, tell yourself your not worried, think of normal things, happy things.

It all sounds crazy, but believe me you have to start controlling these attacks yourself.

In the end i did, it took a while but i did it, as a result i haven't had a attack in a very long time.

Good Luck!!

Answer 7

Yes, I think they can last that long. But if they do last that long it is dangerous and can ruin your health. You need help, fast.
It appears stress if your trigger as it is in most cases.

My mother has had panic attacks most of her life but only when the fear or stress is so bad she cant handle it. Fear for her is heights, elevators, escalators, large crowds of people, smokers, loud noises, etc. I have been with her during these attacks and they can last as long as she is in the situation and awhile after. Example:
I tried to get her on an elevator to go to the next floor up. She looked at it and paniced, started shaking, palpitations, sweat, redness, incoherent, almost hyperventilation, dug her nails in my arm, frozen with fear and could not move, litterly out of her mind. Many of the same things you mention. It took me an hour to calm her down.
Fear and stress from fear are her triggers. You always have a trigger and you need to find out what yours is. Since you have so much going on in your life right now you are under constant stress and you may not know it each and every minute. Then when a trigger comes you are ripe for the attack. It would help you to at least know your triggers (crowds, bad thoughts, a place).
It sounds like your body is so stressed out they can happen anytime anywhere.
You need to do something NOW. You can hurt your health permanently or more. This is a Mental Health Issue. You must see a Therapist right away, dont wait. They can help you handle the stress in your life. Tell them flat out you are having Panic Attacks. They even have MEDICATION to control them. Each attack you have you are putting stress on your heart and organs.

Now, let me hit your hard. No one needs stress. If the job is causing it look for another job. If it is the divorce, get it over with. I mean nothing is worth your body slowly dieing. We all have a purpose on this Earth and you have not found yours, keep looking. We all have things we must go through in life to grow. Even Divorce. Let it go, get beyond it. There is this perfect match to you out there, so free your soul to find her. Why are there so many divorces, because they are learning experiences for your soul nothing more. Kids involved, they are part of the plan and they will love you no matter what. Let go and heal.

Please look at your life as growth for your soul. If you are not happy, change your life as it is meant to bring you joy. I am serious about this. It has taken me 30 years to finally know what life is all about. Dont wait, get peace.

Answer 8

Sounds like panic/anxiety attacks to me. And yes they can last longer than 15 seconds,you can get multiple ones ,one right after the other.Go to your Dr and discuss your concerns with them, they can give you medication to get you through it. I had them about 2 years ago and they are truly frightening and they do make you feel like you are going to die, I was told it was from consuming too much caffeine which I stopped totally and I haven't had one since.

Answer 9

My mom went through exactly the same thing! I took her to the ER and they done all of the same tests on her, which came out normal. They diagnosed her with having panic attacks.They gave her a anti-anxiety drug and after the first dose, she started to feel better. Please go get help for this a.s.a.p. I know that it was really awful watching her go through that. I hope you get help real soon. In the meantime, try to relax, and I hope that you understand that this happens to alot of people and your not alone. Good Luck and I hope you feel better real soon.

Answer 10

I think you answered your own question. You need a lifestyle change.