Any one else have panic attacts and how do you deal with them?

Question

I am taking klopin and it works most of the time. I have no friends. I am afraid i will have an attack while i am with them. So i stay to myself. I only go around my family. I only drive to places i have to. I love life but enjoy very little because of this. The stress of this has cost me all my friends a long time ago. Only one stuck around and she was killed in 94 in a car accident. I have been house bound 3 times in the pass. But since the klopin i am doing better with that. Know one understands what i go through.

Answer 1

There are MANY of us who DO understand what you are going through. But, don't just accept it as your way of life ... you need to change your thought pattern. I had severe panic attacks, that began nearly 30 years ago. The secret to conquering your fears is to feel the panic, but stick through it. It's not easy, but you can do it. And, learning breathing techniques helps a lot too.

Let me tell you a condensed version of my story. After I had my second child, I began having frequent panic attacks, which I thought were physical problems, at the time. I really thought I had a brain tumor or heart problems. I had panic attacks when driving, going to the grocery store or mall, etc. After going to my Dr. and having many medical tests done that were all normal, he suggested my problem was caused by stress. So, I was looking at self-help books, and saw a book called, "Agoraphobia" written by Dr. Claire Weekes, and was curious what it was..never dreaming that was my problem! When I read the symptoms, I realized that was how I was feeling. I bought the book and had some relief knowing that I was NOT dying, and that other people suffered the same symptoms.

Next, I made an appointment with a psychologist. I chose not to take any medication, and just forced myself to drive a little more each day...I started out driving 1 block, then coming right home. As I drove a little further, sometimes the panic would return while stopped at a red light. I learned little tricks, such as at a red light, I would open my purse and look for something in it. I would put a little pin or small piece of jewelry or candy in the purse ahead of time so I had something to search for. The secret is changing your thought pattern. Sometimes when I'm in a very stressful situation, I fear that I will again have a panic attack. So, I've learned to divert my thoughts by looking to the left, looking to the right, looking down, and tapping my hand or face a few times. And, I do some breathing exercises. For some reason, that helps me get "back to reality."

While I've never taken any medication for my anxiety, some people I know have used cymbalta, with success.

I've had some minor setbacks over the past 30 years, but when I use the techniques I learned, I get over it quickly. Please email me and let me know how you're doing! I care!!!

Answer 2

Panic attacks are life consuming. I must tell you though, you are wrong. There are people out there that understand, and if You could find a support group, they are quite helpful. It is comforting when you realize that you are not alone, and others with the same problem, can give you some ideas on how to deal with the attacks, or the fear of the attacks. Have you tryed talking to a professional? They can put you in touch with support groups as well. I know you realize that this is not the way you want to live your life, so do the best thing for yourself, seek help of others in your community. Life is precious, you really don't want to spend it away from the people that make it so precious. Good luck - I hope you find the help you need.

Answer 3

Actually I do. What you really need is not the klopin because although it is working now there will come a time when it stops. You need to be under the care of a board certified therapy specialist in panic attacks. The drugs only work short term, it is long term care you need.

Join a community organization and/or a self help group. They can help tremendously. Most of all you need to meet people.

By the way, if you lost your friends because of the panic attacks, maybe they were not your firends to begin with. A true freind would have stayed around and helped when they could. Want to be my freind???

Answer 4

wow Tammy. You sound like such a nice person. Can you do a google search for "support groups, panic attacks, your town" and see what comes up? Does your doctor know of any groups they have for support? Just because all your friends have gone...doesn't mean you can't meet new ones at either these support groups, or volunteer somewhere, where you can meet other people...then you'll be on your way to having a happier life. Just a thought. Hope it all works out for the better for you.

Answer 5

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 6

I think you need a new doctor, or your doctor needs to pay your situation more attention. In my opinion, you need to be on a daily medication for anxiety (Paxil, Prozac), a medication to take as needed for the attacks (Xanax, Valium), and therapy or counseling.

There are plenty of people out there who are or have been in your situation. I also reccommend finding some online support groups/message boards. That way you are in the comfort of your home but at the same time able to reach out to people who understand. Hope this helps, hugs!

Answer 7

Thousands of people suffer from panic attacks--probably even some of the people you know. (Just do a search on Amazon.com--you will be amazed how many books are available that offer help for those of us suffering from anxiey attacks--and the number of such books that are available gives you an idea of how many people there are who are in need of them.) But we hide this from most others out of shame, embarrassment, and fear that nobody will understand what we are going through. If things get so bad for us that we wind up being house-bound, the isolation only further convinces us that we are truly alone with our suffering.
Klonopin and other such medications can reduce our anxiety wonderfully. But what the medicine doesn't do for us is have any effect on the lingering worry and anticipation that we could possibly have another panic attack at any moment. So we continue to live in a state of lingering fear, and "play it safe" by avoiding mixing in with people. We tend to stay close to home "just in case" an attack comes upon us and we need to retreat there for safety.
I was crippled by panic attacks for many years, until I finally gathered up my courage and went to see a therapist, who proved to be understanding, knowledgible about my problem, and who knew just how to help me. I also took Klonopin for a few months, but what really helped me the most was the approach my therapist used with me, called "cognitive-behavioral therapy." This helped me understand that my panic attacks didn't just come out of the blue, but were most likely to happen under particular sets of circumstances--at particular times and places. It also helped me understand that it was my own underlying worry and anticipation of having another panic attack that made me live in a constant state of basic anxiety, and "primed" me to easily tumble again into another full-fledged attack. Most importantly, my therapist gave me many useful suggestions about how I could gradually go about facing my fears, rebuild my self-confidence, and gain control over my anxiety.
He also recommended a book that I found so very useful: "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook," by Edmund Bourne. Between the work I did with my therapist, plus the ideas I got from this book, I've managed to get my life back again.
At the very least, get one of the books available on anxiety and panic attacks--this could be a good first step for you, too, to rebuild your own life again.

Answer 8

I couldn't begin to disagree with any of the above answers. Millions of people WILL understand what you're going through, it is quite common. For my part, I had them in my late teens and early twenties (I'm 48 now) and they wrote off a large and crucial part of my life, for some time I thought I was going to die every time I went to sleep! In the end I realised they actually weren't going to harm me, got bored with them, ignored them and they went away. As someone above wrote, it does become part of a viscious circle, and it helps to ignore them however alarming they are, not easy, I know. Try reading Bourne's 'The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook' ISBN 1-57224-413-5 and feel free to email me if you want.

Answer 9

you need to see a doctor, a therapist, and possibly take a different type of rx. you need to also realize that sometimes, well, most times, life stinks and you have to find your own way around it. i used to have panic attacks. im on meds now and have been pretty great. aside from that, ive also come to realize that life is what YOU make it. just chill out. thats what ive done. just relax, dont care as much and you wont get as worried/upset. definitely see a doc and get new meds too

good luck!

Answer 10

sounds like it's time for a med adjustment and some cognitive behavioral therapy.
i had panic attacks before most people talked about them (70's). i just assumed i was going crazy. i don't have them anymore (except one bad one during an MRI). sometimes i have a pre-panic feeling but i can usually stick out it. i take a little klonopin every day.