I just had a horrible panic attack?

Question

i often get panicky, especially when i drink a lot of coffee. Today I drank too much cofffee, and I began feeling excessively anxious. So I tried to calm myself down with three beers and suddenly I had the worst panic attack of my life. I was two seconds away from calling an ambulence.... what is this? anyone had this before?

Answer 1

You already know for yourself that caffeine is a terrible drug for people susceptible to panic and anxiety attacks. First you need to cut down or eliminate all caffeine in your life. Coffee, tea, caffeinated sodas. There are many sodas without caffeine and there is decaf coffee and many types of herbal teas.
Next alcohol is a misleading drug in that he takes one through a curve. Alcohol initially causes a slight upswing in most people lightening the mood, making one laugh and feel good. But this is always followed by a more severe swing in the other direction down, into depression, melancholy and sometimes feelings of loss or hopelessness. Alcohol needs to be avoided by those susceptible to panic attacks.
Unfortunately you put together the two worst drugs for those the suffer from agoraphobia.
There are treatements for agoraphobia and the accompanying symptoms such as biofeedback therapy, physical exercise, and more traditional psychotherapy sometimes with medication.

Answer 2

AH YES, my friend. I have had many, many panic attacks like that. I need to tell you this, the worst thing you did was drink. Drinking only makes the attack worse.

I have COPD and that contributes to my panic attacks because when I cannot breathe, I panic. I panic and it makes the breathing even more difficult.

TWO things save me. One is Xanax. The other is my breathing. I learned this to breathe better with my disease. It is called the "smell the roses, blow out the candle" breathing. Believe me, it works too. You breathe in thru your nose to the count of 4, let the breath out thru your pursed lips counting to 8. Do not blow real hard, just make the candle flicker, so to speak. Always breath in less than you blow out. When you get good at it, you can do deeper and longer breathing. Doing the breathing gives your lungs clean air and the exhale is taking out the stale air.
Might sound dumb, but just try it. It has saved me quite a few times.
Switch to the coffee that is only half the caffeen. You can't tell the difference.

I need to tell you, I quit drinking last July 1st. It also cut my panic attacks down to less than half and they are not as severe. I quit drinking because of a medical problem. I never associated drinking with the panic attacks. I learned that later.

After talking about this, I will have the worst attack of my life tonight and end up in the hospital......HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!

Answer 3

Don't take me wrong but I think you gotta visit a psychiatrist. You probably got an anxiety disorder, which isn't really a big deal but would be so much helpful for you to get treatment and overcome it with help.
Some people are just more nervous than others, and maybe you're on a difficult time in life, or just got out of it, and it makes you more anxious/nervous than usual. Of course coffee and such has substances that will alter your nervous system.
Just go speak with a psychiatrist everything will get better, trust me I had something on the sort when I was a little kid and still got some other issues.
In my opinon, a mental handicap in any way or a mental disease is so much worser than a physical one. Take care of yourself and don't hesitate on asking for help. First of all speak to someone you trust in your family.
Good luck!!

Answer 4

I've never had this however my son has extreme anxiety so I know what you are talking about. It would be a real good idea to stay away from caffeine it definitely makes it worse. You may have some type of panic disorder and alcohol is not the answer because you are already panicking and it's not possible to stay clear headed while drinking. I've seen it make it worse. There is medication for this condition talk to your doctor.

Answer 5

Caffeine definetly contributes to anxiety but usually alcohol would keep you from having a panic attack. Unless you already have a alcohol problem. The drugs doctors use to treat anxiety (xanax, valium) are benzodiazopines and work the same way alcohol does on the brain. Thats why they also prescribe valium for alcohol withdrawls. I quit caffeine after i started getting attacks and mixing any anti-depression or benzos with alcohol with cause you to have terrible attacks.

Answer 6

I had unbelievable anxiety, stress and paranoia for a while. A small dose of Zanax for about two months helped out. I don't know much about panic attacks though.

Answer 7

well it is the coffee to much caffine and then drinking beer if u drank some more beer u feel it but thats not the way to fix it try not to drink caffine or beer try taking a bath drinking some camomile tea just relax and do something that u enjoy or something to take your mine off it

Answer 8

im sorry... i have no idea. ive never had this before but ive heard of other people having it. i dont kno that much about it but when u get panicky just drink water and start counting or singing or something that is easy and natural for you (shooting b-balls, playin v-ball or whatever) i really hope this helps you and if you have any Q about anything else you can always email me : )

Answer 9

You overdosed on caffeine. Not a good idea.
The solution wasn't to drink beer. You should have had water.

Answer 10

For starters-LEAVE THE COFFEE ALONE! also cola...drink lots of water and Camomile Tea.