Anxiety relating to panic attacks...?

Question

I have had anxiety for about 3 months, started with a panic attack and from there I developed the fear of having another where you feel any slight bodily change is the onset of something nasty.

Luckily through a course of medication (Fluoxetine), CBT and self help i'm getting to grips with it but I still have my moments of anxiety where I feel like i'm not with it, that I'm tired when I'm most likely not. I can still drive and work fine but its always on my mind.

To start with I thought it was the medication giving me side effects, I dont think I'm sleeping well either. Have no trouble geting to sleep but if I wake up early as I often do I find it hard to sleep again. I'm going to see the doctor next week to discuss my meds as these were just a trial but I' wondering if anyone else has felt like this and how they dealt with it.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Fluoxetine (Prozac) was the drug of choice in it's time, but since then Paxil and then Lexapro have come out. They are based on the Prozac molecule, yet additional stereo isomers have been cleaved off, making these meds superior to Prozac.
CBT is the best therapy for anxiety disorders. People are often overly concerned with meds being used. They tend to be overly sensitive to the possibility of dependence or addiction. Please speak with your clinician regarding changing your meds. Also, benzodiazipines such as ativan are far less sedating or prone to cause dependence or addiction issues. People can talk about candles, breathing techniques, exercise, yoga, essential oils and the like but a large % of the population are not helped by these items. CBT to negate the automatic or ruminating thoughts will help the constant worry of getting the next attack, and the right meds will keep the panic threshold out of reach. Good Luck to you.

Answer 2

I have been suffering from Anxiety since I am approx. 25 and now I am 37. It's such an awful thing to have and so many people do not understand it. I get my attacks here and there but I don't take medication every day for it. I take xanex when I feel an attack coming. Most of my family has anxiety but xanex can be very addicting and this is why I choose not to take it every day plus it makes you tired. I don't know what you are on and/or what type of medication it is but I do know that there is a lot of self help things you can do but I find that they don't all work. I was actually thinking of seeking therapy for anxiety disorder since as I get older mine gets worse. I wish you luck with it since it is a miserable thing to deal with.

Answer 3

I had something thst happend in life that helped create my panic both periods of time when I had the problem. It is a chemical cycle that eventually dies out in about 3 weeks if you don't add to it by obsessing about it. The main thing that kept me off drugs (and it was HARD not to go there) last time was a wonderful friend who could talk me down and get my thinking straight. I still felt the physical effects of the panic for a while when it would kick over into an attack, but this person helped me not add to the physical stress by heaping more paranoia on top of it. I eventually felt better on my own after 3 weeks after the last attack. But it takes mental control to bring about your recovery. You have to want that more than you want drugs. The drugs don't work for long anyway.

Answer 4

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 5

Hi,
There is this guide by anxiety expert Joe Barry , he has taught thousands of people to be panic free without any medication using a revolutionary new technique, http://www.panicaway.co.nr , its really a great guide , it should help you get rid of panic attacks forever in a few days

Hope this helps you and wish you the best of health

Answer 6

Medication can only help you so much- the rest has to come with strength of the mind. I have suffered with anxiety all my life. When you feel a panic attack coming on just talk yourself out of it. Be very rational with yourself and tell yourself 'It's all in my mind, this will pass" you can say it over and over. Also practice breathing techniques. Slow deep breathing can be very relaxing and soothing. If you can, try to do some yoga it really clears your mind and brings your body and mind together so they work in unison.

Answer 7

I've had panic attacks since I was about 13 and I do not take anything for them. I am usually anxious, and very nervous.
I do not have them so often but I constantly think I am going to die, and am very scared of it, cuz I have a 3 yr old boy. It could be normal that you feel that way, but still tell your doctor all about it and he/she might be able to help you feel better.
good luck.