Question about Anxiety/Panic attacks???

Question

I have had panic and amxiety for about 18 months. It mostly stems from feeling I can't breathe well and I am going to stop breathing? I dont know why I started feeling that way it just happened. I have kind of sorted it out on my own, but I still have a fear of driving more then 10-15 minutes away from home by myself. I also cannot let other people drive me far either because I feel something will happen and won't be able to get help if something does happen to me. I am not on any meds. Anyone have this problem? Does anyone know a way to deal with it? Thanks for any help!

I think my anixiety may have came form me always thinking I had something wrong physically, like a had a illness or something? I have had psoriasis since I was 17 adn it started getting worse about 2-3 years ago and it really affected me. I thought maybe it was something worse then just a skin condition, like aids or something? Which is totally ridiculous cause I don;t have hiv. I just tend to over think ever little thing.

Answer 1

I can completely relate to what your going through right now, I had to see a counselor for very similar reasons recently and she prescribed a small dosage of Valium. i have since taken Loranzapam and Diazepam which helps me sleep at night.

my panic attack consisted of unrelenting imagery caused by my brothers death last fall. I developed a sort of paranoia about death as well, mostly i was afraid of my parents being alone. I suspect that there is a reason as well for your anxiety/panic.

anyways the best way I can describe the affect of the medicine is that it slows things down, all that panic which comes at like 90mph is suddenly slowed down and things feel a little easier. It does make you sleepy however so i wouldn't recommend it for driving.
I would suggest you talk to a counselor ASAP and also really explore what it is that makes you feel this way in the first place. writing in a journal really helped me.
I hope you feel better soon <3

Answer 2

Well, first of all,congratulations on getting through and dealing with this ordeal. Not to be flip, but compared to depression and anxiety, I'd choose cancer some days. It takes grit and determination to get thought this ... and you are!!

There is very good news out for you.
1. Call an 800 hot-line you can find through Google
2. It's time to start to figure out what happened to trigger this 18 months ago. I would strongly suggest finding a therapist you like and seeing him or her (I like women better as therapists)
3. There's also quite likey some type of brain chemistry involved and to check that I know you'll need to see a psychiatrist. Your therapist will be able to assist you. I won't lie and tell you that there's still no stigma involved in this, but when you're in as much pain as you're in, it's a definite case of some meds in order. You will be amazed at how good you will feel--- like you have your life back together... and no one needs to know what you're taking. Some anti anxiety meds you may here are Alaprazolam (Xanax), Diazepam (Valium), Seroquel. There are a lot of treatments available.

I have one wish for the future and it is that the "shame" around mental illness greatlly lessons--- it's as absurd as feeling your ashamed you're diabetic.

Sorry for the long note: hang in there It will get better. Call two or three therapists tomorrow. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Good luck! You can do it!!

Answer 3

Social anxiety can cause these feelings, which can also lead to severe depression,
http://www.socialanxietyinstitute.org/ds...

if not you could be suffering from Generalized Anxiety
Disorder..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/general_anx...

There is hope; I've been there, and still am there, it is a long, hard struggle. I recommend
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cognitive_b... worked best for me, with mild anti-anxiety meds. I suffered from social anxiety for over 15 years. I've tried individual therapy, and group therapy and studied psychology for 10 years, as a profession, but also with the hope to cure myself.

Depending on your comfort level, you could go to a psychologist that practices CBT and specializes in anxiety disorders, seek a group therapy, or create one. Usually those that do attend the group therapy are a bit more high functioning because as you know, it can be difficult to speak in a group.

Another idea is to see if there are any local research studies being conducted that you could participate in.

The program that finally worked the best for me is this one: http://www.socialanxiety.us/findinghelp.... and I was lucky enough to have a structured behavioral group to go along with it. Sometimes the people that actually attend this program come back home and form groups.

I recommend a mild anti-anxiety med in addition to CBT therapy.

Any questions, let me know ... I can't tell you how much this has improved my life!

Answer 4

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 5

I am single mum. I have been suffering for panic attacks for some 15 years now, though it was not until recently I understood what they were. They were progressively getting stronger and more frequent, stopping me from some days even leaving my house. I read this book and it all made perfect sense.

I am not saying I was not terrified of putting theory to action, I was more scared of that than the next attack! But I decided to view it as a game, one I had control of and could therefore not lose!

Answer 6

Sometime back, Istarted feeling absolutely suffocated whenever I was in an elevator alone. I felt I was going to die of suffocation! A doctor gave me 'zoloft', plus I started saying to myself, consciously, "I am perfectly Okay, and I have my Friend Upstairs always with me!"
It helped!! I nolonger have the problem/ crippling fear anymore.

Answer 7

There is medication to help your problem and it works really well,the longer you let it go on the worse it will get. My friend ended up not being able to leave her house for 2 years and she stated out like you worrying about short trips.

Answer 8

you need to ask your doctor to give you some pillsnovo=venlafaxine it,s for deppestion and anxiety/panic attacks. i use it it works for me or try a nother on like zoloft.

Answer 9

My mom has this type of panic attacks..I think her dr gave her xanax.