what are panic or anxiety attacks??

Question

I recently started having all these wierd things going on. Cant sleep, overeat, and cry over every little thing. Iv started the process of talking to a therapist about all these issues that i know i need to address. although i havent seen her yet. for a long time now. iv had only what i can describe as adrenaline rushes. especially at night when i start thinking about things that basically have me talking to a therapist and put on lexapro. My heart starts beating hard and fast and my body feels tense. what is that??

i was put on lexapro my my dr and she didnt even say why. i never told her anything other than i cant sleep. i didnt like the way it made me feel so i stopped taking it about 8 monthes ago. so im not on any meds right now

Answer 1

.A panic attack is a period of intense, often temporarily debilitating, sense of extreme fear or psychological distress, typically of abrupt onset. Though it is often a purely terrifying feeling to the sufferer, panic attacks are actually an evolutionary body response often known as the fight-or-flight response occurring out of context. Symptoms may include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain (or chest tightness), sweating, nausea, dizziness (or slight vertigo), light-headedness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), and sensations of choking, smothering and dreamlike and disconnected sensations. During a panic attack, the body typically releases large amounts of adrenaline into the bloodstream. Many first time sufferers of a panic attack believe they are dying, going insane or having a heart attack. Many say panic attacks are among the most frightening experiences of their lives. Repeated and seemingly unprovoked panic attacks may be a sign of panic disorder, but panic attacks are associated with other anxiety disorders as well. For example, people who suffer from phobias may experience panic attacks upon exposure to certain triggers. People with panic disorder often can be successfully treated with therapy and/or anti-anxiety medication or antidepressants.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness in the U.S., with approximately 40 million people over the age of 18 affected each year. Anxiety disorders can take many forms. You may experience free-floating anxiety without knowing exactly why you’re feeling that way. You may suffer from sudden, intense panic attacks that strike without warning. Your anxiety may come in the form of extreme social inhibition or in unwanted obsessions and compulsions. Or you may have a phobia of an object or situation that doesn’t seem to bother other people.

Despite their different forms, all anxiety disorders share one thing in common: persistent—and often overwhelming—fear or worry. The frequency and intensity of these fears can be immobilizing, distressing, and disruptive. Characteristics of an anxiety disorder include:

Answer 2

I think panic attack happens when a person feels anxious. When anxiety becomes too much to handle, that person goes into panic mode. And I define this as an attack because of overbuilt anxiety. The symptoms are about the same: fast heartbeats, sweaty palms, choking sensations, breathlessness and so on. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

If I were you, I would talk to a doctor. They know better than we do. I started getting these weird attacks where out of nowhere I would act like a nut... I was in a public bathroom once, and someone else came in, and I hid in the stall until they left. I was a grown woman and I HID from a complete stranger. Looking back on it... it is funny... but at the time... not so much. The doctor put me on a very mild anti-depressiant, and it actually helped all the anxiety I had been feeling. It turned out to be completely chemical, and after a few months my body readjusted, and I don't even need to take medication anymore. I didn't go to any fancy doctor like a therapist, just my regular family doctor was able to help me out. Goodluck. I hope you feel better soon. I know from personal experience; it can be so frustrating to not know whats wrong.

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

the regular DR. givin u those meds i was told no.same thing happend to me and was put on several different things and wasnt told then when i finally see the pysciatrist he explained things to the T and put me good meds best thing to do is let the pysciatrist give u those kind meds and just let ur DR. know what ur on well mine fax stuff to each other
i have panic attacks all the time im on xanax and it helps w/o all the funny feelings like the other meds the DR. was giving to me..panic attacks are ur brain triggering something wrong like when ur on a rollar coaster and feel fear well ur brain on a panic attack can even trigger that ina line or in ur sleep or while having a conversation..i have then 4- 5 xs a day even in my sleep when i wake up sometimes a walk outside helps or a trip to the gas station will help its very hard for people to understand it but learning ur self on it can help out i get online and read all about it even when im havein a attack it helps to read the symtoms ..but good luck and u are not alone

Answer 6

http://www.anxietypanic.com/

It sounds like you have more going on besides a panic/anxiety attack. The above link has good information regarding the panic/anxiety attacks and some things you can do about it.

http://www.drugs.com/lexapro.html

Look at the above website regarding Lexapro. Depending on how long you've been on it, you could be reacting to the medication. Your doctor may need to switch you to a different antidepressant.

Answer 7

Sounds like panic attacks to me. It is when your body all of a sudden becomes overwhelmed with a racing mind full of general thoughts. Mainly fearful ones. Go back to your doctor and if they don't offer help, find one that will. Don't mess around with this. It's really freaky as you probably well know by now.

Answer 8

You are reacting to things you are imagining. Our bodies react the same whether it is reality or imagination. The ultimate solution is attaining the ability to direct your own mind rather than letting it have free reign. As with anything we have not practiced , gaining control over our thought process is a tremendous challenge.

Answer 9

that doesn't sound like a panic attack, i have them and i feel like i am suffocating or i pass out. but it could still be anxiety. there are alot of medications out there that help, but a few of them are narcotics and are highly addictive. i wish you the best of luck, and take care of yourself until you get to the doctor

Answer 10

It's what a man gets when he realizes he forgot his wifes birthday, or their anniversary.