Anyone else?

Question

I'm 23 years old. Since i was 18 i have been having panic attacks. Well, thats how i describe them. When i get really nervous i am physically sick. I get a cold sweat all over my body. But i know when it will happen. there not random and for no reason. example- going for a meal with my boyfriends friends/family. or going on a bus. (haven't been on one for 5 years now) for fear of this happening. I think its when i'm in a situation where i really don't want to be sick for fear of being embarrassed or talked about. i'm quite a shy person. I have seen my G.P about it and he suggested counselling, which i am not keen on, or medication, which i have been on since it started 5 years ago. Its a form of anti-depressant which helps me sleep and is supposed to be calming.
I just wondered if there was anyone out there who has the same kind of problems as me. get in touch if you do.
Thankyou.

the medication im on is called dothiepin, but has recently been changed to doseulpin

Answer 1

Yes im 21, iv had them since i was 18 to, along with Depression, My Docter put me on Lustral i recently came of them am doing much better, dnt get panicy so much but still feel down sometimes. i no what its like to get a full blown panic attack, i thought i was having heart attacks, but as hard as it is u have to convince urself that panic attacks cant harm u, because they cant its not a phyical condition, but there is help out there so itl b ok, When i first got them, i couldnt leave the house on my own, but what i did was i started going out for walks on my own n walks with my dog, im just so used of it now, but goodluck it will get better.

Answer 2

I don't really know if I can help you but a great link to a page on various medications and other peoples problems is at www.crazymeds.org I hope you can feel better soon and find some web support groups or ones in your area that you can phone or visit. All the best hang in there. I have ptsd, borderline personality disorder and am aspergers too. Life throws us a curve ball even if we drop it , it doesn't matter as long as we chase after it and eventually throw it back! We are never victims we are survivors!

Answer 3

Sounds like you having panic attacks when you fear you're going to have panic attacks. Kind of a circle there. Counselling could help, but you really need to find out what triggered the first attack then convince yourself that they will never happen again. Remember, YOU are in control of your mind, you just need to find the switches.

http://www.onlinelifecoach.org
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Answer 4

DH began to experience panic attacks, and they came right out of the blue.

He's on a low dose of Paxil and it's really done the trick for him.

I agree with the person who suggested that you might want to look into changing your medication. There is no need for you to be suffering like this.

Answer 5

23 years old is very young to have to go through something like that. The only way I can relate to this is me having a "phobia" of going out in public, always scared something bad is going to happen,scared that people won't except me for who I am, ETC... I'm thinking maybe it's just me going through the "change of life" because I used to be a very outgoing person.
As for you, talk with your doctor about this, your medication may need to be changed.
Hope everything turns out well for you!

Answer 6

Taking care of panic attacks at home is possible, but be careful not to mistake another serious illness (such as a heart attack) for a panic attack. In fact, this is the dilemma that doctors face when people experiencing panic are brought to a hospital's emergency department or the clinic.
• If a person has been diagnosed with panic attacks in the past and is familiar with the signs and symptoms, the following techniques may help the person stop the attack. You may also try this for yourself if you are experiencing the symptoms of a panic attack.
o First, relax your shoulders and become conscious of any tension that you may be feeling in your muscles.
o Then, with gentle reassurance, progressively tense and relax all the large muscle groups. Tighten your left leg with a deep breath in, for example, hold it, then release the leg muscles and the breath. Move on to the other leg. Move up the body, one muscle group at a time.
o Slow down your breathing. This may best be done blowing out every breath through pursed lips as if blowing out a candle. Also, place your hands on your stomach to feel the rapidity of your breathing. This may allow you to further control your symptoms.
o Tell yourself (or someone else if you are trying this technique with someone) that you are not "going crazy." If you are concerned about not being able to breathe, remember that if you are able to talk, you are able to breathe.
• If a person is diagnosed with any medical illness, especially heart disease, home treatment is not appropriate. Even if the person has a history of panic attacks, home care is not appropriate if there is any new or worrisome symptom.
Generally, panic attacks are treated with reassurance and relaxation techniques. By definition, panic attacks last less than an hour, so many times a person already feels much better by the time he or she makes it to the doctor's office. Nevertheless, because the diagnosis is made by excluding more dangerous causes, people may be given medications during their attack.
• If the doctor is suspicious of a cardiac (heart) cause, then the person may be given aspirin and various blood pressure medicines. An IV line may be started and fluids given. Some doctors will prescribe various antianxiety medicines such as diazepam (Valium) or lorazepam (Ativan) during the evaluation.
• Once the diagnosis of panic attack is made, however, the person may be surprised that no medicines are prescribed. Before medications are started, the person requires further evaluation by a mental health professional to check for the presence of other disorders. These may include anxiety disorders, depression, or panic disorder (a different diagnosis than panic attack).
• If medications are prescribed, several options are available. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and fluvoxamine (Luvox) are often the first choice. Clinical trials have shown SSRIs reduce the frequency of panic attack up to 75-85%. SSRIs must be taken 3-6 weeks before they are effective in reducing panic attacks and are taken once daily.
• Other choices of drug treatment include benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), or diazepam (Valium). They effectively decrease panic attacks by up to 70-75% almost immediately; however, they must be up to 4 times per day. Additional drawbacks include sedation, memory loss, and after several weeks, tolerance to their effects and withdrawal symptoms may occur.
• Tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine (Tofranil) and MAO inhibitors such as phenelzine (Nardil) have also been used, but many individuals experience side effects that are difficult to tolerate.
For those people whose panic attacks are brought about by known stimuli, obviously the idea is to avoid those stimuli. Behavioral therapy is an important part of treatment, and people who have panic attacks may "practice" being in their trigger situations (such as riding an elevator or flying in an airplane) as part of their treatment. For those who go on to be diagnosed with panic disorder or other forms of anxiety, taking the prescribed medications is the key to prevention. Behavioral therapy may also be recommended.

Answer 7

Your medication isn't working. You might need to try several kinds before you find the one that helps you. If your doctor won't help then see another.

Answer 8

yes, happened to me, my gp actually said it was a chemical imballance i had (similar to depression) and finally found which medication worked for me (was on fluoxotine). maybe have a follow up with your gp and ask if maybe your medication isnt working as efficiently as it should and he will go into it further with you and try get it sorted.

Answer 9

do not no but you must try to over come it.