Category: Health and Wellness
Whenever I'm due for my period, I notice myself having these strange attacks. I suddenly develop this fear, for no reason. I shake and cry and I can't think straight. They typically happen at night and it's an irrational fear. Nothing causes it, and there's no explanation. It almost feels like I'm going to die. Like, an impending something. It's very frightening. They seem to have subsided since I've been pregnant, but I did have one about two weeks ago. What are they? Anyone else experience them?
I started getting panic attacks when I quit smoking pot last summer. i agree, it's one of the most horrible feelings, to know that there's nothing wrong, and yet you feel like nothing's right, like an impending sense of doom or health hazzard. For me it happened when I was out places, I would start to feel like I was about to pass out, and a huge adrenaline rush, kind of like you get when you're on a roller coaster climbing to the top. I'm very independent, and have had no problem traveling alone, but just last week, I got on a bus alone for the first time since last summer. I'm taking medicine, and it's reduced the anxiety and panic considerably, but i still get my occasional moments. Something good to do is to take some deep breaths, realize that there's nothing to be afraid of, and try to distract yourself as much as possible, before it gets to full panic mode. But yes, it's horrible, I don't wish them on anyone.
I had a panick attack last February. I was at college and I was outside. It felt like there was something blocking my way but I new there wasn't. Then I wonderded away and then couldn't get back again to the college. I only went to the doggy bit where I used to take my guide dog. I take medication for depression and sleeping tablets.
I've had anxiety attacks for the last several years. they started when I was fifteen. I had gone to see a psychologist about it, and he gave me some progressive muscle-relaxation exercises to practice, and they have certainly been helpful.
Aw'w'w god! Like post 1, I get those really horrible anxiety/panic attacks where I'm shaking, I'm crying, I go quiet for ages before they happen so everyone has plenty of warning that they're going to happen, but even I have no idea when they're going to happen. Basically, I get them when I feel there's really something to worry about, my defenses are low or I'm feeling really, really down in the dumps for any reason. Usually, they happen around a day or two before my periods start, but they can just come on, just like that, with no warning. I even had one just 3 days after meeting boyfriend Kris for the first time. I could sense something wasn't right, so could Kris, when we made the snap decision to go visit his parents for a few days when we were both staying with our friends in Nottingham. I came back in Jack's living room after ringing to cancel my assistance, already sensing I was going to have an attack and it could happen any time between the moment I cleared the call on the mobile and the moment when it actually did happen and I shot up off the sofa on a frantic search for my handbag and my tablets. Something, just something to distract me from falling to bits. I'd go in the bathroom down the hall or somewhere for a few minutes till I could control myself, but, instead, I collapsed on the sofa, sweating, shaking, crying for what seemed like ages although it was only 15, 20 minutes or so according to poor Kris who was my rock throughout.
He just let me lie in his arms till I'd more or less regained control of my extremities and was able to splutter the words "rocket fuel" meaning coffee, lol and Kris bless him, went straight in the kitchen to get them for me, Kay and himself. I almost broke both his and Kay's hands I was squeezing them so tightly all this time, bless them. Everything just seemed to be happening all at once. Mum had just been on Holiday, we'd just been to Okehampton in Devon for a few days break, I was dating a guy for more or less the first time ever and was about to meet his parents the very next afternoon, Kris had just been accepted at the NRSB for the post of Technition plus Technology and screenreaders tutor starting in January, Kay and Jack's relationship was sadly, on the rocks so naturally, a lot of stuff going on, not all of it good times, so no wonder I couldn't cope, lost control and flipped, right then and there in front of my two best friends *cringe*
Kris had me to himself a bit later on when he said at least he knew what could happen now, he knew the warning signs, knew what he, no, we, had to watch out for. It was however, a very different story two months later one Sunday morning in bed when for no apparent reason, I was listening to MP3 recordings of mine and Kris's time together and I found myself laughing, no, sweating and crying and all the rest of it, but this time, no Kris there to help me through it, just mum in the next room and she has no effect what so ever when I'm having an attack. I just completely relaxed, focussed on Kris's and my friends voices through the headphones and gradually, regained control again.
Jen.
Jen.
wonder if it could be related to hormones. hormones go crazy around the time of our periods.
That's rite Jen, they can just come on all of a suden. That used to happen to me at college. And that's what finished me off at college a panick attak. Yes that's right. They wanted to call an ambulance but they didn't so they took me to my doctors but the doctor said there was noting wrong. I felt sick though. The doctor was good about it though. I had a fast heart beat all night that night ack last February. I used to go very quiet before it came on as well. I hate it that people dn't realy understand panick attacks.
This may sound kind of silly, but if you breathe into a paper bag, your panic attack will subside. I learned this trick from a Psychologist years ago. Just hold the bag over your face, and take deep breaths in and out.
Hope it helps.
Ryan C.
that's because you're breathing in your own carbon dioxide. my dad tried that with me once when he walked in the door after work and I was fraeking out. He just put the bag over my nose and mouth, and I just started crying and hyperfentilating worse than ever.
Wow. It's so nice to know that I'm not alone. I thought I was nuts going through all this, but I guess it's just something I have to deal with.
ok well this just erased like my whole board post so let's try this again...
I've had a few pannic attacks. I started having them back in 2006 and 2007 when they had me on something for pain called ammitriptolene. That is a tricyclic antidepressent that is supposed to do something to deaden nerve pain. They've recently put me on noretriptolene which is basically the same medicine, and while I'd not had any pannic attacks since i went off the ammitriptolene I had one after the fire in my apartment this past weekend when I tried to cook again. I think that it has allot to do with the medication for some reason. lol Anyway for me they last about half an hour to 45 minutes. It consists of me breathing shalloly or iratically, saying really stupid shit, crying, shaking and very occasionally scratching myself. I really just have to sit it out, distraction doesn't seem to offten work, but remembering that it will end is key, and for me if at all possible I find that if I can get some privacy and fresh air things start to sort themselves out quickly enough. Blah for living in public smooshed together apartment buildings now. You're not alone how ever.
Wow, really? When I first went to see the doctor for my panic attacks, he put me on ammitriptolene. I think he only had me on that so I could sleep, because night time was just hell for me. Then I went to see another doctor, and he took me off that, and put me on sertraline. That seems to help a lot more, although when I started, I would wake up in a semi panic attack. I'd be completely confused, and I wouldn't even know who I was, or the fact that I even existed. I remember squeezing my pillow, and wondering why I didn't feel anything. scary scary shit.
Yah I use to have those panic attacks too. I took atovan but now I don't take it anymore. I'm bipollar so I take other stuff.
I have panic attacks too, though their more likely to happen when I'm too hot and can't access fresh air for some reason.
Bloody arseholes.
well, I myself have them as well. i've had them ever since i was 16, and let me tel you they sure as hell aint fun. I've got p t s d, and thank god that I got put on the right medacations for it. For the past few years back before I found out what I had, they put me on somehting called collinapan or however the hell you spell it. think I took that stuff for at least 3 or 4 years but I quit becuase if i didn't I would have been addicted to them. Pluss, I didn't know about this but that caused memmory loss, shor term I think i'm not sure though. But anyway, now i'm on rimmeraun for sleep and welbutrin that i take in the mornings, but I've not had to take any of that for a while since I don't have to wake up early in the mornings anymore. When I have them I usualy have to call someone that knows me very well and I usually stay with them untill they go away. I don't have them as much as I used too thanks to the meds, but I think I have them at least like once every few months. they are awfull for sure.
zack
I'm catching up on a lot of board posts, and just read this one. Um, putting a bag over your face seems to be an extremely lousy idea. There are reasons you're told not to do that by your parents when you're a kid. Doing it when you're already hyperventolating seems like it would only produce more fear, claustrophobia, and just make the situation worse. You'd be likely to pass out from lack of oxygen. I think whatever doctor suggested that was smoking crack. I won't go into a lot of details here except to say that I have had panic attacks in the past, though not often. When I've had them, if I can get my breathing under control, I'm well on the way to recovery.
Yeh, I kind of wondered about that one too. The only thing I can think is that since light and sound can intensify panic attacks, having a bag over your head will give you a chance to block some of it out while you try to regain calm. I'd be careful with that one though.
Namaste,
Becky
y psycholigist told me to take deep breaths and breathe slowly. I used to wonder how can that work. but it seems to in th end.
I've had a number of panic attacks over the last few days. I'd get some help, but I don't want to see another psychologist who's going to tell me to learn to relax or whatever. I've tried taking deep breaths and that doesn't work for me anymore. I'd also hate to be placed on nother antidepressant, because the last one made me gain weight. I don't know what to do anymore; it's impossible to just "learn to live with it".
. The bag doesn't go over your hed. It goes over your mouth and nose, like one of those oxygen masks a nurse would place over your face in the operating room before you're knocked out for surgery. sorry if that wasn't clear.
Yeah. Panic attacks are scary no doubt, and to me, I would do anything not to live with them. If it's affecting your daily life, you need to do something about them. Maybe a health food/herbal expert can give you ideas if you don't want prescription medication. I have tried two different antidepressants, and none of them worked. I do like the idea of something natural though. I can't do anything too drastic right now that I'm pregnant, but when the baby's born, I'll have to look in to something.
I always get panic attacks, I need to get it checked out.
i've gotten several people out of there attacks, joan being one of them. i'm one of those who if someone tells me hat they are goig to have an attack and if i understand about what they have i srping into action. those things are things that nobody should try and make a joke out of, unless someone keeps doing it intentionally. and psycoligests and others think they know how to ahnlde things? they know absolutely nothing. they only go by what they read and hear. I say, you don't understand a damn thing unless you've been through it yourself. that is the only way that you can relate to any sort of problem that may happen.
redneck
i have had a couple panic attacks and they should have been given to someone else. nasty nasty stuff. Usually I get them in the middle of the night. I find that if I get out of bed and go n to a different room and do deep breathing it helps. also finding my cat or dog and hugging and patting them helps too.
They say animals being neary ou during one of them can certainly help with lowering blood pressure and helping you relax.
Yes animals are good. But my dog got frightened when I had one. I had one a few weeks ago. I was out with my friend Chris. He was upset about his dog. Then he said something which I didn't like and I went crazy. But the thing is he had a lot to drink that day. He does that to block out things. I got frightened seeing him like that. He started shouting at me, I tried to tell him that I needed to sit down for a while but he didn't listen. The panick attack went on all night. My heart was racing and I wasn't breathing properly. Then that Saturday a couple of days after it I went crazy in the house slamming doors. It isn't nice at all.
I don't know if this relates, but lately I've been feeling, I guess mild panic attacks. I'll start thinking about the future, thinking even only about online classes and my stomach will knot up and it feels like my chest gets tight and I start crying and it's so hard to get out of that. relaxing doesn't work, deep breaths don't work, I sleep fine, but when I'm like that I can't eat. that's what made me leave college. I think it might be the onset of some anxiety disorder but yeah, I'm glad I found this thread.
if you are not eating this is not good. anxiety and not eating can lead to anorexia. i don't want to scare you but you might want to think about getting some help from a behavioral nutritionist or something. just a thought...