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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 306
| I recently experienced a panic attack at work. It was both scary and embarrassing. I was short of breath, lightheaded and my feet and hands were numb and tingling. I immediately scheduled a doctors appointment, because I knew I needed help. They put me on paxil and xanax, which I am hoping would help. But I don't want to be on drugs for the remainder of my life or for an extended period of time.
I recently got out of a 5 year relationship where I had to move and basically felt like I was starting all over. I was alright for awhile but recently they escalated badly from minor anxiety to constant anxiety and occasional panic attacks.
Riding the horses use to help me the most out of anything. But I tried riding Sunday and felt anxious and paniced. Which I knew was translating to my horse.
Has anyone else had experiences like this? How did you overcome them? |
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
  
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | I don't have any experience with it, but could counseling (with a psychologist) help at all? |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I was diagnosed with panic disorder 2 years old....I'm still attempting to cope with it. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: EDGE OF INSANITY | YES!!! I tried every anti anxiety pill out there-they either didn't work or made me worse. I had 5+ years of therapy before i could get mine under control. I don't want to make you think that it will take you this long, mine were HORRIBLE, as in going to er several, several times thinking i was dying. I went through about 2 years where i had anxiety from the time i got up, til the time i went to bed, and if it didn't escalate into a panic attack, that was a good day. Cutting out sugar, coffee/caffeine, and upping exercise to burn off the extra, un-needed adrenaline helped me to some degree. What it really comes down to is that you have to tell yourself that YOU are the only person that can control it bc its all in your mind. Many, many hugs to you, i know the hell that living like that can be. Funny thing is though, when i'm not having panic attacks, i can think back on when i was and laugh, bc the things i "thought" were wrong with me-well its just ridiculous. I still have them from time to time, but not near as often or bad 
Also, i have a friend who has panic attacks, and as silly as this may sound, we call each other when we are having them and say "my testicular cancer is acting up again"-this kind of makes us see it in a different perspective-basically that its about as ridiculous as two females having testicular cancer. lol |
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Expert
Posts: 1343
Location: East Texas | I did years ago and it was debilitating. I would feel like I was about to die, which makes you panic that much more. After much prayer and seeking God’s guidance, I came across a book (wish I could remember the name of it), that helped me to get me over and through my panic attacks. What it boiled down to was realizing that each time I had an attack, 100% of the time I got over it and I DIDN’T die from it. When I was able to “speak” to the feeling in a way that almost said “go ahead, bring it on… you can’t hurt me,” I believe I finally convinced myself that, even though I felt terrible for a little while, that I could and would come out of it just fine. After a few months of dealing with it, I eventually got over them and haven’t had one in years and years! Prayers to you that you can deal confidently with your problems, and know that you are going to be okay!!! |
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 Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | I have/did/still do sometimes but they are not as bad as when it first reared it's ugly head. I'm on Effexor. I had trouble with the benzos....Xanax and Ativan.....they really worked, but I loved them too much. What finally really worked and saved me was seeing a counselor. I saw just a regular old counselor and she pin pointed when, how and why in one visit. And that's what we worked on....how to see things differently and identify triggers and stay away from them. I've been off of benzos for I guess 2 years now, unless you countt the really old one I got from my Secret Santa lol....thanks Lori......depending on the benzos to make it go away doesn't work in the long run. They are fantastic short term.....and when I say short term, I mean a few weeks max.....I really wasn't on them long....a couple of months....but coming off of them was worse than the panic attacks....if you can imagine that.....it multiplied them. So, counselor for sure. Pm me if you need to talk. I probably don't even need Effexor now. I'm on a dose so low my doctor says I just prophalactically take it. I'm still crazy though...it doesn't fix that. |
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Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: EDGE OF INSANITY | LRQHS - 2014-04-01 3:11 PM
I have/did/still do sometimes but they are not as bad as when it first reared it's ugly head. I'm on Effexor. I had trouble with the benzos....Xanax and Ativan.....they really worked, but I loved them too much. What finally really worked and saved me was seeing a counselor. I saw just a regular old counselor and she pin pointed when, how and why in one visit. And that's what we worked on....how to see things differently and identify triggers and stay away from them. I've been off of benzos for I guess 2 years now, unless you countt the really old one I got from my Secret Santa lol....thanks Lori......depending on the benzos to make it go away doesn't work in the long run. They are fantastic short term.....and when I say short term, I mean a few weeks max.....I really wasn't on them long....a couple of months....but coming off of them was worse than the panic attacks....if you can imagine that.....it multiplied them. So, counselor for sure. Pm me if you need to talk. I probably don't even need Effexor now. I'm on a dose so low my doctor says I just prophalactically take it. I'm still crazy though...it doesn't fix that.
ohhhh, yes ativan. my favorite, i can definitely see how people can get hooked on prescription drugs. And i second the can't fix crazy comment lol |
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 Member
Posts: 33
Location: Florida | I have the same prob. Went to psych in my early 20s and he put me on zoloft. I hated it. I stopped taking it within a month (for many different reasons and Im glad I did). I did NOT need to be on a perm medication. I would only have panic attacks under certain circumstances, not all the time so really no need for a full time med. Anyways, 11 years after my 1st panic attack and realization that I have full blown anxiety I have some how learned how to "cope" with it. I wish there was a secret but there isnt. You just have to find what sets you off and what you can do to focus and react in a calm manner. I still to this day have anxiety, havent had a panic attack in months (generally have one (minor one) about every 6 months). Same thing with me, riding is a release, I think that being so focused on what Im doing keeps me from freaking out. HOWEVER, trailering and my inexperience puts me in a full blown attack, still havent learned how to deal with that one. Plus I am just getting back into riding and would like start going to barrel races and stuff but I dont have any horsey friends so the support and hand holders through the tough situations do not exist, so I ride around my pasture every day alone =( |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I have dealt with this too. Meds do help until you can get control of it through other methods.
I don't have the time to type much now, but feel free to pm me with questions. It can be really debilitating but there is light at the end of the tunnel
i second seeing a psychologist and or psychiatrist. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Oh..know what else helped....a lot of these people here.....they'd pm me or vice versa and we pretty much talked til it passed. I can give you a list of people that just checked on me or made me laugh...sent me a candle (dam Bonnie Morgan Gray making me tear up again)....anyways pm me if you need.....I'll talk your ear off. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 306
| I am going to counseling this week and the week after (if my insurance covers it). I know it's in my head, and I am the only one that can control it. Which is also frustrating to me, because I don't feel in control of myself. I am jealous and envious of those who don't seem to have the problem. It's comforting to know I am not the only one that's experiencing this, and I am refusing to let it take over my life. I force myself to go to work, to go into a store, I even forced myself to go to the doctors office which caused another panic attack. But I was able to control it in a matter of 10 minutes, I even faced a fear after that (needles) for a blood test and made it through without much more then a few "just give me a minute".
And although I am going through with things that make me uncomfortable I feel completely miserable all day. Constantly tense, and trying to gasp for breath. I wanted to move on with my life after this breakup, which was devastating but I feel like this is holding me back. The last few days have been very hard to even get out of bed each morning and all I want to do after work is run straight to the couch or my bed. Thank you for the support I truly appreciate it. Hopefully I can overcome this so I can barrel race this year. |
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Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: EDGE OF INSANITY |
It sucks, i know. Forgot to add, that if i feel one coming on, i play nintendo. It may sound stupid, but my therapist told me to do something that will occupy my brain and my hands, it works for me |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 306
| Thank you for all the PM offers ect. I might take you up on them tonight when I am home. (Currently at work trying to relax) |
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 The Purple Princess
Posts: 2226
Location: Charlestown, IN | I got mugged on Halloween. At first I just tried to forget about it, but in the last few weeks/months, it has gotten to me bad. I would panic any time I felt someone was/is suspicious. I am going to counseling and it is helping me tremendously. I highly recommend it. Talking to someone who has dealt with others who have been in your situation is so much easier than talking to people who haven't. My husband for instance does not know what to say or do for me. My mom thinks I should be over it. The counselor understands and can give advice on how to deal with it. Hope yours is successful as mine has been. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | I broke my arm and when they were putting the cast on me I lost my mind. It was humiliating. I broke down in front of people I worked with...peers. And I could not control it. I kept telling myself I was stupid, that it was all in my head. There was a point that I wanted to die and lived second to second. I counted seconds one night. Darkness, heat drove me crazy. Once that first one hit, I could barely put clothes on without feeling confined, claustrophobic. I know how bad it can be. Counselor said it was something that happened in my childhood that I had no control over....it was abuse from my father and a few other things.....all times I didn't have control over what happened......anyways when the cast went on, it triggered.....and lordy, lordy. So, these are things a counselor would talk with you about. So many little things she'd tell me to work on one at a time just made me stronger and stronger. Seems silly now but she made me go home and just brush my hair one day. I had to start walking away from negatives, which meant my Dad and even my Mom sometimes...I'm rambling lol. Having support from friends is invaluable. |
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 Hawty & Nawty
Posts: 20424
| Yes since I was fifteen. Mostly horrid anxiety and only occasional panic. I refuse to take a pill for it so I began to inner dialogue with myself... "This passes, it always does..." etc.. Now the only time I feel really anxious is when I have to go into town. But once there and shopping I'm okay.
I can tell you right now that DIET SODA IS THE DEVIL. And no, you are NOT crazy. In fact, a physician laughed at me once and said..."Figures you have that problem...only highly intelligent people seem to suffer the most."
Eh, maybe he was trying to make me feel good. IDK but he was cute as heck and I believed him. LOL
Good luck and talk to it..tell it to get lost, or hurry up and get over itself because you have a life to live and it can't rob you of it. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) |
Yes...I push mowed my yard, the pecan pasture with one arm....which is how the stump story happened....but it got my mind off of it. The second counting one night is how I kept my mind off of it. That was the most horrible night. |
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Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | The only medication that has really helped me was my clonazepams that the doctor prescribed me. I still get really anxious when I'm in a big crowd, I still haven't found a way to relax with that. |
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Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: EDGE OF INSANITY | RidenFly - 2014-04-01 3:44 PM
Yes since I was fifteen. Mostly horrid anxiety and only occasional panic. I refuse to take a pill for it so I began to inner dialogue with myself... "This passes, it always does..." etc.. Now the only time I feel really anxious is when I have to go into town. But once there and shopping I'm okay.
I can tell you right now that DIET SODA IS THE DEVIL. And no, you are NOT crazy. In fact, a physician laughed at me once and said..."Figures you have that problem...only highly intelligent people seem to suffer the most."
Eh, maybe he was trying to make me feel good. IDK but he was cute as heck and I believed him. LOL
Good luck and talk to it..tell it to get lost, or hurry up and get over itself because you have a life to live and it can't rob you of it.
your post reminded me of a time that i told my therapist i was afraid i was going crazy, his response was this :crazy people don't worry about going crazy because they don't realize they're crazy. That one sentence still helps me when i think i'm losing my mind |
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 Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: Southern OK aka God's Country | 3KissHit - 2014-04-01 1:44 PM
I recently experienced a panic attack at work. It was both scary and embarrassing. I was short of breath, lightheaded and my feet and hands were numb and tingling. I immediately scheduled a doctors appointment, because I knew I needed help. They put me on paxil and xanax, which I am hoping would help. But I don't want to be on drugs for the remainder of my life or for an extended period of time.
I recently got out of a 5 year relationship where I had to move and basically felt like I was starting all over. I was alright for awhile but recently they escalated badly from minor anxiety to constant anxiety and occasional panic attacks.
Riding the horses use to help me the most out of anything. But I tried riding Sunday and felt anxious and paniced. Which I knew was translating to my horse.
Has anyone else had experiences like this? How did you overcome them?
I experienced severe anxiety after the loss of my brother in a car accident. I seemed to be ok with day to day stressors, but any additional stress seemed to be more than I could handle and would cause the anxiety to spike to a level that I had a hard time handling. The doctor put me on Effexor and I stayed on it for 2 years. I knew that I didn't want to live life not knowing whether I was experiencing my own feelings or ones built on medication, so I (unwisely) went off of it cold turkey. To say you will tweak out for a week is putting it mildly. It was a long week of emotional meltdowns, and I was in my first year finals of law school. But after that I was okay, and have never been on anything daily since. (I have had to take muscle relaxers and xanax at times to ease muscle tension--my shoulders get so knotted!)
In short, you're going through a huge life change, and that's not an easy thing. It doesn't make you less of a person to have help for awhile, or even forever, if that's what it takes to help you feel normal. Try a daily med life Effexor and give it about 3-5 months to see if you notice a difference. If not, try something else. I would also say to try yoga, if you can. Get a beginner video and do it at home if you can't find a class. I have found it to be really relaxing (and I hate exercise), and I am not a skinny pretzel girl that can bend every which way. It's just nice and slow and helps you stretch out and relax. |
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Hawty & Nawty
Posts: 20424
| I'm okay with being a skittish mare.  |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Try acupuncture, or reike.
You may have a block and need to get the positive energy flowing |
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Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: EDGE OF INSANITY | Just checking in on you to see how you are today!!  |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Being on a computer I can type a bit more now.
I have dealt with it for a number of years. Been on medication as well. Don't be afraid to take it if you feel you need it! It can help a lot. However I would recommend having a psychiatrist recommend a med for you. My regular doctor was not good at finding the right thing for me, or the right dosage. Best to find a specialist if possible.
Talking to other people helps a lot, so feel free to PM me. It's a long road to doing better but one worth traveling.
Mine is hereditary- both my parents have issues with anxiety/panic attacks and my mother has anxiety and depression.
The best thing for me is outdoor activity- riding, hiking, even walking or bike riding. I hate being in the house, and I hate winter the most.
It's not something that goes away, but you can learn to cope and feel better. Lots of us have been there. Don't give up and don't give up hope, even though sometimes you probably want to. Feeling better is something worth fighting for! |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| LRQHS - 2014-04-01 2:11 PM I have/did/still do sometimes but they are not as bad as when it first reared it's ugly head. I'm on Effexor. I had trouble with the benzos....Xanax and Ativan.....they really worked, but I loved them too much. What finally really worked and saved me was seeing a counselor. I saw just a regular old counselor and she pin pointed when, how and why in one visit. And that's what we worked on....how to see things differently and identify triggers and stay away from them. I've been off of benzos for I guess 2 years now, unless you countt the really old one I got from my Secret Santa lol....thanks Lori......depending on the benzos to make it go away doesn't work in the long run. They are fantastic short term.....and when I say short term, I mean a few weeks max.....I really wasn't on them long....a couple of months....but coming off of them was worse than the panic attacks....if you can imagine that.....it multiplied them. So, counselor for sure. Pm me if you need to talk. I probably don't even need Effexor now. I'm on a dose so low my doctor says I just prophalactically take it. I'm still crazy though...it doesn't fix that.
Welcome! I'd be seriously impressed if it still had any effect -- what year were they from? LOL!
My prayers to all who suffer.
I have the opinion (you know how those are) that you just need to embrace your 'crazy' and make it part of you! Look at LRQHS! What would our lives be without her? She has learned to take the negative and turn it into BHW entertainment. Now that is commendable.
Seriously, we are all crazy. Your crazy and my crazy are different, but who as long as you aren't dangerous it's what makes you YOU!
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 Nicknameless
Posts: 4565
Location: I can see the end of the world from here! | 23 years ago...out of the blue. After 3 months I found out it was caused by pesticide poisoning (one that is no longer on the market...go figure). So scary. I was put on Xanax for a couple months but it didn't help...just adding one chemical to another...what helped me the most was the realization that I wasn't 'afraid' to die, I wasn't sincerely 'afraid' of anything...that it was all 'smoke & mirrors' including the physical pain...it didn't exist anywhere but in my imagination...something I could change and did. I get a lot of flack from a few ppl aobut this, but...beer became my 'calgon' (remember the old 'calgon take me away' commercials?!). I didn't even have to open one...just the simply deciding that 'I' was in control and could 'esccape' whenever I wanted was enough! Anyhow...yes, we're all crazy, some of us just manage to hide it better than others!
Good luck getting a handle on it...it's a journey that not everyone understands...God bless you! |
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 BHW's Lance Armstrong 
Posts: 11134
Location: Somewhere between S@%&# stirrer and Saint | Men usually tend to deal with it different than women. I know I do and did and it wasn't the best. But women tend to deal with it uncontrollable and rely on drugs to cope. Men seem to make fun of that because I have and do at times. I just see that women pick and choose when they want to be crazy. |
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 Underestimated Underdog
Posts: 3971
Location: Minnesota | You've gotten some really good advice here. I feel besides the love of horses a lot of us have in common anxiety and/or panic to some degree. It was a few BBs who basically helped me through my anxiety for the last year or so. I haven't found anything to help me yet, I've tried several different medications and a counseler and it hasn't really worked for me but I think that's mostly my fault. My panic has gotten worse with age and basically when I have an episode I just hold on and wait for it to pass, sometimes are harder than others. I have anxiety daily and panic maybe once or twice a week. The biggest thing is to reach out to someone, anyone. Don't let yourself be alone. Don't feel like your a bother because anyone who has anxiety or panic knows exactly what you are going through. Reach out. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 306
| Hey everyone, thought I would send an update. Today I made it through my entire day without a Xanax. Since my first episode was at work I have experienced them the most at work. The first day I had to go outside for awhile, Tuesday I took a Xanax before I got here and by the end of the day I felt like I was under control. But I was miserable most of the day, I sat all night thinking about how this was going to ruin my life if I didn't control it. I know that I am the only one that can fix it. Today I made myself sit breath and feel every unwelcome ridiculous horrid feeling of anxiety and just kept going. I practiced meditating lastnight and feeling my breath go in and out of my body. It helped me today. A couple times I teared up and once I just started laughing at myself. My biggest problem is breathing when I am anxious. I told myself the dizzy was me, the tight chest was me, and the feeling of wanting to run away was me too.
I am still taking the paxil but only taking half of the dose the doctor recommended, in hopes that if I choose to stop taking it I will have an easier time getting off of it. Tomorrow I go to the counselor and hopefully that will help even more. I still have my moments of feeling damaged, broken or unwanted because I have this problem, but today I did start to feel hopeful.
Thank you again and again for the support and stories. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 994
Location: Who knows | LRQHS - 2014-04-01 2:20 PM
Oh..know what else helped....a lot of these people here.....they'd pm me or vice versa and we pretty much talked til it passed. I can give you a list of people that just checked on me or made me laugh...sent me a candle (dam Bonnie Morgan Gray making me tear up again)....anyways pm me if you need.....I'll talk your ear off.
that's why your my favorite  |
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 Love Me Some Robert Redford
Posts: 2335
Location: WV | Making a phone call always makes me feel better if I have a panic attack and can not get it under control quick. I have learned to control a lot of my panic attacks and anxiety. Medication's like xanax, ativan etc I refuse unless it's an emergency. Have not had anything like that in years. Taking medications is not on the top of my list but a you have to in some cases. Everything your are feeling is part of the anxiety. It will get better and you will see relief. Anytime you would like to talk or chat feel free to pm me. I will give you my phone numbers and you can call me day or night. I agree with getting a Psychiatrist and Psychologist. A good Psychologist is worth their weight in gold. |
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 Crazy Doggy Mommy
Posts: 1419
Location: Where Governor's make the liscense plates | I take celexa daily for depression/anxiety which helps tremendously. I do have xanax for really stressful days but rarely have to use it because the celexa works so well. Maybe paxil isnt the best thing for you I'm sure if you're dr. Feels it isn't working he can adjust meds |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | barrelracr131 - 2014-04-01 2:16 PM I have dealt with this too. Meds do help until you can get control of it through other methods.
I don't have the time to type much now, but feel free to pm me with questions. It can be really debilitating but there is light at the end of the tunnel
i second seeing a psychologist and or psychiatrist.
Yes, this. See a psychologist...I had panic attacks for the same reason you did. I was on xanax for awhile...it helped, but what helped the most was the counseling. As I learned some things about being emotionally healthy, the anxiety decreased until it was gone. The pain of the relationship lasted a long time, but the anxiety went away after a few months. Prayers... |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I've never dealt with any of this but all I can say is my heart, hugs and prayers go out to all of you that suffer from this. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Glad to hear you're ok. Keep us posted. We will help if we can :) |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | Douglas J Gordon - 2014-04-02 12:50 PM Men usually tend to deal with it different than women. I know I do and did and it wasn't the best. But women tend to deal with it uncontrollable and rely on drugs to cope. Men seem to make fun of that because I have and do at times. I just see that women pick and choose when they want to be crazy.
that was an uneducated and unkind thing to say...just sayin' |
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BHW's Lance Armstrong
Posts: 11134
Location: Somewhere between S@%&# stirrer and Saint | CrossCreek - 2014-04-02 10:19 PM Douglas J Gordon - 2014-04-02 12:50 PM Men usually tend to deal with it different than women. I know I do and did and it wasn't the best. But women tend to deal with it uncontrollable and rely on drugs to cope. Men seem to make fun of that because I have and do at times. I just see that women pick and choose when they want to be crazy. that was an uneducated and unkind thing to say...just sayin'
Thank you-Just Saying |
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 Veteran
Posts: 205
| I'm so sorry. My first panic attack was around this time last year. I couldn't breath and was home alone. I live 20 mins from town and didn't make it 5 miles, I thought I was having a asthma attack. Then I want numb could feel my heart beating. I was in a out of body experience. Lucky I made it to a fire department that we have out here. Two guys were there and soon the ambulance. I have been living my life since trying to avoid another situation like this. I remember my body kept trying to go in panic mode several days after till my meds kicked in. I am now taking lexapro everyday and have ativan just in case. Xanax didn't help me. Like you I don't want to be on meds forever. Its a hard thing to go through. It will get better though. Your not dying your just going threw fight or flight mode. Once your meds kick in you will feel alot better. Try to find something really relaxing to do if u feel one coming on. Sometimes the only thing for me is to jump in the shower. I like the way the water sound and its usually a stress relief. I don't no what you drink but try and cut out caffeine products for awhile and see if that helps. Just doing this has helped me greatly. Your not alone and having someone to talk to helps greatly. Are u taking the Xanax daily or is it just in case? Feel free to pm me but you are not alone! It really bothers me knowing you are going through this. I know how scary it can be but it will get better! |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Yes I refused to take the meds and gave them to my husband and then divorced him all better now |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| Yes, I have, and it was horrible. I worked at a really stressful job in a veterinarian's hospital, my home had just been foreclosed on, I had broken up with my alcoholic, unemployed, boyfriend of 10 years (because I lost the home because of him) and I had just moved back in with my mother and stepfather who argued about everything. On top of it, I weighed 242lbs and my horse was diagnosed with degenerative bone disease and he was the ONLY thing that was good in my life.
I used to do destructive things to myself like cut, take drugs, or get in fights...but I just held all of this stuff in because as an adult there are much bigger repercussions than as a child or a teen who is "acting out." One day at work the doctor really laid into me, and at lunch I went out to my truck to relax...and I thought I was going to die. I had several more panic attacks that day, and the following days. I went to my doctor and he gave me Xanax and told me to quit my job. Of course I couldn't...but I did get laid off.
It was a blessing in disguise. I no longer had to deal with them, and moved out to the country to do a work/board/rent exchange at the place where I keep my horse. I no longer take any medications for anxiety other than benadryl at night so that I can fall asleep.
My honest recommendation is dump anything that you can that is stressful. Of course there are things that you will have to deal with, but anything that you can, including friends and family that are more negative and add to your stress levels. Gone.  |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Maybe take a yoga class they teach you how to breathe and get quiet inside, plus it is good exersice. I have a stessfull life my self and my horse is currently lame in the rear still trying to figure out whats wrong spent a fortune. Was going to buy a horse but my crippled horse runs faster than most 8500.00 and less horses and is better trained. But learned than i cant control everything and in my business i have been lucky to hirse some really good people.
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BHW's Lance Armstrong
Posts: 11134
Location: Somewhere between S@%&# stirrer and Saint | cow pie - 2014-04-02 11:13 PM Yes I refused to take the meds and gave them to my husband and then divorced him all better now
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 Veteran
Posts: 173
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow | My daughter dealt with it for years. It was debilitating for her. She was on meds. She eventually felt the meds not working and her attacks were breaking through the meds. Tried the different therapies.
What did work for her was a miracle, removing from her diet any and all caffiene...even chocolate. Anything with even a trace can and will trigger it for her. Her last bout was when she accidently drank a root beer not suspecting it would have caffiene. The attack was so bad she was hospitalized.
Caffiene may not be your trigger but maybe log all food intake by amounts etc...could be something to it.
She is not on any medication now and has no symptoms. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | That is true too.....caffeine is not a friend to anxiety and panic. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | LRQHS - 2014-04-03 12:32 PM That is true too.....caffeine is not a friend to anxiety and panic.
sugar too.... drink water. No soda. |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | barrelracr131 - 2014-04-03 12:39 PM LRQHS - 2014-04-03 12:32 PM That is true too.....caffeine is not a friend to anxiety and panic. sugar too.... drink water. No soda.
Says, the coffee drinking queens lol...... |
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Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | Do what we say, not what we do lol...
Alcohol is bad. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | 3KissHit - 2014-04-01 1:44 PM
I recently experienced a panic attack at work. It was both scary and embarrassing. I was short of breath, lightheaded and my feet and hands were numb and tingling. I immediately scheduled a doctors appointment, because I knew I needed help. They put me on paxil and xanax, which I am hoping would help. But I don't want to be on drugs for the remainder of my life or for an extended period of time.
I recently got out of a 5 year relationship where I had to move and basically felt like I was starting all over. I was alright for awhile but recently they escalated badly from minor anxiety to constant anxiety and occasional panic attacks.
Riding the horses use to help me the most out of anything. But I tried riding Sunday and felt anxious and paniced. Which I knew was translating to my horse.
Has anyone else had experiences like this? How did you overcome them?
I used to have those... I fought them off with weed.... But weed became so much of a hassle dodging the police I switched to booze and became an alcoholic.. |
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 Member
Posts: 28
| I was diagnosed with PTSD in 2009 but didn't feel the true effects until the last few years. Freaked me out and scared me to death! I literally thought I was having a heart attack! Panic attacks at work, home, while I was riding, playing with the kids, it scared me so bad I became fearful of everything, getting in the truck to go to work, sending my kids to school " I know it sounds stupid" but talk about panic/freak out. They prescribed me effexor, paxil and so on. The effexor worked for a very short period of time and then started making me worse, then I just completely quit having emotion! I realized I had not cried in more than 6 months :/ "my kids always bring tears of joy to my eyes" so needless to say the medications went in the trash. I deal with it day to day, my way is #1 talking to God, #2 is big deep breaths all the time, not in your chest but breathing deep in your stomach and stretching your lungs. So many of us that deal with stress/panic/anxiety don't realize we breath in our chest while sucking in our stomach out of tension, it wont help, actually it makes it worse. Try this; breath deep in your stomach/lungs for several breaths, you will finally feel yourself take a deep breath/sigh and release some of the tension, don't stop there keep breathing deep, the more times you sigh and release tension the more relaxed you will become! You will feel your chest loosen, your ribs wont be clinched up, your shoulders will loosen up. I have had them long enough that I can spot the signs a mile away and deal with it immediately, have not had a panic attack in at least 6 months "thank God"!!! I know its a hard to deal with and this is not a cure but I hope it helps you, good luck and God Bless!!! |
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Expert
Posts: 1815
| I have had 2 close family members suffer from it. My daughter was put on a prescription short term, in which the side effects were worse than the anxiety.....so not good there. We did some counseling, but numerous things written here are helpful. What we found that helped thhheeeee most: 1. You must learn to to talk to yourself in a positive manner, "it's just a panic attack, though uncomfortable, it wil not kill me, and it will pass". 2. A mulit vitamin and added magnesium is of great benefit......the counselor we used told us many with anxiety are low on mag. Just like a horse, the mag lowers your adrenaline response and helps a lot. 3. Plenty of sunshine and exercise :) |
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Have you dealt with panic or anxiety disorder