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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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