Panic Attacks

[Apoc Genesis]

This might sound a little random but I could really use any help/advice/anything at all

For the past few months I've been getting panic attacks. At first I thought it was a side effect of me being sick, because when I started getting them I had strep throat or the flu or something like that. But I've been perfectly healthy and I'm still getting attacks when anything involving my health comes up. I know they are panic attacks because my heart doubles in beating, my chest gets all tight even thought I'm breathing perfectly fine, and I just all over feel this giant fear of...something. I'm getting an EKG tomorrow to make sure but I'm fairly positve all of this crap is in my head.

It started to get really bad when I started working out and eating right so I could loose some extra weight and look good. But now its not just about looking good I've spent so much time trying to be healthy that it isn't healthy anymore. I'm doing well as far as losing weight goes and I like the progress I've made but I can't keep these weird attacks from coming. I had one randomly when I was shopping for school and I almost went to the hospital because I thought I was having a heart attack or a stroke. I know it sounds completly unrealistic and unreasonable but this is turning into a legit fear and I need to catch it before i really turn into a hypochondriac.

Does anyone know anything at all about panic attacks and how to get them to stop? Any feedback at ALL would really help me out =(

[AKammenzind]

There are plenty of drugs for that, and I'd recommend none of them. I've had problems with stuff like this several times, the worst being last spring where I somehow bugged out in the middle of a busy day at college. For no reason my heartbeat went through the roof and I just ran for cover. From what? Beats me, but that's what I did. Kept having the same problem and had to drop the semester.

The only thing connecting my episodes is that they come on in stressful atmospheres, which I now avoid whenever possible. Maybe you're having a similar problem, maybe not, but one thing that does help is a bit of alcohol in your system... got me through high school hehe.

[judgeposer]

I should first say that I've had a family member suffer from anxiety attacks. She resorted to a combination of pharmacological and psychotherapy, the combination of which seemed to have worked for her. She's off of her medication and has since ceased therapy - like I said, with great success. At the time it served as a necessary measure to help her handle the symptoms.

Now, I have a best-friend who was recently hospitalized for something much more severe. Suffice it to say, I have since become quite open to and understanding of pursuing medical intervention for supposed psychological and psychiatric maladies.

You might also consider seeing an internist too, who could rule out organic causes.

Keep us updated.

[Giant Ninja Robot]

The only time I've had panic attacks were under extreme stress.

Destressing works wonders. If it correlates to the start of your new fitness mindset you could be facing fears of success and whatnot? Opening up new social situations and potentials?

Just a thought. Here for you Apoc buddy!

[Zyram]

My Grandmother has panic attacks, and when I was younger I would get them too if I was in crowded places. I do not have them very often now, but I did have one recently, when I was at my GF's house and she and her brother were arguing with their mom, I got really stressed out with them shouting at one another. I'm a calm guy, I don't like large crowds or loud ongoing noise (for some reason though, I am just fine and have a good time at music concerts). Have you been able to find the trigger yet? For both me and my grandmother, one of the triggers seems to be large crowds or lots of noise. We both have problems in big stores like the mall or a walmart, I've gotten better but she still has trouble.

Find the trigger, and see if you can find the root of it. Myself, I've been much better since I have gotten better at social interaction, and I don't freak out in stores much anymore, although if I am in one for too long I get pretty close to a panic attack. I found that after I got healthy and lost some weight (about 30lbs) I actually had fewer panic episodes as well. Keep working on getting in shape, and look for what triggers your panic attacks, finding the trigger is very important in figuring out whether or not it is in your head. It could be a hormonal imbalance, or some kind of chemical imbalance, I have also read it could be several types of dietary deficiancy that can cause it.

Are you dieting as well? Make sure you take vitamins etc and are getting what you need in that regard. Keep us updated man, I've been there and have gone through it, so I feel for you.


-Z

[Sonthert]

It sounds like a variation of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

I don't believe in doctors, I believe in self-determination. I have lived my life never giving up when all odds say I'd lost. I flunked out of high school. I was diagnosed with a learning disability. I was told I would never write legibly. I was told I would never amount to anything.

Relax. Nobody's perfect, accept that. What's important is you learn how to live with yourself and other people. There might be 10 different reasons in your life to fall down, any one of which could take you out of life and society, if you can deal with yourself and solve your own problems, the problems might knock you down, but you will get back up if you make it happen. Just accept that people get knocked down, but nobody is going to pick you up, ultimately, but yourself. Choose if you are going to be a cork floating in the sea or a ship headed in a specific direction. Don't try to be perfect, just try to be better each day. These problems are not your imagination, they are chemical. They are not something that can be "cured". People get off of Prozac or Zoloft to find their problems are still there. Drugs don't solve problems, they just let you forget about them. Live life and find ways to cope with personal problems, we all have them, they are all different. Nobody can find the way to deal with your personal things other than you. The doctors will be only too happy to write a prescription...that is their business. They might tell you its not your fault, but it doesn't change the fact that living life is your responsibility. Habitual drug use, whether a doctor prescribes them or they are illegal ones, just blinds us to the responsibility of each person to themselves.

Go man, go! You can do it!

[ilikemyusername]

i recently read... and i don't know where....
people with anxiety disorders have more lactic acid in thier blood.
so how hard core are you working out?
you said you've spent so much time being healthy its not healthy anymore yourself......
i'm not saying exercise is to blame,
i blame the media for telling you how horrible life and the economy and anything else you can think of is right now.
my $.02
remember my mantra

"whats the worst that could happen?"
at least youre not a baboon in africa during a drought watching your watering hole dry up.
thats a rough life.