panic attacks

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
panic attacks
7
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 5:04pm

Hi everyone,

I was referred here by the "stress and women" board...I'm a 21-year-old college student, graduating in a month, and I've been having frequent panic attacks lately. On Tuesday I am going to see a counselor at my college, who then is supposed to refer me to a psychiatrist to put me on anti-anxiety meds.

What kind of experiences have other people had with panic attacks? What do the doctors do/say/prescribe? Does it help? How quickly? Have you changed meds?

Please write back...this is very new to me and sort of scary!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 6:43pm

Hello! Nice to have you! You are not alone. I began having panic attacks when I was 17 & now it's 35 years later. You can learn to live with them, through them, around them & even without them. I admire you for taking aggressive action & making an appt. So many folks fret & stew for a long time before seeking help.


Mine started in a theater. I never do well in places or situations where I feel trapped. The symptoms follow the book as far as chest pain, racing heart, tingling hands, trouble breathing, a mad dash to the bathroom & the overwhelming conviction that I will die & need to seek immediate help. I have learned to ward them off by relaxation & breathing exercises. If an actual PA hits, I use positive thoughts along with the relaxation & breathing.


You can expect the counselor to help you identify areas of stress in your life, as well as experiences that have groomed you for anxiety. But, most research indicates this is a chemical imbalance. You will learn new coping skills.

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Sun, 04-17-2005 - 9:38pm
Hi and welcome! I have had panic disorder for many years also.
I take Paxil and xanax to help control them. My mother suffered
from them and no one had a clue what was wrong with her!
I began taking Paxil and within 2 weeks I was more able to
control myself and breathe through them. They are scary that
is true! Just know that relaxation breathing and/or medication
help! I hope that soon you will be feeling better and
able to enjoy your graduation you worked so hard to acheive!
Keep us posted as to how you are doing! Take care, Judy
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 04-18-2005 - 12:31am
Welcome!!

Blessings, Suz   Posts in this Community   

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Mon, 04-18-2005 - 12:47pm

Hi, I am glad the stress and women board refered you here, there is a wealth of information and very supportive people here. I suffer with panic attacks and generalized anxiety. My pdoc prescribed klonopin in low dose and celexa. I believe they have been helping. I have only been on them for about 3 weeks now but I have found relief with the klonopin very quickly after taking it. I hope you find a good doctor, and be sure to let him or her know exactly how your feeling. Post here often, it is good to have a network of people who understand.

Candie

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
Tue, 04-19-2005 - 4:54pm

Thanks for the responses. :) I want you to know that I really feel better knowing that there are other people out there who sympathize with me.

I've tried talking about my panic attacks with people and a couple friends and family members have said things like, "You need to calm down! You need to relax!" It's, like, DUH! Obviously none of us want to live our lives this way, with anxiety keeping a vice grip on us. But it bothers me that they say to me AS IF I CAN CONTROL IT, as if I can just stop if I want to. They don't understand that that the things that make me anxious are the normal everyday things in my life - right now, I'm trying to get through a particularly heinous math class that I need to take to graduate. I can't make that go away - nor can I make the panic attacks that I have go away either.

Another thing I've been thinking about...why is this happening to me? Why ME? I know that my mother suffered panic attacks until she went on medication; it sounds like my sister suffers from anxiety, too, although she seemed in denial about the problem. I don't mean to sound self-pitying, but really...WHY? Does anyone else feel really confused by them?

Anyway, I went to see a counselor at my college today. His name is Alistair. Alistair referred me to a psychiatrist, who I am going to see tomorrow night and who hopefully will prescribe me something to take the edge off the anxiety. but Alistair said that I should be in regular counseling, too, so we made an appointment for more counseling next week.

I'll post again tomorrow night after the psychiatrist appointment...

I just have to make it through tomorrow and then hopefully I'll have some medication. Not to be melodramatic, but you have to understand, it is SO FRUSTRATING and SO SCARY to feel this anxiety and know that I can and will be on medication soon, but just not yet....arrrgghhh.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Tue, 04-19-2005 - 9:47pm

I relate to the people not understanding thing. MOst people I tell just tell me I need to relax or take a break. I too like you say duh if I could I would. I too have said the why me's. It always seems to come to me at the worst possible times, but this is the nature of the beast. Keep in mind that your not alone. Sometimes we just need a little help to get threw the tough times. Sounds like it runs in your family, as it does mine. I hope your meeting with the doctor goes well. Let us know. Keep the faith it will get better :)

Candie

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-10-2004
Wed, 04-20-2005 - 11:04am
Hi, I am 25 yrs old and started having panic attacks last Nov. I think it was a stress build up from my wedding and my job was getting very stressful. My Dr put me on Paxil CR which helped me but made me gain 25 lbs. I just went to my Dr on Monday and she switched me to Lexapro and is going to wean me off alltogether. The best thing that helps me is to take deep breaths and try to think of something positive. I know, it's easier said than done, but it's helped me. Good luck!