am I dying or whattt?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
am I dying or whattt?
14
Mon, 05-30-2005 - 10:54pm
Hello. Im new here. I had my first panic attack 2 and a half weeks ago. Since then, it has been hell. I feel like I cannot breathe all day long, I get numb and have hot flashes. I also have severe disociations (sp). I have been in and out of the ER, to the doctor, etc, and have had blood work, x rays, etc. Is there anyway they missed something and I really am dying? My panic attacks are so severe I make my mom rush me to ER. When I am not in a panic attack, I have shallow breathing and sit around wondering whether or not another one will come. My main concern though, is in the middle of the night, I wake up with parts of my body 'asleep', and I am tingly, numb, and cannot catch my breath. Is this normal for anxiety as well? I started lexapro 7 days ago and i almost feel worse on it. I am also on ambien, xanax, and resperdal (sp). Please help I feel like every moment is my last and my end is near-I cannot live like this anymore! I dont talk to people really, I am afraid to leave my house, had to stop going to school, and quit my job. i need advice! please help! (sorry so long...)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Mon, 05-30-2005 - 11:07pm

I am so sorry you're going through this :( . I know its hard right now, but please rememeber that you're not dying. the doctors at the hospital know what they're doing, and you should feel at peace that they didn't find anything medically wrong with you. I have similar panic with shallow breathing that lasts all day long, so I can completely relate to the feelings and fears you're experiencing. Continue taking your medication, Lexapro takes about 4 weeks to start working and it can make people feel edgy at first. if the xanax isn't helping, perhaps you should talk to your psychiatrist about upping the dosage until you get through this rough patch.
meanwhile you should focus on some cognitive-behavioral and relaxation techniques. there are mantras you can tell yourself to get you through panic attacks, or at least make them less severe. there are also breathing execercises that work quite well for some people. and keep posting on this board, it's a really good support system.
please keep trying to stay positive, you have the strength to get through this.

Mia

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Mon, 05-30-2005 - 11:16pm

God love ya, friend! You are NOT dying. You have been bitten badly by the anxiety bug. You are not alone. It's our specialty here. We have all been through this & it is tough. For years I called an ambulance & was raced to the ER for many of your symptoms. It does get better, but never soon enough.


First, it isn't unusual to have the recurring fear of another attack. That is called *anticipatory anxiety.* It can become paralyzing in that we cannot face our fears & begin to withdraw from our normal activities, like jobs, shopping, church, appointments, etc. That is called *agoraphobia.* Secondly, we cannot accept our diagnosis. Many of us have gone doctor shopping. Always hoping another test or the right bloodwork will find some rare disease that the last doctor missed. You won't find it. But, I understand fully that you won't be able to accept what I am telling you now. It takes time. The meds take time to work. The lexapro may take up to 6 weeks to work. Your other meds should help to calm you until that happens.


When you become so frightened & anxious & all these sensations & symptoms appear, you can help yourself. First, try belly breathing. Take a breath in through your nose & watch your abdomen rise. Let the breath out through your mouth & watch your abdomen fall. Practice this whenever you can. Even when you feel good. Think positive thoughts. Say, *I am ok. I am not dying. I am having anxiety. This is a panic attack. Noone ever died from a panic attack. I can ride this out. I don't have to be afraid. This will be over soon. I will be just fine.* Relax your muscles. I tense mine as tightly as I can, then shake them loose. I tell myself that I am a rag doll.


We care about you. We want you to feel better. It will happen. Stick with the caring folks on our board who will share the coping skills that have helped them through. Please post as much as you want. Don't worry about being long. That's what we're here for. Please join Danielle in chat tomorrow night. Ask about therapy or meds & the folks will share their experiences. Good luck & GBU! (((hugs))) jan



 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Mon, 05-30-2005 - 11:42pm
Thank you so much for your quick response. You both just gave me so much hope. I am so glad that there are nice people like you all to help me through this. Maybe one day I can help people through their messes as well! Thank you so much once again and God Bless!
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2004
Tue, 05-31-2005 - 3:17am
Hi,This is Shasta,here! You sound SO much like me, and maybe other people on this board,too. We have all gone thru hard hard times. That is why this is the right place to come. We can share our obstacles, challenges, as well as our goals and triumphs.
Hang in there sweetie. It will get better.
The girls' advice was wonderful. They hit the nail right on the head.
I myself, and learning how to conquer my anxiety, agoraphobia, and panic, and there are so many folks here that are such an inspiration to me.
We have a great,caring community here,so please come back and post as much as you like.
WE CARE! hugs, shasta
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2005
Tue, 05-31-2005 - 10:04am

Hello, fellow anxiety sufferer! We know exactly what you are going through. I have been to that hell where you feel like you're going to die, and it's tough, I know. But you are NOT going to die, trust me. Your meds are going to take a while to work, so in the meantime, come here and post. Tuesday and Thursday nights, we have chat on here.

I will be praying for you. If you are a religious person, you can ask for His strength, too. I hope you have a better day today!

Renee

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Tue, 05-31-2005 - 10:33am

You came to the right place!


I had my 1st panic attack 6 weeks ago. I hadn't had any of this before.


I have felt just like you! My worst symptom of anxiety is the "unreal" feeling. Like your there but you feel as though your not. I have had such a hard time with that. I have thought that I was going crazy and that I wouldn't even get back to me. For a good 2 weeks I was pretty much out of it.


I started lexapro and I am now on 20mg. I am also taking klonopin.


It is so hard and I understand how you are feeling. I assure you that what you are feeling is "normal" for your condition. For me I had to

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Tue, 05-31-2005 - 3:24pm
Hey guys, thank you so much for all of your responses. And your right, I shouldn't lay in bed all day, but thats what I am doing! I just tried to go to school and I broke into a sweat and thought I was going to pass out. Ugh! I wish this Lexapro would just hurry up and kick in! I will be joining the chat tonight, so I will speak to you all more about this there-but thanks again for all of your fast responses. And I will be praying for all of you as well!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2005
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 4:34pm
Hello, all fellow anxiety sufferers. I have had this for about a year....some days I feel really good for weeks at a time, but the last few weeks have been really rough. I too have that unreal feeling, like I am disconnected. I also fear that I am sick and have also had all the tests and been to the ER with a panic attack. Every morning, when I get up I wonder how I am going to feel. My arms sometimes feel numb, and tingly, and I am afraid I am having another panic attack. I tell myself to just calm down, take deep breaths, take my Xanax and hope it gets better soon. My name is Jan and I am 63 years old today. Thanks so much for this site. It's wonderful. Sorry for this being long.
Jan
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 4:50pm
Happy Birthday! I am sorry you are going through a rough few weeks-are you on any meds? My body gets numb too, and I am still afraid that the doctors missed something and that I am dying. Question for all-do you all have a very hard time breathing when having a panic attack? I actually feel like I am choking to death and that every breath will be my last--anyone else?
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2005
Wed, 06-01-2005 - 10:11pm
Hello again, thanks for replying. When my anxiety hits, it's more shakiness, wobbly legs, and sometimes difficulty swallowing. I can't eat very well sometimes, I feel like I am going to choke. It helped me lose some weight, but that's not a nice way to lose it. I am taking Xanax, have for about a year now. I am so afraid to get addicted to it, but my Doc says my dosage is small enough, that won't be a problem. Hopefully that's so. This sure isn't any fun though is it?
Jan

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