Anxiety/Panic Attacks

My dad used to get them. He didn't tell me until I had a one so bad that I had to go to the doctor. His are better now, but I see that he does panic and worry alot. Now he gets heart palpitations and has to call for an ambulance because he thinks it's a heart attack.

If it was nature vs. nurture, the meds wouldn't work. They are designed to fix the unevenness in the brain. Since mine worked, it must be nature.

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Posted by jennymac

If it was nature vs. nurture, the meds wouldn't work. They are designed to fix the unevenness in the brain. Since mine worked, it must be nature.

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that is not true....
the feeling that you get when you have a panic attack is what meds treats...which is the similar for everyone pretty much..
That has nothing to do with WHY or HOW you came to have this problem!

Panic/anxiety attacks ARE NOT PROVEN (not even CLOSE) cause soley by chemical imbalances

When I was sick I developed panic attacks and was on the verge of becoming house bound. I started seeing a social worker and Psychiatrist. I was put on meds for a while. Recently, I went back to work and had the attacks under control with therapy and meds.


Just went off medication(felt I didn't needit anymore). So far, so good!!

to all those that suffer from them!!!

In the past year Id say I had about 3- For the major major ones I take pills to calm me down (prescribed) but after five years of going through them I learned ways to calm myself down (breathing slowly etc....

Panic attackss SUCK!!!!!

Some of you may already know I am going through this now, feeling much better after the medication. For a week I couldn't leave the house, I was so scared I was going to have one in public or while driving.

It really is a miserable feeling.

Hugs to all

I started getting panic attacks in High school and it got much worse till I was about 19. I went on Prozac, it helped, came off of it...I tried Therapy. IMO therapy doesnt work, well didnt work for me. I KNOW what my issues are, and I can talk till Im blue in the face, doesnt work.
I finally was able to after YEARS of research come to grips with it. I havent had a full blown panic attack in years. I take paxil every day and will continue to do so as long as I can, because I believe it helped me.

I do believe HALF of my issue is chemical..not 100% , but the paxil is a serotonin enhancer and therefore in my opinion would not work unless I had a chemical issue. When I do feel panicky I can control it well, but that took a while to learn. I could not without the Paxil be able to handle the stress of dealing with handling any panic issues.

My 'symptoms' were usually rapid heart beat, feeling like I would pass out, dizziness etc....Its ALL related to your breathing...100% but deep breathing was not able to help me, because its VERY hard to do it correctly when you suffer from panic attacks. The medicine does not help me relax, its not a sedative, it doesnt mask the symptoms, because they are breathing related, it helps keep my hormone and chemical levels even so stress does not affect me more so then the average person, which is whathappens when you have low seretonin levels...you react inappropriatly to normal stress.

Funny thing is I do not believe in too many medications, HATE to even take a tylenol...yet I tried to come off the meds many times and it didnt work after a while....which further goes to prove that its partially chemical...I would be ok for a while immediatly after stopping it...once my serotonin levels began to drop( the meds like paxil take weeks to leave your system) I would start to get panic attacks again. Usually within 6-9 months of stopping any meds I would be right back where I started.

I do not think meds are right for everyone....Mild panic attacks can be controlled, you simply have to find whats right or works for you. things like deep breathing did NOTHING for me, it only made me hyperventilate more. I found things with time that worked and I stick with them. Its very much an individual thing.

I know soooooo many people who have panic attacks..for some its once in a while, for some its every day.

I wish none of us ever had to experience it .

Know how you feel. with time they will subside.

You might want to take a pilates or yoga class. it is very relaxing. I also read a self help book about anxiety. that helped me too.

I haven't had a panic attack in about one month. although, I am flying on Sunday, and getting very nervous about that. Hopefully, with a valium I will be okay.

I've been dealing with Panic attacks for about 10 years now... they are horrible!! I didnt have an anxiety attack on my wedding day thank god, but I did feel some anxiety. Its so hard but maybe we can start a group to support one another!!

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Posted by Sunshine128

Its so hard but maybe we can start a group to support one another!!

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I've always wanted to do that in my town. There are so many of us.

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Posted by jandt2006

sounds like a good idea, but i don't want to take on someone else's anxiety. i know that sounds strange, but when i hear someone being afraid to something i tend to be that way myself afterwards. i guess i just think too much.

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You have a very good point and you don't have to explain to me!
My friend and I lived together for 4 years and both had attacks. It never failed, she would go through a period of serious attacks and I would help her get through them. Then, as soon as she was over them, I would start. We are both married and live apart now, but still rely on each other when we start getting them and one still follows right after the other.

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Posted by jandt2006

sounds like a good idea, but i don't want to take on someone else's anxiety. i know that sounds strange, but when i hear someone being afraid to something i tend to be that way myself afterwards. i guess i just think too much.

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happens to me too!