panic attacks

can anyone please tell me why we get panics attacks boy did i have a doozy one last i was sitting watching tv with my husband an bamm i felt it coming on try to use some breathing steps an took some meds but meds werent working fast enough for me why does this happen an how can we provent it help......Patsy

3 Comments

I just might hold the title!!! LOL

by wenditt - 2010-01-31 02:01:31

I have learned (through a lot of therapy the last few weeks) that panic attacks are your bodies way of screaming out when something is going on in your mind. What it basically comes down to is: "you've been thinking about something over and over again and the logical side of your brain can't make sense of it so your body reacts because logically you aren't getting any answers." I have learned that it usually stems from something you are afraid of. Fear produces adrenaline and too much of it when you are stressed causes a panic attack or the fight or flight response.

They will generally come out of the blue...but the deep seeded thought that is making them happen is always in the back of your mind. So even though they seem out of the blue...they really aren't. You might have to come to terms with what you are most afraid with for them to go away completely. That's what I'm working on now. Ugh...

They typically only last a few minutes and are at their peak in 2-10 minutes so if you can make it through the peak you should be ok. Of course after the peak is the fear and concern that it will happen again. Very sucky cycle.

They don't hurt you....not physically anyway. But emotionally they can really screw you up.

I have learned that they are like snowballs...the more attention you give it...the bigger it gets. Easier said than done!!! When you feel one coming on adrenaline is doing it. There is a chemical in your body (I can't spell it or pronounce it) that can fight it.....the best way to release it is by having someone rub your back, your feet etc. This anti-adrenaline chemical is released best through touch. Sounded simple enough so I tried it last week. I felt one coming on and had my husband rub as hard as he could....it was getting better but wasn't quite enough. So I got in a hot bath with my baby for the distraction and POOF....it went away! I was over the peak. But like I said...it's after the peak that can be tough too. So after the baby went to bed, I went for a walk around the block and all was well. I went to bed with classical music on and felt relief enough to sleep through the night.

Typically anti-anxiety meds won't work if you've already started having an attack...they're goal is to prevent them so taking it when you did was probably too late.

Look for someone who can teach you and guide you through something called The Panic Model. It teaches you how to get a handle on them. It's not to say you will never have one again....but it will teach you what to do when they come.

Everyone on this site....even you...have told me it will all get better....and it will. Even for me....they are lessoning...I am coming to terms with a few things and slowly moving on.

Wishing you well and get that hubby rubbing!!!
xoxox

Panic attacks

by paulb - 2010-01-31 05:01:39

I too have a lot of anxieties and get panic attacks. I am really concerned that once I get my PM on Wednesday that it will make them worse. When I start to feel a panic attack coming on and my heart starts racing I am going to start thinking that something is wrong with my pacemaker and it will only feed my paranoia and make the panic attack worse. I go to the therapist Tuesday; the day before my PM surgery and I am going to ask her about coping skills for panic attacks and tomorrow I have apt with my family Dr and hopefully he will give me some meds to help out for a while. Best of wishes to you.

Simple

by ElectricFrank - 2010-01-31 11:01:37

A panic attack happens when something scares us and then we become even more scared of our fear. The whole thing gets out of hand.

While meds can certainly help they also dull our ability to feel other feelings that we would like to experience.

I realize that there is the idea that panic/anxiety is a result of a chemical imbalance in the brain, but so what. Every thing that happens in the brain is chemical in nature.

From my posts about my pacemaker surgeries with only local anesthesia, dealing with high levels of PVC's, etc. I sometimes am concerned that I give the idea that I never feel panic. Oddly, I feel it like anyone else. My approach is to actually experience it fully, which takes its power away. Kind of like riding a roller coaster.

frank

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