Panic Attacks Support Group

Rachellem,

I am so sorry to read your words. I know that this can be hell on earth and you seem to be right in the middle of it.

What do you need?

Are you seeing a good doctor?

Have you had any success with medication?

Are you doing deep breathing exercises?

Are you getting emotional support from family and friends?

I truly hope that you experience some relief, that you can sleep well, move well, breathe well and begin to discover the peace that innately part of your self.

Sorry, that You are feeling this way. I am going through this same battle, and at times I feel the exact same way you do. I encourage you to put up a fight. Don't give up. I know its hard and seems impossible at times.Do everything that is in your power to get the results u are seeking.

Hey hun,
i'm sorry to hear your going through a rough time. I know how much it sucks. I've had panic attacks and PTSD for seven years now. Just know you are never alone. All of us, at some point have hit rock bottom. But I can tell your a strong woman and you will get through this.
Have you tried any medication? I am currently taking medication but I am also trying Neuro and bio-feedback, Bach flowers, and hypnosis through a neuro-psychologist. I don't know if that would be of any help. In addition to going into her office, I can also do the treatments virtual on my computer, so If you did not want to leave your house you wouldn't have to. I hope your feeling better today. If you have any questions feel free to message me.
*always have hope*
-Kristin

I trhink we all have been through this. Keep thinking positive. Try to think of other things.

Ugh...believe it or not I have realized from this site that even though you may think you are the only person going through something like this that you're NOT ;) i just found this site today, sort of stumbled on it. How long have you had these anxiety / panic attacks? I was supposed to start back on meds (yesterday) because my attacks have returned :( - but as I researched the drug, it kind of scard me. I have been off any drugs for awhile and don't want to rely on them. (does anyone else use paxil CR) I think I understand; I am always scared, I get the attacks and don't know if it is an attack or another symptom...maybe life threatening! I wake up in the morning and panic wondering what kind of day its going to be. I'm constantly worried about my overall health. I suggest making friends from here! I'm going to!
Try deep breathing for the lack of air / chest... trust if the doctor says that your heart is ok that it is. TRY to reason with yourself, "if the doctor says it's fine, it is. This is going to pass. OBVIOUSLY I am going to feel suffacted and like my heart is wiggling out of my chest if I focus on it all the time." When I couldn't sleep because I thought my heart was broke, I'd recite something or count (pick a high #). Good luck! Let us know what's up. I am still working on my panic, I have that constant nag that somethng bad is happening but I am trying to work through it (without drugs) so I can feel like me again:)

I wish I could just believe the doctors when they tell me nothing is wrong. I am always thinking that my problems with breathing and the feeling of not being able to get a deep breath in is because I have some sort of tumor or that I have lung cancer, yet I have not only just had a ct scan but ex rays as well and blood test a few times over in a week. I don't know how to just trust and believe all these doctors when everything I feel tells me that maybe they are wrong or missed something.


I feel more then ever like I just can't cope with this. It feels like my fear and worries are like a thousand bees just rampaging around my brain. I take clonazepam but I am reluctant to take it even though if I take enough I can find some relief.

What kind of bowel infection? bacterial? yeast? virus? parasite? did the doctors give you antibiotics for the infection? did your anxiety and panic get worse after any drug treatment? particularly pertaining to the infection? What kind of tests did the doctors perform?

if you've had any antibiotic treatment or recently gave birth and then your anxiety got worse then this is VERY indicative of a candida infection, which is very similar to the symptoms of panic disorder.

when i first started getting panic attacks i had severe agoraphobia and penetrating thought obsessions that left me house bound for a week. i sought alprazolam, but this only made me feel really depressed while suppressing the panic. went to see a doctor and nothing came up abnormal. i ordered an anti anxiety nutritional formula (b vitamins, amino acids, etc) and this IMMEDIATELY made me feel like myself again, but only temporarily. while the obsessions, panic attacks were alleviated upon administering this formula i still had extreme shortness of breath all the time, chest pain, and parasthesia, dizziness, weakness, aches and pains. i recently had seen a nutritionist, he conducted some tests and found out that i suffer from a candida/ parasite infection, heavy metal build up, severe hypoglycemia, and severe out-of-balance hormonal rhythm, all of which could account for all of my symptoms by themselves. Considering the copious amounts of research i have done, these symptoms are being caused by toxins, especially neurotoxins, giving you the panic and obsessions. as far as shortness of breath is concerned this can be caused by toxins invading pulmonary tissue and causing inflammation. the fact that you feel these sensations is because something is causing them. I am not like everyone else here. i am dedicated to finding the underlying cause to these peculiar symptomatic manifestations. It's not all in your head! At this point doctors have done all they can do to help, it's time to go the nutritional route. You WILL find relief if you correct imbalances that are found through nutritional testing. I recommend starting by reading the book: "Depression Free Naturally" written by a doctor in nutrition and contains many symptomatic questionnaires that point you in the right direction for proper testing. and it also contains nutritional formulas for correcting these various imbalances.

i am being treated right now for a severe candida overgrowth and its been a tough journey considering ive been getting really bad die off reactions (symptoms worsen before getting better) as i slowly rid the years of candida build up in my intestines. symptoms come and go but the most severe are gone (agoraphobia, obsessions, severe panic). i also suggest this website which contains the complete list of symptoms of candida: www.candidafree.net

candida and "intestinal dysbiosis" are one of the most underdiagnosed causes of diseases and mental problems. and doctors disregard it even exists! I joined this support group because i feel i might offer a completely different perspective on how to get better and even eliminate panic. the funny thing is, is that most people i talk to that have panic/ anxiety/ and depression problems also have IBS, IBD, celiacs, recurring skin eruptions (ie psoriasis, eczema, athletes foot, acne), hypoglycemia, diabetes, ADD, fybromyalgia, food allergies, MCS syndrome, and one or more, if even, all of theses problems mentioned, all of which are caused by an underlying chronic infection.

sure, cognitive and behavioral therapy could help, but this only gave me the tools to learn how to cope with panic attacks/ anxiety. it wasn't until i started treating it nutritionally that things started to become easier and i began to have hope.

i don't believe everyone in this support group has exactly what i have but i DO believe they have something very similar.

by all means do not take drugs to treat this if you can. only use them to alleviate symptoms when they become unbearable, mean while, do your research to find out the underlying problem, which there is!

in good health,

L1

I feel the same way I just went to the doctor but im always worried that im just going to stop breathing or forget even though the doctor tells me its not possible. I cant leave the house anymore and I freak out when im walking into work it feels like every second of the day is my last when and no one can help me even doctors. I know we can make it through this though!! this is just a stage in life im hoping I can over come and I know If i can (hopefully) you can too! I know its easier said then done trust me I know right now its hard to do anything for me even in my own home!! And I'm also scared to take my med's too. but Ive noticed that if there is someone to talk to or something for you to do beside just laying in bed do it to get your mind off of the attacks some of the time it works for me!! Good luck let me know if you need anything or just need to talk about it!
-Victoria

I know exactly how you feel, like everyone else here.

Last year, I really thought I was going crazy. I had such terrible panic attacks, I didn't sleep for 3 days. Then, I got so desperate, I took 2 benadryls to sleep then I freaked out bc I felt like I couldn't breathe. That night, I drive to 3 different emergency rooms begging someone to help me. The last doctor just got annoyed and told me to go home and take an ambien and Xanax. I did and finally slept a little. Following that, I literally stayed at home for a month having waves of panic for a month. I was praying, sleeping with my bible and listening to meditation CDs all day. I was going to take a leave from work. I teach Kindergarten and I was such a zombie. My son was also only 3 at the time. Finally, I saw how depressed and sad my husband and son were and after trying to manage this on my own for 5 years, I decided to take meds for me and my family. I never wanted to take it bc I was so afraid it would make it worse, side effects... but then I was sooo desperate! When I first started taking meds (lexapro) I called my psychiatrist everyday thinking I was going crazy from the side effects. I was also taking Xanax while my body adjusted. I had great support from a couple of co-workers that havebeen through the same thing. I couldn't of done it without them and my husband. Anyways, I did slowly start to feel better and increased the dose. I still have panic attacks but not as bad and not as frequently. My panic attacks are all related to health issues.

I also tried acupuncture and meditation and have been in therapy and praying.

It really sucks and is terrible but you can and will get through it!

It's a daily choice to try! I hope my story helps you to truely know you are not alone!

A self-help book that has helped me in the past is "Hope & Help For Your Nerves" by Claire Weekes. It may be out of print, try your library. Amazon.com has it. Some of the information is out of date but the basic advice is good. It helped me a lot many years ago.