Panic Attacks Support Group

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...

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Anxiety Disorders
/ Panic Attacks Support Group

Feeling hopeless

deleted_user
deleted_user
I've been suffering from panic attacks since the end of August, I haven't figured out what is causing them because they can sometimes just happen while I'm sitting here. I'm always in fear of another attack and have this fear that my heart is going to stop. I've been going to pathways for treatment because I have no insurance, they kinda help but I don't feel as if they treat me as a person, I feel like I'm just another case. I take buspar 20mg twice a day, and Xanax for relief of symptoms. The buspar side affects are horrible I dread taking it, and it doesn't make me feel better at all, it works for about 4 to 6 hours with me taking a Xanax in between, I'm suppose to take it every 12 hours but I normally take the second dose within 10 so I will feel better. All I wanna do is stay at home or with friends that I'm comfortable with I hate driving cause that's when they started and I use to love to drive, I can't work because I'm scared of having to drive and any employer finding out about the attacks. I just need to know what I need to do, anything cause I'm tired of these feeling of I'm gonna die or I'm gonna pass out. Someone help!
Janet7
Janet7
If you live in the U.S. and you're not working, you can apply for Medicaid, which will (hopefully) give you access to a broader range of psychiatrists - then you will be able to find someone who will listen to you and prescribe medications that will help you -

I would suggest talking to a doctor about taking a different medication than buspar, which many here say is not at all helpful - and if you are already taking xanax, maybe you would consider switching to klonopin, which stays in the system, and which I have found very helpful in eliminating panic attacks -

Janet
harry3333
harry3333
panic attack sufferers never die or even faint
buspar is mostly placebo effect only, a waste of money, I wouldnt trust any doc who prescribed it
xanax as needed helps a lot but take only when needed, disolve a pill under tongue
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thank y'all for the helpful information, I have applied for Medicaid just waiting to ear if it went through or not, and yes buspar doesn't work at all. They want me to take buspar and anti depressants but I'm not depressed I'm just worrying myself to death about these attacks and how my body feels, I have an appointment with pathways dec 18th so hopefully I can get him to try a totally new medicine or maybe by then I'll be on Medicaid so I can try some were new who treats me as a person and now just some more free money for the government.
Janet7
Janet7
I hope your Medicaid application is accepted -

Antidepressants can help with more than depression - they don't help my depression much at all, but they do help, to some extent, with anxiety - the antidepressant Zoloft also has an anti-anxiety component to it - as does Luvox -
deleted_user
deleted_user
There are a lot of meds. out there that could help you. You just need to find the right ones. This process takes time. Zoloft has really helped me alot. Don't give up, hang in there! We are here to support you.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi hon. As i read this post it makes me feel like i wrote it myself. I am dealing with the same things that you are. Mine started in march and i am taking zoloft every day and xanax as needed. I also used to love to drive and now it scares me. I still drive but wont drive far without someone else in the car with me. I have no health insurance so i have no choice to take the meds that i was given although i am not really sure the zoloft is working. I also cannot figure out what brings them on etc.. I can be just sitting there and one will come on.. All i can say is that you are not alone and i hope that give you some relief.. If you need to talk i am here. I can relate ...
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thank you guys so much for all the support it means the world to me. I haven't taken the anti depressants yet kinda scared to mix it with the buspar, not sure why guess because I've never had to take medicine like this before. I do have one question tho, has anyone ever had an anxiety or panic attack without having rapid heart beat?
Janet7
Janet7
I don't have rapid heart beat with panic attacks - my main symptom is of not being able to get enough air, but it has nothing to do with a physiological problem - it's all nerves. With the suffocating feeling comes a rush of adrenaline and a sense of intense doom, which makes me want to run (literally) out of the house and away from what feels like a saber-toothed tiger leaping towards me. So I have enough symptoms to occupy me (lol), but I do feel grateful that I don't have rapid heartbeat, especially after reading how many people here are afraid of heart attacks because of palpitations.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I do get rapid heart beats at times I have this app on my phone were I can check and see what my heart beat is, my main concern is just the feeling I get like my body is against me and the feeling lightheaded like in drunk riding down the road, and then there is the feeling like I'm going to faint, I just feel like I can't do anything anymore, like clean, go for a walk bc I'm scared of an attack and scared of that going to die feeling.
Janet7
Janet7
When you see the doctor, if you haven't already, ask him or her to check your heart out, so that when you have the irregular heartbeat, you can rule out heart problems and reassure yourself...
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've had 5 ekg and they have done an x ray on my heart and said that it looked good, even took the all the lab work that they did on me at the hospital to my doctor he said everything was ok. I'm going to ask pathways when i go back to rule out any possible things that could be causing these attacks, but honestly i really do think its just me being over worried about it. I think i bring alot of them on myself. i try to think positive about things but that just doesnt work. i can try yoga and all that but ive never been that guy, i dunno i guess im just ready for the end, ready to be "normal" even if that does mean i have to take medicine for a long time if it will help me get back to me!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Joshua, I get the rapid heartbeat with the attacks and i canrelate to being overly worried and that causing the attacks. When I first started getting attacks back in march i got them every day before i started taking zoloft. I am on a low dose of this med and although i HATE to take it i have no choice right now because i cant go back to everyday attacks. I do yoga usually twice a week and i walk also but my fear of the attacks has brought on quite a few of them.. I hope you feel better hon and your not alone remember that:)