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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Rippelk2 11/27/2017

This morning, I woke up at 3:30 in the morning seized with a horrible panic attack. It did not let up until about 7 a.m. I was writing yesterday that I was about 70% relapsed to my dark days of agoraphobia and debilitating panic attacks daily, this morning I was 100% back to where I once was-after an almost 10 year 90% recovery of being anxiety free. I was trembling, shaking, crying hysterically, and pacing my apartment. I thought about calling out but I truly couldn't, I work in surgery today and the other girl that could do it was off, I knew we were already short staffed, and on top of it my schedule was packed with surgeries and appointments. I struggled back and forth with knowing I couldn't do it but knowing I had no choice which made things even WORSE!

Not to mention-I have lives in my hands (I'm a veterinary technician)-how would I function if I was having a panic attack?!

It was a morning of 1st's in over 10 years:

1. I could've drive to work-I had to get a coworker to pick me up and drive me home. Also broke down as soon as I got in her car and she probably thinks I'm freaking CRAZY

2. Took my 1st xanax in over 11 years, it had been so long I was scared to take it bc I wasn't sure how it would affect me and I knew I had to be on top of my stuff in surgery and couldn't be drowsy or too tired. Only ended up taking 1/4 of a 0.5mg but it did help me a LOT

3. Just the fact that I had a full blown panic attack was the first in years, on top of that it lasted almost 4 hours!

Somehow once I got to work and started setting up for surgery and admitting my patients and got busy, my mind was occupied and I felt a lot better. I'm so good at what I do, and I LOVE what I do that I was feeling better, but then how does it make sense that I'm panicked I wont be able to do what I'm great at and have anxiety and panic attacks worrying about my day and that I wont be able to make it through?-I guess that's just the irrational though process of having an anxiety disorder

I made it through my 12 hour shift, no break, no lunch with flying colors. Now that I'm home and can relax-I'm anxious again, why?! It doesn't make sense.

I'm praying I can drive to work tomorrow. The fact of being a burden on someone and making them drive me is enough to send me into a panic as well....

I feel so weak and helpless, panic attacks are SO debilitating. They are literally the only thing I cannot handle in life...

mikes 12/04/2017

I know what ur experiencing. I went ten yrs not having a panic attack and then out of the blue I had one. It was awful. I knew what was going on I had been down this road bf. I went from not thinking about my panic disorder to thinking and worrying about when the next one was coming. I also ended up having to take nerve meds again. I try not to take the meds unless I really have to but it does help a lot. Just keep fighting.

Rippelk2 12/04/2017

Thank you for your reply, I definitely am fighting. I went back on my Prozac full strength at 10mg once daily. It's been almost 2 weeks being on that and almost 2 weeks before that I tried to start it at 3x weekly. I think it's finally starting to level me back out. Some days are more difficult than others. I woke up anxious from being off this past weekend for 2 days, so I took a xanax to help me drive to work...usually it helps a lot but this time it just made me so tired that I got kind of panicky that I was going to fall asleep on the car ride in! Luckily I didn't but I'm dragging ass today-so tired, got really crappy sleep last night and it's my 12 hour day.

justme1234 12/23/2017

Hang in there! I’m going through the same thing 3 weeks ago! Hadn’t had a panic attack in 6 years and out of nowhere BOoM! So worried about work and all my responsibilities and not letting my team down. I didn’t think I was able to be myself again. What actually helped me through these last 3 weeks were traditional Chinese medicine herbs. They made my mind feel calm and made my body relax without any side effects or drowsiness. I would also look into an acupuncturist who is also educated in Chinese Herbal Medicine.

Rippelk2 12/23/2017

Thank you for your reply! My Prozac has finally kicked in and I've been doing amazing this past week. I am just so very very grateful. I was truly petrified I was going to lose everything again and almost did.

I work at a vet and see Chinese herbs work wonderful for dogs and cats. I've seen acupuncture in particular do wonders for animals

mangymoosemaine 01/03/2018

So glad that you are doing better with treatment :) I recently had a bad bout of anxiety kick up again. Mine manifested as a total lack of appetite and anxiety induced nausea/vomiting.
I also found that, like your anxiety, mine largely disappeared at work. I am a home health aid, which is obviously quite different than a veterinarian, but we both make our livings caring for other living things.
Perhaps something about focusing on the needs of others, and on the orderly world of a job, can have a therapeutic effect for us anxiety people :)
You're very strong. Keep fighting <3

Always...C 01/03/2018

You're anxious at home because your mind has nothing to focus on other than "How do I feel?" and "What if...?" Then you start thinking all of those what-ifs, like "What if I go back to the way I used to be?" or "What if I can't work?" But that's just self-defeating self talk. Don't do that to yourself!

REMEMBER: this doesn't mean you are going back to that place. It's a temporary setback. If you dwell on that idea, you will self-escalate.

SAY positive things to yourself, such as "This is just a temporary stumble" or "I know how to control this" or "I am great at my job and nothing is going to change that". Because the way you talk to yourself matters!

REMIND yourself that a panic attack is just an unpleasant feeling. It feels like the worst thing in the world, but it's really just an unpleasant feeling, and it CANNOT HURT YOU.

When I started to reframe them panic attacks in my mind as nothing more than an unpleasant feeling, I gained control - and I left 10 years of suffering in my past.

Now, I think of them like a shot at the doctor's office. I truly hate getting shots, and every single time is unpleasant. However, I don't allow myself to freak out! I stay calm, relax my muscle so it hurts less, and let it happen. Then I go about my day. Now, I do the same with my attacks. (Though I rarely get them anymore.) I stay calm, I force my muscles to relax, and I just let them physical feelings happen. (Because I don't feed into them, they don't escalate.)

I tell myself it's just as unpleasant feeling, which cannot hurt me. (And I KNOW that it will pass because I have told myself so for YEARS and now I feel that confidence. Confidence starts with self talk!) You know it will pass. You've been dealing with this for years, and you have done so successfully! You can do this. FORCE yourself to follow these steps and they will help. You are NOT going back to that place you were in before. You've got this.

Always,
C

Rippelk2 01/03/2018

Thank you so much for your kind words- I am in such a better place since I posted this. My Prozac has kicked in and I'm feeling much more like myself. I think I must have a real imbalance that causes a lot of my panic and anxiety.

Always...C 01/04/2018

That's wonderful news! I still take medication and I will do so for the rest of my life. I think some of us just have an imbalance which requires medication, but we feel as though we've "got to get off of these meds." I don't know why we do it to ourselves, but I think it's related to the messages we receive through society. I always remind others that diabetes is a chemical imbalance, but we don't pressure diabetics to give up their insulin, so why should we put that pressure on those who need meds to correct an imbalance that affects their mental health.

Best wishes to you and yours. Truly delighted to know you are well. :)

Always,
C

Lauren987 01/11/2018

Could it be the pressure of having to be at work that is causing it? It sounds a lot like what I experienced. I'm a primary school teacher and started having panic attacks in school. I was sick one afternoon so had to go home. The head teacher brought me into her office the following day and told me I needed to be in school regardless. She said I needed to see a doctor and get better because the children were losing out when I was absent. This sent me into an awful state. I just couldn't get those words out of my head and constantly worried that I was having a negative impact on the children. I tried to hide it but it just made it worse.
I would consider paying more attention to yourself and do more of what you like to do. Do things that make you happy more often and although work can be rewarding don't let it take over your life.
I hope you have a better day tomorrow.

Rippelk2 01/12/2018

I absolutely love my job- it's my passion. But yes knowing I had to go in and couldn't call out made my anxiety and panic that much worse for sure

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