hi Marion, welcome to DS! I am so so sorry for your situation, but take comfort in knowing you are not alone.I realize, like my own family and friends that they are trying to help. But in my heart of hearts, no matter how they try, they will never realize what a panic attack is, until they have had one themselves. We can describe it all we want, but until you have one, the symptoms sound unreal, and people are tempted to say, "just calm down." My panic disorder has kept me from work, I lost my job, am isolating from friends and wake everyday in fear. My best suggestion is to find a therapist and a great psychologist. I usually ask the therapist, "have you ever had an attack?" If the answer is no, I tend to think they will not be able to assist me. Maybe I am wrong in my thinking, but you cannot just learn about anxiety in a book to understand it. I would get a good psychologist who can adjust your medications as needed and understand your needs. We are all here for you!!!

Hey there,

Welcome to DS. I just joined this support group, but I have been on other support groups on DS for a few months now. I have found DS to be very helpful.

Just this week I finally went to a therapist and learned that what I have been experiencing are panic attacks. I thought I was dying. I thought my heart was giving out. I was really freaked out. I went to my regular medical doctor and he tested my heart and the rest of me and found nothing wrong. So he suggested I go see a therapist, so I did.

I'm just really glad to have a name now for what is wrong with me. I had no idea what panic attacks were. I'm glad to at least know what is going on with me now. The therapist says there are things she can teach me which can help with anxiety and panic attacks, so I am hopeful.

I am not on any medication at all, and I'm hoping I can keep it that way. But the panic attacks are so horrible that if therapy does not work, eventually I will take meds if needed. Because I cannot live the rest of my life with this. It's horrible.

I am going to give therapy some time, though, to see if it can work. Things take time. I'm not sure how long... maybe a year, maybe 18 months? I don't know yet. As long as I can stand it. Which may not be very long, because it's awful.

I shake almost all the time. I have a tightness in my chest. I sweat at night while I sleep. My breathing changes and is sometimes very shallow and hard to breathe. I get the feeling of unrealness, I read a word for this in another thread and now I cannot remember what that word is. I get tingling sensations in my arms and legs and especially my wrists for some reason. I cry over the smallest things. My voice cracks. I get stiffness in my neck and shoulders. If it is really bad I get diarrhea.

I know I'm not alone, and that offers some comfort. And therapy is good. But I am so ready for this to end.

HI Mation and welcome to DS, i am so sorry you are having panic attacks, but you are not alone. I had my very first bad one when i was only 18.After a while i went to a doctor who checked me out form head to toe, found nothing wrong with me, and he sent me to an doctor who specialize in Panic Attacks.The firs thing i ask him was how did he kn ow how it felt to have one, they were made to run very fast up a fight of stairs, yes the heart race,but unless you have had a panic attack,no one can fully understand how it feels.I have tried all kinds of tapes,books, and anything i could find on panic attack.The breathing has helped me,and i also take medince for mine.If you can go without the medince,and i pray you can,that would be good,if not then i would take what would help me with the attacks. I take xanax, it helps me,but i still have them,but not as often as i did. I would ask what ever doctor you go to, their knowledge of panic attacks.I agree with ginjaninja,a book cannot teach anyone who has never had a panic attack about them.My advice is to go to a doctor who has been treating this kind of problem longer than 10 years or more,the more they have been treating someone,the more they know. Always know you are not alone, and i find that when i pray it helps me as well. We all are here for you!!! Hope this help you..

marion you are not alone....there are ways to help....I have had panic disorder for 50 years....I am doing much better....but at the beginning you will feel really lost and alone....

Hey Marion, I understand what your going through. I have dealt with panic attacks for several years and know first hand how crippling and scarey they can be. Try to stay strong even though I know its easier said then done and atleast try to find comfort in the fact that your not alone, there are many people out there who deal with the same problems. I can relate to loved ones not understanding completely because they haven't been through it also but Im sure you will be able to find many people who will understand you here and be able to give you advice on how to deal with your current situation. Take care of your self and be well!

Hi Marion,

I learned to compensate for my panic attacks which led to my world getting smaller and smaller, lost friends, employment, plus.....
You are not alone and the best thing to do is not wait years like I did.
I finally let go of resistance to taking meds (zoloft and klonopln) while also starting cognitive behavior therapy.
My world is expanding, I am no longer agoraphobic (could not leave my home for 6 months and panicked while being home alone, could not take a shower unless someone was home)-
mind you, this took years to get this bad since I didn't seek help.

You are doing the best first step, asking for help.
I believe meds and therapy together will help.
Every day I have more a more freedom.... I am so grateful.

IF you get a therapist who understands this and take meds (even for the short term to calm down you sympathetic nervous system) you will have peace again..

You can inbox me if you have questions or post here.

There is hope !!

Sara

Hello Marion. I hope I'm not being rude or prying to much when I ask do you have any clues as to what causes your panic attacks or are they seemingly random? You said when lots of people are around talking.. I often feel the same way, but my symptoms are different.

I'm also in college and have to be around mass amounts of people often. I find myself struggling to visit the store for needed food out of fear of being seen. I find that my struggle with anxiety and dealing with others is mostly due to my paranoia of what they will think of me. I feel as if it is my selfconscious getting the better of me in these situations because of the low selfesteem I've had through my life.

I'm wondering if you have any deeper insight to what may be triggering your attacks when encountering people?

Hello. I'm a new member too.
I've recently had my first panick attack, now we are up to 4 of them. The worst include chest burden, shortness of breath and above all, diarrhea.....

Anyway, I haven't seen a therapist yet, but my advice to you is to fight it step by step and fire by fire. You're afraid of being alone in the shower? Tell a friend or your boyfriend to go out for a walk while you're having the shower. You're afraid of flashing lights? Put on a flashing light youtube video. I'm no expert, but this approach has gained me confidence. Yesterday I was driving a along way from home, while just after half of the way I had a panic attack. I was afraid that I might pass out, and I really thought of turning around. But I didn't. In the return, I had no panic attack. I think that it is because I gained confidence about it. If I had made that u turn, today I would say that "I can't drive long distances on my own".

Hi Marion and welcome to DS!
Yes we are all in the same boat but trying to keep ech other afloat! Try to relax and know that you will not die from the symptoms which you are feeling. Try the anxiety apps which you can find online and the relaxation music on YouTube is a great help. Just work through this and try not to run away from it! Avoidance is the worst thing possible! Hope this helps an always remember to pray for God's help!

Hi Marion, welcome to DS. I am sure you will find people here very supportive.

Hello Marion,
I just joined too. I have been having panic attacks for around 25 years now. Even though others in my family do not have them, they do try to support me. It seems you already have a good support system and people who care about you. Which is great. You are going to need their help and understanding. Be gentle with them.