panic attacks

[DannyBoy2890]

I have been suffering from anxiety attacks over the past 2-3 months, I was pretty worried at first as I woke up in the middle of the night, gasping for breath, I thought it was my asthma, so went to the walk in centre, had a nebulizer etc, but was still gasping for air.

 

[johnny on the spot]

I have been suffering from anxiety attacks over the past 2-3 months, I was pretty worried at first as I woke up in the middle of the night, gasping for breath, I thought it was my asthma, so went to the walk in centre, had a nebulizer etc, but was still gasping for air.

See your GP mate as soon as you can (especially with your asthma) and try not to worry, though at night it can be pretty frightening.

The links posted in this thread should all help :)

 

[DannyBoy2890]

I have been suffering from anxiety attacks over the past 2-3 months, I was pretty worried at first as I woke up in the middle of the night, gasping for breath, I thought it was my asthma, so went to the walk in centre, had a nebulizer etc, but was still gasping for air.

See your GP mate as soon as you can (especially with your asthma) and try not to worry, though at night it can be pretty frightening.

The links posted in this thread should all help :)

Cheers mate, I posted this when it first started, it was actually not as long ago as i thought.

<a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=194879&hilit=asthma+sufferers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">viewtopic.php?f=5&t=194879&hilit=asthma+sufferers</a>

 

[oakiecokie]

My first panic attack occured on Christmas Day 1985 !!
I had NO idea as to what the problem was,but I honestly thought I was dying !!
I had no idea as to what was happening and I made the wife take our two kiddies over to her best friend as ,I did not want them to see me dying.
I honestly thought I was dying.I was short of breath,stomach felt as though it was exploding and was so aggitated,that all I wanted to do was pace up and down the Living Room,as I could not sit still.
Eventually when the GP arrived he diagnosed what the problem was and gave me some tablets to calm me down.
My biggest fear at the time was trying to stay awake,as I honestly felt, that had I dropped of to sleep,then I would not have woken up !!!!!!!!!!]
Even after 25 years of suffering I cannot go anywhere without my Diazapem,not so much as taking them,but knowing they are there to calm me down !!!!!
Nothing can stop the anxiety,as I`ve had many when watching City,whether it be live or on the TV !!
Basically it is a sudden rush of adrenalin,which brings on an attack,due to an upsurge of breathing and oxygen.
Way back in 1985/86 I lost a lot of time of work,due to this condition and I was referred to our works GP from Dunlops.
He was brilliant and asked me if he could use our discussion,via a dictaphone,for an article he had been writing in the "Lancet" ?? ,the GP`s monthly/quarterly magazine.
Please if anyone else suffers from this severe condition,then please PM me,as I am always here to listen and give advice.
You are NOT alone,so please let me help and support you,in any way I can.
Cheers,
Oakie .

 

[johnny on the spot]

Great post, oakie.

I always carry 5mgs of Diazepam (along with the label), though I very rarely use it. I think of it like an emergency stop button.

 

[oakiecokie]

Great post, oakie.

I always carry 5mgs of Diazepam (along with the label), though I very rarely use it. I think of it like an emergency stop button.

Hi Mate,
Yes likewise and I too am on the 5mgs but I take two lots at a time.
Having suffered for the past 25 years,my tablets are now there as a comfort zone,but they have to be there,otherwise I start to doubt my ability of continuing a day without them.
Please feel free to PM any time and NOT just you mate.
I will gladly help and support anyone suffering from this awful condition.
Doesn`t help with watching our lot,but I`ve been there since 1964,so God knows why I had my first one in 1985 ?????????? lol

 

[johnny on the spot]

Great post, oakie.

I always carry 5mgs of Diazepam (along with the label), though I very rarely use it. I think of it like an emergency stop button.

Hi Mate,
Yes likewise and I too am on the 5mgs but I take two lots at a time.
Having suffered for the past 25 years,my tablets are now there as a comfort zone,but they have to be there,otherwise I start to doubt my ability of continuing a day without them.
Please feel free to PM any time and NOT just you mate.
I will gladly help and support anyone suffering from this awful condition.
Doesn`t help with watching our lot,but I`ve been there since 1964,so God knows why I had my first one in 1985 ?????????? lol

Thanks mate. Take it easy :)

 

[bananamilksheikh]

I can speak from experience and my advice is:

1 only use medication as a very short term measure if your are very worked up
2 using medication re-enforces in your mind that something is wrong with you
3 carrying tablets around is a sign that the panic is still controllling you
4 see you doctor
5 seek self-help books, relaxation cd's, self hypnotism, breathing techniques
6 avoid food/drink with stimulants eg caffine, nicotene and chocolate
7 work out what the triggers are and adjust your lifestyle accordingly
8 increase your physical activity eg walking, jogging, swimming
9 consider a talking therapy eg counselling or cognative behavioural therapy
10 have someone to talk to who is there 24-7 eg family or helpline
11 dont avoid doing things as this will only reinforce your negative feelings

My last comment is probably the most important. You need to know what is happening to you. Once you understand that the myth is exposed and you are no longer under the spell of this mysyery force.

negative thought>heart starts racing>you notice and want to know why>your breathing accelerates>you now know something is wrong>your get a hot flush>more worry>the fingers tingle>panic>all symptoms intensify>complete panic

The thoughts drive the physical responses. As you have heard the symptoms wont kill you and can only reach a certain level. So recognising this vicious circle will be your key. Just ignore the symptoms.

OP the fact your mum has had subsequent attacks is to be expected because she is now constantly monitering her body and mind and the enevitable will happen. Sometimes called a self-fullfilling prophecy. If you asked her to make an attack happen she couldnt. That is because it is the predominantly initiated by the sub-conscious part of the mind until the conscious mind mind takes over to help the panic reach its max.

To give you some other examples of the sub-conscious controlling your physical responses: you look at food and your mouth starts watering; you get home and immediately have a desperate need for the toilet; when City have lost you adopt a dejected body shape with slouched shoulders.

There is an abundance of stuff on the internet. But remember the key
*CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK*

 

[johnny on the spot]

Great post bms, with some important truths about Panic.

But everyone's at their own stage of dealing with the condition, within their own circumstances. I haven't found it as easy as following points A, B and C, partly because anxiety forms only one facet of my mental illness.

I agree that long term medication is not in all cases the best course of treatment, nor an ideal course in any case. But talking and cognitive therapies are increasingly difficult to access. It takes up to 3 weeks for me to see my GP in a non-emergency, another few weeks to obtain a referral to either limited counselling appointments or to the Community Mental Health Team, who conduct an assessment and decide whether a referral to a consultant is required. The whole process can take months, in which time a person's wellbeing can potentially decline. Medication can effectively bridge this gap.

I'll concede in part that my carrying of medication reinforces the view that I am ill, but the fact is that currently I am. While undergoing treatment, I feel the need for that safety net and I accept that this is part of the process and hope that eventually I won't need it.

 

[Phil.mcfc]

Thanks a lot guy, She's booked in to see her GP today she had one more last night at 5am which lasted about 5 minutes, the thing now is she is worrying about going out incase it happens in public, but like a few of you said worrying about it triggers it, thanks for the great posts blues.