Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
This community is a place to share information and support with others who are trying to stop using drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other addictive substances. Discuss with others, the symptoms of addiction, addiction recovery, ways to quit like tapering and cold turkey, and withdrawal symptoms. If you are interested in general "chat", please visit our Addiction Social Community.
Panic Attacks § suggestions - I need your Help
by LostFree, Aug 20, 2002 12:00AM
As you all have seen, I had to get off of Xanax or loose my job, yes I know there's a legal issue there, but do I really want to pursue it, I know I should. However, does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do for Panic Attacks, and I am talking Clincally diagnosed panic attacks. I'm open to any and all suggestions, I can't handle this feeling much longer of wanting to crawl out of my skin because the world is getting ready to crash down on me - group I ask your help.
I am not sure I can truly help you, but I have some things I would like to share with you!! Back in the year of 1999...I suffered 2 panic attacks...back to back...within a week of each other!! Up until that day I have never been depressed or anything like that!! They were brought on by a major breakup from a relationship that went on for 5 years. I was fine...then one day the attacks occured? I know for a fact that I had no warning signs of it coming nor (like I said already) was I depressed...at least I didn't feel it!! I may have had all these emotions in my sub-conscience? Who knows? Anywho...I was diagnosed with what is called Irritable Bowel Syndrome...and the panic attacks (according to the doc) was the start of all fof this? She was crazy herself...LOL....
So anyway you say you must stop your meds in order to keep your job? Now I have a few questions...maybe it could help me and others understand you a litlle better....First WHY? What is it that you do that you are being threatened to get fired if you don't stop taking your meds? I want to say that I think that is crazy....!!!!! If you are being prescribed these meds for a TRUE medical reason...then NOBODY...I mean NOBODY should be telling you to quit them or you will lose your job!! That is why I am asking what you do and what your situation is? I need a better feel of where you are going with this so called "job" you have...and you need to evaluate the situation...I know I would if I were you!!
Ok...first things first...does this job mean that much to you that you would sacrifice your HEALTH for it? I know if I was being threatened like you are being threatened..I would QUIT...but that is just me!!
Secondly...Do you have a doctor to write a letter for you stating that you NEED to be on these meds or else you will have these attacks? Your "boss" needs to look at it THIS way...if you STOP taking the meds...you could have attacks and other things happen causing you to HAVE to take OFF work? Doesn't he/she realize THIS?????
Last I just wanted to say that this WHOLE situation needs to be RUN by YOU...not anyone else!! YOU need to think about what is BEST for you and you alone!! Like I said earlier...is this job worth being SICK? I mean is it worth NOT taking the meds...or is YOUR HEALTH more important to you? That's a silly question...cause you should be the most important thing in your eyes...not some stupid job that is threatening to fire you if you don't quit your meds....
Oh and by the way "quitting" Xanax can and IS a harmful thing...you could DIE if it is not done properly!!! There are a couple of people on this forum who have first hand experience with Xanax....I hope they show their faces to this question!!! Lostfree....I hope I have opened your eyes a little bit to the situation you are facing...sounds to me that you are thinking of this stupid job before you are thinking of YOURSELF...I maybe wrong and I hope I am!!! Please keep me posted as to what is going on....and please write me back telling me what the exact deal is with this situation...I am dying to know!!! If you so please...by ALL means...email me at ***@****
My name is Christine by the way....and I am a 25 year old female........What is your deal? Your age...and all that good stuff...Well looking forward to hearing your story....and good luck to you in making the right decisions!!! God bless you and keep your head up high!!!
Laters...
Christine
any way untill someone comes up with a great idea.
ypi might want to look into yoga ,and mostly the BREATHING
ASPECT OF IT., find a yoga instructer thst can teach you breathing , learning to breath on a conscience level
can do wonders for panic attacks.
i used to get panic attacks when i was in my early twenties whenever i was in
a very public place.
like one time i went out to eat
with my wife and they sat us at a little table right in the middle of the place.
i just freaked out on the inside and had to run out of there.
i have always been a in the dark, in a booyh in the corner
type of guy , i guess.
good luck.
rember slow deeep breath
peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
any way untill someone comes up with a great idea.
ypi might want to look into yoga ,and mostly the BREATHING
ASPECT OF IT., find a yoga instructer thst can teach you breathing , learning to breath on a conscience level
can do wonders for panic attacks.
i used to get panic attacks when i was in my early twenties whenever i was in
a very public place.
like one time i went out to eat
with my wife and they sat us at a little table right in the middle of the place.
i just freaked out on the inside and had to run out of there.
i have always been a in the dark, in a booyh in the corner
type of guy , i guess.
good luck.
rember slow deeep breath
peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
L-Tyrosine 8 500mg capsules, on an empty stomach
B-complex
Hot baths to help with muscle aches
Valium to help with sleep, but be careful to not take it too long or you will get addicted to it.
Multimineral tablet that includes zinc, magnesium, and manganese, as well as calcium.
Here is mine: (I consulted with a dietician about it)
Prenatal Vitamins, 1 daily (You can find a generic kind at Walmart, these are the BEST but if you can't find prenatal then just get a multi like Centrum)
1 Extra Vit A tab - 8000 IU
1 Vit C/Echinacea tab - (500mg Vit C/100 mg Echinacea)
1 Extra Vit E tab - 200 IU
2 L-Tyrosine tabs 500 mg
1 B-Complex tab (should include Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, B-6 and Panto)
2 Cranberry tabs
1 Extra Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc tab
The following herbs are also VERY helpful but should NOT be taken if you are currently on an antidepresant or taking Xanax or Valium (there could be BAD side effects):
KavaKava (as directed on bottle)
Sam-E - very expensive but VERY helpful for depression and leg cramps
5-htp - a little expensive but good and works a lot like Sam-E
I added 5 htp and SAM-e, that help with the depression quite a bit.
Of course hot boths work great, and Immodium for the diarrhea.
Bodymechanic
So, I made some other changes... I try to avoid caffeine except for a cup of coffee/tea in the morning. I started yoga. I attend support group meetings that help me to take the focus off of the rest of the world and put it back on me (for me, Al-Anon). I go to bed at a reasonable time and even if I don't sleep, I rest. I did research on deep breathing exercises and try to use them daily. I got a dog and play with him regularly. I *force* myself to call friends and ask how they're doing rather than just sit home and feel sorry for myself. I started eating healthy foods and walking in the evening for exercise.
I still have my "bad" moments, but they're less frequent and I haven't had a full-blown attack for months.
Just some ideas that have worked for me...
Peace be with you,
Mis