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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Is this a panic attack?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Is this a panic attack?
by cerulean, Mar 23, 2001 12:00AM
I have long time had depression and anxiety problems....... probably from early teen years.... I'm now 30. I had not seen a doctor until about 6 years ago, and have since tried prozac....paxil.....wellbutrin, buspar, and now starting effexor xr.
In the past I had only seen gp docs. Now I am seeing a psychiatrist. He tells me I have been having panic attacks.
Which I would NEVER have guessed.
I have had many times where my heart will race........ I will feel I can't breathe.... feel sick to my stomach... have to sit down...... or just go to bed, I can't keep on with what ever I'm doing ya know??
At these times I don't feel scared or particularly nervous about anything...... just the physical symptoms.
I had beeen given ativan for a couple of weeks which made me feel SO much better.
Told that was bad long term and have been taking klonipin 1mg 1 or 2 times a day as needed.
This hels lots too, I don't feel tired from it like the doc expects I should....... I just feel better........
but again says I can't take this much longer because its addictive????
Seems like I have heard of others taking it long term though?????
Guess this is a bit rambling...... would love some input if anyone has any though.
thanks for reading
cerulean.
In the past I had only seen gp docs. Now I am seeing a psychiatrist. He tells me I have been having panic attacks.
Which I would NEVER have guessed.
I have had many times where my heart will race........ I will feel I can't breathe.... feel sick to my stomach... have to sit down...... or just go to bed, I can't keep on with what ever I'm doing ya know??
At these times I don't feel scared or particularly nervous about anything...... just the physical symptoms.
I had beeen given ativan for a couple of weeks which made me feel SO much better.
Told that was bad long term and have been taking klonipin 1mg 1 or 2 times a day as needed.
This hels lots too, I don't feel tired from it like the doc expects I should....... I just feel better........
but again says I can't take this much longer because its addictive????
Seems like I have heard of others taking it long term though?????
Guess this is a bit rambling...... would love some input if anyone has any though.
thanks for reading
cerulean.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Mar 26, 2001 12:00AM
, Mar 26, 2001 12:00AM
i,m living with panic attacks since 2 years ,as i fear a lot to be adict
to any kind of benzodizibem or any antideppressent which might make me
commit suicide & since i tried both on 3 to 4 days scale i like to tell
all who suffer from panick attaks ,let the first defensive line for u to panick attaks is thet we all gona die so when death comes no body can stop it,this made me not fear the attaks as it cme &went many times & i didn,t die.the second advice is don,t stay alone put ure self in company with at least 2 persons whenever u feel it is coming. third advice,do
any work which u feel as u accomplished somthing ,it will give u self satisfaction & strength against anxiaty. good luck.Tito
Panic attacks area common problem and are usually more
physiologically based rather than psychological. An example is
many people have a panic attack if they don't have their usual dose of alcohol they are used to having during dinner, parties etc.. That can cause a panic attack associated with the dependence or addiction to the alcohol which calms the brainwaves.
That is why the benzos work so well, they calm the brainwaves. If it was only psychological you would not get much effect from the benzos except tired and maybe annoyed from being too slowed down.
Personally I love Klonopin. I have to take if for my seizure and anxiety disorder. I take 10 mg per day split two fivew times a day. It has made my life managable again. I have Fibromyalgia, so they say but I think it is Lupus. I have had all the symptoms getting worse each year but the blood tests are borderline in the normal range so they won't offically call it that.
I cannot take Prednizone, that made me feel like someone kept zapping my brain and body with a stun gun type electrical feeling. It was quite unpleasant. So I take Ultram instead.
I have many christian contacts who would
love to help you and prayer for you
Write soon
Your friend and prayer partner
Carol in Netherlands