I believe for many, anxiety/depression/panic, etc.. are genetic and we can find relatives that have experienced the same problems. If they found good treatment then by all means go to the professional that treated them. Patients of a certain ailment aren't always the best treaters of that ailment even though they have much experience with it. Learn from their experience, but go to someone who can be unbiased and able to order tests and medication if needed.
Thanks for the advice. I don't know if this would make it any different but my mom has the same problem (as well as most of the maternal side) and went to therapy for it years ago, so I'm just wondering if since I have her to give me advice and tell me ways to work through it, is it necessary to seek therapy, or is it ok for me to just listen to what my mom tells me?
A rising cortisol level can cause anxiety and panic attacks. Normally cortisol is high in the morning and decreases during the day. An adrenal problem can cause the cortisol to rise rather than fall. Have yourself checked for adrenal function. It is simple and requires saliva and urine samples. We often look for emotional causes first, and physical causes last, if at all. It should be the other way around.
I suffered adrenal fatigue with a rising cortisol level. My symptoms were just like yours. I was treated for the problem - no more anxiety and panic attacks.
I have the same reaction to stress that Greenlydia describes. When I was working could get through whatever stress my job threw at me. Day off came, and I am laid low with sinus headache.
It is peculiar , but I really relate. Here you are off for the summer. Time to have some fun, and oops, here comes panic attacks. It happened to me big time after I graduated college,and then really bad after retirement. I believe our bodies and minds are on duty and have a schedule to keep up with while in school or at work. Let that go, and we are unmoored.
G is right about the money issue. That was the main stressor for me after graduation, as well as after retirement. Adjusting and adapting are all I can manage, and I don't always do well with that!
Post again. Follow Greenlydia's advice, then relax:).
It sounds like anxiety to me.............possibly from the stress of school and money, which has ALL of us stressed at the moment.
First I would suggest you see your doctor for a very thorough physical just to rule out any organic reason for your symptoms.
Have a very open and honest discussion about your feelings and your concerns about them. Consider getting into some therapy. It will help you deal with your dream issues and put things back into perspective.
You said something that I think could be very relevant. These attacks did not begin again until school let out for summer break. The stress of school was over and the attacks hit. I have migraines, and my main triggers is stress. I have a an incredibly stressful job in a hospital, but very, very seldom have I had a migraine at work. Come the week-end when I have a wonderful, relaxing evening planned with friends, I get a migraine. My neurologists calls these " Week-end migraines." The stress of the week is over and while he can't explain this, it is incredibly common. It's almost like my body/brain gets so use to a particular level of stress, that when it's not there, it reacts by producing a migraine. I have come to believe that many anxiety/panic attacks can be related to that same phenomenon. This is stictly MY theory, but I've found that it holds water for me and might for others as well. Just a thought.
See your doc. Think about some therapy.
We have anxiety for a reason and you need to figure out what that reason is or you'll stay on the roller coaster.
I wish you the very best. Please let us know how you're doing and write anytime you need to.
Peace
Greenlydia