Can anyone help me with dealing with panic?

[stillensmommy]

I was just given Zoloft for my severe panic disorder, i used to be on Lorazepam, but my new Dr. took me off of it and says its all in my head, and the zoloft will help in a few weeks. I truly feel as though I am having a heart attack, but I am not. Is there anything I can do to make these feelings stop? Is it really all in my head? I am afraid that once I go to sleep, I will not wake up in the morning, therefore I do not get much sleep. Can panic attacks kill you or cause a heart attack? Can anyone answer my questions? I feel like I just want God to take me so I dont feel this way anymore. I want my life back.

[chthompson]

Im sorry to hear you too are having an awful time.Im not sure about zoloft because I take paxil but anxiety and panic are two very scary things to go through.I currently am battling with heart flutters.I have been told that panic attacks wont kill you even though it feels like it could.Please dont give up,you will get better!!!!!!

[Julie359]

Ok, for a start a panic attack will NOT kill you i PROMISE you that.  It feels like you will die but trust me you will not.  In a panic attack your body is acutally just protecting you from your percieved danger... your body is prepared to either fight or run for your life.  Now the fact that your not faced with a 10ft spider doesn't mean that your not feeling any less panicky but you have to realise that your thoughts of what will happen to you are feeding your fear and casue your thinking something terrible is going to happen your frightening yourself... which is making you feel far worse.

To begin to bring this under control you need to change these thought patterns.  I would recommend going back to your doctor and requesting something called CBT... this is Cognitive Behavoural Therapy, where the therapist will both go over the reason why you are having the attacks, past, present history but also will also teach you to retrain your thoughts, actions and behaviour to overcome this anxiety and panic.

They will use relaxation, positive thinking, meditation, breathing exercises and will help you understand how your thoughts are feeding your panic.  

One technique i have learnt to bring my heart rate and breathing under control is to slowly breath in through your nose to the count of four, then slowly breath out through your mouth to the count of 6, then while you are doing this repeat a calming verse over in your head... i use I am calm, relaxed i am safe and secure it is only anxiety it can not hurt me.... and continue to do this until you start to feel calmer.

I really hope this is of help.. if you need anything else i will try and help and give you any tips i can.   All the best Julie x

[cnote]

You nailed it girl. =)

[Paxiled]

What does he mean, it's all in your head?  I mean, of course it is, but that's kind of demeaning.  Next time you talk to him, ask him why it's so hard to fix if it's all in the head, and then ask him if you can borrow his stethoscope to see if there's anything in his.

[Julie359]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....thats so funny, but also sooooooo true, he seems a samwich short of a picnic and he's mean't to be a doc.

[Julie359]

p.s thank-you!!!!! Hope ur feeling better x