help with this trying not to use meds

[bubby1234]

OK! ABOUT  five months ago I  was out with the family and i felt like i was going to pass out heart stared to race  so i went to the ER they did an ekg came back just fine  i did not understand . two days later it happen again so i ended up back at the ER again they sad i was fine and sent me home , the next day i went to a family doc.  he stared by doing blood work  thin sent me for a ct of my chest  after a week  while waiting for the test to come back i had a nother attack  and yes i ended up a ER   this time the ER doc sad i needed to go get a stress test done on my heart  wile waiting on all the test to come back my neck started to tighten up and it pops all the time the last time   i was at the ER  i told the doc about  the presure behind my eyes and noes he  gave me a ct on my head sad  it was all good the doc looked at me and sad i am not doing any more test on you  you are just having a panic attack  THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SOME ONE TOLD IT WAS A PANIC ATTACK  .. that wood have been good to no about 3 months ago i was thinking i was having a heart attack  and the docs where all crazy  after reading about panic attacks i found  THE LINDEN METHOD  and the panic attacks have just about went away  i have been obsess with my blood presser and check it about 5 times day  i am trying to stop  bye the way my doc  has told me  all my test have came back all good  ( THANK THE GOOD LORD) my neck still pops all the time and stays real tight  i stay light headed and presser behind  my eyes and noes will not stop sorry  i lied it does come and go sometimes i can not sleep very well  no energy  but when i do fall a sleep i wake up  feeling just fine  till i get up  then it all starts back up    does anyone feel this way ? or am  i crazy. wish i felt like i did 6 months ago    

[gkelly28]

Hi about 2 months ago I started a group called the anxiety, panic and phobia support group telephone conference for people who suffered from anxiety disorders.  It is an all volunteer peer to peer support group that meets every 2nd Sunday of the month at 6pm eastern standard time.  The next meeting is Sunday July 10, 2011 at 6pm EST. This meeting will have a former sufferer of anxiety disorder as our guest speaker.  If you are interested, please email me at ***@**** for the call in number and access code.  Long distance charges do apply for the call but most people have long distance services on their phone.

[Stellez]

Hi! I started experiencing panic attacks since June 20, 2010. It was literally an attack. I had the tightness in my chest, heart palpitations, extreme right in blood pressure (180/123). I had my financee take me to the ER. On the way there, the nausea was so bad I vomitted. I as so scared I was having a heart attack. I felt so desperate and vulnerable. It was alarming how casual the doctors and nurses were about my treatment. I was convinced I was dying but, the attanding staff didn't have that sense of urgency in treating me. I was told I was having a panic attack. I didn't understand wha the heck he was talking about. He prescribed Ativan and sent me on my way. The very next weekend it happened again. This time I was home by myself (at night). I felt the uneasiness...like something was building up inside of me. Then, BAM!!! Another attack. This time I felt like I was blacking out. I put on my shoes, grabbed my purse, and ran downstairs to a neighbor for help. The symptoms kept getting worse. So here we go to the ER. On the way, I felt like I was blacking out and fading away. I called 911 from the backseat of their car. I didn't think I was going to make it. I saw the same ER doctor and again he told me I was having a panic attack. It was awful. My life completely changed. I started having the fear of the fear. I started having panic attacks out of fear of having a panic attack. I had a few bad ones while stuck in evenine traffic. My commute became a big struggle for me. I kept thinking what if it happens again and I'm stuck in traffic? How will I get to the hospital or how will the paramedics get to me? Since the ER doctors were tired of seeing me, I would drive to a different hospital (when experiencing a panic attack) and just sit in my car (just outside the ER) and cry and cry and cry until the panic subsided. This is how I lived for a while. I sought therapy and am now med. free. I don't want to give the impression that I am cured. I'm not. I am, however, prepared to fight off these attacks. I understand them more clearly. I have learned to reconize what can trigger them...(stress, MSG). I believe the reason they started in the first place was because of the emotional and physical stress of a miscarriage. I hope you are feeling better. This website is wonderful and there are so many people out there who know exactly what you're going through. Thank you for listening. I wish you peace and happiness.

[Stellez]

Hi! I weaned off of Ativan in 2 weeks while under the care of a doctor. I had been taking 1mg a day for 8 months or so. How have you been feeling?

[Stellez]

Hi! I too have been suffering from panic attacks for the past year. I was also on Ativan during that time. Under the care of a doctor, I weaned off the medication because I am interested in starting a family. My doctor told us we had to wait 6 months to try for a baby. I said no way...(just turned 40) so she told us 3 months. We just saw our reproductive endocrinologist and he said that we didnt have to wait at all. How are you doing with your pregnancy? We are going to try for baby in the next 3 weeks.

[bubby1234]

i never started any i whould like to fix this without the meds.
the doc has trided to put me on xanax .5--- 4 times a day,citalopram 10m one time a day- i tried to take it  but it makes me more light headed !!

[adina550]

What kind of medication were you on? I'm on Lorazepam and planning to taper off later this summer...how did you give up on the medication?
thanks

[stephanie1o]

seems similar to me feel heart race shakey this happens when i go to doctors i think this is the start of panic attacks and no our not crazy

[Jilila]

I know what you are going through.  I've been on meds for about 10 years now to control panic attacks, and stopped taking them in december because I wanted to work on having a family.  I have ended up in the ER many times because my heart was pounding/racing, felt lightheaded, and got pins and needles in my hands.  Everything always checks out ok.  I've heard of the Linden method, and am guessing it's based on the Cognitive Behavioral Theory.  I would also look at the book "When Panic Attacks" by David Burns.  Some of the exercises in there have helped me.  I also do Biofeedback, which focuses on breathing and recognizing when my body is feeling anxious in order to prevent having an anxiety attack.  I'm still struggling, but am making slow progress.  I too wish I could go back to feeling the way I felt when I was taking my pills to help, but I just don't want to jeopardize anything within a pregnancy.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Hope this helps, and hang in there!

Laura  :)