Panic Attacks?

[ScaredPanic]

Recently, i have been experiencing more frequent symptoms that i think are being brought on from stress, from what i can only pin point, to be Anxiety Attacks, or Over-stressed, causing these symptoms. They mostly occur while at work, usually around lunch. Some of the symptoms i get (not all of once of course, but are some ive experienced) during the day while at work are:

- Pounding heart, sometimes Palpitations  
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Muscle aches, such as back and neck pain
- Indigestion
- Nausea when experiencing "fight or flight" response
- Clenched jaws and grinding teeth (at night, my wife tells me)
- Tight, dry or a feeling of a lump in your throat
- Constipation and sometimes diarrhea
- Increased perspiration, sweaty hands
- Skin problems, acne is worse
- Stomach cramps
- Feel as though flu is coming on

- Worry
- Insomnia
- Restless anxiety, seems like no matter what i do, i still feel worked up and anxious.
- Cant relax, no matter what i try when i get worked up.
- Racing thoughts, sometimes cant control over what thoughts im having (often rare and stupid, like my life is a movie)
- Decreased productivity
- Job dissatisfaction
- Feel detached
- When its over, or i leave work and go home, i feel better, and almost silly for acting like i was going to pass out, when i never have before.
- Feel like something bad is about to happen, or that im going to pass out or die.
- Get stressed out over things like 2012, May21,2011, any doomsday things, or world events.
- Sometimes during a panic attack i feel like im not real, that my life is just my imagination.

It seems to occur at the same time every year, ive experienced this before, but it seems to only occur when i get run down and stressed. I saw my family doctor about it before, while i was in college and working a job, and from all the tests he did, he ruled it as stress. I was in an accident last year that left me with a fractured foot, and was off work for several months, and im still in physio, slow recovery, and that has put alot of stress on me mentally and physically, as well as financially, so it has become a vicious cycle of stress and worry. Im just wondering if anyone else has experienced this, and can give some advice so that i dont let myself talk myself into thinking that im going to go crazy! haha. I dont talk alot about it, because i dont want to burden people with it, because it makes me feel like im losing my mind when i tell people about what i expereince. I thought that i had gotten over my anxiety years ago, but after the last years events, it has really taken a toll,and has seemed to bring back my anxiety, which is being triggered by all this stress of money and work.

Any suggestions? Advice? Home Remedies for stress releif. My Doctor gave me Zantac for my stomach last time, and suggested B100, which the B100 i take, Zantac havent taken in 7 or 8 years.

[ScaredPanic]

Hmmm, thats great advice. My family doctor didnt seem at all concerned when i told him how i was feeling, he gave me losec for my stomach, and that has seeemd to calm my stomach down, and reduce my palpitations/chest spasm. However my anxiety/racing thoughts are still coming and going, mostly when i am thinking about work, or worrying about my health or money. So i seem to be on the road to feeling 100%, still always quite tired though. Im still thinking that its attributed to the stress from my injury, money and seasonal allergies. Thansk for the tip! will try to take some other vitamins than B100.

[VitaminDiva]

Have you ever had your vitamin D levels checked. There is a ton of research now that shows that low Vitamin D can attribute to many of the symptoms listed here. I suffered for a long time before I learned that I was severely Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D, magnesium/calcium supplement, omega 3's and a good multi vitamin worked wonders for me. No meds!  Read up on that within this website.

[ScaredPanic]

i saw my family doctor about it, and he ruled the root of it as Acid Reflux, that has seemed to stop the heart palpitations, I told him all my symptoms and about my stress, and he didnt seem overly concerned that it was anything else.  i am feeling a bit better, he has me on losac to treat the stomach symptoms, dont seem to have the racing heart/pounding heart, still feel run down as if a cold is comming on, still seem really tired all the time, and feel miserable when im at work. My allergies have spiked in the last while, and im sure the humidity doesnt help. I think stress from work, financial stress from the time i missed from my accident, and stress of my health not feeling 100%, is what is triggering these panic feelings. does this seem to make sense to anyone? i would welcome any other doctors comments if they read this, the more professional comments are welcome!

[ScaredPanic]

Thank you for all the comments,(paulyboy i am 28 yr male) had tmy first bad attack when i was your age. I have never smoked in my life though. im glad its a normal occurence, i tend to have a bit of Hypocondriac, or worry wort, and i always think the worst of every situation, which of course, adds to anxiety, haha. I think the worrying is half the battle, because once the stress kicks in, its only a matter of time the anxiety attacks kick in when im stressed. Thats the only times it seems to happen, is when i am stressed, when im at work or somewhere i dont really want to be, it seems like my body goes into a self defence mode, so that i can leave the situation. Then of course, all the stress leaves you get run down, and then the kind of snow balls from there. I think relaxiation and diet and de-stressing is 90% of the battle, i know i wrote the symptoms there, but i just wanted to get some outside feedback, to see if anyone else has gone through this as well, and that its not just me! haha. You tend to live your life in your own bubble, and dont realize that it happens to other people.

[Jilila]

I am currently going through exactly what you are going through.  I went of my meds in December because I wanted to start thinking about having a family, and am trying more natural things.  I would look into the Cognitive Behavioral theory.  A good book to read is called "When Panic Attacks" by David Burns.  The mental exercises in thre have helped, but you have to make sure you are doing them consistently for it to work.  I also see a psychologist for Biofeedback.  It helps you to focus on your breathing and recognizing when your body is tense/anxious to help prevent you from going into a panic/anxiety attack.  Have also heard about the Linden Method, which is something else you may want to look into.  Hope this helps.  :)

[Paullyboy213]

Also this feeling of being in a movie does not go away, not for a second of the day

[Paullyboy213]

I too am going through exactly what you described and it's only been the past week, I'm 24yo male and was really stressed a few months back then slowly I have been getting worse, waking up in the middle of the night is inevitable and it feels like I never actually fall back asleep because when i awake I'm still tired and have that feeling you described of being in a movie , this is really ruining my life I've stopped smoking for over a month and recently stopped smoking marijuana because that's what gave me the biggest panic attack of my life.. I've got an appointment with a pyschologist and my local doctor in a week they told me to see if it goes away but I feel I can't manage till then I need help desperately my life is slipping away from me!  

[ScaredPanic]

I forgot to mention to, that, ive probably only have 3 times that i can remember that ive had these panic attacks for than a day in a row, and it seemed to be when i was in school/college, and working. I dont experience these when im outside of work, only seems to be when im at work, or in a place where i dont have a quick escape? maybe i have a touch of agoraphobia, but that the stress i am going through triggers the panic attacks.

[ScaredPanic]

Yeah. talking about it definately helps, i dont think that meds are the right solution though, they could cause other problems. I just wanted to see what other people do to help when they have these panic attacks. They usually only last 2-4 minutes, but then leave you feeling crappy afterwards, and nervous that they can happen again. They only seem to happen at work, so stress seems to be the trigger.

[007melissa]

You definably need to see a psychiatrist about these attacks so he can prescribe some meds for you. For sure you need something strong. I used to be on Klonopin (now on Lorazepam) because I was having panic attacks like you were. General family doctors might prescribe this for you but probably not. I would see a psychiatrist because they can get you better meds to manage your attacks. I'd also suggest some therapy to get at the heart of the problem. Talking to people who understand your problems is always helpful.

In the meantime, I'd suggest yoga, meditation, running and clearing your mind for a couple of days to help with all of the mental energy you have. It has helped with my anxiety.