first major panick attack

Hi,

I had my first panic attack 1 month ago. Since then I  have had so much anxiety.

However I also have weakness. Like someone has drained energy out of my body.
When I walk my body feels so light and weak!

Doctor have done blood work and can't find anything. She thinks I am taking to much anxiety ?

Can panic attack and anxiety cause fatigue and weakness in body ?

[Beewoman]

YES!  Anxiety completely drains your energy levels.  When our body is in a highly anxious state we produce far more adrenaline than we need, this fight or flight hormone is only supposed to be used in periods of stress to get us through them ie. someone attacks you the adrenaline allows you to run faster, you have an important meeting, your heart pounds, you feel high and nervous.

In the above situations we accept the "side effects" of adrenaline, palpitatins, sweaty, jittery, nervousness, panic etc, what we do not accept is when this happens for what we think is for no reason!  When the adrenaline is being pumped out all the time, ie the more nervous we get the more panicky and the more adrenaline is secreted (vicious cycle), then our energy levels are being used up with the adrenaline, our blood sugar drops, we start to feel weak and dizzy and start getting anxious about that too, then off we go again!

What we have to do is break the cycle.... change the routine... find ways of calming down and at the first glimmer of hope when you see an improvement the anxiety starts lifting and less adrenaline is secreted, less palpitations and other symptoms and we can start to improve.

So how do you start?

Some consult their doctor to help get them through those horrifying symptoms (as we can feel it's the end of our lives it gets so bad) and medication can help short term, others see a therapist and try to find the trigger or discover ways of self-help.  OR if you feel up to it you can try a few things yourself and read lots of threads on this forum too.  Here's a list of things I did:
- change routine
- watch funny movies to forget about myself
- self-help books such as "The 10 best-ever anxiety management techniques" by Margaret Wehrenberg, I'm reading it now and it's really good
- this forum
- exercise
- calming herbal teas
- magnesium supplements
- eating smaller more frequent meals (to maintain blood sugar levels)
- coffee with a friend
- remember, do not look for your anxiety or you will find it!
- stop thinking about yourself and do something constructive

Sorry to have rambled but sift through and see if you can latch onto one thing you think could work for you and delve in.  You will get through this, we are all here to help you!

[cj29]

I would have to agree 100% with Beewoman in that anxiety can definitely drain us of energy and make us feel weak, fatigued, on edge, etc.  I find that the best way to deal with it is to LEARN about it, and then confront it.  Knowledge is really the power to gain long term relief from this.  In my opinion, the first time someone experiences this, it can really leave them both confused and tired, but with acceptance and counseling you can thrive with this...keep us posted!