panic

[savygaby]

I have anxiety but lately I have noticed I will get a little panic attack but I will go eat because I feel really lightheaded and then I feel better does anyone else expirence this? Anything would be helpful

[shelzmike]

I have GAD and used to have bad panic attacks. The two of these things are related and are just varying degrees of the same effect - adrenaline. Adrenaline causes anxiety and an exremely anxious person or a simple burst of adrenaline can cause panic. The lightheadedness is a symptom of the fight or flight syndrome that adrenaline causes. In some cases adrenaline lowers blood pressure in a natural attempt to protect the body from a cut or other bleeding injury in a fight. Additionally, anxiety is unpleasant (to say the least) as it can manifest symptoms of almost any kind. Chest Pain, difficulty breathing, fainting, etc.

[savygaby]

shelzmike,  it really is a hard thing to deal with I worry slot about everything it probably doesn't help my anxiety. The worst part is the panic it never gets easy everytime I think I have something wrong with me and thats why I am having the panic feeling. Does it ever get better I thought I we over panic attacks

[Theresa2]

You may be borderline hypoglycemic. If your bood sugar gets too low before eating, you may become anxious. Try eating little meals more often. It's hard to do sometimes. but it helps.

[savygaby]

thanks theresa I will try to do that

[shelzmike]

I completely understand and have experienced what you have been going through. While Theresa2's comment is worth checking into, it may not be that. That is what I had originally thought when I had what I call "the Big One" (horrible panic attack, emergency room, etc.). However, they did a test and quickly concluded that there was nothing that they could find wrong with me. Good, right? Not really, as my feelings and experiences were just as real as anything I have ever felt before.

As far as getting better, I can only speak to my experiences. The panic attack severity and occurence has gone down for me significantly. However, I still have low to moderate anxiety almost constantly throughout (i estimate) 2 - 3 days a week. The other days, I may have occaisional bouts of low to moderate anxiety.

The one thing that bothers me the most about it is that I am just frustrated with it. I never used to be this way, I was never worried or anxious about anything and could do anything my heart desired. Now, because of this anxiety, I have developed other specific anxiety situations. Like getting stuck in heavy traffic, or going to places/events where there are a lot of people, etc. In most cases I make myself do it, and while an initial bout of panic sets in, it never really subsides until I am on my way home. To be honest, and I know it sounds weird, but for your sake I hope that you do have low blood sugar or something like that as that can be treated fairly easily and would hopefully make the symptoms go away. Good luck to you.

[savygaby]

shelzmike, I wish it was just low blood sugar, i understand everything you  said i have been suffering from anxiety for the past 8 months and i get it alot it is probably a panic attack that i was or am having, i have to been to the er and i almost want to go know because i was out to eat with my sister and it felt like everything was draining from my body and i got scared. I never was this way either, one day i woke up had coffee and breakfast and a hour later my life changed, was shaking couldnt sit still felt like i was going crazy went to the hospital and they said you are having a panic attack and i havent been the same since. It still doesn't get easier with each attack. Thanks for listening

[savygaby]

shelzmike, I wish it was just low blood sugar, i understand everything you  said i have been suffering from anxiety for the past 8 months and i get it alot it is probably a panic attack that i was or am having, i have to been to the er and i almost want to go know because i was out to eat with my sister and it felt like everything was draining from my body and i got scared. I never was this way either, one day i woke up had coffee and breakfast and a hour later my life changed, was shaking couldnt sit still felt like i was going crazy went to the hospital and they said you are having a panic attack and i havent been the same since. It still doesn't get easier with each attack. Thanks for listening

[jess990]

I thought for many years mine was low blood sugar, but it isn't, I have had several tests done to prove this. But I can say that with anxiety your metabolism works faster and eats up the food quicker, so you must eat very often!! While you might not be hypoglicemic, you still have to eat more often because you use up your supplies quicker. Make sense?

[savygaby]

yes, it totally makes sense, I have had a lot of blood work done and no one has told me i had any glucose problems, so i started eating more often it makes me feel a little better so i figure if it makes me feel better why not do it