Panic Attacks?

[Linzola1]

I am not entirely sure this iswhere I am suppose to post this, but Im goingto give it a shot.....

First off I am new to this comunity. I am acommunity leader to the Pregnancy 18-34 community!

About a month ago I was laying on the couch watching TV with my DH when I fell asleep. A short time afterI fell asleep I was awoken with a horrible cough and couldnt catch my breath. I didnt reallythink  too much of it at the time and went on to bed!

Last night I went to bed as normal with the TV on and drifted off. Agian shortly after awoke with the same symptoms. It only lasts a few seconds and then I catch my breath. I decided to go to the doctor today and he had no idea what it was. He gave me a big coctail of meds  2 inhalers for asthema and 2 allergy meds, but I seem to think these are stress related... I am a worrier and have been very stressed the was month or so with my sons first birthday etc...

Honestly I dont think it isasthma or Apena. I think it is from stress or a panic attack. Any advice on what this could be or what kind of treatment (if any) i need?

[mammo]

I think I would re-visit the bi-polar and depression.  I think a lot of your problems are a result of both.  If you don't like how anti-depressants make you feel just keep going back to your doctor until they find one that works properly for you.  Life's too short to have to be stressed all the time.  One bit of advice.....I am 59 and was always a chronic worrier even as a child and am too aware of what it can do to you.  Now all this time later I finally realized that all my worrying didn't change a thing.  What was going to happen did, and what wasn't didn't.  The future takes care of itself, and I accept what I cannot change, and change what I can.  So cliche' but I truly wish I'd had this attitude many years ago, as I would have lived a happier life.  Try to relax and see the world thru your son's eyes, you'll see it in a whole new light.  Take care........

[Linzola1]

I called my doctor today and he said to def not take a rescue inhaler because that is what made whatever worse.... I am having these episodes when I am sleeping only 2x. I have had them a few others but I think it may be in my head. I have always been a cronic worrier and I think about things too much.. e.g. if I think about mybreathing it is worse and hard...

I was diagnosed bipoler and with depression when Iwas 15, but was on anti depressents but hated how they made me feel. I havent been on them in a few years.  I never have haad anything elsesaid to me about the bi polar....

I had my son a year ago and had some strong baby blues and post partum, sometimes I wander if this has something to do with whats going on!

[mammo]

If you are only having these when asleep, I would look into sleep apnea.  I've never heard of a panic attack occuring while asleep.  But I have heard of people with sleep apnea who stop breathing and awaken to gasping for air.  

[Linzola1]

WOW. I just have these moments where I feelI cant breathe.... I freak. I jsut had one and amstill shaking but but not bad enough. Maybe its just nerves! I dontknow!

Have you had any therapy to correct this problem? Sorry if I am getting topersonal

[Hensley258]

Trust me if you were having a panic attack you would know. They suck big time.
They are so bad that I would trade my right foot not to ever have one again.

I get about 4 a day, and even when they go away they still leave behind a residual feeling of generalized anxiety that is no fun either.

I have severe tremors in my hands all the time from them. I even had to stop fishing because I can no longer bait a hook because my hands tremble so bad.

[Linzola1]

Wow thats not likewhat Ihave atall... I can go back to sleep immeditally! Maybe I do have asthma or a bronchial infection! Thanks forclearing thatup! I couldnt imaginegoingthrough that all the time!

[Hensley258]

I suppose that could have been a mild panic attack.
In most cases if you have a panic attack it will feel like your thoughts are racing, you will usually get some bodily sensations, you will hyperventilate, and most of all it pretty much feels like your going insane. You will also be overwhelmed with a sence of intense fear.

In short, if you have one you will know it because it is by far the most horrifing experience you can imagine.

With more severe panic attacks it will feel like your standing outside your body looking in. Then you can get a scary feeling of dis-attachment from the world around you. Some people get a floating feeling.

It is a feeling of complete and utter fear at it's most intense. Going back to sleep after one is almost impossible.

I guess that's about the best I can do to describe what a real panic attack feels like.
I would rather shave my head with a cheese grater while chewing on tin foil than to have them all the time like I do.