Symptoms of Anxiety and Panic Attacks

[kennyd]

I'm a 32 year old male.  Slightly overweight but I have always been a runner and in good physical shape.  A few months ago I suddenly experienced what seems to have been a panic attack (out of the blue "whoosh" of dizziness, pounding heart, etc). Ended up in emergency with nothing showing to be wrong. Prior to this I was not an anxious person and didn't think of myself as having a hard time dealing with stress.  I am also very social. I have since had several similar attacks, but without the racing heart because I can usually sense them coming on and I get through the discomfort.  I also don't feel panicked or that there is some place I could be that would make things OK, more I just feel like I cannot function and sometimes wonder if I have the energy to get myself home without collapsing (but I have never collapsed). However, now more and more I seem to be heavy-headed and somewhat disconnected, and I often have chest pain and pain in my left arm. I can feel weakened and mentally "down" for days at a time without having a discreet intense episode.  It is difficult to concentrate at times and I have caught myself dissociating.  Sometimes the feelings of weakness and disconnection occur simultaneously with the chest pain.  Sometimes I am feeling particularly good and the pain just suddenly appears on its own, either in my chest, my arm, or both, even though I am not feeling any anxiety or stress when it occurs.

I have had blood tests (incl. thyroid), several EKG's, a 24 hour Holter monitor, and even a cardiac stress test. All show I am healthy.  The problem is that I was not experiencing the chest pain or other symptoms during those tests so I am going to do a Holter again.  Are there any other specific tests I should be asking my doctor for to rule out physical causes?  Are my day-to-day symptoms common of somebody suffering from anxiety or panic?  Could it be something neurological?

I am seeing a psychologist at the moment to try to determine if I have been letting stress and tension build up subconsciously, thus eventually causing this symptoms to rush to the surface.  I've only had three visits, and I feel OK after the visits but in general I don't seem to be improving.  I am not sure if I should be seeing a psychiatrist instead, but I am trying to avoid psychotropic meds because I am afraid of side effects.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  My inability to fully accept that this could be psychological is probably a barrier to treatment...

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You have had all of the important tests necessary to rule out heart disease, and that is the only important alternative to your anxiety experiences that sounds reasonable given what you have described.  If you and your doctor are satisfied that heart disease has been ruled out, then you should focus on your work with the psychologist.  Having something psychological is not a sign of weakness..it is your body-mind talking to you, saying pay attention to something important.  Listen to the message and interrogate the symptoms until you figure out what you are saying to yourself.

[drock]

first im not a doctor but i have had some of the same symptoms and actually developed some agoraphobia and also imagined i had every disease imaginable thinking i was going to drop dead or lose my mind every time you most likely have some sort of anxiety disorder and you don't always have to have extreme stress i realized my panic disorder started after some minor stress but it escalated into a few panic attacks a week to 3-4 a day also then turned into agoraphobia with quite a bit of dissociation my doc gave me xanax and im going to start counseling to try to learn to deal with the feelings and change my thought patterns because the scary feeling you get from panic attacks which are completely harmless can change your thought patterns and turn into a full blown disorder best to nip it in the bud before it gets unmanigable .i know for me it was hard to think i had some sort of mental illness but i soon realized that i had always been an overthinker and extreme worrier my whole life sometimes i think its like the straw that breaks the camels back sometimes and your thought patterns and getting treatment is the best way to go because im a 19 year old male and it was hard enough for me to get treatment because i was embarresed butr i think its the only option i tried for a while to see if it would go away on its own but it usually wont good luck

[drock]

p.s i was also scared of meds and even tried paxil but it made me feel worse to tell you the truth after the first few days with xanax i almost felt completely normal with barely any anxiety and felt 100 times better yet i havent been on it but a week but so far i think medicine gets you down to a level where you can concentrate on changing your thinking and practicing relaxation which i know is hard because when i get real panicky relaxation is out of the question i would try doing things to keep your mind off of the thoughts of what if because it can become a vicious cycle panic attacks cause obsessive and disturbing thoughts not to mention worry and those same thoughts can bring on panic attacks.

[drock]

p.s i also notice the pains even when not having a panic attack that i think occurs from having extra high anxiety worrying about health, panic attacks etc.. also picked up bad habits like checking my pulse constantly thinking my heart was gonna stop and i believe most likely everyone has similar pains maybe not quite as strong due to high anxiety. but when you have panic disorder and are obsessed with your health you are extra sensitive to every little pain that you normally wouldnt notice which in turn makes them feel worse than they actually are because of your excessive worry hope the insight helps

[Maxime]

I'm 22. From my 16 to 17 years I've been experimenting with all sorts of recreational drugs , mainly XTC (mdma). At the end of my wild year I was foolishly enough to start experimenting with LSD. After a couple of times I experienced my first panic attack while in a trip. That was the single most terrifying experience of my life and worst of all , it lasted for 8 hours.
I took the hint and quit all psychoactive substances , but the attacks persisted.  Fearing to involve my parents , I kept it to myself and refused to go to a doctor.
All of this time I did not know that what I had were panic attacks. I thought I permanently broke something in my brain. Thought I was going crazy.  All that seemed to help was alcohol. So I "treated" myself with alcohol the next weeks. After a while the attacks went away and I could sleep again without being, so I stopped drinking on weekdays.

I was healed. At least the worst effects were gone. I did notice a change in my personality. I got more and more depressed , unable to look at myself in the mirror (and I'm really not an ugly man). This also subsided after a while. I learned to like me again or at least tolerate myself , but after all these years I still experience mild social anxiety.
Last year I got a rare opportunity to meet a woman I really liked. I got dumped very soon, because I couldn't handle the feeling of being love. The fear of rejection was so great It totally destroyed my ability to maintain a normal relation. The result was a 6 month depression and I started getting those attacks again. This time I did see a doctor and he explained me what those attack really are ,that they aren't dangerous and he told me a few tricks how you can overcome them without using anti-anxiety drugs.

This was an enormous weight that fell of my shoulders , but the problem is still there. I don't panic anymore when I have these attacks, but I do get the other symptoms. I truly hate the feeling of my heart racing and it can keep me up all night when I have them. Like drock I still feel my pulse when I have an attack.

I vowed not to use ANY drugs anymore a long time ago unless absolutely necessary. But what if my life isn't going to change by itself? Maybe I should consider taking anti-anxiety drugs. The only reason why I drink when going out in the weekends is to counter anxiety. I can't go on doing that because I'm noticing that I'm developping tolerance for it. I don't know what to do. I'd like to feel normal for once.

[Maxime]

I also did some reading up on ecstacy and it's effects on serotonin production. It appears that it damages your serotonin production. That would explain my situation. I can only hope it heals and that I'm not going to have to pay for this the rest of my life.

[drock]

i know the stigma around drugs such as xanax but i feel that that drug changed my life all though it helped that i didnt let the panic attacks go too long without being treated(only about 3 months)after the first 2 days of a low dose of xanax .5mg twice a day i no longer had any of the pains associated with panic also no more attacks and strange thoughts i almost laughed at my self for the way i was thinking and acting. it totally cured my agoraphobia i would say give xanax a shot

[pajero]

Maxime

what were the therapy the doctor told you instead of drugs

[MentalMan]

Hello all.
First off I want to make everyone here and everyone that visits
this post to be very confortable and feeling in control of the situation. With that said:
   Symptoms of anxiety are:

Heart racing
Gas
Vertigo (short dizzy feeling)
Stomach cramps
Shaking
Feeling confused
Breathing problems
Noticeable heart beats
Feeling of lungs feeling with fluid
Trouble swallowing
(The list goes on.)
All symptoms can happen all at once or one at a time.
Anxiety is a disese (disease), but it can be overcome. I promise!
I used to suffer with anxiety, so I know the feeling.
The key to overcome this feeling is:
Realize that it is anxiety and not a serious medical condition that you belive it is, take control of the situation and control your breathing. Take short slow deep breaths and repeat in your head "This is anxiety and Im fine, I can and will control this"
Focus on an object such as a painting or a car.
Think deep into the moment, let your mind wander.
"Who painted this picture, I wonder what his/her life was like,
I bet he/she has quite a collection of other paintings."
Focus & Control are the key elements:
If you are exp an anxiety attack it's best to sit down so you limit the ammount of nuerotransmissions that occur in your system.  Another really good thing to do is exercise on a regular basis.  
Belive me I've spent thousands of dollars on medical bills beliving something was wrong with me.  But the strange part was,
As soon as I went into the hospital I started feeling better.
But I do understand.
Just learn relaxation techniques.
Please anyone: If you feel you need to talk to someone please feel free to e-mail me or Instant Message me: ***@****
   Thank you all for giving me the chance to post this.
                    God Bless You All.
                          SMILE!!

Please do not take this as medical advice, only a doctor can diagnose any medical condition.

[Maxime]

Well first you have to realize that for months I had them without knowing what they were and I did already developped some way to cope with them when they were not as severe. I had most of them while going to sleep. My only line of defense , way of keeping control was keeping the light on and focusing on an object. Sometimes it worked , but a lot of times I did lose control and that's because there were still symptoms that really freaked me out , namely : the racing heart , the pain in my chest , the fear of not breathing enough air.

My doctor gave me a brochure and some breathing tips , and more importantly he gave me a URL which helped me a whole lot to understand what anxiety is, how it's triggered, what it's mechanism is:

http://www.anxietycoach.com

After reading this and remembering my experience with anxiety attacks , it did make sense and I've been in control ever since. My main trigger for attacks is stress , so in stressful days I do still feel them "come up". Even though I keep control and there's no panic , it's still an uncomfortable feeling.

It's like mentalman says , you have to learn to relax. I'm a computer programmer. After 8 hours of programming for my day job , I went home , ate something , spent another 6 hours programming for my own project and went to bed. This is ofcourse asking for an attack. After reading that site I realized that my breathing was totally wrong. I noticed that while programming , I kept my breath in a lot and that I used my upper torso when I did breathe. This unregular and shallow breathing creates tension in the chest muscles (hence the spasms/pain you might feel and mistake for a pain in the heart), makes the heart race and thus creates the perfect symptoms for an anxiety attack. You recognize those symptoms and you say to yourself : "Oh no I'm going to have a panic attack" and the cycle starts.
Read the site , it will explain it a lot better than I do. It teaches you to recognize the prerequisites, learn to control your "selftalk" , breathing etc etc.

Also , this week I've been trying a homeopathic substance called passiflower. It's really relaxing and helps me wind down after a day's work. I've been sleeping like a baby.

I hope that helps.

Drock , it's not really a stygma for me , but because of my background I really try to avoid them. I even deny antibiotics until I'm really really ill. But it's a matter of weighing off the amount anxiety controls your life. If this threatment hadn't improved my situation like it did, I would have gone for the drugs too. But it did improve and I'm willing to go further down that path.

[usefulpup]

I am roughly the same age and physical condition as you and have experienced the same symptoms as you for approx the last three years.In fact as I read your story I thought it could have been written by me.It is good to finally hear that someone has the same problem.I didn't think (and still not convinced) that I had a mental problem it has always been the chest and heart pain I am not one to panic.I would like to hear more from you about how you deal with the problem or if you have found the cause.
My e-mail is ***@****

[Walshy]

May I just say a quick note that i am so glad i have finally found people who are suffering the same as me. Please keep writing as this is the best help i,ve had so far. Will write again.

[bumley]

Is there anyone else who suffers from flutters like when you get a really bad fright and your heart flutters.  I suffer from anxiety and these flutters quite often.

[fpd3hm]

hello,

i am a 32-year old man and suffer from debilitating panic attacks as well.  i am a lawyer, and during the day i often build up anxiety (like a "stress reservoir" in the pit of my stomach).  then, in the middle of the night, i awake with a racing pulse and butterflies in my chest and stomach, which frequently gives way to a full-blown panic attack (replete with pounding heart, sweating, shaking, doomsday ideations, the works.)

i am relieved to learn that others suffer from similar episodes and would be interested to know if yours ever happen at night and what you have done about them.

i recommend exercise, yoga, deep abdominal breathing, and periodic pep talks (to yourself).  these things have all been beneficial to me and have helped me avoid medication.  still, i am hampered by panic more than i would like to admit.

good luck to everyone and keep the faith.

hm

[allegro]

Try meditation - just relax and try to think of nothing.  Thoughts will come to you  - but let them go without judgements and without beating yourself up. Start 10 minutes a day - it really will help.  Good luck

[zoloft helps]

hey im  a 19yr old male who  just recently was diagnosed with panic disorder. it all begun on a typical night around 2 in the morning after i got out of the shower. i got out, tried to go to sleep and  realized my heart rate was unusal, it was fast... i thought too fast... HEART ATTACK was the first thing i thought. i  thought i was dying right then and there. these symptoms went on for  about 5 months, i was  tested for my heart, blood tests (thyroid...etc..) ekg's, echocardiograms and all sorts of tests . the doctors said nothing. they told me i had to see a family physician so i went about 4-5 times  and they gave me protonix...a acid reflux medication.. it did NOTHING..i told her i got pain in my chest my arms  my back i had pain all over  and she looked at me like i was crazy  and said well " i dont wanna give you any anxiety medicine because its addicting and someone your age will be on it for the rest of there life" so i told her i need something and she prescribed ... ZOLOFT..  its not habit forming and it makes me feel normal... i started taking it today for the first time and i havnt been happier in the last 5 months i was able to breath better i had no pains and i actually went out for the first time in  a whileand i cant wait to wake up in the morning and take that pill... thanx zoloft

[winebev]

I am 26 years old and have had anxiety/panic disorder since my very early teens.  I know anxiety facts like the back of my hand.  I have read every book, seen every ER room at least 20 times, have visited w/ countless therapists, and have prayed my guts out.  Anxiety is 100% curable.  The symptoms at first seem to be unbearable and absolutely terrifying but they are not dangerous!  One must learn how to cope with the symptoms in order for them to subside.  You have to understand the nature of anxiety and why you are experiencing it.  9 times out of 10 your anxiety is caused by the way you think.  The worrying, and "what if" thinking, and feeling out of control thinking.  I suggest to see a counselor who specialized in anxiety disorder and talk about meds as well.  Anxiety can be extremely debilitating and a true handicap but it does not have to ruin your life.  There is help.  I am walking proof!  I'm not even going to go into a lot of detail of what I have experienced regaring anxiety, but if I can get help ANYBODY CAN!  I suggest reading "From Panic to Power" by Lucinda Bassett.