please help

[tashanw]

I have panic disorder and usually i know to a t when im getting an attack, my face will feel numb and tingly and fingers will get cold and ill get shaky. However lately those symptoms have gone away and now i am having chest pains, sometimes mild and sometimes they hurt really bad and i feel like im going to vomit, could this just be another sign of my panic attacks or could there be something else wrong, i have been to the er 3 times and had an ekg which was normal and some bloodwork which was normal

[Jrsygrl109]

I too suffer from Panic Disorder and I found the best treatment is through a psychiatrist and psychologist. First the Psychiatrist (Not your general practitioner who may try and treat you for this) will properly diagnose and prescribe medication if needed. Then I went to a psychologist and worked through CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) which helped idenitify triggers and how to work through them.  This was especially important for me as I developed Agoraphobia (fear of going outside or more than 2 miles from home).  I often thought I was going crazy with all of the symptoms you described (Plus many more) until I found an effective treatment plan.  Best of luck.

[trdofbeingtrd]

Nausea can be a symptom of panic attacks. Here are some tips/techniques that can help you out and maybe even eventually control your PD.

If you have any questions or want to talk, feel free to message me. I don't know for sure it's PD, but, it sounds like it. I had the problem where after I went to the ER, I still thought something was seriously physically wrong with me, then I accepted that I am okay, and it's just the panic attacks.

Ok, there are pre panic tips and full panic tips.

Let's start with the pre panic tips.

A rubber band around the wrist can help if you use it before the anxiety turns into an anxiety attack. As soon as you start to feel weird you snap the rubber band onto your wrist. For some people, this can "snap" (pun intended) them out of going into the anxiety or panic attack.

When you start to feel the anxiety coming on, think of the most odd thoughts you possibly can. Wonder what a star would look like if it were really a circle in disquise.......how many cattapilars would it take to reach from the earth to saturn if they were drinking caffine. Distracting your thoughts with such bizaare thinking will redirect your mind from getting worse.

Sit down on a bench or chair, put your head between your legs, and force yourself to breathe in deeply, and breathe out deeply. It's when the breathing gets to short and quick that the panic gets worse. At first you might feel like you  can't do it, but with practice, you can.

If you wear correctional glasses, take them off. For some reason sight plays into some peoples anxiety problems.

Ok, now for when you are in an actual panic attack.

Cold water on the face, forehead, neck, and wrists can help calm the anxiety or panic down. If it's cold enough, it's kind of like shocking you out of the attack.

To add to the cold water technique, if you are in full blown panic attack, find ice as soon as you can, put it into some kind of rag or cloth, wet it, and rub it all over your head, face, neck, and behind your ears. Again, the cold shocks the mind out of the anxiety.

Here are some tips to prevent the anxiety and or panic attacks.

Stay away from caffine, as a rule, it is the MAIN reason people suffer from anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

Surround yourself with comedy whenever you start to feel off. Laughter is another technique that can fool the brain into concentrating somewhere else.

Keep a herbal tea you made handy when you are out and about. If you want, as long as you make sure it is safe for you, I will send you some "calm down" recipies that are 100% natural and legal.