Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

I'm having problems dealing with anxiety attacks

The attacks only happened to me 4 times and i noticed that it only happens when i'm with a group of friends and i know they are going to do something bad so i leave. when i leave i have this accelerated heartbeat that i cant control then i have tingling sensations then i become weak. it also seems like i get a fever afterwards or maybe its just me. this is always scares beacuse it feels like i'm going to just faint. but i now i know it doesnt only happen when i'm with friends. two days ago i wanted to go to the mall with my parents and it happened out of nowhere. except this time i didnt get the accelerated heartbeat. i just felt as if something was wrong and i had to keep moving because i couldnt stand still. tomorow's my birthday and i'm scared to even go outside my house for fear that it can happen again. when i went to the hospital 2 days ago they prescribed me xanex and i havent really had an attack ever since. its like my body wanted to have an attack but i can control it this time. maybe it's the pill working i dont know. can anyone give me tips from first hand experience how to control such an event?
23 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
1338204 tn?1288831382
I have suffered for years with what you are going through, and have adapted my own system of dealing with this, firstly no matter how bad you feel when you are at your worst, sweats, heart racing, skin jumping, feeling very nautious, and all of the other yucky syptoms, they are just tempory feelings that will dissapear after a few minutes or so.  Firstly you will get that fight or flight feeling, erach time you have to fight, or it will keep you indoors forever, trust me i know.  When i get an attack I always make sure there is a rest room around, or i fugure out where it is located, so when  i feel like an attack is about to happen, i excuse myself and go to the restroom, i lock myself in the toilet and do slow breathing excersises just to get the heart rate down, then i let the attck no that it isnt gonna beat me, let it no whos the boss of yopur body, then i usually stick my wrists under the cold tap to get my temperature down.   Then i tell myself that i can do whatever i want, this is my body and no matter how bad the feeling get one thing i can assure you is, YOU WILL NOT DIE, YOU WILL NOT FAINT , YOU WILL NOT BE SICK ,,ITS ALL IN THE HEAD,  trust me i have had the worst attacks ever and i have never once passed out or the above  Its trying to mess with your head and make you believe this will happen, and i can assure you I have suffered for 17 years, and nothing bad has ever happend to me in or outside the house, the feelings are not pleasant, but you will come through it, i used to get up to 15 attacks a day, fighting it i am down to 5 attacks a year if not less..
Helpful - 0
1344219 tn?1279201027
HI Andrew,

I have almost the exact same symptons as you except i also have really bad chest pain that makes me think im having a heart attack. I too get worried when going out in public because of the Fainting sensation. Im so worried that im gonna pass out in front of everyone its fustrating >_<. The Xanax does help but if i take it too often i get a feeling of depression so im going to try the anti-depressants. Im glad things are getting better for you x
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i dont get that uncomfrotable feeling as uch anymore so thats great lol. now the thing thats bothering is the yesterday i went to the gym adn did cardio and for some dumb reason i only did it for 12 min and stopped because i thought i was having a panic attack when i wasnt. now im sorta scared to do cardio. anyone got tips on how to get over this fear?
Helpful - 0
1332471 tn?1275512887
Andrew:Yes in a way it is still normal.. You've just got too think i can do this, there is nothing too panick about and breath... Like i said it will end, it'll take a lot of time, heck it took me a long time but i got there :) keep up the good work and if you need too talk too someone about it do.
152152: There has too be a reason why you feel paranoid something that upsets you or bothers you, i went too the docter and the only thing they did was give me medication which i didn't like it made me feel worse.... However it wouldn't hurt too go and talk too your docter let them know...However what i try and works for me is when i start too get into a stage of panick i take big breath... then let it out slowley and calmly for a few times ...and just rember too think positive thoughts.
You've both got too rember theres nothing out there that can hurt you no body judges you and neither of you are alone there are many other people out there that feel the same. :) Keep posting and good luck too you both
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Mate i have been having similar feelings to you recently and i dont understand it. Not as severe but i havent seen a doctor or been prescribed anything. I used to be confident in what i had to say and was almost a complete extrovert but now i cant even make simple conversation with close friends iv known for years. Iv recently met a new girl and she has her own group of friends that i have been spending a lot of time with. I tend to add to the conversation for a few minutes then i dont say a word all day or night.  I used to be happy to chat away with no worry over what people thought now i cant get a word out as im anxious for some reason then i go into a pannic attack where i feel tight chested my heart starts beating faster and faster and i cant handle it. Im also sure they can feel the tension in the room and at this point i question my paranoia. Should i go to the doctor for help or can i deal with this on my own?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
well im still having a fear that it might happen again whenever im hanging out with my friends and i start feeling really uncomfortable...is that normal?
Helpful - 0
1332471 tn?1275512887
Well done, sounds like your doing really well keep up the good work :)... You will be able too hang out with people, it'll happen, it'll take time but it will happen :)
Helpful - 0
1291268 tn?1274810922
Hi Andrew
Sounds like you are doing real good.  'Step by step, day by day' is the way to go.
Put the worrries behind you and find something you really like to do and go for it.
Staying occupied with things other then my own problems was always helpful to me.
keep up the great work!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
so far ive been able to control myself when i go outside with my friends. although i still feel mad wierd though. i feel extremely lightheaded as if nothings in my head. i mean its not a big deal because i blame it on the extreme heat that the day brings on. well when im with my friends i still sorta in a way have a fear of haviong a panic attack but as i rea don the forums, it said to take a long deep breath and calm down and i did. so far everytime i did that it calmed me down and made me worry a lot less about it. i hope that one day id be abl to hang out with people without this constant worry but so far, im overcoming this little by little.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
LeighAlexsandra the deep breathing helps alot. ive been doing that ever since i did research on how to control anxiety attacks. today i was able to hang out with friends and the deep breathign helped alot even though i knew i wasnt gonna have a panic attack. although there were times when i was feeling a little scared and nervous though but i got over it rather quickly. slowly and slowly im getting my life back together. MMahon you are right about me fearing having another attack and if its normal to feel that way the first couple days then i got nothing to worry about. i just love my improvement because at first i thought i wasnt going to get my life back but slowly i am. by the way i found out what stresses me alot and why i was having these attacks but i dont really want to post it because that would mean talking about somebody behind their back. i guess i can say i dont talk to this person anymore because she was the reason why i was ahing these attacks. she was a very bad influence allthogether so im glad i found out what was the reason because ever since i stopped talking to her i havent gotten one serious attack.
Helpful - 0
1332471 tn?1275512887
I get Anixty attacks, i never used too when i was younger they've started a few years ago. The docter gave me medication but i dont like it, it just makes me all droopy as if i was stoned or something anway they can come and go quite easily it can happen if i'm doing the shopping or in the car or even if we have friends round and i dont really have alot too stress about either although i do get very stressed by the simplest things.
What i do when i start too feel it coming is i take a slow deep breath, then i let it out slowley and calm (i learned this trick in prenatel classes) and most of the time it helps, aswell as thinking postive thoughts ... anyway i hope this advice helps :)
Helpful - 0
1291268 tn?1274810922
Everyone gets 'nervous' at times and you will continue to also.  It's a good thing really.
However it is understandable for you to 'fear' having a panic attack when you start to get nervous.  It will take time before you build back up that confidence that being nervous does not mean you will have a panic attack.  Hopefully, in time you won't give it a second thought.
Panic attacks usually occur when one is under heavy stress, and that can be quite normal stress, a job or school, family matters, etc.., out of the ordinary stress, not always but usually.
You are doing just great. Just reassure yourself you're on the road to recovery.
Stay in touch and be happy  :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
oh if it is common with xanax then i have nothing to worry about. im still gonna go see a therapist or psychaiatrist (forgot which is which >.<) just to be safe. now the only thing  that bothers me just a little is that i cant tell the difference between getting nervous and having an attack because if i were to get nervous, i fear of having an anxeity attack,
Helpful - 0
1291268 tn?1274810922
Way to go Andrew!!!  It's never as bad as we anticipate it will be.  Especially when looking back on it :-)
It sounds like you are experiencing 'lightheadedness' which is quite common with xanax.
Try to find, or go back to, something you are interested in and get into it in full force.
Let your mind start to focus on something you can be productive at.  School work, a job,
reading anything that will bring your mind to focus on something else.
In any case I'd say you are doing great and will be yourself in no time.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i feel accomplished today. i actually went to the mall with my mom and back without worrying about anything. well actually im not gonna lie...the walk from my house to the train i was a little scared. i kept thinking the worst was going to happen. it got worse when i was on the train thought like i started thinking more worse but my mom calmed me down and it worked. the rest of the trip was normal. just from this little experience i learned that you need to be calm and think positive thoughts. for me thats very hard to do to be honest but with someone your close to that is very easy to achieve. there was one feeling that kept bugging me the whole day though but it wasnt a big deal. i felt like...my head just felt wierd. like it felt really light or something like that as if my brain wasnt there or something. i cant really describe the feeling but ive been feeling that feeling when i had my first panic attack 4 days ago. other then that im ok. i can leave my house with no fear. oh and if anyone knows the feeling im talking about can you explain to me why one feels that way? i thought maybe it was the pill bt im not to sure about that,
Helpful - 0
1291268 tn?1274810922
That's great Andrew!
Hey look what do you have to lose?  
Take it slow.  Go out for a short time.  Plan it...maybe say an hour or just a half.
When the time is up, go back inside, see how you feel about that accomplishment.
You'll do fine..I'msure.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thank you MMahon today later on i'm gonna get over the fear of going outside. i just need a little time to myself to gather my thoughts and i'll probably be ok.
Helpful - 0
1291268 tn?1274810922
happy birthday Andrew!
We understand your fear about going out and the anxiety that fear brings.
You will see that, with treatment, that fear will subside and you will start back to 'normal'.
I use xanax for panic/anxiety but it's antidepressants that work for me in bringing anxiety under control for the 'long haul'.
Day by day you'll see improvement and with that your confidence  will return and your life will improve. Hang in there.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ever since i've been on xanax i have not have an anxiety attack. i'm not gonna lie i'm afraid to go outside for my birthday for fear it may happen and the worst thing is today's my birthday. yesterday i was nervous about something but i didn't have an attack. now everytime i get nervous about something i get scared that i may have an anxiety attack.
Helpful - 0
757137 tn?1347196453
Whenever someone says he has anxiety and/or panic attacks, the suggestion I make is to have yourself checked out physically. Physical conditions can cause this syndrome. High cortisol, for instance, can do it. If there is a physical cause, this can be treated, whereas if that side is not investigated, and the cause is not emotional, you wind up taking something to alleviate the symptoms, but never get cured.
Helpful - 0
1291268 tn?1274810922
One of the toughest things with anxiety/panic attacks is finding out what comes first...sort of the 'chicken or the egg' type of thing.  Do your fears, worry, thoughts trigger the physical symptoms you have or do the physical  symptoms trigger the fear, worry, and panic thoughts.
The first pshyciatrist I saw 30 years ago told me that 'we'd always be looking for the physical cause' of the symptoms I was dealing with.  He was a smart guy.
I never accepted the notion that I was 'doing this to myself'.. And never in my wildest imagination would I come up with such a thing.  However, I knew from a very early age, 13 about, that I 'wasn't quite right' and that most people 'felt' differently then I did.
Can your thought patterns make you ill? Yes of course they can...they can have a significant  impact on your body and alter brain chemistry, etc..
Anxiety is a slippery slope. Once you start 'sliding', it's like a vortex sweeping you to some feared destruction.
What I'm drivng at I guess is that the treatment for both causes may be the same BUT your emphasis might be more on Therapy or Medication  depending on what side you fall.
I'm sorry if this didn't make much sense..
I know all too well how you feel, as much as one can really know how someone else 'feels'.
Only you really know the best course of action to take.
I would urge you, with your parents help, seek good psychiatric care and if he's competent
do everthing he instructs you to do and then assure yourself that you are doing everything you can to get better.  Cognitive therapy will benefit you a lot I'm sure also.
You have to believe that things will get better and there is relief out there
Let your doctors know that the way you feel is unacceptable and you need answers NOW.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
no i dont have a social phobia although i did consider that i had that at first. i always hung out in big groups of people before and these attack happened only recently. it happens out of nowhere and im sick and tired of feeling this way i really am.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
it definitely sounds to me like you might have some kind of social phobia. I also got that way when i was around certain situations, and I would either excuse myself or try the best I could to tough it out through the situation I was in. It sounds like the feelings your having are a response to some kind of worry or fear you have. You might want to work on identifying what exactly that is. What exactly are you fearful of in these situations? I had the same problem and I discovered what exactly my fear was, and I was able to go into situations like that easier because I knew if my fear was realistic or not. And once you know if your fear is realistic or if it's just a thought, it's easier to manipulate and control. You might be nervous about what your friends will think of you, and then sometimes you get added stress from walking away from a situation. Try the best you can to sit through these situations as long as possible and that will help you overcome them. If you go into situations worrying about it happening that can sometimes trigger them. Try to keep the mindset that you'll be okay and nothing bad is going to happen, and if you feel something bad happening, you can walk away. The best solution is to acknowledge what is really causing this, and addressing that fear. The xanax should help too, but next time you feel it might happen, try to examine what your feeling, and what's going on around you that is making you nervous. If you get to the core of it, it will be easier to deal with.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress :o)
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community

Top Anxiety Answerers
Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?