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Severe Anxiety Attacks

In the last couple months, my anxiety has increased drastically.  Attacks becoming more common and as of last Friday, the severe attack i had has left me almost anticipating one everyday.  The fear of my throat closing and anything to do with that has sent me into an attack numerous times and have actually had to take sick leave from work.  Ive been on paxil for the last 10 years and have never really experienced an attack like this before.  I do take xanax .25mg when they come on, but its becoming too frequent.  At this point, im just miserable.  I know the fact that im thinking im going to have one and obsessing about my throat is just making it worse but i cant seem to shake the feeling.  Does anyone have any suggestions or opinions? Just any kind of support will help greatly.
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Avatar universal
Also had another symptom that i know has to do with the anxiety...The feeling of my nose clogging when i start to have an attack.  Im guessing this also goes along with the "throat closing" feeling.
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Dude i cant appreciate that enough. Just knowing there's someone else out there that can rationalize with me about what is "not" really happening helps tremendously.  At least for right now until i see the doc this week, everything and anything to do with making it hard to breathe, i believe is going to happen.  The fight is getting better though.  Busy is what i try to stay the most.  I really appreciate you replying to my question and thoughts.  Helped more than you can imagine.
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Avatar universal
Well, first and foremost, I would talk to your doctor perscribing you Paxil.  You may benefit from an increase in the dosage you're on.  If that doesn't do the trick, you may need to find a new medication.  I've been on Zoloft for 10 years, and I've had relapses of panic every few years where I've needed to increase the dosage.  I'm considering going on a new medication if I experience another relapse.  It's very possible for our mind and bodies to grow a certain tolerance to medication over the years, so we need to adjust.

Secondly, try to keep your breathing deep and through your stomach, not chest, and try to relax your muscles.

Thirdly, remember something - and it's easier said than done - but when you're under the influence of panic and anxiety, youre likely predicting things that are inaccurate or exaggerated 99.9% of the team.  Try not to buy what your anxious thoughts are selling.  I know it seems so real because of the anxiety, but the predictions such as your throat closing are not true, and anxiety has no bearing on whether it will come true or not.

Write down on a piece of paper your thoughts/predictions bothering you, such as your throat closing.  Then look at it rationally.  What are the chances your throat is actually going to close?  What proof to you have that will happen?  You can even take it further... see if your throat actually does close.  Don't fight it, just go with it and see if that really happens.

Try not to miss work... it is good to keep your mind occupied.  You will get better once you tweak your medication... so just hang in there now and go with it.

One interesting exercise I've learned about trying to fight the obsessive thoughts and telling yourself not to worry...
Set a timer for one minute.  During that minute, try not to think about a white bear.  If the white bear does pop into your head, write a tick mark on a piece of paper each time it happens.
Next, set a time for one minute, and instead try to think of the white bear.  Write tick mark for each time it pops in your head.
Once youre done, add up the tick marks and you'll probably find that you thought of the white bear when you were trying not to at least as many times as when you were trying to do so.
The point being... telling yourself to stop worrying or stop thinking about your throat only puts more emphasis on it and you think about it more.  Instead, accept the thought and go with it, prove to yourself that it's just a prediction that has no merit, and it's just your anxiety making you believe it to be true.  But your anxiety will eventually pass.
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Arlington, VA
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Arlington, WA
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