panic attacks

[ryanleeevans]

I have been suffering with really bad panic attacks the
Past week or so and its not very plesent . Everytime i go out into general public
I feel panicy and feel weird ive had like a throb in my ribs from were my lungs
Are pushing my ribs out during all this stress and panic
I don tlike feeling like this my dad has had these panic attacks
Since he was younger because of ptsd from the army and he went
On these tablets called zeroxat something like that and he told me
That they gave him really bad side affects he put himself in a mental
Hospital for 10 days and he was still having side affects but now like 20 years down the line hes taking them now with no problem at all and has never
Had a panic attack since . He says im more of a clone of him than anything else
Lol . I booked an appointment for 5 this afternoon and i am nervous
Because i know that i will panic . Because i am in general public its hurtfull and
Really emotional for me as my fiance is pregnant all i want to do is concentrate
On her and the baby but i cant because of this disorder!

[PhoebeBeBe]

The great thing is that you're seeking help, but remember that medication is not the only answer. Look into other forms of help such as:

Diet & Exercise
Counseling
Self Help Books
Meditation

Or even just continuing to talk to people on here or other forums so you're reminded that you are not alone.

I really wish I would have done that. Instead, I ignored my depression and anxiety for a majority of my life. I took medications, and although they helped to some extent I still needed help. I always thought I could deal with it myself, but I was doing it all wrong.

I ignored and/or punished myself for not being "normal" and because of that I let depression and anxiety take a big chunk of my life away from me.

Finally I went into counseling and although it's a slow process for me, I'm stubborn when it comes to change even if it's good for me, I have noticed results and I continue to try and deal with my anxiety and depression in a healthier way.

I hope some of this info was helpful and I wish you the best of luck.


Phoebe

[Shadieeie]

I am on 20 MG Prozac 1x day, I take it in the AM.  Also on Clonazepam, .5 MG 2x a day.  The Prozac is a long acting one and the Clonazepam is a benzo so it's fast acting.  When I feel really panicky, I take a Clonazepam and it calms me down within a half hour.  My Dr wants to get me where I am on the Prozac for the anxiety and the Clonazepam as needed.  I have been on this combo 10 years ago, and was able to kick Anxieties butt, so I'm hoping I can kick it again.  Try not to focus on when you can take you pill, the wait will drive you nuts.  And don't stray from your time to take the pill, that will make things worse for you.  Talk to  your DR about and SSRI and a benzo together, till you can get thru this tough time...

[ryanleeevans]

Thanks for that and being on here and discussing these things is a relief for me as other people suffer from these feelings aswell all i want to do is be happy but at the moment j cant because of this At 8pm ill be taking my tablet to calm me down so i cant wait for that i would like to ask is there a medicine that i can have during the day to keep my mind of it .

[Shadieeie]

I'm pretty sure at your age you're going to be be able to be a Dad and a wonderful one at that.  Try not to focus on the pain at the bottom of your ribs, the more you focus on it, the more you will notice it and be bothered by it.  When you find yourself going to the pain, stop and close your eyes and take your mind to a good place, try to think of a memory or anything that was happy for you.  You will find yourself begin to be less tense.  Breathe deep while you're in that happy place.  It does work, I have to do it myself from time to time when my heart health anxiety seem to try to take over my thoughts.  Good Luck to you!!

[ryanleeevans]

Thanks hun just wanna feel normal for a change instead of being like this
All the time. I feel good right now just a pain in my bottom ribs well its more of a throb i want to be able to see my baby not be the dad that isnt around :(

[ryanleeevans]

Thanks for answering to me it made me feel a little bit better
In myself i went to the doctors yesterday and he prescribed me with
Bedranol SR capsules i took one last night around about 8pm
And tonight reapeat the same thing after 10 mins of taking it i felt really calm im myself and i just felt really chilled and today i woke up felt fine went for a blood test (Fasting bloods) so nothing to eat or drink from 9pm last night
Im waiting on my results hoping and praying that everythings going to be alright i also get like these achey pains in my right side but my doctor said theres nothing to worry about im only 20 and i have a baby on the way with my fiance and all i want to concentrate is on them both but feeling like this gets me down . I want to book another appointment for the doctors
So i can gets more meds so i can be feeling fine through the day aswell as in the night my heart right now as im writing this is beating weirdly like i cant describe it . I dont want to die at my age now i am mainly healthy and keep thinking something is wrong with me and will i die from it

[Shadieeie]

When you feel that anxious feeling coming on, stop yourself and breathe in through your nose deeply, hold it for 3-4 seconds, exhale from your mouth slowly.  This will help calm you down a little bit.  Your Dr may or may not give you meds.  I'm sure medicine today is different than it was when it was given to your Dad.  You have to go into using meds with a positive attitude!  Let us know how your appointment goes and remember you can alway talk to us on here!  

[mele48]

I'm sorry you're going through this!  

First of all, good for you for seeking help.  There's a lot of good help out there, and it takes a lot of courage to ask for it.  

Can someone drive you/go with you?  Maybe having that company & support would help.  

Self-coaching is huge when working through anxiety.  The enormity of what if's can be so overwhelming.  When I'm struggling, I break things down into the smallest increments and tasks.  I cheerlead myself all the way through it.  "All I need to do is get ready for work...you did it!  Good job!  Now, all you have to do is drive to work.....all you have to do is check your emails...." etc. etc.  Try breaking your trip out in the public in little increments.  Tell yourself, "it's going to be okay.  It's just anxiety.  It's no fun, but it's just anxiety.  I'm going to get in the car, and drive to (location)."  Visualize everything going positively and well.  If someone can't go with you, fire up your phone and talk to someone on the way.  Turn on your favorite music.  Start making a mental list of everything you want to talk about at your appointment.

Breathing is also a good technique to manage anxiety.  Slow, deep breaths through your nose into your belly (I call them "darth vader" breaths).  Then slow exhale out of your mouth - hold the exhale.  Repeat.  

Try not to dwell on the past and your dad's experiences.  Meds and other techniques have changed dramatically in the last few years.  There are lots of great therapy styles and medications that have helped a lot of people manage their anxiety successfully.  I like to call myself a poster child of success for both!

Most importantly - and trust me on this one - things ARE going to get better.  There IS life beyond anxiety.  I know it's hard when you're traveling this road, but you're doing the right thing to get help.  

Best wishes to you!