Anxiety - Fight or Flight Response?

[MrsOckert]

Updated info - 1b, 21/48, ND at 12 weeks.  In the last 2 or 3 weeks I've started experiencing anxiety.  It's not everyday and it's not depression.  It's that fear thing and feels like my body has kicked into high gear.  

If I remember correctly from school the fight or flight response has do with your adrenaline, doesn't it?

Has anyone else experienced this and what do you do/take for it?  I have an apt with doc but not till the 13th.  Valorie

[GoofyDad]

I used to have these problems. As Forsee said, low blood sugar was a big contributor. I walked around with 2mg valiums in my pocket, and took 1 or 2, here and there. Just having them and knowing they worked was a comfort. I haven't needed them for a good long while. But they were life savers when I needed them.

Good luck

[anise]

Unfortunately, I am no stranger to panic attacks.  They are quite hard to deal with, and usually runs in families.  In the past, I never treated it, but just allowed it to come and go.  Now that I am on treatment, I did have a panic attack episode.   A couple of days ago at pilates class, I started getting very dizzy and it turned into a full blown panic attack.  Surprised me as I haven't had one in years, and this one was BAD.  Yesterday I had an appointment to see my NP and told her about my experience.  She put my on 10 mg Paxil to start with and Ativan.  She said to use Ativan for sleep as well, and to keep some with me in case my adrenals go hay wire again.  She mentioned that the treatment will bring on any you issues you might have had in the past and intensify them.  Or could create new ones.  This includes moods, mental, and physical.

[stc1993]

My dr. gave me Xanax for the anxiety it works, helps you sleep also.

Monte

[MrsOckert]

I've never had panic attacks before.  When I read your post I did remember that just before the anxiety I did get light headed and dizzy.  Weird, huh.  I never connected the two.  Paxil you take daily.  Man, I was hoping for something I didn't have to take daily.

What about the Xanax?  Do you take it daily or just when the panic attack comes on?

And do we have any idea what causes them or brings them on?  It's just crazy that it would start out of the blue for no reason at all.  I can't figure out anything in particular that brings it on.

Thanks for answering.

[NYgirl]

My doctor put me on Paxill a month before I started treating (because it takes a few weeks to work).  At the time I thought it was really stupid but I took them. Then I decided I didn't need them and stopped. Well I cracked up big time. Crying, anxious, depressed I mean REALLY just freaking out in only a few days of not taking them so I went right back on. Now I am fine.

I think what the pills do is keep you LEVEL no drastic highs or lows or anxiety building up or anything.

It often is the difference between being able to remain on treatment or not and I am glad I have been taking them.

I've had NO anxiety or nervousness or depression or anything.

PLEASE ask your doctor to prescribe something for you.  You can always go off it if you don't feel it's helping long term.

Maybe some Xxanax or something for the interim since the AD takes a few weeks would help.

You've got such a great history going you should be one of the LAST people to be feeling any of this - keep up the good work!

[anise]

I am going to take the Paxil everyday.  Starting with 10 mg, and if that doesn't work I will go up on dosage.  A couple of years ago my doctor gave me Paxil for pre-menopausal sysmptoms (I'm not sure how that worked), but a side effect was no more panic attacks.  A year later, I weaned myself off the Paxil over a couple of weeks and was able to successfully stop using it.  

For some reason in certain people, the adrenal system goes into a fight or flight mode.  Normally, the flight or fight mechanisms is used to get one away from danger.  It is a powerful response and readies the body to either run or take on the danger.  Well, in our civilized society the danger doesn't have to be there to have an attack.  There are lots of theories why, but it doesn't help when you are one of them that has a haywire flight or fight response.  

For me I aways get a dizzy feeling first, then an otherworldly sensensation like I am not really here.  Then come the sweats, feeling like your going to pass out or have a heart attack.  It's truly horrible!  So when I found out that this might be a side effect for me on treatment, I went to the NP to get a rescue drug for this one!  Hope this helps.