Panic attacks
 

For the last few weeks I've been experiencing panic attacks on an almost regular basis. I haven't really found a cause for them, but what's creepy is that since I've been having them, every day has felt...unreal. I don't really know how to describe it. It's like from the moment I wake up I'm in the Matrix. It feels like I'm still dreaming, which in part contributes to triggering my attacks. It's like I become conscious of every aspect of my body. It's so hard to explain.

I've done some research and the topic of "dissociation" caught my eye. Look it up if you haven't heard of it because it describes my condition exactly.

I can't really pinpoint one particular cause. I just had a blood test and everything's reading green, I've adjusted my diet to exclude sugar and caffeine, and I've started leaving work earlier because the attacks have a habit of hitting me at night while in the car.

If anyone could provide me with some help or just some general knowledge on the subject, that would help a lot. I'm not so much worried about the attacks as much as feeling like the world's fake all day. :eek:

I know how the forum rules work and have had threads like this removed before for being too personal. But, I'd like an extra helping hand in this. Especially from people I've never met.

De-hugenate your giant-tastic signature, that'll make all your troubles disappear.

Naw but as far as the actual topic goes, personally I'm not too inclined to spurn anybody asking for help, and I don't think the rules really make a blanket prohibition on it, in any case. It's more just asking that you try to bear in mind the limits of what good can be accomplished in such a situation by an eclectic conglomeration of misfits and oddballs posting on an anonymous internet forum. A lot of this sounds like the sort of thing more in a position to address it seriously, be that a doctor or therapist with actual training and study in these issues to their credit, or just an actual, flesh-and-blood human being, be they friend or family or whatever, who's in a much better position to help get a grasp on whatever it is you're going through.

But I mean yeah, to the extent anyone here can come up with anything that helps, you're welcome to it.

Panic attacks are often semi-annual or annual revisitations of traumatic events. For four years in September I had panic attacks following the worst breakup I ever experienced, with no warning or anything like that. Think back in increments of 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12 months to something that may have happened either at the specific time of day you generally experience the attacks or at the correct luminosity outdoors (i.e. where the sun is in its cycle, and an equivalent level of ambient light). Those will be your common triggers.

Apart from that, dude. Therapy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack

When all else fails, try Wikipedia. And apparently heightened senses is one of the side-effects of a panic attack.

Personally, I've had only a few in my life, and all of them were related to my body having muscles spasms & generally not behaving itself (followed by fears that I was suddenly about to drop dead), ever since I had a tumor removed a few years back.

Still, in addition to changing your diet, I'd suggest you get away from other things like news and/or talk radio. In a time of transition, there's no fault in feeling a bit apprehensive. News & talk radio wouldn't help this, since they tend to over-hype things. If you have to get some news, maybe find something that gives pressure releases. Either Countdown or the Daliy Show could work in that regard, depending on how much news you care to listen too.

Because the situation will be whatever it will be, my recommendation to you is to cut down on your politics. Maybe make it a point to even stay away from the discussion forum as well, at least until you feel that your attacks have subsided.

And I've got to admit, if your in the East Coast area, the weather isn't helping anything. Even if you don't go anywhere, maybe start planning a vacation to someplace nice & warm. I recommend Comic Con.

SWB

A panic attack usually begins as follows: For example, you are walking up the stairs and you get a little tired. Now since you are allready afraid of panic attacks you are somewhat stressfull. You start to think about your 'symptoms' caused by any activity you were doing; like sweating, heart pumping faster. And then you think that this is caused by a incoming panic attack, when actually the cause is just your normal every day living. This then leads to a panic attack, which since is now real, further helps new ones to appear and the one you're having to get worse.

You break the cycle by trying not to be afraid, by trying to control yourself when the thoughts of a possible incoming panic attack appear.

Now that's from what I've studied, but I'd like to remind you that none of us here are experts on the subject (at least not to my knowledge) so I recomend therapy.

Well, there're always pharmaceuticals. I don't know if you're one of those folks who doesn't buy into the whole psycho-pharm thing, but I know people who've experienced really drastic improvements in their lives from taking medication for their depression and/or anxiety (they sometimes go together, something to keep in mind).

Anyway, a psychiatrist is really the person you need to talk to. Or, if you're not big into drugs, see a psychologist instead. If you're on the fence, I guess you could see both, because they'll most likely each have their respective biases regarding medication (psychiatrist for, psychologist against).

What Osterbaum said is correct, fearing the onset of a panic attack can actually trigger one.

If you do see a therapist, see a psychologist first. the most commonly prescribed drugs for panic attacks are antidepressants, zoloft or paxil usually. The side effects, however, probably aren't worth what could be done in therapy. There are plenty of relaxation and other techniques that a psychologist could teach you that would be much less harmful than antidepressant drugs.

Go see a doctor. There are enough forms of panic and anxiety attacks and disorders, you aren't going to glean much here. I've been to to doctors and even cardiologists (that is their title, right? :P) because of some fairly severe panic attacks I had near the end of high school. Mine's also partially hereditary; not all due to trauma and fear.

I suffer from them as well, in the same situations. Plus whenever there is a mirror in the room.

I've found that being in the company of others seems to quell it and calm me, and stop the panic attack. And I've only ever had 1 around a group of people.

Is there anyone IRL you can count on for a phone call, to always be there? Having that resource available helps to quell it in me, at least.

Other than that, yeah, Go see a NATUROPATHIC therapist. Drugs rarely help with anything mental. (See for example: Ritalin.) She can help you diagnose the problem and work towards a cure. I haven't been able to afford it right yet, but I have a temporary solution of my girlfriend having a cell phone that is always on, and I can call her any time I start to panic.

That's actually a pretty ignorant statement. Even just in my personal life, I know people who've been helped tremendously by antidepressants. Furthermore, pretty much any website/doctor/psychiatrist/psychologist will tell you that studies have shown again and again that people respond most effectively to therapy and drugs combined.

Also, with antidepressants, sometimes the first perscription may have little or no effect, but trying different medications can lead to success. Sometimes a patient may have to go through 4 perscriptions before finding one that works, but the benefits of sticking with it can be truly dramatic.

And, though I've never taken Ritalin, I've got a perscription for Adderal XR, and it sure does help me focus, hands-down. This stuff is based on hard data, so, to say that such medication "rarely" helps is simply not factual.

Now, medication may not be for everyone, granted, but it is certainly worth exploring. Dismissing it offhand without any data to support your broad claims helps no one. Psycho-pharm may not be perfectly precise, but it does grant relief to millions of people.