Anxiety Panic Free Zone

Posted: anxiety attack

Cause if I haven’t aten all day, sometimes I get to where its hard for me to breathe.
(most likely an anxiety attack)
but is it possible?

It’s not a typical anxiety scenario. Maybe you don’t eat because your anxious.
If you can consult a professional social worker or psychologist.

Keep a diary for 2 weeks…when you get ‘attack’ note when you ate last, what you ate, what you were feeling or thinking just before the attack.

Why aren’t you eating all day. You may be hypoglycemic.

Good luck to you.

Posted: anxiety attack

I’m 16 and I was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder and depression (what a great mix right?) (not only that but it cause headaches everyday) and anyway I haven’t done much research but when I have these ‘attacks’ I normally start breathing real hard to the point where I hyperventilate, I get dizzy, and sick and I just freak out so much that I cry. Is it normal to cry if someone has an attack? Thanks.
Everyone is so nice here on Mental Issues. LoL.
Thanks!

That’s totally normal to cry, yes. Hang in there. Your headaches might be tension related, lov. You might have less pain as you learn to control panic attacks.

Posted: anxiety attack

Have you ever had a panic attack, anxiety attack, or both.

Tell your personal experience, when, where, and why?

How did you overcome it. What did you do?

Frequently, especially when I am worried or overwhelmed. Lots of things help, but I first have to remind myself that it is a panic attack and not to get overwhelmed. To avoid them, exercise helps a lot. Meditation works to build your faith. Having a doctor with whom you can talk is important. I also take 0.5 mg. of clonazepam. Good luck! They can be controlled, it just takes a lot of work and faith.

Posted: anxiety attack

I overheard my mother talking to my dad about getting anxiety attacks. I’ve read information about it but I’m still not clear on it.

An anxiety attack can come out of the clear blue for no reason, many misunderstand that the person has to actually be experiencing anxiety at the moment of the attack, not true.
It reveals itself in many ways/symptoms and can feel like a heart attack, numbness, smothering feeling, heart palpitations, dizziness, extreme fear, the feeling that death is coming, so on and more and more…
Many anxiety attacks, over a period of time would be classified as anxiety/panic disorder, there are many options to treat this problem.
Most people find they have the disorder when they present in the ER not knowing if they are having a heart attack or a stroke and after extensive testing is done and nothing is found…Panic attack is diagnosed.
People can get them from stress, unconcious memories, underlying medical conditions, chemical imbalances in the brain, or genetics.
Help can come from meds, counseling, aromatherapy, distraction, relaxation techniques, etc…
Many people suffer from this but lead normal lives
I have suffered for years from this disorder, but manage to function in a high profile, stressful and demanding role…and in life.

Posted: anxiety attack

Does anyone know what the best thing to do for an anxiety attack is besides taking xanix or valium?

The National Institute of Mental Health states, "Clinical experience suggests that for many patients with panic disorder, a combination of CBT and medication may be the best treatment." Quite simply, cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT is a combination of two kinds of therapy: cognitive and behavioral.

In behavioral therapy, people learn how to change behavior. You may have already heard of the most common behavioral techniques used in the treatment of anxiety disorders: desensitization, relaxation and breathing exercises.

Cognitive therapy focuses on thoughts, assumptions and beliefs. With cognitive therapy, people may learn to recognize and change faulty or maladaptive thinking patterns. Cognitive therapy is not about "positive thinking" in the sense that you must always think happy thoughts. It’s a way to gain control over racing, repetitive thoughts which often feed or trigger anxiety.

The two therapies often are used together because they are beneficial to each other. For example, in the midst of extreme anxiety, it may feel impossible to gain control over your thoughts and apply cognitive therapy techniques. Therefore, a behavioral technique such as deep breathing may help you calm down and focus on your thinking.

Although the NIMH suggests CBT as a treatment for anxiety disorders, it is not necessarily the best and only treatment for everyone. The NIMH makes these important points about CBT:

You should be a motivated person. CBT involves hard work. You will feel uncomfortable at times. You will have to do a lot of work outside of therapy. The harder you work, the better chance you have of recovering.

You should find a specially trained therapist. Be absolutely sure you are going to get what you’re paying for! You will be sorely disappointed and quite frustrated if you don’t.

With these cautions in mind, it’s important to note that many psychotherapists use a combination of CBT and other techniques. You may have a real need for "talk" therapy as well as a need for delving into your past. That’s why it’s so important to ask a therapist up front what your treatment plan will be (and the therapist will probably need to evaluate you first).

In addition, as the NIMH points out, it may be difficult to find a cognitive-behavioral therapist where you live. If that is the case for you, find the best therapist you can, and work on cognitive-behavioral techniques on your own. Two excellent self-help books which apply these techniques are:

Edmund J. Bourne’s The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook
David D. Burns’ The Feeling Good Handbook

Be well.

Rick the Pharmacist
(and former panic attack sufferer)

Posted: anxiety attack

I recently had an anxiety attack and i got over it pretty quick but for the last couple of days ive had a weird lump in my throat feeling..i know what it is, its my esophagus spasming but i wanna know when it will stop because its hard TO eat like stuff goes down and then my chest starts hurting like hell

What im wondering is when will this end?

Impossible to say: if it doesn’t resolve soon, see a doctor.

This isn’t an uncommon effect of an anxiety attack, but it usually lasts only a little while. It’s possible the doc will be able to help resolve it with a muscle relaxant or some such.

Posted: anxiety attack

I was just curious to know how people handle anxiety attack?

First, think to yourself… This is all natural, and its suppose to happen. Accept it, that usually will at least let your inner mind laugh at the situation. Uncontrollable responses to stimuli.

Breathe in deeply, shortness of breath is a symptom, if you can control the symptom by taking in sllooww deep breathes it will have the effect of forcing some of the anxiety away.

Yeah also, I love xanax.

Posted: anxiety attack

I woke up this morning feeling like I’d had an anxiety attack! I was having trouble breathing, my heart was racing, and I felt like I was going to be sick. I had just had a nightmare about my husband..i’m currently going through a divorce. I’m just wondering if it’s possible to have an anxiety attack while you sleep. I would definately appreciate any answers..thanks!

Yes, I get them occasionally. It’s horrible, because in the few moments before I wake up completely it’s incedibly scary not knowing what’s happening.

Sounds like you’re in a really stressful time at he moment, so that’s why it’s happening. You could try cutting out caffeine (including chocolate) and not drinking too much alcohol before you go to bed – I find that helps.

Posted: anxiety attack

I’m at work and have not been able to focus. I am having hot and cold flashes and i have been very nauseous. I started crying in the bathroom and i just feel like i am going insane. I feel like i am having an anxiety attack. I just came back to work this week after having a baby and have been under a lot of stress. Is there anything i can do to feel better or normal again?

slow your brething down and relax.

Posted: anxiety attack

When I try to fall asleep or middle of my sleep, my mucle tingles/ sometimes… but every nite, my head feel weird… I have to wake up to feel better..when I have symptoms, I sometimes feel light headache.. or I am sometimes in panic…During the day, I am fine but lack concentration…..can anxiety attack happen only during the sleep? or is it other?

i’ve suffered from panic attacks for around 10 years and i have never had one at night. i only get them in the daytime