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I am new to these boards and am having a tough time navigating. I am writing to share my story of how I recovered from extreme anxiety and panic. I spent years going through panic and anxiety attacks daily/weekly/monthly. Most of my anxiety was based on future worries and future thinking.

After too long, I finally sought a therapist and got on medication (Zoloft). It helped greatly, and within months I was doing better.

But I didn't stop there, I wanted not only to get better, back to where I once was, but i wanted to be better than I ever was. I wanted to learn all about anxiety/panic and understand all there is to know about it, so it would never come back.

I began reading online and various books, this truly helped my recovery. In fact, I think it was the key factor that I am GREAT today. I came across a book entitled My Quarter-Life Crisis by Lee Wellman (www.leewellman.com) and it truly shaped/changed my life. I highly recommend it.

Today, after years, I am off medication and no longer have issues with anxiety and panic--it is possible! I never thought it was. I am writing to let you all know that full recovery is an option. It's about having faith, commitment, and giving yourself time to practice and overcome these awful disorders.

I wish you all the best.

SD

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Sam

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hi i just read your story and i feel the same way and i also take zolft im going to be 40 this year and i have 3 sons i just started to take zolft its been 6 month know i hope it would work for me i know its not going to go away anyday soon but it helps to hear your story

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I have a panic disorder and am also on Zoloft. I find that the Zoloft doesn't do anything for a full-blown attack. I recommend asking your doctor about an anxiety-specific medication to take only when you need it. My attacks are so bad that I can't possibly deal with them on just Zoloft alone.

I take Klonopin, which gets mixed reviews from people -- everyone agrees that it works, but some people become dependent on it and go through withdrawal if they don't take it. I have been using it for 7 years and I have never experienced any negative effects. I used to take 5 pills a day, but now I only take it once a month, if needed. Everyone is different.

Panic is the worst -- keep trying things until you get something that works! I sure tried a lot of things before I found the right combination for me.

Cat

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Thank you all for sharing your stories, but I am very curious as to what is an actual panic/anxiety attack. How does it feel? What is the aftermath? And also, is there a natural way (i.e not using prescribed medicine) to help deal with this?

thanks!

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A panic attack is a random physiologic response of anxiety that lasts less than 10 minutes. Shortness of Breath, Chest pain, Sweating, and a sense of impending doom are common symptoms. Panic (fight or flight) response is natural, if someone has a gun to your head, but it becomes a disorder when it happens at random times such as driving a car.
SSRI's and SNRI's are the medications of choice because they are non-addictive and help keep and even keel. However, they do not help for acute symptoms and take up to 6 weeks to have a full effects, so anti-anxiety medicines like benzodiazepines are often helpful to have on an as needed basis. In my professional opinion, Klonipin is the best BZD because I see less dependency with it, and it is a good potency and lasts longer than most.

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Rocker, since you asked... my attacks start out with a sudden feeling that "something is not right." I feel like a deer in the headlights. I take my medication right there because I know what is coming.

Then I get a tingling across my back and on the back of my neck -- almost like if someone scares you real bad, you get an adrenaline rush -- but my adrenaline rush does not go away. I get very hot and start sweating and hyperventilating. The fear I feel is unbearable. I am literally spooked although there is nothing around that is threatening to me. Rationally I know I am fine but my physical symptoms are so bad that I can't calm down no matter what. I try not to let my thoughts wander because bad thoughts only make the situation worse. I pace a lot.

The tingling (constant adrenaline rush) stays with me for about 20 minutes, but sometimes up to an hour. I find cold air helps (yes I have stuck my head in the freezer before) as well as medication. Klonopin dulls my senses and allows me to relax. I don't know what I would do without it.

People have told me I could avoid attacks by modifying my behavior, but I think of a panic attack like the hiccups or a sneeze -- The adrenaline coursing through my body cannot be stopped by trying to reason with it!

I hope that helps you to understand.

Cat

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BlueCat wrote: Rocker, since you asked... my attacks start out with a sudden feeling that "something is not right." I feel like a deer in the headlights. I take my medication right there because I know what is coming. Then I get a tingling across my back and on the back of my neck -- almost like if someone scares you real bad, you get an adrenaline rush -- but my adrenaline rush does not go away. I get very hot and start sweating and hyperventilating. The fear I feel is unbearable. I am literally spooked although there is nothing around that is threatening to me. Rationally I know I am fine but my physical symptoms are so bad that I can't calm down no matter what. I try not to let my thoughts wander because bad thoughts only make the situation worse. I pace a lot. The tingling (constant adrenaline rush) stays with me for about 20 minutes, but sometimes up to an hour. I find cold air helps (yes I have stuck my head in the freezer before) as well as medication. Klonopin dulls my senses and allows me to relax. I don't know what I would do without it. People have told me I could avoid attacks by modifying my behavior, but I think of a panic attack like the hiccups or a sneeze -- The adrenaline coursing through my body cannot be stopped by trying to reason with it! I hope that helps you to understand. Cat

I recently joined this site and am very impressed and sympathetic to the panic attack/anxiety disorder. I have come a long way in dealing with these issues but the other day after a bad job review I was greatly discouraged and for days I've been unable to function. I tend to freeze up like a little wooden
soldier when this comes on me. I take Celexa daily and Xanax on occasion if I have an episode like this.
I'm usually in very good balance and regularly go to an alternative style chiropractor but this comes up on occasion and I need to find my balance again.
God bless each of you...

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Idiopathic anxiety disorder has been linked to glucose management and situational hypoglycemia. Many who are experiencing anxiety attacks for eh first time should invest in a glucometer. Test your blood glucose levels to see if there is a pattern. Many have nightline episodes of anxiety which is preceded by a rapid drop in blood glucose. This is evidenced by an abnormal rise in glucose as a result of the liberation of glycogen by the production of cortisol and glucagon to stabilize blood glucose levels. The brain is almost wholly dependant on glucose and two things can occur to trigger anxiety. The first is the most obvious - a rapid drop in blood glucose. The other is a bit more sinister and this is when cells become less sensitive to insulin as in pre-diabetic status. This will show a "normal" glucose level yet the symptoms of hypoglycemia are still evident. The typical symptoms of hypoglycemia are:


feeling anxious or weak
nervousness and shakiness
perspiration
dizziness or light-headedness
sleepiness
confusion
difficulty speaking
hunger


During sleep you might

cry out or have nightmares
find that your pajamas or sheets are damp from perspiration
feel tired, irritable, or confused when you wake up

Poor blood glucose management and hypoglycemia should be eliminated as a possible cause prior to turning to prescription drugs in my humble opinion.

The nation is in a tail spin with lifestyle choices that cause poor glucose management.

Carl

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For anxiety or depression, I might suggest something along the lines of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Basically, you just need to ask yourself some basic questions when you start to worry:

What is the very worst thing that can happen if your worst worry comes true? In other words, if you worry about bills, ask yourself, what's the likely hood that you have not paid your bills in the past?

If it's depression, it's important to get up and keep active, even if you don't feel like it. This means writing down on a sheet of paper what you specifically intend to accomplish for the next day and then, writing how much of it you completed, and scale it with a level of satisfaction.

Example:

Going to Store ( Preceived difficulty 80%)
After going to store (Actual difficult 10%)

Try getting some books on cognitive therapy, especially ones that will challenge your automatic thoughts. A good one is called Feeling good by PhD Burns!

Hope that helps!

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Interesting advice Chicagojack, thanks.

I was a psychology minor in college and I agree that cognitive behavior therapy is really valid and beneficial -- most of the time. Unfortunately, my panic attacks are disturbing bursts of adrenaline and fear... far out of reach of reason.

I like to say that my episodes simulate a tiger attack. What I mean is, if a tiger attacked you, your adrenaline would race and you would feel dire and abject terror. That is what I feel when I have a panic attack. No amount of reasoning can get rid of those sensations.

Anyway, cognitive behavior therapy *is* very beneficial, unless you are having a severe panic attack. I just wanted to throw that out there because there are times when it just doesn't work.

Cat