Panic attacks?
16 June 2010
2 Comments
sb0983 asked:
How do you know that you are having a panic attack? For the last month and a half I have been having dizzy spells and feeling sick to my stomach. The spells would last between 15 to 30 mins. After the spells I would feel really tired and feel tense all over becuase I don’t know when they will come on again. I have had blood work done and next friday I will have and echo done. I have scheduled an appointment with a heart specialist. I will see my doctor on sat July 28 2007 to find out the test results. If I am having a panic attacks is there and kind of medication that I can take to help stop having theses attacks?
How do you know that you are having a panic attack? For the last month and a half I have been having dizzy spells and feeling sick to my stomach. The spells would last between 15 to 30 mins. After the spells I would feel really tired and feel tense all over becuase I don’t know when they will come on again. I have had blood work done and next friday I will have and echo done. I have scheduled an appointment with a heart specialist. I will see my doctor on sat July 28 2007 to find out the test results. If I am having a panic attacks is there and kind of medication that I can take to help stop having theses attacks?
I have suffered from panic attacks for the past 15 years now and I can only say from my experience that it sounds like you have something else going on here physically. I’m glad that you are seeing a doctor and having tests done. When my attacks hit (and they are usually when I am away from home and in very public places, like the mall and stores) I have to leave everything and run for my car. Sometimes that means leaving the shopping cart where it is but I usually tell a clerk that I have to leave suddenly and please put the things away for me. They seem to handle it just fine. I know that feeling too, where you think the fear alone is creating more of a problem and for me that played into a lot of migraines for 27 years. Both good times and bad would bring them on. Literally any strong change of any kind. So you begin to wonder if you are sensing the onset of one or are you creating the next one. The thing I could advise you to do would be to have a calm about you as much as possible and know that if it does happen again, you now have a doctor tracking what’s happening. Try to not drive alone or be without a friend or family member with you for any length of time and make sure the person with you knows the name and number of your doctor. Take care.
Hi, sorry to hear you are feeling so bad. Yes, there’s lots you can do to stop the panic attacks (including medication). However, the following steps should eliminate (or at least significantly reduce) your panic attacks in the meantime:
1.Breathe properly – if you control your breathing, you control panic. As soon as you notice the signs of anxiety, check your breathing: breathe in slowly through your nose pushing your tummy out (to the count of 5 or so). Breathe out slowly and for a bit longer (to the count of 7 or so) through your mouth. Do not breathe rapidly or shallowly (in the chest area). This will soon restore the balance of oxygen and you will feel a lot better.
2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy! CBT is proven to be the most effective thing for panic attacks, OCD and anxiety etc. It takes a bit of work, but it is super effective. (After 15 years of panic attacks, mine stopped completely). You can speak to your doctor about taking a course or you can take a course for free online at:
3. Try relaxation exercise tapes (progressive muscular relaxation). They really help if you practise often enough. You can get free downloads in you put “progressive muscle relaxation” into Google (e.g. lots of universities have them as free downloads)
With each step practise makes perfect. (i.e. practise the steps every day, not just when you are feeling bad). I hope you feel better soon. Best of luck!
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