Comments on: Celebrities Cope with Panic Attacks

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:48:58 +0000

This week will be 1 year since my 1st panic attack. I ended up in the emergency room that night after driving 45 home thinking I was dying but couldn’t figure out why. My heart was pounding, I was hyperventilating, my mouth was cotton, my fingers and toes were numb, and I had tunnel vision. I have no idea how I made it home that night because I didn’t see a thing on the road, not a car, not a street light, nothing. When I got home and it didn’t end my Mom took me to the hospital. They immediately told me it was a panic attack and tried to give me Lorazepam. I was so full of fear and doubt that it was a panic attack that I wouldn’t take the medicine. I laid in the ER for 5 hours before it passed. I thought someone drugged me until my bloodwork came back clean. Long story short, I have lived and breathed panic attacks, anxiety, agoraphobia, & countless irrational fears every single day since with little relief. I refused to try medication until months later. Now, I do take a lorazepam when I’m having a full blown attacks. I tried Zoloft for literally one day and had a panic attack so never again. I don’t want to suffer my entire life with this. I don’t wish it on my worst enemy. I was the strongest person in my world. I handled everyone else’s problems in my life and was completely independent. Now I’m needy & fearful of everything. I can’t even go to work. When I do go anywhere, I take my Mom with me; I’m a 34 year old woman. I’m even at risk to loose my home because I can’t work. We all need a miracle.

By: evelyn

evelyn — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:11:45 +0000

hello everyone.. i understand how u feel. its the worst expierence ever! one thing that has held me in one piece is that i know its a way of god calling u to change. sometimes we ignore him but when we are in need hes the first to call.. throw ur anxieties on him and he will diminish them.. try some things like life changes. things u havent really delt with from the past.. deep breathings and most of all prayer.. it will get better that is a promise..

By: april

april — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:52:44 +0000

for Jay, why don’t you look for a psychiatrist. It would help you cope with your concern.
I look forward to your happiness and peace of mind.

By: ------

------ — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:49:13 +0000

Jay-
I learned the hard way too, that even if if you have a dream job, if there is unresolved issues bubbling away under the surface, they WILL find their way out (ie- panic attack).
I am so sorry you’re going through this but just know that you WILL get to the other side of the attack and you will be ok. If you have access to coverage, going to talk therapy with a psychiatrist has been the #1 most helpful tool for me.

A great book to pic up is the (pretty famous) From Panic to Power by Lucinda Bassett.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:32:31 +0000

I am so sorry for everyone who experience anxiety and panic attacks. I was just released from the hospital yesterday due to a panic attack?. I never had a panic attack before…I thought it was a heart attack. I was hyperventilating, arms went numb, and I had pain in my chest. Finally trying to make it to the car, I collapsed. I am normally the rock in my family; the one who can handle anything. I guess not. I have constant anxiety now and coupled with nausea, I find it difficult to get out of bed, let alone go to work. I try to keep an open mind and accept people’s recommendations, but nothing works.

All I can say, without going into a novel, is that I’ve had a very tough life. Now, at 31, my life feels empty and everything I’ve gained in my life (possessions, relationships) is gone. I have a lot of money problems that caused me to sell everything. My car, guitars, amps, collectibles, and just about everything that chronicled my life since very young. There is just waaay too much to list.

Normally I can handle anything, but I feel completely helpless with my anxiety. I just started a new dream job, so I should be on top of the world. Instead I can’t enjoy it and I live on the edge of an attack all day everyday.

I don’t know why my body won’t let me move on from this but I feel like it’s killing me. I had a lot of blood drawn at the hospital, so hopefully I can get to the root of this problem. I feel so horrible all the time I feel as though it may be something bigger and these are fallout.

Anyone, please give some words of advice. I just want to smile and feel happiness again. I used to be a fun guy, now I have no friends, and I don;t leave the house except for work. HELP…

By: annalise

annalise — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:10:20 +0000

I have been having panic attacks since i was in primary school, it wasn’t till I was 27 i learned they were panic attacks. I take cipramil and xanax at night. At night they are the most. I am 41 nearly 42 and know that I will have to live with panic disorder for the rest of my life.
I was abandoned as a child and abused physically and sexually when I was in grade 3, I have always felt inferior and that I was not good enough to be loved. I never believe it when people say they love me or that I am funny or pretty or intelligent. I have no self love so I think a lot of my panic disorder stems from feeling I am unworthy of love and I feel i don’t belong.
I have a gorgeous poodle who is my very best friend. I’ve had him for 5 years, he really helps me feel worthwhile and accepted.
My panic attacks have been so extreme at times I attempted suicide 3 times but it never worked.
I just want to feel inner peace and self love.
I try hard and i believe in God, and pray for guidance.
Im glad I am 41, I am halfway there… my poodle is the only thing that keeps me here.
I suffer depression because of the panic disorder.
I am just waiting til the day i can be with God, no more inner pain.
Thanks for listening.
Annalise

By: Chris vE

Chris vE — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:10:10 +0000

i have been having panic attacks for the last 12 months. They are really unnerving !!

Christina your words are magical !! l was overwhelmed when l read your poem / post .

Thank you so much
Chris
it is the most helpfull information l have read so far and totally calming , thanks

By: Angel

Angel — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:45:12 +0000

I have panic attacks for a long time but for most of my life I didn’t know that it was a medical condition. I was sexual abused for 5 to 10 yrs and my mother was dunk or mentally depressed herself. I have always been the type to be the mother in my childhood days. I was never able to have kids after several attemps ended up having large cycsts that needed to be removed concern would be cancer. I had a full female body remove at the age of 32. I wasn’t aware that your body would change for good and all the stuff I was able to pack in a small part of my brain was gone and nothing I could do and can to this point has stopped the panic attacks. I have taken several meds and went to one of the best mental clinics on ohio but still continue to have attacks at home work and even out in public. I wish there was a cure. I have even placed my faith in God as many christian believers state but it will not go away.

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:04:38 +0000

Christina — your words were very comforting on a very difficult day. Thank you.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:08:34 +0000

I have dealt with panic attacks since I was 7 years old. I am 40 now. I can relate to all of this, and that was lovely Christina. I have it saved.

I have tried everything with these stupid attacks. I know inside that it can’t hurt me, that it will pass, that I need to trust the process of life, but as you all know, if it were a matter of logic, we would be fine.

I’ve tried natural, meds, hypnosis, self help, and while they all help to a certain degree, only the SSRIs have helped the most, with Xanax. Xanax can help a lot on it’s own, but you have to keep taking it to keep calm or maintain and when it wears off, things can escalate again.

I went on Zoloft last October, but I fought against it for months, and was so scared after having bad experiences with meds in the past. Lexapro did help with the panic attacks but I quit thinking I was ok and then had to take it again 3 months later but it didn’t work right that time. Couldn’t take it again. Zoloft has helped with the panic attacks too. I take a very low dose though. I have learned to take the lowest dose possible. For some reason, doctors seem to think more is better and that is NOT always true.

Good luck to everyone.