i just had one of the worst panic attacks ive ever had

[Ariana Celeste]

thanks to my neighbor (and close friend) taking care of me, i'm alright now. we almost went to ER because i thought i was dying. shes taking care of my dog right now so i can have some 'alone time' and finish calming down. i feel almost normal now but im all sore from getting so tense. lol.
ive been under so much stress lately and ive never really learned how to cope with even small amounts of stress. i try to remember the things that my old counselor would tell me, but its hard to do that when i'm freaking out. im very lucky to have such a good friend right next door. she really took care of me.
anywho im not even sure why im posting this. im still kind of in shock. :)

[WritingIsMyReligion]

1. Dang, that's awful.

:(

I've never had a panic attack, half because I'm "too young" and half because I'm sometimes deplorably "chill"--my emotions are an ocean away from my mind, and ne'r do the two meet.

Hope you feel better soon!

[Ariana Celeste]

5. i hope you never have one hun

they are not fun lol. :hug:

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. Damn, girl!

Glad your friend was there. Anything I can do?

:hug: :loveya:

[Ariana Celeste]

4. think good thoughts for me

:) :hug:

[EFerrari]

3. You must be exhausted.

:hug:

[Ariana Celeste]

6. i am lol

feeling a lot calmer now :hug:

[bigwillq]

7. Oh that is awful.

:hug: I am sorry baby. I use to get bad ones. I feel for you. :hug:

[Ariana Celeste]

9. thanks hun

i hope you are doing good these days :hug:

[bigwillq]

15. I am ok.

Work sucks but what the hell you gonna do.

:hug:

[Ariana Celeste]

19. haha yeah i hear ya

:hug:

[BarenakedLady]

8. Yikes!

:hug:

I know how awful that is.

[Ariana Celeste]

11. they suck >.

im going to go back into counseling as soon as i can afford it

[NightWatcher]

10. been there, and I feel for you.

take care of yourself.

sending good vibes

[Ariana Celeste]

13. i appreciate that

:hug:

[MsKandice01]

12. I'm a fellow panic disorder sufferer

I know that feeling all too well. I've had panic disorder for over 15 years now. I'm convinced I'm dying every time I have one. It took a couple ER visits in the beginning to realize what was going on and that it was all in my head. I'm now at the point, years later, where I can control them and when I feel them coming on, I tell myself over and over again that it's a panic attack and I can usually nip them in the bud before they get so out of control that no amount of coaxing myself will help.

One thing that helped me tremendously while I was having a major attack was doing a Google search for panic attacks and reading the symptoms of panic attacks. It sounds strange but it really helped me convince myself that it was just a panic attack and that I wasn't going to die. Once those thoughts come into your head, it's really easy to spiral out of control if you're not careful.

Taking slow, deep breaths and concentrating solely on my breathing helps too.

[Ariana Celeste]

16. i did that with my breathing and kept a cold damp rag on my face

and funny that you say that because ive been googling since i came back home from my neighbors. ive been having panic attacks for around 6 years now- ive just recent gotten to the point where i can feel them coming on, and sometimes i can stop them, sometimes i cant.

[Deja Q]

14. If you'll allow this from me:

:pals: :hug: :pals: :hug: :pals:

[Ariana Celeste]

18. thank you hun :)

:hug:!

[GenDem]

17. I used to have bad ones like that

I can sympathize. I once went to the emergency room with my fingers locked up because the stress actually fucked up my muscles.

Sending you all the vibes I can muster up. :hug:

[Ariana Celeste]

20. oh wow

i can see how that could happen! thanks for your reply :hug:

[GenDem]

27. We laugh about it, now

Mr. Gen and I -- which is a little comic relief. Mine was triggered by hormones after the birth of my daughter. Couldn't eat or sleep, but was able to work -- only because I had someone like your neighbor at work that took very good care of me. I'm glad you have someone that will look out for you.:pals:
:hug:

[dajoki]

21. I get them too...

having a good friend, like you do and the right meds help. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.:pals:

[Ariana Celeste]

23. like i said, im very lucky to have her

thank you, im feeling much better now, just sore :hug:

[Gormy Cuss]

22. Panic attacks suck.

I hope that the next time you feel one coming on you can apply the tools to defuse it.:hug:

[Ariana Celeste]

24. damn i hope so too! lol!

:hug:

[lost-in-nj]

25. I can relate

my first one I ended up in the ER with a heart rate of 225.
I had one in the food store and had to leave my grocery's and go home....

(((((((HUGS)))))))))
they suck.... I take At ivan now when I need it
I also tell my panic attacks when they start
"I DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THIS, I AM NOT GOING TO GIVE INTO THIS
LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!!!
Try it it just might work, make your mind think BEYOND the attacks

Ariana (btw I love the name)

take it from the panic attack queen....
you CAN and WILL get rid of them
you are stronger....

lost

[Ariana Celeste]

26. that must have been terrifying

i will try your advice! im glad youve gotten help :) and thanks for the compliment, im pretty fond of the name too hehe

:hug:

[Forkboy]

28. I can barely go anywhere without feeling like I'm about to have one.

Hope you're feeling better.I know they suck,big time.

[Cabcere]

29. I'm sorry, Ariana Celeste.

:hug: Panic attacks are no fun at all! :( I started getting them about seven years ago, after my dad suffered a massive pulmonary embolism and almost died, and I still get them today (although now it's mostly due to academic stress). And yeah, it's really hard to remember the deep breathing and other calming things you're supposed to do when your body is convinced it's going to self-destruct. I'm glad your friend was able to be there for you, and that you're doing better now. :hug: Take care of yourself, and let us know if there's anything we can do! :hi:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

30. I had a couple drug-induced attacks a few years back

The worst one occurred as I was riding my motorcycle down the street- it suddenly hit me, and I had to pull off the road into a parking lot. I sat there on my bike for ten minutes simply trying to remember how to breathe.

Fortunately it passed, and I was able to finally drive home. But as I experienced it, it was VERY rough. I know exactly what you were feeling, and I can sympathize.

[wildhorses]

31. ----

:hug:

[Adsos Letter]

32. Ariana Celeste

Glad you feel better. I crashed with major Depression/Obsessive-Compulsive/Anxiety-Attack triple whammy a few years ago...I know how they feel.

As far as the Panic Attacks go: My therapist helped me learn to try to nip it when it was still at the anxiety stage, if possible: lie down and do the controlled deep breathing thing. After that kicks in, try to visualize/feel the stress/panic as a ball or orange in the center of your stomach...begin to try to mentally "peel" the orange, consciously releasing stress with each "peeling". Remember to breathe. Once it gets under control and you feel better, get out and take at least a 20 minute "fast-walk", breathe deep, get your heart pumpin' and get those endorphines up.

I truly feel with you on this one...anxiety attacks used to paralyze me and make my life extremely miserable. Let me offer you this hope: that I was about as sick as a guy can be without being hospitalized (and I probably should have been) but, over time and with work, I now live a very normal and satisfied life. Some anxiety at times but NOTHING like it used to be.

You mentioned counseling, when you can afford it. Good. Let me offer you a suggestion in the mean time. Its a book--I have found one which really worked for me, and others have had a lot of success with it too.

It is called "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" (3rd edition) by Edmund J. Bourne, Ph.D.

It is a great resource/workbook; you can get it through Amazon for about $11.00, used.

Good Luck-- DON'T QUIT!

[Danger Mouse]

33. Hang in there.

:hug:

[donheld]

34. I'm so sorry

I get them too so I feel for you :hug:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

35. If you are ever in a situation...

where you are having a panic attack that you are having trouble controling using cognitive behavioral tools, just pull out the old small paper bag, place it over your nose and mouth, and continue to breathe into it for at least 5 minutes, or until you start to come down.

When you are having a panic attack, your are hyperventilating and increasing the amount of bad carbon in your system, which them triggers the release of fight-or-flight stress chemicals that tell your body to hit warp speed and cause the thoughts that you are dying, losing your mond, having a heart attack, etc. The key to stopping it is to short circuit the hyperventilation and reduce the amount of bad carbon -- you do this by either slowing down your breathing or the quick and dirty way with the paper bag. Once you reduce the levels, a new chemical is released that tells your system you are out of danger and it is time to relax.

THIS REALLY DOES WORK.

I have suffered from panic disorder with agoraphobia for almost 20 years now, and I was lucky to get into a class at Kaiser where I learned exactly what a panic attack was, what triggered them, and how to short circuit them. In the six years since I took that class, I have had only one major episode that I was unable to control using the skills and techniques I learned. (It was perimenopausal related and a whopper that took a week of Xanax to come down off of.)

When I get home, I'll give you the name and author of the text book that Kasier used -- it really changed my life.

[Shell Beau]

36. You should see a doc. There is no need to suffer needlessly!

:hug: