Comments on: Fight or Flight? – Learning to live with Panic Attacks

By: amy

amy — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:54:25 +0000

((hugs)) I had one whilst driving because i had had a massive row with hubby before i went to work. I got in the car and started driving and by the time i got to the motorway i couldn't breathe, i was sobbing and i had chest pains. My mind went crazy and i had to convince myself not to drive into a wall to get away from everything. Thankfully I manage to calm down but it was awful xxx .-= amy´s last blog ..Letting it all out =-.

By: Lax Parenting

Lax Parenting — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:52:07 +0000

Huge (((hugs))) it was probably my shite dancing that sent you running for the hills . .-= Lax Parenting´s last blog ..Detoxing Dullness =-.

By: Organic Motherhood with Cool Whip

Organic Motherhood with Cool Whip — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:27:23 +0000

Hi there! Just found your website and I wanted to say that while I don’t suffer from panic attacks, my sister does and I know how incredibly scary they can be. I’m glad you had a friend with you to take good care of you and make sure you were safe. Here’s hoping this will pass and you won’t suffer another any time soon.

By: shelly

shelly — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:27:28 +0000

I can relate to this. I have had panic attacks all my life. They can come out of the blue when I think I’m fine, but usually happen when I am under some kind of stress and am trying to push it to the back of my mind.

I have had medication for them but have also gotten off it. I did not like being on medication or the side effects.

I have heard chamomile tea (caffeine free) is helpful and have tried that. It seems to help calm me calm down but it takes a little while. I also have heard that getting rid of all caffeine is a good idea; though I can’t give up my one “wake up” caffeine of the day. They also say regular exercise can help.
.-= shelly´s last blog ..Review & Giveaway SmartKnit Kids Seamless Sensitivity Socks =-.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:24:26 +0000

Just seen this and sorry to hear what happened. {Hugs} I had a few several years back – Shaftsbury Avenue, Friday night, steps of a theatre, idiotically put onto a packed tube by an ex was the worst. I won’t go on…Anyway, as others have suggested, a meditation tape gradually did the trick – over about 3 weeks the after effects gradually receded. Meditation, rest, and addressing the root of my anxiety. Take care x
.-= Natalie´s last blog ..Snack Pot Lunch Box Set =-.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:29:54 +0000

Hello Bev!

That must’ve been scary for you, especially since you were still waiting to be diagnosed.

The deep steady breathing is the only thing that eventually calms me down. I find myseld pretending I’m breathing into a paper bag.

xxx

By: Ellie

Ellie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:27:46 +0000

Thanks Jen. I like the idea of having a wobbly panic compass. That descibes it perfectly.

Like you, crowds don’t always bother me. Interesting what you say about noise though. I was very very noisy when it happened.

I hope you manage to stay panic free.

xxx

By: bev

bev — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:20:21 +0000

I have only ever had one panic attack so I know how it feels and I feel for you. Mine was when I went into hospital because I was in so much pain with my Crohn's (didn't know that was what it wa at the time). I was waiting at a & e and I could feel it coming on (although I didn't realise what it was until after) and a doctor saw me and took pity. They made me breathe into a mask thingy to calm me but it was exactly as you described. x .-= bev´s last blog ..Levi’s story =-.

By: jen

jen — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:56:59 +0000

Too many things about being surprised there. ‘Unsurprisingly’ in hindsight that the attacks came back. Completely surprised at the time!

By: jen

jen — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:54:49 +0000

I’ve been through them too and they’re nasty as hell. Crowded places used to set them off for me but, interestingly, it wasn’t so much the crush of bodies but the noise level/lighting that would really trigger it, plus whatever underlying anxiety there was that I hadn’t been processing. There seemed to be a noise threshold above which my brain just pinged and off I went – quite literally! Head swimming, chest-contracting, brain fizzing, flight mode out the door.

What was more scary was that, at the time, I just thought ‘That’s me – that’s the way I’m wired’. It took someone following me out of a venue one night and talking to me to realise there was something that needed looking into. I owe that person a lot.

Like The Madhouse, CBT really helped me. I saw a therapist on the NHS about it for a while and that was incredibly helpful. It was a great opportunity to step outside of myself and consider the triggers, discuss the background in a neutral way and, quite frankly, bawl my eyes out on occasion. Yoga and meditation have also been incredibly useful for calming the chattering ‘monkey brain’.

I moved to another country a while back and fell into something of a depression then – and, unsurprisingly, the panic attacks came back too. After the CBT from earlier days, I was surprised that I could be so blind-sided by another panic attack, as I thought I’d dealt with them/put that issue to bed forever. That was a bit of a shock in itself. However, because of the CBT, I felt much better able to deal with them – but found another therapist for a ‘top up’, so to speak. This one I didn’t connect with as well as the previous person from the NHS. But I still got a lot out of it and was able to adjust what I came to think of as my wobbly panic compass.

Hope it all works out for the best. xxx

By: Ellie

Ellie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:30:27 +0000

It is amazing isn’t it? Sometimes the blogosphere is such a supportive environment.

I’m amazed at how many people have gone through this too.

xxx

By: Ellie

Ellie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:29:18 +0000

Thanks hon. Sorry you’re having a tough time with them. I’ll have a nosey at your post in a bit.

xxx

By: Ellie

Ellie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:28:21 +0000

Ah, glad they stopped for him Susie. xxx

By: Ellie

Ellie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:27:04 +0000

Thinking about it, I’m not sure I’ve actually had one when my husband has been there. I tend to feel secure and safe around him.

I have some rescue remedy somewhere so I’ll be putting it my bag for future use!

xxx

By: Ellie

Ellie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:25:18 +0000

It’s scary isn’t it. That feeling of rising panic and loss of rational thought.

((Hugs))

xxx

By: Ellie

Ellie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:24:15 +0000

I defnitley need to learn some sort of coping strategy when they happen. It’s just hard to cope when they happen isn’t it?

I hope you stay panic free forever my lovely! xxx

By: Ellie

Ellie — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:22:02 +0000

Thanks Jen. It helps knowing that people understand. You do sort of feel alone when it’s all happening.

xxx

By: Smitten by Britain

Smitten by Britain — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:11:23 +0000

I want to second MWA’s comment. I am reading Zinn’s book as well and his meditation CD is good. Reading all of your comments it is amazing how people come out of the wood work when you start talking about something, and all the time you can feel so alone like you are the only one. I love the blogosphere.

By: Smitten by Britain

Smitten by Britain — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:07:19 +0000

You and I could talk. I just had a major set back in December and have been under treatment since then. Like you, I thought they were over with. I had not had a major attack in over three years. If you read my Britain or Bust post from Saturday you’ll see that I have been going quite a bit lately and my attacks are caused by fear of health issues. I don’t want to get to personal here but if you want to chat you can email me at smittenbybritain@hotmail.com

By: Susie

Susie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:48:42 +0000

I went through something like that with my 19 year old. With him they stopped when he got out of a stressful situation he was in. HUGS! .-= Susie´s last blog ..Do Yourself a Favor: Learn How To Say NO! =-.

By: Luschka (lvano)

Luschka (lvano) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:06:34 +0000

I seriously empathise with you. I used to suffer them really badly too and regularly, then when I started dating the guy who is now my husband, I had one one day, and he grabbed me and actually talked and breathed me through it (with no prior experience!!) I’ve not had one since. I honestly don’t know how I overcame it, or how he did, but I’m so grateful. I wish you luck with it – oh… just thinking… keep a supply of Bach Rescue Remedy on hand… if you feel it coming, it might just deter it. .. and its all natural
.-= Luschka (lvano)´s last blog ..Packing the Perfect Nappy Bag =-.

By: Mummy Outnumbered

Mummy Outnumbered — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:02:42 +0000

I have full sympathy. I’ve had panic attacks since I was 16 and I know just how horrific they can be. I still have them now, but rarely thank god. I know when they’re going to happen too. I can feel myself getting cold and sweaty, then my vision starts going black. Its so scary knowing wherever you are you have to get out that situation to stop what’s happening to you. Mine is a lot to do with crowds and busy places etc. but its horrible not having any control.

By: Emily O

Emily O — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:49:37 +0000

I had them now and again when I was in my late teens and I later had them when I had PND. For me they occurred when I was depressed, I’m not sure what the triggers were though. I don’t think I managed them very well, I remember feeling claustrophobic, struggling for breath and having that overwhelming feeling of wanting to run somewhere. Thankfully I’ve not had any for a few years now. I’m sorry to hear this happened to you, hopefully it was a one off. I don’t have any great tips for managing them, maybe if you can identify a trigger you can manage it a bit. xx
.-= Emily O´s last blog ..Mummy bloggers: we’re not a new breed after all =-.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:29:48 +0000

Thanks lovely. Glad you seem able to recognise and control it. I can recognise, just need to work on the control!

By: Ellie

Ellie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:17:53 +0000

Flares was scary. Fact.

I’m determined not to Katie! And than you so much for helping me!!

xxxxxx

By: Ellie

Ellie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:16:47 +0000

I hope it was a one off. Fingers crossed.

I shall have a look out for the book, thanks for the tip.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:53:11 +0000

Thanks Mrs xxx

By: Ellie

Ellie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:52:57 +0000

I didn’t even think to associate the two. Could well be.

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:51:13 +0000

I’m telling you it was flares!! horrid place! please don’t let it stop you from enjoying your fun times. Big hugs my lovely xxx

By: Mwa

Mwa — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:51:01 +0000

I did used to have them. I tried to deal with them for years (breathing therapy, physical therapy) and then finally managed with mindfulness (Jon Kabat-Zinn's book is excellent) and meditation. I still sometimes have a relapse, though. Don't let it scare you off doing things too much. It could just have been a one-off. .-= Mwa´s last blog ..Excuse me while I watch some daytime TV =-.