Panic attacks.

[southeast-isher]

Does anyone here suffer from anxiety/panic attacks? I suffer from them about once a week sometimes more. Anyone experience the same? Found any things that help assuage the symptoms?

[Odsox]

St John's Wort capsules work for me.
I had a serious session several years ago and my doctor proscribed some sort of anti-depressant which left me pretty much like a zombie. She actually recommended St John's Wort which as far as I'm concerned have no side effects, they just work, and six years later continue to work although I only take them now during the dark winter months.
Hope it works for you too, good luck.

[baldybloke]

Went through a phase of these years back. Tried everything from Beta Blockers to Hypnotheraphy. Some things worked to a degree but usually just masked the symptoms. The best way to get through them is to try to slow things down. Meditation works for me as I can slow my mind down and get my breathing under control which makes me calm and relaxed. You could try listening to a relaxation CD on a walkman if you initially find it hard to mediatate.
If you feel an attack coming on, find a quiet space, breath in to a count of five then slowly exhale. Try an imagine a nice experience or memory and put yourslf back there. Do this for 10 minutes or as long as you can, and eventually just by thinking of that place will make you feel calmer.
I know it all sounds a bit hippyish but believe me it does work. You also need to change the way you think about things and try and identify what triggers the attacks. The sub conscious mind sees similar things as the same. An example of this would be, if you were bullied at school, any act of aggression towards you now would trigger the same response you felt then.
Also avoid stimulants such as coffee and alcohol for a while.

I hope this helps because I know from experience how scary panic attacks can be.

[southeast-isher]

Thanks all of you. I am already on an anti-depressent which initially helped but now they have returned to the same level (but the anti-depressant helps in other areas). Because i am taking this i wouldn't be able to try St John's Wort as i think they react with each other. I've tried living without tobacco, with tobacco, without coffee, with coffee... and i still get them. Maybe meditation would help.

[baldybloke]

Don't expect a quick cure, it will take time. It took me several months to get my panic attacks under control.

[Silver Ether]

now this sounds a bit nuts ..but my fella has suffered like this for some time ... his latest bout included meal time he found he couldn't breathe and was getting into an awful state .. they did happen other times to day and night .. so trundled of to GP as he was frightened that he was going into depression again but there was no reason everything in the garden is rosie.

He was prescribed Beconase (sp) nasal spray not sure how often he uses it but at least one in the day and before bed .... an he is so much better its amazing and the bonus is his snoring has decreased so much that I don't notice .... like I said sounds nuts but it works for him.

[southeast-isher]

now this sounds a bit nuts ..but my fella has suffered like this for some time ... his latest bout included meal time he found he couldn't breathe and was getting into an awful state .. they did happen other times to day and night .. so trundled of to GP as he was frightened that he was going into depression again but there was no reason everything in the garden is rosie.

He was prescribed Beconase (sp) nasal spray not sure how often he uses it but at least one in the day and before bed .... an he is so much better its amazing and the bonus is his snoring has decreased so much that I don't notice .... like I said sounds nuts but it works for him.

That's interesting. I don't think the same would work on me as i have different symptoms. For example, my breathing is the same as normal. But i'm glad it works for him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beclometasone_dipropionate

[sammyh]

I had hypnotherapy and it worked really well. I haven't had a bad one since- sometimes feel a bit 'flappy' but I think it got me out of the habit of them, if you get my drift....and that was ten years ago. Now i just rely on breathing excercises. Make sure you go to someone with a good reputation- I tiled this guy's bathroom so we did a swap!!!

But I know how terrible they can be, so good luck. It might be worth going back to the GP and asking for hypnotherapy/ relaxation techniques, to work alongside the medication you are taking.

Sam

[southeast-isher]

thanks Sam - i will consider hypnotherapy an option :-)

[sammyh]

It was a very interesting experience, I was quite sceptical to begin with. I remember every part of the session- it was more that the guy put me in a really relaxed state and worked through things with me, than completely put me under hypnosis. The very interesting thing for me was it seemed to put me in a state of control- like I could actually decide wether to have a panic attack or not. When I left, I lit up a fag with the complete understanding I was choosing to smoke! So a month after that I decided to give up smoking too. The therapist did say I was very easy to get into the right 'suggestive' state through, so like all these things it's partly a matter of luck as wether you are the suggestive type ;)