Am I having panic attacks?
Posted , 2 users are following.
hi,
I'm getting a bit worried about myself, I've always been a bit of anxious person but generally I've learned to live with it and function normally. I've had a lot of work related stress for the last 6 months or so and I think I got a little burned out.
A couple of weeks ago I was lying in bed and my left arm was a little bit numb because i was lying on it, and this made me start to worry that I was having a heart attack (silly because I'm 32). I had what seemed like maybe a little panic attack, but now I'm getting them almost daily and I don't really know why, there's not much logical for me to get worried about (though i think health worries are probably a trigger).
The thing is that sometimes these attacks seem to last hours, and it's all feeling a bit endless and bleak. During an attack my heart rate does go up to between 90 and 120 usually, but i don't hyperventilate or feel short of breath really. I feel scared, sometimes kinda frantic, like I'm maybe going to die, sometimes a bit light headed or dizzy, often a bit sick.
Do these sound like panic attacks? i thought panic attacks tended to be quite short, maybe this is just bad anxiety? I don't know, seems like I probably need to see my Doctor after Christmas anyway. Any help/advice would be much appreciated though.
cheers
0 likes, 7 replies
Clidecjay joe63386
Posted
probably yes, mine could last for hours and then i am exhausted for the next 24 hours. It is a terrible cycle. You have to train and assure your brain that is is just a feeling and you are ok. Your HR is ok 90-120ish. When it happens try to find a quiet place to do deep breathing and positive thinking. I went on low dose Sertraline(zoloft) and after 3-4 ive not had one in 9 months if you want to try medication i wish i would have found it many years ago. Your mind interprets all sensations as danger right now and you have to retrain your thoughts. Youtube has some great short videos of hypnosis like John Hall minds in unison 20 minutes sessions is my go to. You will be fine, just try to think positive as this will pass. Stay safe my friend CJ
Clidecjay
Posted
3-4 is weeks
Clidecjay
Posted
youtube minds in unison is by thomas hall not john sorry it is early for me
joe63386 Clidecjay
Posted
Thanks, i tried the video and kept nodding off because it was so relaxing! Yeah I think medication is probably a good idea, I talked to my mum about this at the big family gathering today and she said she's had something very similar for the last 25 years! We'd never spoken about it before, but she manages it with medication, I wonder if there's any generic component to this or just a coincidence.
Clidecjay joe63386
Posted
Absolutely can be passed down. i found out after suffering years that my dad had similar problems. Knowing this would have helped me heal sooner. The issues we have is pretty common and nothing to be ashamed of. Back in my dad's day it was not to be talked about and you were considered to be weak or worse. I am doing really good on sertraline and talked with both of my daughters to let them know about our family's issues so they can identify it if if happens with them. You will feel better and my thoughts are with you. Here if you need to chat CJ
joe63386 Clidecjay
Posted
Thanks buddy, I had a phone consultation with a doctor today and have been prescribed Sertraline too, and will try therapy as well. Cheers for the replies, it was really helpful.
Joe
Clidecjay joe63386
Posted
just want to add. i only take .25(1/2 of .50) pill each day and it is working for 9 months. Dont get discouraged if you feel worse at first. Below is a previous post i did on the sertraline forum>>>.25mg sertraline at 7:15 pm at home(changed quickly from morning to night due to feeling dizzy and sleep problems). Still only Sleep....4-5 hours wakeup, usually can go back for an hour or two. Urination....mine caused by dry mouth/drinking more water. Sexual desire....none, zip, 0 for 4-5 weeks then back to normal. Appetite...none for 3-4 weeks/lost 10lbs/picks up a little more each week after. Headaches...stopped after 7-10 days. Dizziness...lasted after dose only and 10-14 days. Negative thoughts...subsided after 2 weeks, still have on some days due to strenuous work and normal higher heart rate. Now my thoughts>>>The first 3-5 days (for some people maybe 3-4 weeks) was absolutely miserable after starting sertraline and i came very close to stopping(reading this forum gave me encouragement to keep going). So glad i kept going now. I wish i would have found this sooner. In the past i tried paxil/ effexor and had terrible lasting side effects with crazy bad thoughts. This so far is different for me. Truthfully, i may need to up to .50 and i may still, but .25 has helped me drastically. What has it helped for me so far?>>chest pains/heartburn gone. This is the biggie because these pains always made me think it was my heart even after many normal tests. Also, my resting and sleeping heart rate is lower so i have more energy and when i do sleep i have deeper sleep. The best thing is that when actively working my HR still goes up to like 120-130 but when i sit down it goes back down to around 70ish or lower. I used to feel panic and it would stay 90-100 for too long. This tells me it is helping my anxiety and thought process. I now have some hope where 6 weeks ago i felt doomed to the end. I am not great, but greatly better than I was. Finally, to anyone reading this... Give sertraline a chance to start working. If it don't work for you, keep hope something will. Sorry to hijack your forum. Any questions just ask. love to all CJ