Can the physical symptoms of a panic or anxiety attack last all day, every day??
Posted , 14 users are following.
Hi all, I’m here just looking for suggestions, advice or just an understanding voice.
I’m a 34 year old male and just over one month ago started to have many physical and mental symptoms of an anxiety or panic surge. The problem is that they have been relatively constant throughout this entire time. The symptoms consist mainly of
-severe anxiety that can turn to dread
-a “crawling out of my skin” feeling
-inner restlessness
-general weakness and stiffness
-constant sweating in the palms and soles
-intermittent numbness and tingling in the legs, hands and face
-“lump in the back of the throat” feeling and mild nausea
-heat or cold intolerance
-a general sense of hyper alertness or awareness
-a feeling of malaise or sickness
If these symptoms came in distinct episodes lasting a few minutes to an hour, I may be a bit more relieved. However the problem is that these symptoms have been present virtually all day, every day in the last month. The severity can fluctuate but never truly go away to the point that I have ever felt “at baseline”. These symptoms are most severe in the morning and I can wake up with them or they crash in like a wave in seconds and can last hours. The anxiety can lessen a little towards the evening/night but other times they get worse and prevent me from sleeping. I cannot tolerate anything that increases adrenaline even in the slightest. If I start watching a thriller or take just a sip of coffee, the anxiety drives me over the edge to the point I cannot sit still and must get up and pace. Just over a month ago I used to drink coffee without any problems. The feelings of inner restlessness and anxiety can make my job very difficult, which requires me to basically sit in front of a computer all day long. However, most concerning is that even on a boring weekend, with absolutely nothing going on, I can try to surf the web or read a book and the symptoms will still be there. The strangest symptom has to be the sweaty palms. There never seems to be a moment in the day when my palms are not drenched with sweat. I have started Lexapro 5 mg a week ago and am still waiting for any effect. The only thing that brings relief is a low dose of Klonopin (no surprise) that can last a few hours at most. Common lab work, including thyroid, have been normal thus far. Any words of advice, suggestions, or encouragement would truly be appreciated. I have been alternately fearful, disbelieving, angry, and depressed the whole time and do not know for how many more months to come.
1 like, 41 replies
ray2029
Posted
Melissa4579 ray2029
Posted
Hi ray,
It's very common to have it all day long. I had the same thing before starting my medication. Now I get the occasional flare at least once a day but doesn't last that long at all and I can still function through it. Before the citalopram I couldn't do that at all it was constant dread. The medication isn't a cure all though and still have to work on mind set. You have to combat any negative thought and replace with a positive thought. It is work but well worth the payout because you will feel more at ease. Also to dont give in to the symptoms. Acknowledge it and then just do something that keeps your mind busy on something else. It's hard at first but its baby steps that count. Dont ne hard on yourself if it doesn't disappear right away. Make sure you get nutritious meal and drink plenty of water and try to get as much sleep as possible. Maybe taking the klonopin at night will help you get good sleep. I take my xanax at night for sleep and have been able to be without the day doses. I still think my medicine needs to be raised but I am happy and can see the light at the end of the long tunnel now. You will also. Just be kind to yourself. It's from to much tears of damage that we have put on ourselves mentally and physically till our brains cant process it anymore. We get into bad habits of overworking and not having enough relaxation and happy times and the stress builds and builds. We start having eating problems which may go unnoticed at first and then sleeping problems which again go unnoticed till eventually all that wears us down. It didn't happen over night it slowly snuck in till it was over powering and the body couldn't handle it anymore. It's easier to get past it if you truly understand why it came on. The best thing you can do is be kind to yourself and do not let anything make you feel negative. It will get better!
ann55375 Melissa4579
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ray2029 Melissa4579
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Hi Melissa, thank you very much for the words of encouragement. They really do mean a lot. I am feeling significantly better at the moment because I was able to take a dose of Klonopin earlier today but the days I go without can be sheer torture. However, I am trying to limit the the number of times I take because of the possible tolerance factor. How long did it take approximately for the citalopram to start working for you? I've been taking Lexapro for over a week now and all I can feel so far is a little bit of nausea. I am also thinking very hard about the circumstances that have brought me here. I'm sure that the countless years of stress, an extremely sedentary and socially withdrawn lifestyle (and all the habits that come with it), and a poor diet haven't helped matters any. However, I do suspect there is more to the picture based on its presentation. But these are things I intend to work on regardless.
Melissa4579 ray2029
Posted
Hi ray,
It took about four weeks before I noticed a difference in my anxiety. At first it increased my anxiety to where I was having two to three anxiety attacks a day. So it was very hard for me to convince myself every day to take it. But I am glad I stuck with it cause it does help me. I wouldn't say I am 100% yet but I am close and I am still better then I was. I do think I need an increase though. It really does help to see the whole picture of anxiety and what has caused us to get like this. It takes some digging and some soul searching and then lots of motivation to not let it take control
Cantbreath2254 ray2029
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bev12028 Cantbreath2254
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ray2029 Cantbreath2254
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Hi Brently, well thanks for letting us know that we aren't alone in this situation. I also suffer from shortness of breath from time to time, most noticeable in the days and weeks before the anxiety fully kicked in. Can you tell us a little about how you've dealt with this chronic hyperventilation syndrome?
Guest ray2029
Posted
I’ve had anxiety all my life and I must say to it sounds so foreign to me to hear someone develop it later in life- simply because I’ve had it in all kinds of degrees and never found my “baseline”. That is still my hope.
The Positive: if what you’re experiencing is determined by a doctor as true anxiety, I think it is promising that you only developed it recently. This may mean that it could be temporary, you know? Perhaps the medication or therapy that you explore will more readily get you back to your healthier, more comfortable self, than someone whose body has identified with the feelings for so long- it can be harder to shake.
The loop of noticing new symptoms is that you begin to have anxiety about your anxiety. If you can be aware when you’re thought process is starting to do this, you’re already ahead of the game. I hope the doctor helps to provide relief and please don’t be afraid to consider seeing a therapist. You may find it helpful to target anxiety producing thought patterns.
ray2029 Guest
Posted
Hi, thanks for your response. Yes, it is quite alarming that the anxiety came on so suddenly. It still feels almost surreal. It was shortly after Memorial Day when I was laying in bed and all of a sudden it felt like my body was getting hot and stiff, anxious and restless, sweating, lightheaded and feeling like I wanted to crawl out of my skin. And it's barely let up since. However much I hope that it's temporary, it feels like something that won't go away so easy. And yes, I have noticed that when I worry about the anxiety and what it can mean for the future of my job and life, it definitely snowballs and gets worse. Thank you very much for your suggestions and I will look into making an appointment with a therapist if it can bring even the slightest bit of relief.
jill19850 ray2029
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ray2029 jill19850
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Hey Jill, well normally I would have a lot of trouble sleeping but lately have been taking 50 mg of hydroxyzine at night which seems to help me fall asleep okay. And I can sleep for about 6 hours on it too but yes as soon as I wake up I get the adrenaline rush that you mention. I wake up feeling way too alert and tense and then then the anxiety attack hits soon after. Hopefully the SSRI's start working bc I'd like to limit the klonopin too. I also made an appointment to start therapy soon. Let me know how you're doing or if you've made any headway in treatment bc I'd love to hear about it. Thanks
jill19850 ray2029
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ray2029 jill19850
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Hi Jill, it's been a few days but the anxiety shows no signs of stopping or slowing down for me. Woke up again today with the terrible panic/adrenaline surge that lasted almost an hour and I still feel on edge. How are things on your end? Did you learn or gain anything from the trips to the ER? Because I am seriously considering to go there myself. Thanks
jill19850 ray2029
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Hi Ray,
sorry for the delayed response. ive been to ER twice only to be sent home saying it is anxiety....and I think they are right bc it feels just like anxiety. I just don't understand why I am getting it so badly and why I have such severe sleep issues. have you made any progress of figuring any of this out??
ray2029 jill19850
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Hey Jill, not really. I decided against going to the ER and chose to follow up with my primary care doctor instead but it has been equally frustrating. I requested referrals to see an endocrinologist and a cardiologist to rule out medical causes, such as adrenal gland or heart problems but he dismissed it out of hand. Seems like for some docs hearing the 'anxiety' means they don't have to take it seriously and just recommend talk therapy (which I'm sure is important too). Anyways no I haven't really made much progress. Still taking Lexapro 10 mg and Klonopin as needed. Still have the same symptoms throughout the day, sometimes gets so bad they wake me up at night. Maybe one day we'll get peace or the answers we're looking for.
jill19850 ray2029
Posted
Please keep me posted if you learn anything new. I’m desperate for answers.,,prayers.