I've been having a few rough months because I have developed what is defined as P.A.D. (Panic Anxiety Disorder)....What I thought was initially a stroke or heart attack became a series of Panic Attacks and now I'm under meds and trying to overcome this disorder.

I have not seeked therepy though I have heard this is the best way to overcome this condition. I've been alright the last couple days but without warning I'll become stressed and a panic attack would surface.

I'm taking Attivan...a little white pill that calms me down...anyone else going through this?

I'm scared that this will lead to phobia and that I will not be able to leave my house.....please help!

VpB....aka Manny

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

yes because i had a doctor that prescibed me lorazapam (ativan) for anxiety when i was in the hospital but he failed to tell me how highly addictive this medication was..i took it for 13 years and as i reached my tolerance level i would get panic attacks..they are very scary but after awhile i learned to control them when i felt this way but it was still very hard...today im on lexapro and it helps but just remember when you have these attacks never think you are crazy because its a very real problem and its not all in your mind

I had them not very often growing up..only about 4 or 5 times...and I never did go to a doctor for them...just tried to keep calm...

Hope everything works out










ok then maybe mine weren't a full panic attack..unless I just handled it well..it fuckin felt like it
[Edited 9/28/05 2:58am]

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

i just noticed you mentioned u take ativan. i dont want to tell you what u should do but please take my advice ativan is HIGHLY addictive as i said i was on those 13 years i finally got off them 3 weeks ago..and getting off them was one of the worst things i have ever gone thru..i know the calm feeling you get with ativan but beleive me in the long run they are no good for you...ask your doctor about lexapro its not as addicting as ativan and it lasts much longer..but remember NEVER stop taking your ativan cutting them back could cause a seziure

Mazerati said:

Thank you so much for responding....Ativan is what I am taking and I do not want to become addicted to it...but it is the only thing than can help me keep calm during stressfull times.

I hope I can overcome this...it came from nowhere....all of a sudden going to the grocery store, bank, or a restaurant is scary....how does this happen???? I used to love going out....now being around crowds freaks me out like nothing else!

This 'lil white pill' helps this..but I'm afraid I will become too dependant on it!

Thanks for the feedback!

peace

read all about ativan and other pills in the same family here

http://www.benzo.org.uk/index.htm

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

how long have u been taking ativan? it takes 3 weeks to become dependant on them

Mazerati said:

Since August 1st.

I'm not taking them all the time but I have them handy. Should I change meds? Please let me know....the last thing I want to do is become addicted to something. These pills are just helping me keep calm...but I dont want to end up wanting to take one everyday. I'm flying from Orange Cty, CA to Seattle next week and all I can think about is taking down 2-3 of these babies to keep me calm...I am not afraid of flying but I'm afraid my anxiety will takeover and the last thing I want is this crazy freak-out on a plane. This sucks people...but I think I can control it before is controls me....I make every effort to go out and do stuff rather than stay home and worry....but the anxiety still remains....I feel it in my body.....I may just need to go to see a therepist and see what the hell is up.....how does anxiety happen???? I guess for me its work....

I need all the support you can provide....share your stories....give me feedback.....I come here for solace...and now I must come for support!

VpB..aka Manny

peace

Going to bed...but please provide feedback!

I want to know what you've done to overcome this.....

Much love...

Manny

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

i dont recommend you change until you see your doctor as i said ativan can be dangerous when you quit cold turkey..but you are not taking them everyday (i was taking them 3 times a day) so thats good..i know the calm feeling you have with ativan..

go here http://www.apa.org/pubinfo/panic.html for information on panic attacks

and here is another good place with a forum http://panicdisorder.abou...boards.htm

I'm not sure therapy is a good idea. In my experience, if I acknowledge the existence of anxiety attacks, it seems to make them more real and they happen more often.

I used to suffer from them back in highschool. My heart would beat through my chest. I don't seem to get them anymore now im getting stress attacks where I get an awful headache nad my vison becomes blurry. I don't know if therapy will help I would suggest some kinda of legal or illegal drug that will help.

xanax or ativan or klonipin


ativans are the best for me.
[Edited 9/28/05 4:09am]

Anxiety Attack

But seriously,

If I have it...I usually take Xanax. Works pretty well.

Anxiety attacks me often.

the other day i was sitting quietly eating a falafel sandwich, and he just came running at me out of nowhere, knocked me over and stole my milk money... such a bastard

I started getting them after I took Extacy one time. I had a bad trip, and about two weeks later I started getting the panic attacks. The doctor prescribed Paxil which made things worse. I couldn't eat, drink or sleep. I stopped that after a couple days.

I was scared to fly, shop or anything that involved lots of people. I was kind of lucky, since mine wasn't natural so much as drug-induced chemical imbalance. I ate lots of rich foods/vitamins (try 5htp--tryptophan) to replenish my brain & body, and I desensitized myself to the things that caused the attacks.

It took a long time but I'm mostly better. But I was damaged psychologically--I remember the feeling of panic three years later and have to fight it when I fly, etc.

Don't do Extacy. You may be fine, but you may not.

yep, brought on by stress.....I haven't had any since last year and getting rid of a few people in my life that caused them

I suffered panic attacks earlier this year. It just happened. I was kind of stressed but nothing out of the ordinary. I had two counseling sessions and never returned. I haven't had one since.


M

Hey All!

Thanks for the support/feedback/laughs....I woke up this morning with a very positive outlook on things. I think that's the key. Controlling your thoughts and not worrying about little things. I'm what's known as a 'worry rat' and I stress about stupid things I shouldnt stress about. I'm also pretty compulsive as well.

The good thing is that I have used the pill less in the last week and I'm not thinking about it as my 'ticket to live'. At first, if I did not have the pill in my pocket...that alone would freak me out until I realized how pathetic that really is. I do keep the meds close but I am trying to overcome this without the help of them.

People have suggested I go to therepy, but like many of you..I dont think that will help much. I think I could spend my money in a wiser way.

Keep sharing stories...believe me..they are helping...and for those who provided links...thank you...I'm checking them out now!

much love!

I suffer from panic attacks as well. I'm highly resistant to meds, so I have to change them quite often. I've been on Paxil, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, and a couple of others that escape me at the moment. So far, they all seem to work for a few months, then I build up a tolerance to them.

My doctor daid Paxil's only meant to be used for about 6 months.

The useful things he told me--Get sunshine, exercise, and have fun. These things naturally restore good chemicals in your brain, and get you out of the worry cycle.

Therapy can definitely help, but you need to invest a lot of time & money. $1000 worth of therapy will probably not help.

whenever i get a pancake attack i head out to IHOP. calms me right down*




















*just a tiny joke. not meant to belittle sufferers of panic attacks

XxAxX said:

Food can help calm you down, especially carbs!
[Edited 9/28/05 13:03pm]

andyman91 said:

Hmmmm....I havent had a carbohydrate in 3 months...maybe there's a connection!

I also have panic/anxiety attacks. Mine are related to my seizure disorder I have taken clorazapate for about five years. I take three a day. They help me. I also learned some self help relaxing habits. Like breathing in deeply through the nose and exhale through the mouth about five times. By the time you concentrate on that you are slightly calmer. I also close my mind to everything around me and imagine myself in a calm, peaceful place. The doctor can help with things along with drugs. Good luck.