Was I Drunk "REALLY"

[xtremx]

Hi have posted my symptoms before but this has taken a new twist.

Last thursday after I had picked my little girl up from pre-school walking home with her I started to feel faint like i was about to pass out, Was staggering around trying to stop myself from falling over getting out of breath (as if i was drunk) and at the end panicing thinking about what would happen if i did pass out and my daughter ran into the road and things like that.

After i did manage to get home it took me a while to recover about 2 hours after that i was tired.

Right Sunday comes went out and meet some family in a local pub and played pool and darts for a few hours had 1pint and a half (must admit).

Left the pub feeling great but all of a sudden started to feel how i did a few days before staggering around like i was leggless and felt like i was about to faint. Ended up phoning home and my 11 year old came to meet me and walk home with me, I was trying to walk having to stop and lean against walls and stuff before i fell over.

Now today is here my wife has finished work and has come home and told me people that know her have been asking if everything is ok at home as they have seen me out walking around like a "DRUNKARD".

Was this a panic attack on both occurrences or was it something else PLEASE any ideas as my doctor is no use any ideas welcome

[Pinkcasi]

Well as you were obviously not drunk i would have to guess anxiety and or agoraphobia, but im no medical professional, im sure there's nothing actually wrong with you if you feel fine when at home or in the pub etc, but just when out in the open so to speak, agoraphobia would be my guess but speak to the Dr sometimes they get it right, good luck

[grotbags]

My symptoms have turned into this also. I've had some form of panic disorder for about 12 years, but since last year I've had what you describe. I've just posted about this in another thread actually, but basically what happened is last autumn I developed a nasty virus which included an ear infection and vertigo. However, I didn't realise I had a virus at first and just put my symptoms down to anxiety with a little bit of earache thrown in. Anyway, I had vertigo which I initially mistook as a return of my anxiety. I toppled over in public and have not walked alone since then. I did find out afterwards that I had an ear infection, but even after that cleared up this fear of walking alone has stayed with me. My symptoms are like yours. I stagger around as if I'm drunk, so I simply don't walk alone. I know that what I have NOW is anxiety (because I'm fine round the house etc or if I walk with someone), but I also know that it started off as vertigo.

This led me to researching ear issues and panic disorder. I found and subsequently purchased a book called Phobia Free by Harold Levinson, a psychiatrist who believes panic disorder and agoraphobia stem from an inner ear disorder in about 9 out of 10 people with panic disorder. To be honest, this makes perfect sense to me. Doctors often play the shrink with me, trying to discover all these repressed traumas I've had to endure in childhood which have made me like this, but the truth is I KNOW without a doubt that my agoraphobia is physical. Now whether it's physical in terms of an inner ear disorder for example, or in terms of a chemical imbalance (like bipolar perhaps), I don't know. But I know it's got nothing to do with trauma because I simply have not really had any and it just seems like such a silly and outdated Freudian theory.

Anyway, I wanted to explore the treatment that Harold Levinson writes about in his book. It involves using medications that target the inner ear and dull down the system so you don't get so overwhelmed by stimuli. But none of the doctors I have spoken to are prepared to do it. They just love to throw around CBT like it's going to be the cure all. But this is my life and my health, and I damn well want to try this inner ear treatment so I can at least rule it out if it doesn't work for me. Anyway, I'm rambling now but I thought I'd share this with you as my symptoms are so similar.

[Pinkcasi]

That's interesting Grotbags as im the same no trauma really, i blame everything on my dad as it seems easy but my folks are still together, i was never abused or bullied, i've had heartbreak like anyone but no real trauma to speak of so why am i the way i am? Dr's have spent years trying to figue tha out and all the hours of therapy and talking about my childhood etc just gets me nowhere, I came to realise a long time ago that it's not soemthing im going to 'fix' it's just there and i need to 'handle' it, a chemical imbalance or attention seeking (as some 'friends' put it) who knows so the idea that it is a physical condition to do with ears is quite interesting, do post again if you do manage to get the treatment :)

[PanchoGoz]

Grotbags...I'm going to look this up now, how come I haven't come accross this idea before? 9 out of 10 cases of anxiety due to inner ear problems?! I've not heard of this in my life of anxiety, but funnily enough I was once diagnosed with uncompensated labyrinthitis so naturally I can't help being interested. Google google google...

[grotbags]

Grotbags...I'm going to look this up now, how come I haven't come accross this idea before? 9 out of 10 cases of anxiety due to inner ear problems?! I've not heard of this in my life of anxiety, but funnily enough I was once diagnosed with uncompensated labyrinthitis so naturally I can't help being interested. Google google google...

Well, that is the theory of this one psychiatrist. I think phobias or agoraphobia as opposed to just anxiety. But the book is about 20 years old (if not more) and so I can't work out why this idea has not caught on. Maybe there's nothing in it? Maybe they tried to treat more people and failed? But I certainly want to be given the opportunity to try this treatment anyhow, and it's frustrating because I can't talk a doctor into helping me.

---------- Post added at 18:21 ---------- Previous post was at 18:19 ----------


That's interesting Grotbags as im the same no trauma really, i blame everything on my dad as it seems easy but my folks are still together, i was never abused or bullied, i've had heartbreak like anyone but no real trauma to speak of so why am i the way i am? Dr's have spent years trying to figue tha out and all the hours of therapy and talking about my childhood etc just gets me nowhere, I came to realise a long time ago that it's not soemthing im going to 'fix' it's just there and i need to 'handle' it, a chemical imbalance or attention seeking (as some 'friends' put it) who knows so the idea that it is a physical condition to do with ears is quite interesting, do post again if you do manage to get the treatment :)

Yes, I wish they'd stop digging for trauma all the time. I'm not really sure there's a definite link between anxiety and childhood trauma anyway so I wish they'd get over it.

[xtremx]

Well as you were obviously not drunk i would have to guess anxiety and or agoraphobia, but im no medical professional, im sure there's nothing actually wrong with you if you feel fine when at home or in the pub etc, but just when out in the open so to speak, agoraphobia would be my guess but speak to the Dr sometimes they get it right, good luck

I'am pleased to read your post i think you have a good point "agoraphobia".
Hopefully i get to the bottom of it as at the moment i am afraid to take my daughter to/or pick up from school will be asking my niece to escort me even though it is out of her way.

---------- Post added at 18:46 ---------- Previous post was at 18:45 ----------

Thanks grotbags, will look into what you have posted

[dottielottie]

Isnt it weird I cant stand noise when I am feeling low.