Veronica H
06-07-08, 21:00
Hi Everyone,
:) what a brilliant site. I found the site in floods of tears, just over 3 weeks ago having had a major panic attack in the hairdressers, complete with burning chest , arms and neck and unable to get my breath. I was convinced I needed to go to A&E as my heart was racing. My husband was due to graduate from University that day hence the visit to the hairdressers.He cancelled his day. I felt dreadful about this, especially since by mid afternoon I had calmed down. I did not go to A&E. You see I had been in A&E almost a year to the day previously, whilst on holiday in the Lake District. Then I had the racing heart but not the horrible burning feelings. I was wired up to an ECG and my heart rate was 120. They sent me back to our holiday apartment several hours later, staff having found nothing significant. The speculation was that it was probably a combination of raised blood sugar and hormone changes - I am 49. When I returned home I visited my GP had some more blood tests - nothing showed up. He discussed depression with me. I had a bout of depression after my mothers death many years before. I realised that had been feeling down as there were many changes happening in my life. My husband had just recovered from a kidney stone operation, it was traumatic to see him in so much pain . My son was doing his GCSE's (or rather finding any excuse not to do them) I had just completed a BSc with the Open University, which had taken 6 years and which had become a way of life really. The Dr gave me a course of Citalopram 10mg. A wonderful thing happened. I noticed that my mind was not dwelling on negative outcomes and worries for the first time! in addition I didnot have a repeat of the racing heart beat. I thought I was cured! So it was depression. I came off the Citalopram at christmas.
Since then I have gradually come to realise that I am not depressed but that I can not remember a day whan I have not been anxious or worried since I was a child. This anxiety came flooding back to me and I didn't know what to do with it. This culminated in the panic attack in the hairdressers. My GP has put me back on Citalopram 10mg this has done nothing. He gave me Diazipam 2mg to take if needed and things got really bad. I thought about cancelling our holiday in Cornwall, the GP advised me against this. He also put me on a waiting list to see a Cognative Behavioural Therapist. This could be in the next ten weeks.
I have just returned from Cornwall where I had several terrifying attacks. I did find that long walks by the sea brought relief, but having tried several attempts to ride the attacks out by visualising the panic getting smaller and breathing with the 4 in 6 out method I became exhausted as I could stop the attack but it would return very quickly. I have found that the best method is to breath 4in 6out twice then visualise the panic shrinking and immediately distract myself with a task, book radio, tv etc. and to move on. I also realised that anxiety and panic are constantly trying to pin themselves to a phobia. I found it difficult to eat at one point because I became convinced this was sending my heart rate up. After 2 days I forced myself and have now shaken this off.
I know I am feeding this panic with my anxious thoughts but stopping this is not easy. I am returning to the GP tomorrow in the hope that he can help me with a drug that will target the anxiety and panic. I took one tablet of the Diazipam as I was desperate with the burning sensations etc. It relaxed me and knocked me out for several hours. I realise this drug is addictive though, and am reluctant to carry on with it. I would be grateful if anyone has any ideas about drugs which have worked for them in targeting anxiety.
I wish you all well in your recovery......Veronica.
:) what a brilliant site. I found the site in floods of tears, just over 3 weeks ago having had a major panic attack in the hairdressers, complete with burning chest , arms and neck and unable to get my breath. I was convinced I needed to go to A&E as my heart was racing. My husband was due to graduate from University that day hence the visit to the hairdressers.He cancelled his day. I felt dreadful about this, especially since by mid afternoon I had calmed down. I did not go to A&E. You see I had been in A&E almost a year to the day previously, whilst on holiday in the Lake District. Then I had the racing heart but not the horrible burning feelings. I was wired up to an ECG and my heart rate was 120. They sent me back to our holiday apartment several hours later, staff having found nothing significant. The speculation was that it was probably a combination of raised blood sugar and hormone changes - I am 49. When I returned home I visited my GP had some more blood tests - nothing showed up. He discussed depression with me. I had a bout of depression after my mothers death many years before. I realised that had been feeling down as there were many changes happening in my life. My husband had just recovered from a kidney stone operation, it was traumatic to see him in so much pain . My son was doing his GCSE's (or rather finding any excuse not to do them) I had just completed a BSc with the Open University, which had taken 6 years and which had become a way of life really. The Dr gave me a course of Citalopram 10mg. A wonderful thing happened. I noticed that my mind was not dwelling on negative outcomes and worries for the first time! in addition I didnot have a repeat of the racing heart beat. I thought I was cured! So it was depression. I came off the Citalopram at christmas.
Since then I have gradually come to realise that I am not depressed but that I can not remember a day whan I have not been anxious or worried since I was a child. This anxiety came flooding back to me and I didn't know what to do with it. This culminated in the panic attack in the hairdressers. My GP has put me back on Citalopram 10mg this has done nothing. He gave me Diazipam 2mg to take if needed and things got really bad. I thought about cancelling our holiday in Cornwall, the GP advised me against this. He also put me on a waiting list to see a Cognative Behavioural Therapist. This could be in the next ten weeks.
I have just returned from Cornwall where I had several terrifying attacks. I did find that long walks by the sea brought relief, but having tried several attempts to ride the attacks out by visualising the panic getting smaller and breathing with the 4 in 6 out method I became exhausted as I could stop the attack but it would return very quickly. I have found that the best method is to breath 4in 6out twice then visualise the panic shrinking and immediately distract myself with a task, book radio, tv etc. and to move on. I also realised that anxiety and panic are constantly trying to pin themselves to a phobia. I found it difficult to eat at one point because I became convinced this was sending my heart rate up. After 2 days I forced myself and have now shaken this off.
I know I am feeding this panic with my anxious thoughts but stopping this is not easy. I am returning to the GP tomorrow in the hope that he can help me with a drug that will target the anxiety and panic. I took one tablet of the Diazipam as I was desperate with the burning sensations etc. It relaxed me and knocked me out for several hours. I realise this drug is addictive though, and am reluctant to carry on with it. I would be grateful if anyone has any ideas about drugs which have worked for them in targeting anxiety.
I wish you all well in your recovery......Veronica.