Mander
30-08-09, 22:16
Just thought I'd share my experiences.
Recently I have been having a lot of panic attacks. I almost always worry that I am having a heart attack, even though I don't have any real reason to believe that. I haven't been specifically diagnosed with any anxiety disorder, but it's pretty obvious that there is something wrong.
I also have depression and have tried a couple of different medications but none of them really seem to help all that much, so I have gone off them (with Dr's approval). However, I also have PCOS (hormonal disorder), and there is some anecdotal evidence that my medication for that (metformin) can also cause panic attacks. I can't decide which set of symptoms are worse!
When I have a panic attack I usually get all the classic heart attack symptoms--squeezing pains in my left arm and chest, nausea, weakness, etc. and start to freak out. I'm 34, with some risk factors, but I've had ECG's and such a few years ago when I had my first panic attacks which found nothing. Right now I am in the process of getting evaluated again, but so far there is no evidence that anything is wrong.
The most annoying thing is that I either tend to have attacks in a relaxed situation, like just when I am about to fall asleep at night, or else when I am trying to work at the computer. I am a PhD student with a really serious deadline approaching, and often the only way to calm down after these attacks is to go lie in bed for a while. It's eating up all my time!
Recently I've been taking some herbal stuff (drinking chamomile tea and taking Kalms tablets) and I have cut my caffeine use way down. I thought it was helping but then today I had another massive attack, and spent most of the day in bed with my husband trying to help me calm down.
What's your favorite way of stopping these attacks?
Recently I have been having a lot of panic attacks. I almost always worry that I am having a heart attack, even though I don't have any real reason to believe that. I haven't been specifically diagnosed with any anxiety disorder, but it's pretty obvious that there is something wrong.
I also have depression and have tried a couple of different medications but none of them really seem to help all that much, so I have gone off them (with Dr's approval). However, I also have PCOS (hormonal disorder), and there is some anecdotal evidence that my medication for that (metformin) can also cause panic attacks. I can't decide which set of symptoms are worse!
When I have a panic attack I usually get all the classic heart attack symptoms--squeezing pains in my left arm and chest, nausea, weakness, etc. and start to freak out. I'm 34, with some risk factors, but I've had ECG's and such a few years ago when I had my first panic attacks which found nothing. Right now I am in the process of getting evaluated again, but so far there is no evidence that anything is wrong.
The most annoying thing is that I either tend to have attacks in a relaxed situation, like just when I am about to fall asleep at night, or else when I am trying to work at the computer. I am a PhD student with a really serious deadline approaching, and often the only way to calm down after these attacks is to go lie in bed for a while. It's eating up all my time!
Recently I've been taking some herbal stuff (drinking chamomile tea and taking Kalms tablets) and I have cut my caffeine use way down. I thought it was helping but then today I had another massive attack, and spent most of the day in bed with my husband trying to help me calm down.
What's your favorite way of stopping these attacks?