What to do?

[dreday]

I drink more than your average person and smoke aswell, a lately me heart has started beating faster and i notice it and start getting woried then find my self pacing around thinking im going to die... the more i think the worse it gets. its usually after a night out or after having a ciggerate, please help me is this panic attacks or is it more serious

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/images/nmp/misc/progress.gif

[jwlkr]

The Panic Attack article on this site (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/articles/panicattack/) is a great place to start. It will give you most of the information that you are looking for. If these experiences are short (20-30 minutes, generally no more then 1 hour) and intense, there is a good chance it could be a panic attack. Please recognize that nicotine and alcohol can increase the likelihood of an occurrence.

[xxlisaxx08]

It sounds to me like panic. The more you worry about something, your body will produce cortisol, which is a stress hormone. This will cause your heart to beat fast. It's like a vicious circle. Your heart races - you worry - the cortisol is released and your body goes into fight or flight mode - your heart races - and it continues like this.

Your brain can also learn to associate these feelings to cigarettes and alcohol. So everytime you smoke or drink you get these panic feelings.

Hope this helps

Lisa x