Anxiety/Panic Attack
By dmillman
@dmillman (2273)
United States
May 11, 2007 5:41pm CST
I was in the emergency room (ER) Wednesday afternoon/evening because I could feel this heavy weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe, and I had to breathe harder to keep up with my heart that was beating rapidly. I was sooooo scared. I thought I was having a heart attack or something, so I left work and had hubby bring me to the ER.
It was quite an experience, if you've never been, I don't reccommend it - hehe. Sorry, trying to find humor in this horrible situation. With my family's history of heart problems, that was the first thing I thought of....my heart.
At one point, I thougt I was going to die...it was very scary being in the ER with all these weird machines and bizare noises. It was freezing in there too, which didn't help the situation.
I've had this problem before, but off and on, and only for short periods of time. This time, it lasted most of the day, and that's when I got scared......it was getting worse, not better.
I know why it happened. I never mourned the death of my grandmother in January. I was one of her primary caregivers too. On top of that, I'm worried about my grandmother-in-law. When I tried to help her, I ended up opening Pandora's Box and got people mad at me. Then I got the news that I wasn't invited to my sister's wedding. If that wasn't enough, my financial problems got worse, big time.
Has anyone ever experienced an anxiety/panic attack like this, or worse? What did you do? I've got my doctor's orders, and my shrink's orders, but was wondering if there were some alternatives out there. What worked for you? What didn't work? Any suggestions?
Any help is greatly appreciated!!!
4 people like this
4 responses
@tep91005 (375)
• United States
11 May 07
I have panic attacks constantly. I take paxil for it. Mine are caused by social anxiety. I'm also lost when I have no control over anything so as soon as I feel lost I get a heavy chest and I cry forever. Actually last night I had one. I stayed up for 3 hours crying. Paxil does the trick for me, but I also talk alot to anyone who will listen..like here lol. And I write all my feelings down. I just to think it was childish to keep a journal but for me it is thearapy. If I could afford to go to a shrink again I would in a heartbeat. That helped alot. She gave me a step by step day by day to do list. I LOVE To Do lists. It kept me on track and I didn't think about the bad things. I hoped I helped a little..actually it helped me
Tiffany
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
11 May 07
Thank you tep1005. Maybe I'll have to ask my shrink for one of those to do lists too, as I love them as well. So, the shrink really helped you the most, huh? Guess I'm really breaking in my new insurance, ER visit, shrink visit, etc.
Have you ever had an attack that lasted the whole day though? Or had you done something about it before it got that bad and didn't have to experience that?
3 people like this
@prettylykedrugs (430)
• United States
11 May 07
To do lists help me too! Plus, when you are done with each thing and cross it off you feel more accomplished. Its a positive feeling-not negative. :)
I recommend them as well.
3 people like this
@babyangie27 (5176)
• United States
12 May 07
I had this happen to me today and I still feel some affects from it,my daughter has epilepsy and our money problems have been wild. I haven't talked with a doctor yet but I know talking to people who accually believe you helps,from my side anyway. I hope you get the help you need,this thing scared me too and I'm a little worried how much worse they are going to get,I have depression issues but this cring,rocking,shaking,heart jumping out of my chest and helplessness really sucks,lol. I'm also tring to feel the humor. Keep me updated,thanks.
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
12 May 07
That's ironic, huh? Has it ever happened before? How long did it last? When I try to use humor, it ends up just being me trying to forget about the problem, so in the end, it doesn't work for me....unless I can find a way to make it work FOR me instead.
2 people like this
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
12 May 07
I hope you are doing better. I have never had this kind of attack, but I sure have had a lot of problems. As far as trying to help with good intentions, if others are upset with you, so be it. Let it go, for you tried to help in some situation and it didn't work out.
As far as not getting an invite from your sister, I don't know the situation. But I would let it go and keep the channels of communication open. You don't have to view it as a personal decision against you.
And I am quite familiar with financial problems. I can understand that to some degree. I think that you let your thinking get away from you and you panicked. When you are only thinking about the problems, you might tend to get overwhelmed. Maybe, thinking more about the solutions would keep you from getting upset. Shift your focus from your problems to the good things in your life and possible fixes to your problems.
I hope you are feeling better and can find some answers to your problems.
3 people like this
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
12 May 07
Yeah, I know, I'm a worry-wart. I over-obsess and always see the negative, thinking of the worse case senario. I can hold grudges forever. It's hard for me to let things go and not take them personally. I know that I should, it just happens that way. I'm hoping that now it got so bad, and at one point I thought I was going to die, that this will be the 'kick in the but' that I need to get out of it! Thanks for the great advice!!!
2 people like this
@kelly60 (4547)
• United States
15 Jul 07
I used to have a lot more panic attacks than I do now. I have found that either talking or keeping a journal is helpful, although medications are also a big help. I know that when we are under a lot of stress we have them more often, and much worse, but if we are aware that they are anxiety/panic attacks rather than something more serious like a heart attack, that can help a lot too. I think that just the thought that it could be a heart attack made matters much worse and caused your attack to last a lot longer.
2 people like this
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
30 Jul 07
Symptoms are back again today. They gave me medication to take if the symptoms came back, so I took them. I called hubby to tell him, then he asked about the side effects. I didn't know so I went online to look it up. Causes dizziness, sleepiness, loss of motor function, etc. I decided that I should get myself home as soon as possible, before I experience those symptoms. I wouldn't want to have to drive home with those. Luckily I made it home fine.
1 person likes this
