anxiety

10/26/03 | Joe Brandt

[mirkwood]

I wondered if anyone else has this "problem". I have had panic attacks for 14 years now, and it has not let up. Before you say to use Paxil or Zoloft let me assure you that I have been there..done that.

[feedback doctor]

I had them for a number of years, and am panic attack free. Doing (and greatly enjoying) all the things I lived in fear of doing. Email me privately if you wish to converse.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I've never had one.

I find that adopting an attitude that I'm better than everyone else keeps this sort of condition under wraps.    =;^)

[since1868]

ping

[upchuck]

This lady ^ claims to have it all figured out. I have no horse in this race, just passing this along.

[WFTR]

There are some situations that cause me to have what is essentially a panic attack. I've never had myself diagnosed because I'm skeptical of the whole stress/anxiety/psychology profession. It's not a normal thing, so I haven't needed to make big changes. I wish you well.

WFTR
Bill

[since1868]

I suffer them too/ Mostly happens at work when I get overloaded it is very embarrassing. It was much worse when I worked at a restaurant. A few times if someone would give me a valium they worked like a charm. But they would make me a little too layed back. So I am still looking for something else to ease the pain.

[drhogan]

i'm glad you're starting to feel better, and i hope the attacks stop soon. usually ativan plus one of the ssri's (such as lexapro) will stop the attacks, so i think it should work.
someone earlier on this thread suggested one of Claire Weekes's books. if you can find one (or order one on the net) it might give you some comfort.

[Rudder]

because I have accepted them as a part of my life they are not nearly as severe and last only moments.

When one learns to not fear anxiety attacks, they abate.

The attacks are a false alarm (adrenalin reaction, etc.) to "normal" internal fluctuations (e.g. a physiological, "bump in the night"). The reaction can include a racing, pounding heart and an acute sense of impending death...among other thing. The panic attacks are not dangerous and they will not cause you to lose control in public (two of the fears of those who have such attacks.) They are essentially harmless false alarms.

When one learns to not fear anxiety attacks, they abate.

[Rudder]

See post 28.

[Rudder]

As a doctor who has successfully treated anxiety attacks for many, many years,I would like to caution against reliance upon anti-anxiety meds. Although in the short run they provide the anxious patient with immediate, partial relief, they are highly prone to the development of dependency. Ask a patient if they're addicted to their Ativan: "No, not at all...I just take them now and then."

"Good, can I have your Ativan?"

"Well...no!"

The essential cure is to be found in (1.) education (about human physiology and the flight or fight syndrome ala Hans Selye and Walter Canon)and (2.) individual psychotherapy to assist with learning how to apply this knowledge to everyday life. The goal is for insight that these attacks are not harmful and therefore there is no reason to fear them. Relaxation training and hypnosis is useful, but only later on in therapy because such patients at first will not allow themselves to relax to the point where they fear loss of control.

Anxiolytics in the long run will typically create a dependency that impedes an essential cure.

[Moleman]

I had sporadic anxiety for a few years but they came on really strong early this year (intense anxiety in restaurants, meetings etc.). 2002 was a bad year with deaths in the family and my anxiety was hastened by depression. Talk to the doctor. I was prescribed a very low dosage of Effexor XR which has helped greatly.

[drhogan]

i think that prescribing ativan alone would probably be a mistake, because of the dependency issue. ativan should really only be used during the period when the ssri is building up in the bloodstream (later on, the ativan should be used by the patient only occasionally, when he or she feels particularly anxious).
once the ssri stops the panic attacks, the patient should not have to use the ativan very often.
i should make it clear--i am not an MD, i'm a psychologist, so i can't prescribe medicine and i am not an expert on psychopharmacology.
i usually use congitive-behavioral techniques to help people reduce panic attacks.
but if an ssri will stop the panic attacks, why not use one?

[Rudder]

The question to me is will the ssri will stop the panic attacks?

In my clinical experience, patients on ssri seem to run a somewhat higher risk for the development of panic attacks. The literature seems to have three kinds of patients' experience in the forefront: those on ssri who experience more panic attacks, those who experience less and those who report no effect. I would not recommend ssri for panic disorder, but stand by them for depression, based upon my own experience.

[leadpencil1]

ping