Does it ever really go away?

[tinalouise45]

So I had my first panic attack 19 years ago and ended up in the ER like many do the first time. Turns out I had a migraine with aura(for the first time too)that threw me in to the panic attack. I had several after that in supermarkets or waiting in line somewhere was always distressing. After I eventually knew what it was I thought I had it under control but lately they are back again. I will suddenly get this overwhelming "strange" feeling like I am going to lose control, vomit and I feel like I am just going to lose it at any minute.

My question is does this ever really go away or are we destined to have panic/anxiety forever. I don't take any meds but maybe I should.

[Warbirdwf]

My understanding is for most people, it does go away. Us anxiety folks will always be more suseptiable to anxiety issues, it's just in our make up. I've recovered from two high anxiety episodes 20 years ago. Everyone I know that's had high anxiety has recovered too. You can't take what some people say about how horrible or how long they've suffered on the internet at face value all the time. Let's face it, some people are not truthful or are seeking attention or sympathy.

Meds are not the answer. I've been dealing with high anxiety for the past 14 months due to stopping Prozac (which was taken for stress) w/out weaning off. The worst periods of my recovery where when doctors changed drugs, started me a too high a dose, had me stop a drug with out weaning off it, etc. At one point I was on 6-7 drugs to counter-act the other drugs. All this for anxiety. Un-believable. Thru all that, I never got relief from my anxiety. I always had significant break through anxiety each day.  Luckily, I've slowly weaned off all but one drug now (Paxil). I'm SLLOWWWWLLLY lowering my dose to get off it too. I have days now where I almost feel good again. It could take me a year to wean off the rest of this lovely drug too to prevent rebound side effects and other horrors.

I would incourage you to do all your homework on any drug you might be considering. There's no magic pill to make anxiety go away. Some people have luck with their drugs while others don't. Most of these drugs are hell to discontinue also. I'm not trying to be anti-drugs but I just don't know of too many folks that really are that satisfied with them when you consider all the side effects they bring too.  Again, do your research all over the internet on any potential drug you'd consider putting in your body.

As far as what I'm going to do, I'm going to keep learning about anxiety, how to get it to ease up, considering doing CBT therapy and hoping time will heal my body and brain and reset my anxiety level back to normal.

[tinalouise45]

I agree with you about the meds. Most of the time the side effects are so bad and  I would rather be anxious then have to depend on a pill everyday. I do exercise but I don't really find that it helps the anxiety all that much even though it is suppose to be a mood booster.
The goal is to find a way to cope and to convince myself that it is just "anxiety" and I am going to be ok.

[Warbirdwf]

The goal is to find a way to cope and to convince myself that it is just "anxiety" and I am going to be ok.

I think developing coping skills is the key. We all know that anxiety won't hurt us at all. What we have to learn is, to not give it so much attention when it's hightened. I know, it's not easy to ignore when it's high. The other things we can do besides getting exercise is to avoid alcohol, caffeine, stimulants, etc. Right now my anxiety is a bit elevated. I ate too much sugar the past couple of hours and I feel stupid and a bit anxious.
The other big rock is to try and change our behaviours, thought processess and internal dialogue. I really feel this is what could help us reset our anxiety levels to normal.

[TwitchGreenMachine]

I had my first panic attack 10 years ago, I suffered weeks, maybe longer, I though it would never end. But I eventually discovered that I could beat it through exercise. I stayed physically active for the last 10 years and never had an attack, until now.

I recently started getting attacks during exercise, which led to a severe attack.Now I'm back at square 1

But lately I've also been under more stress than usual, alot more stress. I think that has alot to do with it.

So from my experience, you can beat it. as long as you take care of yourself. And don't let stress takeover.

[CVR]

Yes. Most people who suffers from PD/AD for an extended period, haven't gone through step 1 yet, accepting that this is what they suffer from. The other problem is that some people don't do any research on this subject or haven't seek professional help. That is why they never seem to get better. If you have all your ducks in a row, and know and understand what you have and what to do, you will recover from the disorder part. You have to keep on practicing for the rest of your life. It is like a doctor, they need to keep on learning, otherwise they will become obsolete.

 

[tinalouise45]

I did mention my symptoms to my OBGYN and he just scoffed at me and said "you had a panic attack" and led me out the door. He offered no advice so I thought well, I guess a lot of people have this and I just have to get over it. He did not make a big deal out of so why should I? Well I guess I can' t do it on my own like I thought and will try again with  my new doctor.
I know what I have but when it happens it is very hard to think rationally.

[CVR]

Hi tinalouise45,

That is a big problem with doctors these days. They know that your PD/AD is not a real illness and thus will give you a pill and send you on your way. I had to go through 8 different doctors until I found the right one whom has also suffered from Panic Disorder. The best option at the end of the day is to get help from a professional/Institution specialising in Anxiety Disorders. Reading self-help books on this subjects has also helped me a lot.

 

[spud211]

It does, the trick is rewiring your brain to thinking differently.  You can do this through affirmations everyday, they will eventually get engraved in your brain and become subconscious.  You also need so soothing techniques like deep relaxation.  It really helped me control my panic attacks which were frequent when i would dread going to class because of my social anxiety.

[tinalouise45]

Whenever I have a panic attack I just tell myself that it is just a "panic attack"(if there is such a thing) and I just try to keep telling myself that it will pass and wait for it to pass. But while it is happening I find it really hard to think rationally and I guess I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I don't have control of my body/mind at that moment, well at least it doesn't feel like I do. It is like  a demon takes over for a while and that is why it is so scary.

Thanks for all the help. The anxiety attacks came back after many years of being dormant and I was just hoping I had it under control. I imagine my hormones are playing a role as well. I am peri-menopausal and my body is going a bit crazy right now and this isn't helping.

[TxTiff]

The anxiety attacks came back after many years of being dormant and I was just hoping I had it under control. I imagine my hormones are playing a role as well. I am peri-menopausal and my body is going a bit crazy right now and this isn't helping.

Oh my gosh! Me too!  I have had things under control for almost 7 years then poof - out of the blue.  I think some of my triggers are the hot flashes.  It makes me so nervous I freak out!  I also think this is the cause of my sudden hypochondria - not really knowing what's happening with my body!

I know it sucks but it's cool that someone knows what I'm feeling.  I've been doing a lot of research on pre-menopause and menopause in general and it's unfortunate that anxiety is a big symptom.  I know we'll both get through it!

[tinalouise45]

I definitely think a lot of this is hormonal. My first panic attack was just a few months after my daughter was born and I imagine that my hormones/body were just trying to get in sync but instead it set off the panic and anxiety. Now that I am going through this peri-menopause it has come back!!!!  The anxiety is back and I could easily become  agoraphobic  because there are days that  I don't want to leave the house, it is just weird and nothing I can explain at all. 

Hot flashes are the worst. I woke up in the middle of the night with my first one sweating, nauseated heart pounding. It could have been a panic attack but I have never been that sweaty during a panic attack so I know it was a flash.

[Bama21]

For me, it has all but gone away.  I'm not 100% willing to say that I will NEVER have problems again, but...I don't see how it could possibly affect me in any real way again. 

Medicine has helped (I still take 15mg of celexa per day), but the real reason for long term success is that I have been able to overcome the FEAR of anxiety.  I'd be willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of people who deal with panic disorder deal with one major issue:  FEAR of their own panic.  We all have situations and scenarios where we say we are afraid, but what we really fear is the panic itself.  The person who is confined to their home doesn't actually fear danger on the outside.  They are afraid of having a panic attack on the outside.  I went through a period where I couldn't work, eat, or sleep because I thought I was losing my mind.  I was petrified about lapsing into depression, becoming suicidal, being in a state of panic forever.  I was utterly afraid of the panic itself.  I think that's our biggest problem.

Well, after several months of journaling, rational thinking about anxiety, analyzing what exactly panic was and what was prompting it, excercises to diffuse panic...I have been basically panic free for about 5 months.  Just 3 weeks ago, I sat and watched a close relative take his last breaths after a bout with aggressive cancer.  I literally watched him die.  A part of me was worried that I would regress back into panic disorder...but I didn't.  I cried and grieved just like anyone would.  I even got the image of him taking those last breaths caught in my mind for a few days after...but no panic. 

It's about getting over that fear.  I no longer view panic as a threat.  I think that's the key.  I feel for people who go for awhile without experiencing panic and then, boom, it hits them a second or third time around.  I have to wonder just exactly what these folks have done to truly get to where they don't actually FEAR the panic itself.  Getting to that point will get you over this crap...for good.

[Pug60647]

I've been in CBT for a little while now, I guess since last September and I sure HOPE there is an end to it, but I don't get my hopes up.