I’ve recently been getting panic/anxiety attacks. I haven’t been diagnosed by a doctor or therapist yet, as it’s only been a couple weeks that I’ve realized what they are.

They first started when I was smoking marijuana. I realized I was getting these weird symptoms when smoking, so I stopped, about a month or so ago. (I have no inclination to smoke again.)

However, now I’m realizing I’ve been getting minor ones here and there, with seemingly no trigger. Last night was the worst I’ve had without smoking. It started when I was at a restaurant with my fiance and some friends, and it lasted at least an hour, with about five to ten minutes of the worst symptoms, and the time after just feeling shaky and feeling like my heart was fluttery, and I was left with a general feeling of being disconnected from the rest of the world.

I’m looking for suggestions, tips, hints, etc. for dealing with these attacks. What to do when you feel the onset, while they’re happening, coming down completely after, etc. A link to sites with help for this would be highly appreciated.

Also, a major fear I now have is that I’m in Boston visiting family for the holidays, and travelling back to Seattle tomorrow evening, with a 3-hour layover. I had some little minor attacks on the way over, but now that I’ve had this big one, I’m afraid of a repeat should we hit turbulance or have a rough takeoff ot landing or the like. I am travelling with my fiance, so if there’s anything I could coach him in for helping me, he’d be there and willing to help.

For some background info, I have asthma and allergies, take OTC allergy pills, singulair, advair, albuterol, and was just diagnosed with Addison’s Disease and take prednisone (and one other pill, whose name I cannot recall as I type this).

Again, ANY real help would be extremely appreciated!!
For those of you who dislike reading full questions, let me emphasize: I STOPPED smoking marijuana about a month ago!
Thanks!!

Tags: addison, albuterol, allergies, allergy pills, asthma, background info, couple weeks, fear, fiance, holidays, inclination, otc, panic anxiety, prednisone, rest of the world, seattle tomorrow, singulair, smoking marijuana, takeoff, tomorrow evening

My fiance is in the middle of what seems to be a serious anxiety attack. He’s never had one before. Is there something I can do for him to make him more comfortable? I know what used to help me, but every one is different. Any suggestions?
Oh my goodness. Since the question was asked. I don’t believe it’s me. The only non stressful environment he has is at home. We’ve been together for 8 and a half years, and we are getting married in 6 months. We’ve got a pretty good relationship. He does have a ton of stress at work. He has his own business and is a master custom motorcycle builder. I used to suffer from anxiety and depression. I was alone when I had my first attack. I can understand what it feels like to think you are going to die. I had no idea what the problem was and it lasted for hours. I’ve done a lot of what has been suggested on here and he is already feeling better. I think he’s going to be fine now that he knows what’s happening.
Thanks for every one’s help.

Tags: anxiety and depression, anxiety attack, custom motorcycle, fiance, good relationship, half years, oh my goodness, own business, stress at work, stressful environment

I believe I have a serious case of social anxiety disorder although I have never been professionally tested (due to the fact that I’m scared to see a doctor about it — go figure).

I have been with my fiance for a year and I almost break down into massive panic attacks everytime I am in the company of his parents. I have become unglued at dinner with them, spilling water all over the table due to my shaking hands. I avoid most of their family parties and claim either sickness or another event to attend. My fiance even says my nervousness is very noticeable and that I sometimes look like a complete mess. He tells me all the time to calm down and act myself, but I can’t. I don’t know why this happens to me but it does.

This happens with other things as well. I am petrified to continue my education and go off to college. I attempted it but I was nervous everyday in class and uneasy. I am a day care teacher and speaking with my boss and the children’s parents is a STRUGGLE! Help me!
I met my fiance at a high school party when I was under the influence of alcohol. I would have never had the nerve to approach him sober.

Also, job interviews….most nerve wrecking events in my life. I spend days worrying about them.

Tags: alcohol, boss, care teacher, day care, education, family parties, fiance, job interviews, nerve, nervousness, Panic Attacks, parents, shaking hands, social anxiety disorder, struggle

Okay, about a week about I started having some chest pains and slight shortness of breathe. Went to the ER thinking it was heart related. They took a lot of bllod, did an EKG and chest x-ray and all tests came back fine. They told me to follow up with my dr. this week which I did. They think it is stress/anxiety since I have been dealing with a lot over the past couple of months. Death in family and then I had a miscarraige plus little things going on with the house, ie frozen pipes, etc. Anyway, she prescribed me Zoloft. I am scared to take anything like this because I have been feeling fine the past couple of days. The only thing I have it chest tightness off and on. I haven’t taken the Zoloft yet. Would like to try something all-natural first. But then againm I don’t know if the pain is just heartburn as I have never had that before. I have it the better part of a day. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I am a healthy 25 year old female with a great life and fiance.

Tags: chest pains, chest tightness, chest x ray, couple of days, ekg, fiance, frozen pipes, stress anxiety, zoloft

Okay, about a week about I started having some chest pains and slight shortness of breathe. Went to the ER thinking it was heart related. They took a lot of bllod, did an EKG and chest x-ray and all tests came back fine. They told me to follow up with my dr. this week which I did. They think it is stress/anxiety since I have been dealing with a lot over the past couple of months. Death in family and then I had a miscarraige plus little things going on with the house, ie frozen pipes, etc. Anyway, she prescribed me Zoloft. I am scared to take anything like this because I have been feeling fine the past couple of days. The only thing I have it chest tightness off and on. I haven’t taken the Zoloft yet. Would like to try something all-natural first. But then againm I don’t know if the pain is just heartburn as I have never had that before. I have it the better part of a day. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I am a healthy 25 year old female with a great life and fiance.

Tags: chest pains, chest tightness, chest x ray, couple of days, ekg, fiance, frozen pipes, stress anxiety, zoloft

Okay, about a week about I started having some chest pains and slight shortness of breathe. Went to the ER thinking it was heart related. They took a lot of bllod, did an EKG and chest x-ray and all tests came back fine. They told me to follow up with my dr. this week which I did. They think it is stress/anxiety since I have been dealing with a lot over the past couple of months. Death in family and then I had a miscarraige plus little things going on with the house, ie frozen pipes, etc. Anyway, she prescribed me Zoloft. I am scared to take anything like this because I have been feeling fine the past couple of days. The only thing I have it chest tightness off and on. I haven’t taken the Zoloft yet. Would like to try something all-natural first. But then againm I don’t know if the pain is just heartburn as I have never had that before. I have it the better part of a day. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I am a healthy 25 year old female with a great life and fiance.

Tags: chest pains, chest tightness, chest x ray, couple of days, ekg, fiance, frozen pipes, stress anxiety, zoloft

Okay, about a week about I started having some chest pains and slight shortness of breathe. Went to the ER thinking it was heart related. They took a lot of bllod, did an EKG and chest x-ray and all tests came back fine. They told me to follow up with my dr. this week which I did. They think it is stress/anxiety since I have been dealing with a lot over the past couple of months. Death in family and then I had a miscarraige plus little things going on with the house, ie frozen pipes, etc. Anyway, she prescribed me Zoloft. I am scared to take anything like this because I have been feeling fine the past couple of days. The only thing I have it chest tightness off and on. I haven’t taken the Zoloft yet. Would like to try something all-natural first. But then againm I don’t know if the pain is just heartburn as I have never had that before. I have it the better part of a day. Anyone have any thoughts on this? I am a healthy 25 year old female with a great life and fiance.

Tags: chest pains, chest tightness, chest x ray, couple of days, ekg, fiance, frozen pipes, stress anxiety, zoloft