Hi:

I’m a 41yr. old WM. I used to have panic attacks about 6-8 yrs. ago, but have had them under control for a while. I’m also overweight, but not obese, and I have smoked (off and on, but unfortunately, more on than off) for about 20 yrs. (I know, I know . . . it’s not good, so please . . . no lectures). I also have an ulnar nerve in my left elbow that, when it acts up, gives a mild tingling sensation in that arm. I’ve had borderline cholesterol for most of my adult life, but at my last checkup in March, my HDL & LDL were fine. And, also on the good side, I try to exercise at least 2 times a week, although for the last couple of months, it hasn’t happened as much as I would like. Also, there is no history of heart disease in my family, although there is some history of high cholesterol.

I’ve been very stressed out for a while now, and when my partner & I got in a huge fight 2 weekends ago, I felt like I was having either a panic attack or a heart attack. I went to the ER, where they did an EKG. All the ER doc said at the time is that my cholesterol was high, and I should see a cardiologist. As it was the middle of the night when I got home, I did not read the discharge papers from the ER. However, I read them yesterday, and I was shocked to read that, "your exam shows you have angina pectoris." Needless to say, this has thrown me for a loop, and I’m thinking about words like "blockage" and "catheterization." I already have an appt. scheduled with a cardiologist for this Thursday, and my stress has decreased somewhat since my ER visit.

So, with all of this background, I have a few questions:

- Isn’t 41 a little young for angina, even taking into account my less-than-perfect lifestyle?

- As many people experiencing panic attacks exhibit the same symptoms as a heart attack, could the angina diagnosis been actually just the effects from a panic attack?

- Also, it’s my understanding that an EKG is just the first test they give you, and it can often give false or incorrect readings?

I am really hoping that it’s just the stress and panic and not angina, and am hoping some of you experts can provide a little reassurance. Believe me, even if this is not angina, it has been a loud wake-up call that I’m not 29 any more, and I need to lose the weight (I’ve done it before) and stop smoking (have also quit before, but I’m really going to try this time). Am also going on vacation a week from this Sat., and I know that it’ll help reduce my stress.

Tags: adult life, angina, appt, cardiologist, catheterization, discharge papers, ekg, elbow, fight 2, first test, hdl, heart attack, heart disease, high cholesterol, history of heart disease, ldl, panic attack, Panic Attacks, tingling sensation, ulnar nerve

A few yrs. back I had panic attacks quite often. Somehow, I found a way to overcome it. Now, they’re back. I couldn’t tell you why either. Out of nowhere I started having about one a week now I’m having them everyday. I realize panic causes symptoms and it’s a vicious cycle. However, recently I’ve had symptoms before I’ve even started to panic. This makes me believe, logically, that something is wrong.

Basically, I’ve been having a strange feeling as if there’s a big weight on top of my head and then the back of my neck, front of my neck and jaw seem to have lost sensation. I find it hard to swallow and it feels as if my entire body goes limp almost and I feel very, very sleepy. That alone scares me so much that I obviously panic.

Have you ever heard of these symptoms? I am going to the Dr. soon to ask him about it too. I went to the ER last month b/c I felt so strange and the Dr. made me feel very stupid for coming – as if it was nothing at all. I believe I know the difference in panic attacks and something very strange that causes a panic attack b/c of the strangeness of symptoms. Can anyone please help?

Thank you!

Tags: back of my neck, panic attack, Panic Attacks, sensation, strange feeling, strangeness, top of my head, vicious cycle

Since ive noticed (the past 3 months or so), i have all the symptoms of G.A.D (general anxiety disorder). I was curious with others knowledge/exp. This Tues, im going to see this family dr, (new dr) whom ive never seen yet, due to my insurance changing. My question is, since i have yet to see him, even with me explaining my anxiety symptoms/problems, will he give me a prescription for anxiety on my first visit? Or will i have to come back or go to another doctor? I tried Xanax once before when i had a panic attack, and it really calmed me down. Will he give me Xanax or Valium if i ask? I know there are alot of drs who are reluctant to give out meds like these, cause unfortunately the people who abuse it decrease the chance of others who do need it. I dont want to be put on anti-depressants. Just something for my anxiety to take whenever i feel like im going to have a panic attack. So again, j/w if this tues he will give me anything being my 1st visit & can i ask for the meds i want?

Tags: alot, amp, anti depressants, Anxiety Symptoms, drs, family dr, general anxiety disorder, insurance, meds, panic attack, valium, xanax

How can you help prevent and/or stop a panic attack occurring?
And I mean for in the moment it’s happening.
Without medication..

Tags: medication, panic attack

Anxiety can cause manic symptoms, don’t you think? I know mine seems to.

Let’s see, when I’m anxious:

My body seems to have a lot of energy, fight or flight response indeed, which allows for me to sleep less.

Anxious people do have racing thoughts and a flight of ideas and often talk very fast without making much sense.

Anxious people need a release sometimes it’s a reckless desperate release, sex, drugs, spending or sometimes it comes out like many of those mental states come out, creatively.

Those releases can make you feel nearly euphoric. Finally! Not so anxious! Ever take ativan during a panic attack?

Anxiety can also related to grandous thinking. I’ve been so anxious I thought the world would end and it would be my fault.

Since our bodies cannot last in that state for too long, after a week or two I get depressed, I can’t take the anxiety any more. Wish I were dead and get tired. Maybe the anxiety was anxiety over getting depressed again.

Tags: anxiety, ativan, flight of ideas, flight response, manic symptoms, mental states, panic attack, sex drugs, sleep

my husband can fight with me in any place and any where . his stubbornness and childish nature is driving me insane. this hurts me so much that these days i get a panic attack and i cry in front of anybody be it in mall or in middle of the road. to worsen it my husband just stands and watches me or he comes and tells me like "just shut up people are watching us". if i get a panic attack at home he tells me things like "stop your drama" . and this has made him think i have gone mad and he is getting close and discussing everything about me to his wicked aunt who is doing more harm than good.
i know this all only worsens . any body who can tell me how to control my panic attacks because its really driving me insane?

Tags: panic attack, Panic Attacks, stubbornness

I am 16 years old and i just started birth control for the first time.

in the past, i suffered from panic attacks and anxiety. i didn’t have a panic attack disorder or anything, but i would constantly get them because i would over think about getting them,

and thats when they would start up.
i used to do ecstacy a lot, and when i stopped cold turkey i got withdraws and that’s where my panic attacks even began in the first place.
i stay away from that drug, and haven’t done it in a number of months now,

they went away and i had no problems. sometimes, even would i would over think about having another panic attack.

i have been taking birth control for seven days so far,
and the first two days were good, i had no pains, no change in my mood or body.

lately, i have been getting shortness of breath,
a few episodes of panic attacks here and there
i can’t sleep at night because i have shortness of breath
and i over think about what’s happening to me

i have bad aches in my eyes,
shoulders,
neck,
back,
head(sometimes)
numbness in my legs, and hands
cold sweats
real bad side pains in my left rib cage- i feel the ache of it when i cough or sit down or move a certain way
random little jerks through my body
random aches in my legs out of nowhere

and i’m sure a few more sypmtoms that i can’t remember right now,
but those are the mains ones i suffer with daily.

and i don’t know if i’m getting all this from over thinking,
because i tend to over think especailly after expiercings panic attacks,
or if birth control is just not for me.
what should i do?

Tags: ache, anxiety, birth control, cold turkey, jerks, legs, mains, numbness, panic attack, Panic Attacks, rib cage, seven days, shortness of breath, shoulders, sleep

Im 17 years old and i was diagnosed with asthma a week ago. I stopped taking the inhaler the doctor perscribed because i was getting alot of Anxiety, eveyday id be close to a panic attack, but something in me tell’s me there is something else causing all this. Mostly everyday i have a slight headache or lightheadedness, stomach and body pains, and i get very hungry but when i try and eat i get sick to the stomach for some reason, i feel like i want to throw up. For the past year i haven’t really pigged out when it comes to my eating. My parents and friends parents have told me i look really skinny. Id say "no im fat…" since i have a slight gut. What im trying to say is are my symptoms of high anxiety (panic attacks), light headedness, stomach pains, and body pains the effect of an eating disorder. Im 17 years old and i don’t want to suffer anymore, i just want an answer so i can get back to the way i used to feel. Please Help Me.

Tags: 17 years, alot, anxiety panic, asthma, body pains, eating disorder, headache, high anxiety, inhaler, lightheadedness, panic attack, parents, perscribed, stomach pains

About 2 weeks ago i had what im assuming is my first panic attack. Like most i freaked out assumed something terrible was wrong. But i felt better in about an hour. Tho i did have them off and on for a couple days. Now its mostly a once a day thing, but now my left arm hurts sometimes. It feels like it does when i take my blood preasure at the store. Like something heavy was laying on my arm then lifted up. I get heart palpatations sometimes also. And i have high blood preasure, but its been that way all my life.

Since ive been dealing with this for 2+ weeks I’m assuming if it were a heart attack it would have happened already. I’m trying to avoid the E.R because for 1, I’ve never been to one and I’m not sure how it works, and they don’t answer questions on the phone. and 2, if its just panic attacks i don’t want to waste any ones time or money.

Thank you for any replies.

Tags: answer questions, couple days, heart attack, heart palpatations, high blood preasure, left arm, money, panic attack, something heavy, something terrible, tho

Well about one month ago I think I suffered from a Anxiety/or Panic Attack and decided to go to A&E , they looked at my heart by connecting me up to a system, they looked at blood pressure , blood sugar and lungs. All came back normal. I then went home. For the past month I have not been feeling like my self, I have had 3 smaller attacks but they were not as bad as the first. However I just dont feel like myself each day, sometimes I will have day’s feeling very normal, but others I just dont. Well I went to my GP the other day to discuss this feeling and I even noted down all my symptons for him:

Symptoms

1ST Time a month ago.

Palpitations/racing heart.

Taking deep breaths.

Feeling shortness of breath.

Dizziness.

Dry mouth and throat.

Left arm feels slightly different ( not pin and needles ) more like a small amount of the dead arm feeling.

Back pain ( A tender spot in the middle of my back ) Feels tender when pressed.

Random cracking sensation on the middle chest bone when I sneeze.

Headaches

Around the 21st March :

Stool’s changed in colour to a lighter brown , solid but with a soft texture.

24th March : Stools have returned to normal in colour but still soft in texture along with random times in total of 3 where they are more softer.

He asked me a few small questions, about my work and if it’s stressful, etc. Then he wrote a note and sent me back to UCH Hospital, I asked him I want to be tested for colestral and he said they will do all the test.

I got to UCH 1 hr later, and was seen my the nurse at first and they were a little confused why he sent me back.,, I was then seen by the doctor, who listened to my heart and lungs, and he sat me down and we talked about my symptoms and he belives they are caused by Anxiety. He then told me he will send a extronic letter to my GP ( I guess thats a email ) to get me tested for something that shows in blood , can not remember the name of it. So I called my GP and was told he is now away for a week off, I now am going to be seen by another doc on Monday. I just feel that he was truly not bothered. I just want to get it sorted, perhaps I should change my GP all together. What do you think Have you ever had Anxiety? Many thanks
ooooop’s I forgot to say: I’m a 28 year old male

Tags: 24th march, back pain, blood sugar, colestral, dead arm, deep breaths, dizziness, doctor who, dry mouth and throat, headaches, left arm, lungs, panic attack, pin and needles, racing heart, random times, shortness of breath, soft texture, stools, tender spot

I am unsure if i have been experiencing some sort of panic attack. It has happened 3 times in a year. My face, neck and chest goes bright red, i get a hot/cold feeling, i start feeling dizzy and i feel like i need to throw up. These episodes last about half an hour but it takes me at least an hour or two to calm down. I have Narcolepsy and anxiety and i am under treatment for both. Does anyone know what could be causing this?

Tags: anxiety, cold feeling, half an hour, narcolepsy, panic attack

Hey guys, I have been experiencing tightness in chest, shortness of breath, and a really weak feeling, along with some minor sore throat, and headaches. I also have body aches. I am a pretty healthy 15 year old boy. These symptoms come up after doing physical work, so this could mean asthma. But, even after I rest for a while, it still persists. It also does it in the night, and wakes me up. I feel nervous and overwhelmed, and scared like I need someone to talk to. My heart pounds like I’ve been running and I feel like I’m getting about 50 percent of the air I need. This is a sign of a panic attack. I have general anxiety disorder, which would increase my chances of having a panic attack. If it is a panic attack, could it also cause headaches and muscle tension? And it just started when the weather got cold, so could it be a form of allergies? Also, why would I have panic attacks after physical work? Could it be stressing me out? Also, I’ve heard panic attacks are only a few minutes, is this true? Mine can last up to an hour. I apologize for the long list of questions, I’m just really concerned. I’mdefiantlyy going to the doctor very soon.
I forgot to put that I’m extremely dizzy and light headed during these spells

Tags: allergies, asthma, few minutes, general anxiety disorder, going to the doctor, headaches, heart pounds, hey guys, muscle tension, panic attack, Panic Attacks, shortness of breath, sore throat, spells, tightness in chest, weather

I have anxiety alot,i dont take nothing for it.but recently my daughter was taken from me so i have been extra neavous and tence… I worry about her..but last night i had a full blown panic attack and it really scared me. I dont like it.. I tried to relax. But it went on fro hrs…what are some things i can do to help this.

Tags: anxiety, panic attack

I have had terrible panic attacks where I don’t breathe hard and instead my chest warms up and waves of energy come over me followed by rapid heart rate. Does this happen to any of you? Is this a panic attack? What else could it be?
one other thing that happened, and I thought this was really strange, during or just after the attacks I would feel my brain dying as if it was trying to make me faint. I don’t know how else to describe this made me think someone was using a non-lethal weapon on me!
Oh and most of the time I’m not nervous at all before these horrific PA’s happen!

Tags: brain, lethal weapon, panic attack, Panic Attacks, rapid heart rate, waves

I feel like I’ve just ran a marathon, I feel drained, I feel like my heads are quite literally in the clouds(like I’m in a dream-like state), I feel tired now… Did I just go through a panic attack or just the aftermath of a moderate anxiety attack?

Tags: aftermath, anxiety attack, clouds, marathon, moderate anxiety, panic attack

Been clumsy taking my Lexapro and pretty much stopped.

Few weeks later suffered a panic attack. Ever since then I have been feeling sick and frustrated. I started taking my Lexapro again on a regular basis.

It has been 12 days and I cannot take much more of this.

Most of my symptoms are in my stomach. My symptoms are as follows:

- 24/7 stomach ache that worsens or slightly gets better throughout the day
-Complete loss of appetite where as before I would eat a ton of food
-Nausea on and off sometimes associated with eating
-Generally feeling sick like I can’t do anything I could do before
-Frightened that I have a serious illness
-Scared that I’m dying
-Afraid that I am never going to get better or return to normal
-Many other physical symptoms

It’s horrifying to think that just 12 days ago I was fine and happy and after that severe panic attack I’ve been feeling so sick and can’t enjoy anything. Am I going to get better? Am I going to be okay? I can’t take this anymore Is this mental or physical? Is there anyone that can talk to me that knows what they are talking about? Can anyone help? Am I going to get better? It’s been 12 days, is my medicine not working? Why don’t I feel better? What’s wrong with me? Is this anxiety/depression or physical or both? Am I going to return to normal? This is sooo hard, please help me I can’t take it

Tags: anxiety, depression, lexapro, loss of appetite, medicine, nausea, panic attack, stomach ache

hi like i said im 18 yrs old & this is seriosly taking over my life.i dont know why this is happening to me & now i kan get 2-3 panic attacks in one day and it makes me sad bcuz i cant control it.i told my mom but she said i need to control myself,but for the people that suffer from this know how hard it is to control a panic attack.and it really sux bcuz now im like afraid to go out bcuz i kno ill get one or sumtimes it just happends out of nowhere ughhhhh this has made me real self concious,i lost all my confidence now,especially when i get hot flashes & i get really red & i just need to run out of where ever i am,it makes me sad.im 18 for godsake i need to be not hiding but enjoying my life,but i just kant…..& i also sing in church & i alwayz get panic attacks when im singing up there & i kan feel my face getting hot & it feel like im goin to faint ,AND I JUST dont kno wat to do anymore

Tags: amp, confidence, hot flashes, kant, mom, panic attack, Panic Attacks, self concious

This morning I had my first panic attack and it was extremely severe. I really and truly thought I was going to die at any minute. My legs were numb. My arms were heavy and tingling. My face and neck tingled. I was short of breath. I had chest pain and my heart was palpitating (it was going really fast, then slow, then skipping beats, then fast, slow, ect ect ect). You don’t realize how loud your heart is until you don’t hear it anymore.

I went to the ER and did all the tests (EKG, blood, ect), spent 10 hours there to find out it was a panic attack. I didn’t even believe the doctors until I got home and read all the symptoms.

It was an INCREDIBLY scary experience. I am so afraid it is going to happen again. I mean, if this starts happening how am I to know I am not actually going to die?
And i forgot to add, the panic attack was triggered by me vomiting blood. I never had an ulcer until today and I started freaking. Then I the chest/heart/breathing symptoms arrived. I thought i was bleeding out and running out of blood and couldn’t decide which was worse – having a heart attack and not taking aspirin, or having an ulcer and taking aspirin only to make the bleeding worse.

This was by far, the worst experience of my life.

Tags: aspirin, chest pain, doctors, having a heart attack, heart attack, legs, panic attack, scary experience, short of breath, ulcer, vomiting blood

ok, ive always thought about my breathing, and when i think about it(which is way to much!)it feels like i have to change the way i breathe to breathe regularly. Well Ive always though i had a generalized anxiety disorder, but now i KNOW i do. I was home alone today(this ussually makes me more anxious)and alot of bad thoughts were going in my mind(my bad eating habits, my possible gad, my breathing etc). and i tried tro black them out while playign guitar hero. guitar hero made it worse. THe game made me think about my breathing more. When i stopped, i eventaually had my first panic attack after trying to calm down by going to sleep(made it worse after 1 second trying to fall asleep). So i know why and how i had a panic attack, so how do i stop it from happening again? Im afraid to try to go to sleep tonight because of it. Im in shock, and keep on wondering "why did that happen to me" and " did that REALLY jsut happen?" I just want to never have 1 again(it was my first one).

Tags: bad eating habits, bad thoughts, game, generalized anxiety disorder, guitar hero, panic attack, shock, sleep, ussually

thanks for the answers, I think it’s safe to say I have definitely had a panic attack.

are they harmful in any way?

Tags: panic attack

does anyone have advice on how too treat a 12yr old extreme anxiety/panic attacks? my girlfriends son was in the passenger seat while i was driving, he went into a panic attack…. he called 911 n said hes dying, then turned into a spider monkey and bounced around the car grabbing me dangerously grabbing me screaming hes dying! hes recently exhibited strange but very consistent symptoms like the following:
1. he wont eat cooked food?
2. if hes eating chips fr a bag and someone else puts their hand in the bag, he wont eat any more acting as if its contaminated…
3. if he has a zit or mosquito bite he will obsess incessantly. he walks up too us and asks if its cancer, if its a disease…
4. he breathes loudly and clears his nose/throat as if he has too because he thinks he cant breathe… he says he has too do it, but when he goes in to a panic attack he flips out n say hes dying
5. he will not eat food that we cook or food that we pick up at restaurants as if their is something contaminated about the food…

he has had some serious attacks lately where out of nowhere like a cat he attacks me screaming hes dying…
tonight was enough that he was out of control and i could have crashed, i had to stop the car, restrain em and tell em hes not dying… anyone have solutions or info on how they treat this disorder for 12yr olds? i have experience with this type of thing and i was able to get em home and lay em down, go through breathing exercises etc.. he does not sleep and is wired n moody all day… i dont want too have a doctor give em zanax or valium or any benzos at the age of 12.. we are sending em for counseling, but we are wondering (due to his extreme acute symptoms that he said lasted all day up to the point of an attack) due to the duration that maybe a psych eval at a hospital may be warranted… as far as stressors, his dads a scumbag, and he recently has had a teacher at school clockin em all day at school… in other words, a teacher is on his rear end all the time as they can see his work habits with online internet homework/computer usage ratios.. they can tell that hes slacking on homework etc.. but this teacher has stopped by the house 2x in a week unannounced to discuss his irritable behavior ( lack of sleep) and outburts etc… sorry so long… pretty complex issue here… any advice is appreciated.. thanks!
i forgot, this kid is and has been struggling with add/adhd, but his mother is in denial w/this… the anxiety starts their i believe as his day to day struggle to organize and get structured is disabling him at school… hes being evaluated… maybe the teacher is freakin em out? boy its complex…im going too get em too open up… good advice guys

Tags: 911, acute symptoms, anxiety panic, benzos, breathing exercises, chips, dads, duration, extreme anxiety, mosquito, mosquito bite, nose throat, panic attack, passenger seat, rear end, scumbag, spider monkey, stressors, valium, zanax

So I started treatment for panic attacks about 2 days ago.

My doctor prescribed Xanax 0.25g 2 x a day. Today, still a couple of hours before having to take my second one I had a horrible panic attack.The worst by far.

I’m concerned.Wasn;t the medication supposed to make me stop having them?Can you still keep panicking even though medicated?

I think i might be panicking about taking the medication.It scares me all the side effects that I read about, like seizures.

I took my 0.25g tablet when having the attack, but an hour later still not feeling well I took another one.Is that ok?

Im sooo scared

Tags: medication, panic attack, Panic Attacks, seizures, xanax

does anyone have advice on how too treat a 12yr old extreme anxiety/panic attacks? my girlfriends son was in the passenger seat while i was driving, he went into a panic attack…. he called 911 n said hes dying, then turned into a spider monkey and bounced around the car grabbing me dangerously grabbing me screaming hes dying! hes recently exhibited strange but very consistent symptoms like the following:
1. he wont eat cooked food?
2. if hes eating chips fr a bag and someone else puts their hand in the bag, he wont eat any more acting as if its contaminated…
3. if he has a zit or mosquito bite he will obsess incessantly. he walks up too us and asks if its cancer, if its a disease…
4. he breathes loudly and clears his nose/throat as if he has too because he thinks he cant breathe… he says he has too do it, but when he goes in to a panic attack he flips out n say hes dying
5. he will not eat food that we cook or food that we pick up at restaurants as if their is something contaminated about the food…

he has had some serious attacks lately where out of nowhere like a cat he attacks me screaming hes dying…
tonight was enough that he was out of control and i could have crashed, i had to stop the car, restrain em and tell em hes not dying… anyone have solutions or info on how they treat this disorder for 12yr olds? i have experience with this type of thing and i was able to get em home and lay em down, go through breathing exercises etc.. he does not sleep and is wired n moody all day… i dont want too have a doctor give em zanax or valium or any benzos at the age of 12.. we are sending em for counseling, but we are wondering (due to his extreme acute symptoms that he said lasted all day up to the point of an attack) due to the duration that maybe a psych eval at a hospital may be warranted… as far as stressors, his dads a scumbag, and he recently has had a teacher at school clockin em all day at school… in other words, a teacher is on his rear end all the time as they can see his work habits with online internet homework/computer usage ratios.. they can tell that hes slacking on homework etc.. but this teacher has stopped by the house 2x in a week unannounced to discuss his irritable behavior ( lack of sleep) and outburts etc… sorry so long… pretty complex issue here… any advice is appreciated.. thanks!

Tags: 911, acute symptoms, anxiety panic, benzos, breathing exercises, chips, dads, duration, extreme anxiety, mosquito, mosquito bite, nose throat, panic attack, passenger seat, rear end, scumbag, spider monkey, stressors, valium, zanax

UGH! i get nervous alot especially on the first day of school.
And i literally have a panic attack..I even sometimes throw up..
I get nervous just playing my instrument in frot of class.
How can i stop?

Tags: alot, first day of school, frot, panic attack

This summer, I had a panic attack belive it or not, I’m still not over it ! I’m scared it might happen to me at any time, what should i do?

On the weekeneds I’m sent to my grandma’s house and I fear I’m gonna have another panic attack how do i calm myself down? ( I relied on my ipod but its broken so no music lol)

And do people hear voice during a panic attack, Please answer .

God Bless

Tags: god, grandma, ipod, lol, music, panic attack