Question:
I am going to need some kind of medication I am afraid
if I start having panic attacks again.
Has anyone else had to take a med to STOP a panic attack in progress? What??
Answer:
I have tried a whole combination of non-drug things. All help, and I'd
probably have thm more often if I didn.t , but I still have an occasional
rough panic episode :( :(
Diet helps a lot- eliminating caffeine and dairy as much as possible, taking
a multivitamin, keeping blood sugar constant. As does getting regular
adequate sleep, avoiding things I am sensitive to- onions, MSG, artificial
sweeteners, yellow drinks such as Mountain Dew or Mello Yello...also
controlling my allergies helps- trying to cut down on the stuffy nose, using
a hepa air filter, keeping as clean and dust free as possible. Not using
fabric softener or strongly scented detergent....etc. So there is all
that.....then, I have been coached on breathing exercises and meditation,
relaxing techniques, positive thinking...ways to control my body staying
calm.
But they simply just don't always help. I was doing very well since the
first trimester, they were worse actually in the first 2 months of
pregnancy, and I haven't had once since until today.
I'd second that. That helped me a TON. But for me, the key to me was
prevention. Every night, (no excuses!) lay in a darkened room and listen to
a relaxing cd and do visualization, relax your body amd calm your breathing.
I repeat the words "calm, and down" over and over (which helps during an
attack for me too) When I did this every night I had fewer attacks.
I have Panic Disorder too, but thankfully, haven't had an attack
of that magnitude in a *very* long time (probably 2-3 yrs) though I have
terrible anxiety constantly :(
I'd be curious to know too. I feel apprehensive that I take Paxil but
I had no choice. Without Paxil I simply have more panic attacks no matter
what else I control by diet, exercise, breathing, cognition etc. I could
switch SSRIs though-- I am on Paxil due to its being more sedating than some
of the others.
Jill are you sure it's a true panic attack and not just the heart
palpitations that are fairly common for some women during pregnancy?
I've had a lot of heart weirdness too, and it's done it's share to scare
me, except I'd experienced PACs before so know that they are harmless (I
keep telling myself that while they hit me 3 and 4 times a minute during
some periods).
I'd expect having a sudden racing heart and getting scared over it would
seem very much like a panic attack...
I'd be more than happy to chat about this off group if you like...I can
TOTALLY relate. I hadn't had a panic attack since I was 8 weeks pregnant
with my son. All of a sudden, over 2 years later, I'm having them very
frequently with this pregnancy. It's fairly common to experience
anxiety/depression during pregnancy - up to 10% of women do. Since anxiety
and depression are basically the same triggers in the brain, panic attacks
go right along with that.
I recently found a website: www.panicsupport4u.com and I printed out the
pages from the "coping" section to keep by my night table to read when I'm
feeling anxious. I also printed out the "comfort" page and gave a copy to
my mother and my husband who don't always know what to do for me when I'm in
the midst of an attack. The "coping" page has some great calming
information that I would highly recommend reading at least once, if not
holding onto it like a panic talisman (as I have done).
People who have not experienced panic attacks really have no idea what it's
like. They have no idea how terrifying it can truly be and it seems crazy
to them since we're not sick, not in real danger and it can come on so
suddenly. When I was without panic for these 2 years, I kept thanking God
(and I'm not a religious person) that I was able to do all the things that
used to make me afraid. Then you become afraid of the fear and it's a
vicious cycle. I'm going through this all right now too, and I know it
helps me to talk to someone who has gone through it or is going through it
because you just *know* they understand where you are coming from and don't
think you are crazy.
The "all of a sudden" nature of it in pregnancy is attributed to the
fluctuating levels of all these hormones. It truly can come out of nowhere
and there may not be a definite trigger to attach to it. Try not to get too
focused on the trigger, just try to ride it out and know it will pass. I
have a friend who was nearly incapacitated with panic attacks during
pregnancy. Her daughter was born on a Thursday, she had her last panic
attack the following Sunday and hasn't had 1 since, and her daughter turned
2 in December. I'm praying that I have the same results...and if nothing
else, I can take some Xanax once she's born! For the record, I've been told
that we *can* take that 1 random Xanax a month, but for so long I'd been
told it was so dangerous for a fetus, so I have not taken one. I actually
haven't taken one in about 6 years, but I still have some lying around just
in case! I know they are probably just sugar pills at this point, but
knowing they are in the cupboard helps!
Ok, just realized this is getting a tad long. Feel free to email me at
jehochis at hotmail dot com and put something in the subject so I know it's
you, otherwise I delete just about everything. :-)
