Question:
First of all this is not a joke and it may sound to good to be true and I
thought the same thing when a doctor told me. My story--- My panic attacks
started when I was about 17 and continued untill I was about 24 that is a lot
of years of suffering in my opinion. I got so bad that I was taking 4 xanax a
day and it still was not touching it. I got to the point where I couldn't even
drive to the mini-mart down the street. I was afraid to go anywhere and my
life came to a total halt. I lost my wife because she didn't understand and I
lost my job because I couldn't work that is how bad it was. I had went to
multiple Doctors which thought I was crazy because panic attacks were not known
like they are today. So they would send me to counsling figuring that it was
in my head. I keep going to doctors and one day I went to a new Doctor and he
took me into his personal office and asked me what my symptoms were. I told
him how I was feeling and he said I know what is wrong with you. Now you must
understand at this point in my life I am beliving that I am a psycho or
something and my self esteem was in the toilet. He said I want you to go get a
glucose tolerance test. I thought ok what ever I don't see what this has to do
with my panic but I was willing to try anything at this point. I went and had
the test and the results came back that I was severly Hypoglycemic and the
Doctor told me to stop eating sugar and no caffeine. Now at first I thought I
will try anything but I don't think this is the answer. But you know what it
was. I stoped eating sugar and caffeine and I have not had a panic attack
since. Its been over 8 years since my last attack and don't even worry about
it any more. I was so bad that I would panic about having a panic attack.
This may not be the cure for everone but it is worth a try. If your doctor
won't give you the test then go to someone else. You are paying the doctor and
its your body and your health and if the doctor won't listen to you then its
time to fire him/her and find someone that cares enough to listen. Many
doctors won't belive this therory but I don't care what the doctors think
because I am living proof that it works. I have briefly covered this so if you
have any questions or concerns I will answer them the best that I can. Doctors
don't know everything or I wouldn't of had to go too so many to get an answer.
Answer:
Yes, I agree that hypoglycemia, diabetes and other blood
sugar disorders are easily confused with anxiety disorders,
and even that anxiety disorders may create such disorders
in some people. Such disorders should be tested for in
anxiety cases, especially when fainting occurs.
Unfortunately it's not new. I'm very happy for you (and I really am as I wish panic
disorder on no-one) that this worked for you but not *all* PD stems from
hypoglycemia. I don't have it and that *is* tested. So *if* you have hypoglycemia
you may be cured of your panic symptoms but if you don't have it, business as
usual. I'm afraid.
There is also a very good article in the magazine "Health" (October
issue I believe) regarding anxiety due to low blood volume. A tilt table
test can diagnose this condition with ease.
The "cure" is quite simple. Higher salt intake and more higher fluid
intake. Also an exercise program.
Some of the people that were in the research group had blood volumes as
low as 80% of what a normal person should have. The higher fluid intake
and salt helped to restore normal bood volumes, thus preventing anxiety
attacks entirely.
Mind you, this, like any other cause of anxiety only applies to people
with this specific disorder. But, if you wonder about the cause of your
anxiety, it couldn't hurt to get tested for this disorder.
