Question:
I've had panic attacks for years but I still find myself questioning my
symptoms. I've been on Prozac and Cipramil this last nine months- the first
time I've ever had SSRI treatment for panic. Before this I had the odd few
prescriptions of benzos- last lot '96. My drinking always got in the way of
me getting proper treatment. Anyway, so I've stopped drinking and now am
looking to seriously deal with my anxiety/panic/depression thing. One of the
things I'm finding difficult is coming to terms with having it and knowing
how much damage it's done to my life. Also my symptoms seem to blur into the
side effects of the meds. For example, feelings of unreality which are part
of anxiety/depression seem to be excerbated by SSRIs. Also a hortible
feeling of impending dizziness- is this common to anxiety sufferers here?
When this feeling of impending severe dizziness comes on, it gives me a cold
sweat because I fear this more than all the other panic symptoms. On this
medication I can get through it. Indeed it's only recently that my symptoms
have started to encroach after a liberating period. Another question, do
anxiety sufferers here have a kind of 'hangover' from panic attacks where
for one or more days they are depressed and listless with mid range fear
before climbing back up the snakes and ladders board so to speak.
Answer:
Dizziness is the most common symptom of anxiety. This was my only symptom
for one year before I had the onset of multiple spontaneous PAs each day. I
was afraid I would faint in a public place. Also just the symptom of
dizziness (faintness) lead to phobic avoidance (i.e. traveling too far from
where I lived). I never did faint.
I'd have PAs that occured "out of the blue" with no apparant precipitant
(such as facing a phobic situation). I'd have several per day for a period
of several months. Then the spontaneous attacks stopped, and I only had PAs
when facing a phobic stimulus (driving accross a bridge, or being in any
situation where "escape" was blocked or not easily achievable).
wow! i never knew how much my symptoms were like others!
I had my first panic attack 2 months ago... I had about 4 months of just
getting nauseated in public just by thinking about it and one day in the
barber chair, i had a horrendous attack,
i never knew other people had the "hangover" effects... i woudl go ok for a
bit, have a panic attack, and then for like 3 days, it would take me to get
over it... then bam another one and another 3 days..
it's great to know im not the only one who went through those same
symptoms...
You are the first person I've met who has the fear of fainting in a public
place. I'm new and was reading messages when I discovered yours. This is the
scariest feeling in the world, and ,yes, I do avoid going out a lot. I make
myself go out, but there is one store where I know I will feel faint every
time. I set myself up for it even before I get there. I don't go there at
present although my mother says I should go and work through it. In other
stores I usually talk to myself (reassuring silent speeches) or I hum. When
I'm trapped in the checkout line, I look at the candy and trinkets and try to
concentrate on not fainting. Like you I've never fainted although I think I've
come pretty close. At least it felt that way to me. Has anyone ever heard of
panic/anxiety attacks being associated with menopause?
