Question:
Had it not been for medication when my attacks started , I do not know where
I would be. I was in a bad place 3 years ago out of nowhere. I am glad
things worked out for you but I am one who needs to have medication. I am
happy your attacks went away but remember other people suffer on a daily
basis..
Answer:
I used to have 10+ PA's everyday for 2 months straight! Whoa :)
After being out on Xanax, and forcing myself back into my life, I have made
a real breakthrough. If I never took meds, I'll be in a mental hospital
right now. Seriously...Please don't compare yourself with others.
Everybody's anxiety is different...Don't get me wrong, I'll glad it's over
for you...:) It's not fun...
If my panic attacks only lasted 10 seconds.........I wouldn`t have panic
disorder! A 10 second panic attack would be a dream come true :) Try having
an attack for over an hour, try having numerous panic attacks a day and when
you`re not having a panic attack, your anxiety is through the roof. Ever
have a nocturnal panic attack? Imagine being sound alseep, you wake up
feeling like you are being strangled, your hot, sweaty, your heart is
racing, you are confused and disorientated and all you feel is this raw
terror.
This is diagnostic criteria for panic disorder. Note the comment about the
attack reaching a peak within "10" minutes.
Criteria for Panic Attack: A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort,
in which four (or more) of the following symptoms developed abruptly and
reached a peak within 10 minutes:
palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
sweating
trembling or shaking
sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
feeling of choking
chest pain or discomfort
nausea or abdominal distress
feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached
from oneself)
fear of losing control or going crazy
fear of dying
paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
chills or hot flushes
At least one of the attacks has been followed by 1 month (or more) of one
(or more) of the following:
persistent concern about having additional attacks
worry about the implications of the attack or its consequences (e.g., losing
control, having a heart attack, "going crazy")
a significant change in behavior related to the attacks
I wish panic disorder wasn`t part of me. It has robbed me of so much in my
life. I`ve been suffering for over 21 years.
I`m really happy that you are doing so well now. I hope you never have to
experience a panic attack again. Unfortunately, some people do need to take
meds in order to have any kind of quality to their lives. Did you know that
the suicide rate is higher for people with anxiety disorders, than those
that have depression? Do you know how many people self-medicate their
anxiety and panic with alcohol and illicit drugs? Do you realize how many
people with chronic anxiety and panic disorder cannot work......and require
disability? Believe me, anxiety or panic that only lasted 10 seconds would
not cause these serious problems. The anxiety and panic we experience is all
encompassing, it develops a life of its own, it ruins careers,
relationships, marriages, friendships, educations, etc.
How do you know that we don`t need meds? There is no one recipe for getting
better that fits all........what I need to get better, may not work for
someone else. Medication is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety
disorders and that`s because they work. You probably wouldn`t tell someone
who had a chronic physical problem that they don`t need their meds, but it
is okay to tell people with emotional problems that the can get better
without them? Emotional pain is as real as physical pain.......
