Question:
Has anyone treated successfully his or her panic attacks without resorting
to medication?
Answer:
I had a great period from 89 until 96, I felt almost normal, whatever that
is and I owe it all to cognitive behavioral therapy.
No. Without medication, my anxiety level would always be extremely high, and
I'd have panic attacks every day.
No,I didn't,but I know of people who did and did just fine.
I think it is a matter of how high your anx-pan level is
and if your diagnose is made early. Add to that a good therapy
(C.B.T.) and you have a change to 'do' it without medication.
It is not 'a rule' that anx-pan has to be treated with medication.
OTOH I wouldn't suffer to much !
Anxiolytics and anti-depressants are fairly modern drugs, so I am sure that
millions of people throughout history have probably gotten over it (anxiety)
in one form or another. Then again, anxiety and depression are more common
today.
I think it was a few things that happened in a two year period that made
my anxiety and panic go through the roof...... that even with my knowledge
of CBT..........I couldn`t pull myself out of this setback.
In 96 my Grandfather passed away suddenly, loss is very hard for me. I
also was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder that I feel was a huge trigger
for my anxiety and panic. A few days after being diagnosed with this
disorder my Husband`s job downsized and laid off many long time
employee`s. My Husband worked for this company for 13 1/2 years and was
one of the people laid off........that was one of the scariest days of our
lives, to lose income and health insurance. It took him a few months to
find another job and he took a tremendous cut in pay which caused all
sorts of stress for a few years to come. Some minor things like my
youngest Daughter never sleeping through the night for a few years......so
I was very sleep deprived and that exacerbated my anxiety.
My Mother and Step-fathers relationship was on the rocks, they split up in
the early part of 98..........my Mother put me in the middle which caused
incredible stress for me and was probably the catalyst in getting me to
call my CBT psychologist.
Also..... my anxiety and panic expressed itself differently, I was dizzy
all the time, I would break out in a sweat and get very hot.........all
new "anxiety" symptoms. I didn`t recognize it as anxiety, became obsessed
with the thought that I was dying or had some physical disorder.
In March of 98 when I couldn`t take living the way I was living anymore I
called the CBT psychologist, she recommended meds to get my anxiety down
and then we brushed up on CBT again. I think a physical disorder and lots
of stress, some major, some minor and the death of a loved one was just
too much for me.........so there it is.... in a nutshell for you :))
