Anyone else here suffer bad panic attacks?

[Firebird]

Sorry, maybe this isn't the right board. Just curious if anyone on CJM here suffers bad anxiety/panic attacks? Lately for me its getting pretty bad, almost everytime I go out or go driving now I have a bad panic attack. Never used to get them before, until I was a chronic weed smoker for about 2 years daily and then quit due to panic attacks. Now I'm getting then when I'm pure flat out sober. I also lately have this bad feeling of anxiety over me. I've been to the doctor and all he wants to prescribe is anti-depressants (paxil) and he also gave me Ativan 0.5mg. I haven't taken the paxil yet, although I was on it last year for only about a month and quit the shit because I figured I didn't need it. I guess I'm just a really high strung individual. Just wondering if anyone else here has experienced the same, and if so what did you do about it? I find it's almost taking over my life now it's getting this bad.

Thanks

[A-1]

yes but not all the time like you. Maybe twice a year. If it was more then twice a month I would seek medication. You cant live like that.

[STEELY]

Once in awhile I would get them in my sleep, I get this feeling that I'm about to die and wake up and stay a wake for the rest of the night. If this is what's it like?

[edarrin]

Never used to get them before, until I was a chronic weed smoker for about 2 years daily and then quit due to panic attacks

I'm not sure if we're talking about exactly the same thing but I quit smoking weed because it made me very paranoid which causes great anxiety. Now I smoke occassionally and still get that way sometimes. Are we talking about the same thing? I have never experienced them while not high on weed(well...except for a few times in high school with other substances...thats another story)

The Paxil may help with the anxiety. Takes a bit of time to work. It's a bummer to feel that way but remember- it's a bigger bummer to get physically addicted to benzodiazepines (like Ativan). Believe me bro and its an easy trap to fall into.

[STEELY]

Originally posted by BigAk
Did you check to see if it's sleeping apena you have???

Anyway... I'm moving this under medical catagory.

Also.. Firebird.. Sorry to hear about your panic attacks. I had a roommate who had em I can remember vividly how scary they are. He's doing totally better now. I think the main key is to try to figure out what's causing your anxiety and take measures to eliminate the cause.

Hey BigAk sorry for the late reply bud, I'm not sure I have never had it checked but it seems to have gone away for now..

[Firebird]

Yeah, not sure why but lately the anxiety/panic attacks have been really bad as opposed to before when I used to just get them every once in awhile. I have been on a lot of antibiotics within the past year for various sore throats and finally got my tonsils removed in November. But now I am thinking I might have Candida from all the antibiotics because I've heard Candida can cause various degrees of anxiety and I have some other type symptoms of candida like chills and goosebumps as well. Also going back to my throat surgeon on Monday because I have a huge hole in the back of my throat the size of a dime or even bigger that looks almost infected. Strange.

- Might also give Phenibut powder a try. I've bought some GABATropin from BodyBuilding.com before which seemed to help the anxiety quite a bit and help to sleep, except the stuff sure lasts a long time. I took too many last time I felt really weird even the next day. Anyone have any experiences with GABATropin or Phenibut powder for anxiety?

- Maybe I should also just go back on the Paxil, I just don't like the idea of being on an SSRI for too long as I have heard some horror stories trying to come off of them. But I think I might have to if these panic attacks keep up. They usually happen when I go out somewhere far, or if I go driving somehere far. Never used to be like that.

Anyways thanks for the suggestions and replies.

[Rick Thibodeau]

Well i'm goign to speak from some new experience.

I have major sleeping problems due to a motor vehicle accident Ihad almost 2 years ago. I constantly wake up during the night, about 4-5 times a night. I dont' have a problem getting to sleep, its staying asleep.

I've been put on now 3 different sleeping pills. First, Amitryptillene...that was too sedative to me and I couldnt' function. Then I was put on Nortryptillene a month ago...wasn't powerful enough, i was waking up about 3 times a night. Now i'm using immobain (generic for zopiclone) and it seems to be helping better.

This is for sleep, however i'm on an anti depressant (yea thats right folks) right now to help me get out of a rut. I'm extremely worn out, lacking motivation (though i'm still hitting the gym and eating great), missing classes, and was not keeping up to school work. My anatomy professor figured something was wrong and actually walked me to the councilling office at campus (UNB), and they sent me to the campus clinic.

I'm on Celexa right now. It takes about 3 weeks to start kicking in, but in order to reap any benefit i HAVE to be on this for at least half a year. I can't stop 2-3 months in when I'm feeling good and figure I don't need anymore. Too many people assume this and then get worse off.

I have to suck in a lot of pride as i'm quite active in life and wouldn't consider myself depressed...though I have to follow the doctors advice and stick with it. What have I got to lose?

And thats where this rant comes to an end. What have you got to lose? If you take it and nothing happens 6 months later, then you could say you tried it, nothing happened. But be optimistic and stick it through and perhaps somethign will pick up.

[Danny Love]

I get them once in a while... I'll be good for 2-3 months and then I'll get major anxiety for nothing.

Example, about 2 months ago, I got the stupid idea that I was HIV positive. SO I went and got tested so for 3 weeks I was barely able to sleep and felt like puking almost 24/7. ANd I had that tense feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I wasn't like that before and I don't take drugs either. I never thought about taking medication for it though.

I usually start to get anxiety when I'm insecure about something.
It 's not fun

[edmonton27]

I had really bad panic attacks a couple of years back. I tried a variety of meds such as Buspar (garbage), Paxil, and Rivotril. The only med that worked for the anxiety was Celexa. Most think Celexa is for Depression, but it is for anxiety as well. As I understand it, both depression and anxiety can be related and caused by low levels of Seratonin. As well, doing rec drugs can lower your Seratonin causing depression and/or anxiety. This has prob been posted on the board before....

I would try Celexa as it started to work for after about 2-3 weeks. The panic attacks were significantly reduced and the overall feeling of anxiety was eliminated. I also had ativan (sublingual) on hand just in case. I would also ask your doctor for 1mg or even 2mg Ativan as 0.5mg does F%#k all. You could also try a technique that worked for me called EMDR (which is hybrid of hyonotism, cognitive therapy, and exposure therapy); try and find a psychiatrist who specializes in this. I was on the meds for about a year and did about 10 months of EMDR and I have been off of the meds for over a year and have only 1-3 minor panic attacks a year as opposed to 10-12 a week. Get help as it will only get worse and affect your quality of life even more. You can pm is you have any specific questions. As well, do not worry about taking meds. If it helps your anxiety, it is worth it. Also, if you are doing any AAS, stimulants, or rec drugs, quite them asap.

Tom

[Firebird]

- Well thanks everybody for all the suggestions. I will make up my mind here what to do. Great to here a lot of different opinions from people.

[doucetru]

A guy I work with was on Paxil and he had a really difficult time to get off it, suffered severe withdrawals.
I've heard that Celexa is better.

[juddman]

Zoloft is also effective if the anxiety is coming from a serotonin imbalance. Its labelled an anti-depressant, but its often prescribed to treat anxiety.

[MacGyver]

You would be absolutely insane to start the paxil......try and look for something else that will be easier to come off. I know from first hand experience. I'm not even goig to get into the side effects from being on the drug...
I battled depression/anxiety for 5 years with paxil. If you think the solution to your dilemma lies in that little pill, think again. It's only 50% of the battle. Stress and anxiety don't actually exist in the world. It's your thoughts and how you perceive things in the world that cause this. So if the problem lies in your head, the solution has to as well.
I could go on and write a novel to you about this but you don't need a preacher. What you need is some advice, so here it is.
Try and download a copy of Dr. Wayne Dyer's seminar on "Creating your Life With Your Thoughts". I have never seen it for sale but I got it on Kazaa. (I bought some of his books afterwards to make up for stealing this info) If you still think the answer to life's problem's lies in that pill after listening to him, well.....I will leave it at that. I can almost guarantee you that listening to it will change your life. Much success on your journey!

[matsquiman]

do you drink alot of coffee firebird

[TEFLON]

SSRI's suck!