Trauma – PTSD

Question:

I really don’t think you have to actually *feel* stressed out to have PD. It is not something you are doing to yourself. PD is a disorder that is mainly IMO, a chemical imbalance in the brain. Medication can help get those chemicals back in "order". From my experience, trying to deal with PD without meds for 12 years and hoping it will go away…did not work.

My therapist had an interesting analogy. She said having PD was like having your  internal thermostat messed up. Instead of setting the heat to come on, say at 68 degrees F, it comes on at 50 degrees.  So, medication recalibrates the thermostat so your panic response comes at more appropriate times–like when a train is barreling down on you at 100 MPH, rather than just standing in line at the grocery store.   Therapy, which often goes hand in hand with medication, is IMO, good for retraining the way you think and perceive stimuli in such situations.  For instance, I’m a "worst case scenario" person.  If something small goes wrong with me, like a headache, I naturally want to think I’ve got a brain tumor.  So, I’ve had to retrain my thought process.  It’s lots of work, but it does eventually pay off.  A few days ago, for the first time, I was able to get through a panic attack calmly and detached–realizing what was happening to me instead of getting scared out of my wits and wanting to run. Iris —

Response:

My therapist had an interesting analogy. She said having PD was like having your  internal thermostat messed up. Instead of setting the heat to come on, say at 68 degrees F, it comes on at 50 degrees.  So, medication recalibrates the thermostat so your panic response comes at more appropriate times–like when a train is barreling down on you at 100 MPH, rather than just standing in line at the grocery store.  

I think that’s a very useful analogy, Iris. I’ve likened it at times to being a 110v device being run at 240v *very* close to the point of meltdown. Indeed, when I was in the GAD phase of this, it felt like I was running at just about that degree of ‘wrongness’ all the time. Therapy, which often goes hand in hand with medication, is IMO, good for retraining the way you think and perceive stimuli in such situations.  For instance, I’m a "worst case scenario" person.  If something small goes wrong with me, like a headache, I naturally want to think I’ve got a brain tumor.  So, I’ve had to retrain my thought process.  It’s lots of work, but it does eventually pay off.  A few days ago, for the first time, I was able to get through a panic attack calmly and detached–realizing what was happening to me instead of getting scared out of my wits and wanting to run.

Whichever way we tackle it, whether it’s with a proper therapist or (as I’ve done) a sort barefoot pshrink DIY approach, I don’t see how we can avoid at least some sort of therapy to help us. Even if all we do is gradually re-insert ourselves back into ‘the real world’ we’re using behavioural techniques Hope that things are improving for you! — Gary Cooper

Response:

I’ve never had a panic attack before–don’t suffer from OCD or any other mental impairment that I know of (don’t ask my hubby if that’s true though!).  Last week, there I am, sitting and reading a book.  Had just taking my first antibiotic for a rash and had taken this before with no problems in the past.  About an hour later–I feel like I’m flipping out!  Heart is racing, metal taste in my mouth, can’t breath, chest hurts like a bloody SOB, I’m dizzy and swear I’m either having a heart attack or a reaction to this medicine.  Hubby is looking at me like I have purple hair.  So I (is this common or what) pick up the phone and dial 911 thinking I’m having a heart attack (I’m only 33–in my mind I knew this probably wasn’t the case) or having a delayed anaphylatic reaction to this medicine.  In rush the paramedics, I’m still in pain and hurting and after about 30 minutes, they tell me it’s a panic attack.

<<snip Sounds so familiar that I think you are probably me in some parallel universe. I’d been suffering for years with anxiety (and ignoring it ’cause I was afraid to go to the doctor and be told that I was dying) when suddenly, sitting in my easy chair at home (no stress) WHAMMO the mother of all panic attacks. I did not want to frighten my 85 year old mother-in-law by calling 911 so, I waited until I could stand the drive to my doctor. When I got there WHAMMO another panic attack. They came out and took me in immediately (no waiting). Ran all the tests and told me that it was anxiety and that I needed to talk to a psychiatrist about it. They gave me ativan to help me until I got to the psych. They also sent me to a cardiologist just to be on the safe side. I found out that I am as healthy as I can be. That was a great relief. I am now on Paxil and have not had a panic attack for several weeks. I still have symptoms of anxiety (maybe side effects) it’s too soon to tell. Anyway, this panic problem in my case is not the result of stress but is a result of a chemical imbalance that keeps me from handling normal life properly. I have anticipatory anxiety that causes my panic. I am not afraid of the activity I am about to do but the anticipatation of having a panic attack starts the vicious cycle. IMO, My problem started with mild annoying symptoms and built for years into chronic panic disorder. Is it possible that you have had a problem with anxiety that has now built into panic disorder? If not, you may be experiencing a temporary situation. The only way to know for certain is to see a good psychiatrist and find out what is going on. It helped me a great deal to find out what was really going on. Now, I am confident that I am not actually dying. My mother has had two quadruple heart bypasses and I was very worried about my pre-disposition to heart problems. Good luck to you, Joyce

Response:

Hi all, Have been lurking here for a week–maybe I have a similar story? I’ve never had a panic attack before–don’t suffer from OCD or any other mental impairment that I know of (don’t ask my hubby if that’s true though!).  Last week, there I am, sitting and reading a book.  Had just taking my first antibiotic for a rash and had taken this before with no problems in the past.  About an hour later–I feel like I’m flipping out!  Heart is racing, metal taste in my mouth, can’t breath, chest hurts like a bloody SOB, I’m dizzy and swear I’m either having a heart attack or a reaction to this medicine.  Hubby is looking at me like I have purple hair.  So I (is this common or what) pick up the phone and dial 911 thinking I’m having a heart attack (I’m only 33–in my mind I knew this probably wasn’t the case) or having a delayed anaphylatic reaction to this medicine.  In rush the paramedics, I’m still in pain and hurting and after about 30 minutes, they tell me it’s a panic attack. Boy, do I feel humiliated.  The paramedics assure me that about 30% of their calls are for these.  So I figure, it’s my first, last and only time–freak situation.  Go into my docs the next day and she agrees and gives me .25 mg of Xanax in case it happens again and tells me most people get the relief from knowing they have the meds.  So I go on my merry way feeling like that’s it–case closed.  I’m fine for about two days and then–whamo, I’m driving and it starts again, but luckily I don’t tell my hubby and just seem to talk my way through it by talking alot.  Now it’s been a week and the last four days I’ve gotten those hurting chest pains and have started taking the xanax.  It seems to take 30-60 minutes to kick in and only lasts me about 3 hours.  Phoned my doc and now she wants me to start on Buspar. So here I am reading up on all the PD stuff and just wondering how the heck this has happened to me?  In some ways–it’s me and in others it’s not.  Like-I actually get RELIEF from being in crowds or at the mall. It’s almost like it takes my mind off of what’s happening.  What I can’t understand is how this has just *happened*.  I don’t feel like I’m under stress, but I guess maybe I am and the worst part of it is, the more I THINK about getting another attack–the more it shows up.  If I can just work and keep my mind off of thinking about another attack, I’m fine–but the minute I think "I wonder if I’ll be able to drive home tonight" it starts in.  I’ve gotten to the point where I know what’s happening and it’s not to the extent of my first attack–but is there such a thing as short term PD??  The only thing I can think of (and it does set it off sometimes) is that we are buying a house–and my job is being reclassified and I don’t know how it will affect me. I just feel like I’m really not that stressed, so I don’t quite know why this is happening and I can’t talk to anyone about it–other than hubby who thinks it’s perfectly ok and just my body’s way of dealing with it (bless him!).  God I hope this goes away–because it HURTS like heck!! If it wasn’t so damn physical in the manifestations, I think I could deal with it more. Ok–vent over.  {breathing deeply}

Response:

: Hi all, : Have been lurking here for a week–maybe I have a similar story? Hi to you too!  :) : I’ve never had a panic attack before–don’t suffer from OCD or any other : mental impairment that I know of (don’t ask my hubby if that’s true : though!).  Last week, there I am, sitting and reading a book.  Had just : taking my first antibiotic for a rash and had taken this before with no : problems in the past.  About an hour later–I feel like I’m flipping : out!  Heart is racing, metal taste in my mouth, can’t breath, chest : hurts like a bloody SOB, I’m dizzy and swear I’m either having a heart : attack or a reaction to this medicine.  Hubby is looking at me like I : have purple hair.  So I (is this common or what) pick up the phone and : dial 911 thinking I’m having a heart attack (I’m only 33–in my mind I : knew this probably wasn’t the case) or having a delayed anaphylatic : reaction to this medicine.  In rush the paramedics, I’m still in pain : and hurting and after about 30 minutes, they tell me it’s a panic : attack. Sounds familiar to my first panic attack…15 years ago. I was just minding my own business, watching TV and it hit me. I also thought I was having a heart attack, went to ER…etc…. I don’t know how much info you have on panic attacks, so If I am insulting the knowledge you already have….my apologies.  All the symptoms you describe are that of PD. The symptoms come from the "fight or flight response". The response in a panic attack is a false F or F. response. Your adrenaline flows which is why your heart beats faster, hyperventilation occurs etc.. <some snipped for space : hurting chest pains and have started taking the xanax.  It seems to take : 30-60 minutes to kick in and only lasts me about 3 hours.  Phoned my doc : and now she wants me to start on Buspar. IMO (and I was on buspar for three years) Buspar is not one of the better medications for PD. It did nothing for me that I know of, and from this NG, have not heard too many people say it helps with panic attacks. YMMV of course. Xanax, on OTHO, helps me tremendously when I get a PA, along with allot of other people in this NG. again, YMMV : So here I am reading up on all the PD stuff and just wondering how the : heck this has happened to me?  In some ways–it’s me and in others it’s : not.  Like-I actually get RELIEF from being in crowds or at the mall. : It’s almost like it takes my mind off of what’s happening.  What I can’t : understand is how this has just *happened*. From what I gather (from books) allot of people are predispositioned to this disorder, and certain life situations can "bring out" what is already there…..just has not surfaced in the past. : I don’t feel like I’m under : stress, but I guess maybe I am and the worst part of it is, the more I : THINK about getting another attack–the more it shows up.  If I can just : work and keep my mind off of thinking about another attack, I’m : fine–but the minute I think "I wonder if I’ll be able to drive home : tonight" it starts in.  I’ve gotten to the point where I know what’s : happening and it’s not to the extent of my first attack–but is there : such a thing as short term PD?? I have heard of people having a few isolated panic attacks and then never having them again. Could be the case with you. If you keep having the attacks on a regular basis, I would say you might have chronic panic disorder. That being said (not trying to scare ya) the sooner you treat it the better off you will be. The Xanax as needed is a good start. IMO, an added anti-depressant might also be something you might want to talk to your Doctor about…such as Paxil or Zoloft. : The only thing I can think of (and it : does set it off sometimes) is that we are buying a house–and my job is : being reclassified and I don’t know how it will affect me. : : I just feel like I’m really not that stressed, so I don’t quite know why : this is happening and I can’t talk to anyone about it–other than hubby : who thinks it’s perfectly ok and just my body’s way of dealing with it : (bless him!).  God I hope this goes away–because it HURTS like heck!! : If it wasn’t so damn physical in the manifestations, I think I could I really don’t think you have to actually *feel* stressed out to have PD. It is not something you are doing to yourself. PD is a disorder that is mainly IMO, a chemical imbalance in the brain. Medication can help get those chemicals back in "order". From my experience, trying to deal with PD without meds for 12 years and hoping it will go away…did not work.   : deal with it more. : : Ok–vent over.  {breathing deeply} Always nice to vent. I would just want to tell you, if the panic attacks persist, ya might want to give in to the fact that this *could* be a long battle. It can be treated. I do hope it *is*  isolated, in your case. Take Care, Scott H.

Response:

Related Posts