Question:
I’m new to this group so i’d like to tell you a little about myself. I’m a 40yr old male who started getting panic attacks about 10 yrs ago. I didn’t know what hit me. I went into a subway and as soon as the door closed I just had to get out. From there I got them if I got stuck in traffic or in an elevator. What’s strange is I have no problem going on an airplane or cruise ship. When I figured out than I have PA I read up a little and realized other people unfortunately suffer from the same thing and I sometimes feel better. My question to all is why do I have panic attacks in a train or a bus but not in a plane? I never did go to therapy(I know I should)but I did sometimes take 5mg valium and it did help, Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, Gary – welcome to ASAP 
I can’t even begin to guess why you might experience anxiety in some places but not a plane – but I do know the human mind is a weird and wonderful thing, seemingly capable of just about anything. When you say you haven’t tried therapy, do you mean standard sub-psychoanalysis-type therapy or cognitive-behavioural? The latter is particularly good with practical anxiety problems and might help a lot. Hope that’s some use — Gary Cooper
Response:
: Hi All, Hi Gary. Welcome to ASAP. : I’m new to this group so i’d like to tell you a little about myself. : I’m a 40yr old male who started getting panic attacks about 10 yrs ago. : I didn’t know what hit me. I went into a subway and as soon as the door : closed I just had to get out. From there I got them if I got stuck in : traffic or in an elevator. What’s strange is I have no problem going on : an airplane or cruise ship. When I figured out than I have PA I read up : a little and realized other people unfortunately suffer from the same : thing and I sometimes feel better. My question to all is why do I have : panic attacks in a train or a bus but not in a plane? I never did go to : therapy(I know I should)but I did sometimes take 5mg valium and it did : help, Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Cases of panic disorder can vary allot in their biological and psychological aspects. Since the valium helped, it’s likely that you are suffering a form of panic disorder based on a neurotransmitter imbalance. You see, diazepam (Valium) belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines help to inhibit the hormone and neurotransmitter known as cholecystokinin (CCK). In some people, CCK surges appear to be responsible for panic attacks. Typically, the most effective benzodiazepine for CCK related panic disorder is alprazolam (Xanax). You may want to talk to a doctor about switching from Valium to Xanax. If you are experiencing sleeping and eating problems you may also want to talk to a doctor about another class of medications called Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SRIs). The best place to find doctors for anxiety and panic disorders is your local university hospital. You seem to be getting around OK, so the psychological aspect of your panic disorder may be rather minimal. Nonetheless, you might benefit from a little cognitive behavioral therapy to help overcome any avoidances you might have acquired. Post or e-mail us anytime. Best Wishes, Arthur
Response:
Hi All, I’m new to this group so i’d like to tell you a little about myself. I’m a 40yr old male who started getting panic attacks about 10 yrs ago. I didn’t know what hit me. I went into a subway and as soon as the door closed I just had to get out. From there I got them if I got stuck in traffic or in an elevator. What’s strange is I have no problem going on an airplane or cruise ship. When I figured out than I have PA I read up a little and realized other people unfortunately suffer from the same thing and I sometimes feel better. My question to all is why do I have panic attacks in a train or a bus but not in a plane? I never did go to therapy(I know I should)but I did sometimes take 5mg valium and it did help, Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Gary
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It figures. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last. PAs have always stayed away from my work place until today. I can’t tell you how much I don’t want to go back there again now. I’m so damn sick of this shit. Don’t need anything, just venting. Going to bed. Good night. Teri, I am so sorry this happened. My very first panic attack happened at work. Talk about hard to go back there afterward, but I did. Please don’t let it get you down. You know how it works and you know it will be ok. Take care, hon. Vicki Thanks Vicki. I did go back but I sure didn’t want to. Your very first happened at work? That must have been awful. You were very brave to go back after that. Then again I’ve come to realize how strong a person you are so I guess I’m not really surprised. 
Thanks for saying that, Teri. Yeah, my first panic attack was at work and I was terrified. Everything became unreal to me, my heart was pounding, my head felt strange. I said to my boss "I have to get out of here NOW" and I got in my car and instead of going home, I went to the ER. They did absolutely nothing for me except say my BP was high. No one mentioned panic attack or anything!! I wasn’t really diagnosed until 3 weeks later when Ifinally went to a doctor. Unitl that doctor visit, I worked everyday, scared to drive, constantly running to the restroom to hide and try to breath. Hell doesn’t begin to describe it. I don’t ever want to go through that again, so if it means taking meds for the rest of my life, that’s what I will do. Hope you feel better today, Teri. Vicki
Response:
It figures. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last. PAs have always stayed away from my work place until today. I can’t tell you how much I don’t want to go back there again now. I’m so damn sick of this shit. Don’t need anything, just venting. Going to bed. Good night.
Response:
It figures. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last. PAs have always stayed away from my work place until today. I can’t tell you how much I don’t want to go back there again now. I’m so damn sick of this shit. Don’t need anything, just venting. Going to bed. Good night.
Hi Teri, I understand avoidance behavior well, in fact I was an expert at it. As much as you don’t feel like going back you know that is exactly what you need to do. Try not to associate the PA with the place it occured. Perhaps it was going to happen anyway and chose that time and place to occur. Think about what may have triggered it and don’t give it too much power over you. You can stay in control by being the master of your own destiny. Hopefully the sleep and rest will help you see things in a more positive light. Vanessa
Response:
Teri, Hang tough…you’ll get through this episode. Peace, John
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It figures. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last. PAs have always stayed away from my work place until today. I can’t tell you how much I don’t want to go back there again now. I’m so damn sick of this shit. Don’t need anything, just venting. Going to bed. Good night.
Response:
Try not to associate the PA with the place it occured. Perhaps it was going to happen anyway and chose that time and place to occur.
Excellent advice Vanessa. {{Teri}} Hang in there girl, we are here for you! Missy
Response:
It figures. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last. PAs have always stayed away from my work place until today. I can’t tell you how much I don’t want to go back there again now. I’m so damn sick of this shit. Don’t need anything, just venting. Going to bed. Good night. Hi Teri, I understand avoidance behavior well, in fact I was an expert at it. As much as you don’t feel like going back you know that is exactly what you need to do.
I know. I figured this morning if I didn’t go it would be twice as difficult the next time. Try not to associate the PA with the place it occured. Perhaps it was going to happen anyway and chose that time and place to occur. Think about what may have triggered it and don’t give it too much power over you. You can stay in control by being the master of your own destiny.
After 10 years there, off and on, it just seems strange that it never happened before. Hopefully the sleep and rest will help you see things in a more positive light. Vanessa
Well the sleep and rest part didn’t happen last night at all, but there’s always tonight. Thanks Vanessa.
Response:
Try not to associate the PA with the place it occured. Perhaps it was going to happen anyway and chose that time and place to occur. Excellent advice Vanessa. {{Teri}} Hang in there girl, we are here for you! Missy
I know you are and that’s nice. Thank you Missy.
Response:
Thank you John. I did with high anxiety but at least nothing full-blown like yesterday, so that’s something to be thankful for. I was just tired, angry and frustrated last night and I showed it I guess. Take care and my thoughts go out to you and your Dad. Teri – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Teri, Hang tough…you’ll get through this episode. Peace, John It figures. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last. PAs have always stayed away from my work place until today. I can’t tell you how much I don’t want to go back there again now. I’m so damn sick of this shit. Don’t need anything, just venting. Going to bed. Good night.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – X-no-archive: yes : It figures. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last. PAs have always stayed : away from my work place until today. I can’t tell you how much I don’t : want to go back there again now. I’m so damn sick of this shit. : Don’t need anything, just venting. : Going to bed. Good night. Hey Ter, Well you know I understand how you feel after my episode on Wednesday!! And I’m proud of you at this very moment, because I know you went to work and got through the PA.
Yes I went. Now I get to start my brand-new Saturday job tomorrow. Oh joy. Well not entirely brand-new as you know I had my first day on the job two Saturdays ago, which means this is actually my second time working there. So now I’ve got one job where I sit at a desk all day and one where I will be on my feet all day. Oh well, variety is the spice of life they say. When you get home this afternoon, give yourself a HUGE pat on the back for a job well done!! (And then write me and tell me what triggered the PA in the first place!! :)
Thanks Laurie, and as soon as I can figure out what triggered it I’ll let you know.
Response:
It figures. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last. PAs have always stayed away from my work place until today. I can’t tell you how much I don’t want to go back there again now. I’m so damn sick of this shit. Don’t need anything, just venting. Going to bed. Good night.
Good night.
Response:
X-no-archive: yes : When you get home this afternoon, give yourself a HUGE pat on the back for a : job well done!! (And then write me and tell me what triggered the PA in the : first place!! :) : : Thanks Laurie, and as soon as I can figure out what triggered it I’ll : let you know. Ooooo, I hate the PAs that have no explanation!!
Nasty little suckers aren’t they?
Response:
It figures. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last. PAs have always stayed away from my work place until today. I can’t tell you how much I don’t want to go back there again now. I’m so damn sick of this shit. Don’t need anything, just venting. Going to bed. Good night. Good night.
Good night Kenny. Don’t forget your blankie.
Response:
It figures. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last. PAs have always stayed away from my work place until today. I can’t tell you how much I don’t want to go back there again now. I’m so damn sick of this shit. Don’t need anything, just venting. Going to bed. Good night.
Teri, I am so sorry this happened. My very first panic attack happened at work. Talk about hard to go back there afterward, but I did. Please don’t let it get you down. You know how it works and you know it will be ok. Take care, hon. Vicki
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.