Question:
<snipped to save space… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Do most of you suffer this rollercoaster effect where one day your ok and the next you are shaking in your boots? In 14 years I have grown very tired of this. Another thing that I have noticed is that as long as there is stress in my life that my Panic Attacks are not as severe as when things are sedate. My father and brother both died last year within 7 weeks of each other and I did well with the exception of one ER trip where my heart was racing at 244 beats per min. Now the attacks are back with a vengance! … I work at a factory where I just can’t leave when I want to. I was just moved to the back of the building which is the furthest place from the exit. Can the ones of you that are on antidepressants truly say that you feel comfortable in your workplace? … Janet
Hi, Janet. I feel it is pretty safe to say that most people with PD feel like they’re on a roller coaster. Some days are good; others are rough. The same can be said for years. Over time, for many people, the roller coaster doesn’t climb so high or go so fast. Thank goodness for that — life would be intolerable if all years were as bad as the early days of PD. It seems like people with PD are at their best when there is a crisis. I was sorry to read about your father and brother. It is good that you were able to find the strength to make it through this difficult time. Sometimes it seems like our bodies say that it isn’t a good time to have panic, so the attacks stay at bay for a while. I don’t understand how we do this, but I am glad that you were able to. Dealing with grief and panic at the same time is very painful. As to your last question… I’m not on antidepressants and rarely have PA’s anymore, but I’m still not comfortable going into situations such as you described for work. Strangely, however, after I get into the place, I am not uncomfortable as I thought I would be. The anticipation of panic is the main part of it for me. Hope you find that the members of asap are good listeners. It is hard not to have anyone to open up to, so I hope you’ll feel free to chat here as much as you need. Welcome to asap, Anita
Response:
Gary, thanks for sending me the FAQ. Thanks for the welcome Susan. When I reaad the FAQ I noted that it said that studies have documented that prozac reduced panic attacks and avoidance behavior. Does that mean that it works better for PD than some of the others (Paxil)? Anyone have any experience with both?
<some words snipped to make space Hi again, Janet – glad you received the FAQ safely 
I haven’t had any success with any of the SSRIs but I understand that it’s more or less impossible to predict which of them will work best for a given patient. Paxil was given US FDA approval for use in anxiety cases, but that doesn’t mean it is better than Prozac or Zoloft – or, indeed, any other antidepressant. It’s (literally) a case of suck it and see, I’m afraid. Do most of you suffer this rollercoaster effect where one day your ok and the next you are shaking in your boots? In 14 years I have grown very tired of this.
Before my latest bout of recovery, absolutely, yes – and it seemed to follow no pattern at all. Another thing that I have noticed is that as long as there is stress in my life that my Panic Attacks are not as severe as when things are sedate. My father and brother both died last year within 7 weeks of each other and I did well with the exception of one ER trip where my heart was racing at 244 beats per min. Now the attacks are back with a vengance!
<sigh You’ve had a rough time of if 
The phenomenon of attacks getting worse when things are quiet is really quite common and our resident guru, Dr. Shipko, has actually published about this. A search on the World Wide Wait for Stuart Shipko will lead you to the source. It’s something a lot of use here have mentioned – we’re great in a crisis, but go to pieces afterwards. I also take xanax and have for the past 5 years at .25mg. 3x a day. Last year the DR. also put me on a beta-blocker for the heart problem, I thought that it blocked adrenalin?
Given enough, it does – but that doesn’t mean it blocks psychological anxiety. In fact the general view here over the time the NG has been going seems to be that only a minority find beta-blockers any major help for panic attcks – though some do. <more points I can’t comment on snipped Sorry for rambling, I don’t talk to my husband about any of this because he just can’t seem to understand and so I just keep it to myself. I stopped going to therapy because it seemed that I had already heard most of what they were telling me, and it seemed to me that it was left up to me to apply the things that they had told me.
That’s ok – you’re not rambling at *all*. This is what the group is here for Please keep on posting – it really does seem to help many of us to talk about this blasted problem. Thanks for listening, Janet (What is a Troll?)
Ack! A troll is someone who enjoys causing arguments and takes a pleasure in disrupting a NG. There’s some confusion about the word, as far as I can gather, because many people think it comes from the Scandanvian ‘troll’ – mythological dwarves – but in actual fact it appears to have been derived from the verb to troll – ie to fish with moving or spinning bait. These people dangle bait in a Ng just to start an argument that they can sit back and enjoy. Probably, we should really call them ‘trollers’ but ‘troll’ has woven itself into the ‘net’s fabric now. They’re… umm… very sad people really. Hope that helps, — Gary Cooper
Response:
<Do most of you suffer this rollercoaster effect where one day your ok <and the next you are shaking in your boots? In 14 years I have grown <very tired of this. I have the same rollercoaster effect. On days I feel fine (or normal) I have to race around running errands, going to Walmart, picking up prescriptions, getting to the post office, groceries……because I never know when I’m going to have another "good" day. It seems like I wake up either wired for the day or relaxed. I still can’t figure out why. Meds or no meds……same thing. I’ve been on the rollercoaster since 1977 when I got my tubes tied….six days after that "BAM" first huge panic attack…..and been having them ever since. I found out it might be hormone related and am going to see GYN for tests in two weeks (found this info on alt.support.menopause, that many women can fall into peri-menopausal symptoms that include, but are not limited to anxiety and panic disorders, depression, rages, headaches, joint aches….a list of 33 symptoms is available over there.). <Another thing that I have noticed is that as long as there is stress in <my life that my Panic Attacks are not as severe as when things are <sedate. I wonder about that too. My hubby suffered a few corporate downsizings and I was a pillar of strength……later when he secured jobs I fell <In 1989 I was hospitalized with Major depression, Panic disorder, and <Melancolia (spelling?). They started me on Pamelor and xanax and still I <never felt anxiety free. I quit the Pamelor after about 2 years. I was <still having trouble being at work. . I think….in my opinion….when you find the medication that exactly responds to your personal brain chemical imbalance, you will feel totally anxiety free, but it takes alot of detective work because so many things enter into it…..anything you breathe, touch, eat, wear, hormones, body chemistry, etc can be a culprit and a few of them can be working together! < I don’t talk to my husband about any of this because <he just can’t seem to understand and so I just keep it to myself. I <stopped going to therapy because it seemed that I had already heard most <of what they were telling me, and it seemed to me that it was left up to <me to apply the things that they had told me. It seems to me, not being able to have an understanding support system in your home can really ADD to anxiety! I’d drag him to therapy with me (ofcourse maybe your spouse doesn’t drag well). My hubby sleeps though most of my therapy, but once in awhile something sticks that the shrink mentions to him not to do (like say…."Why don’t you just ignore it!" AGH!!!). There is a book for the families of panic/phobic sufferers and what to do and what NOT to do…..I’ll have to go look for what I did with my notes on the title and author. (CRS today) Cindy CRS sufferer
Response:
Gary, thanks for sending me the FAQ. Thanks for the welcome Susan. When I reaad the FAQ I noted that it said that studies have documented that prozac reduced panic attacks and avoidance behavior. Does that mean that it works better for PD than some of the others (Paxil)? Anyone have any experience with both? Dana, I also fear the night, I haven’t been by myself at night in several years. But on the other hand I do drive to work every morning by myself at 5 am. I tell myself that it is morning instead of night, it seems to help. I have joined a quilt quild that meets at 7pm and haved missed the last 2 meetings because I was to scared to drive at night. Do most of you suffer this rollercoaster effect where one day your ok and the next you are shaking in your boots? In 14 years I have grown very tired of this. Another thing that I have noticed is that as long as there is stress in my life that my Panic Attacks are not as severe as when things are sedate. My father and brother both died last year within 7 weeks of each other and I did well with the exception of one ER trip where my heart was racing at 244 beats per min. Now the attacks are back with a vengance! I also take xanax and have for the past 5 years at .25mg. 3x a day. Last year the DR. also put me on a beta-blocker for the heart problem, I thought that it blocked adrenalin? I work at a factory where I just can’t leave when I want to. I was just moved to the back of the building which is the furthest place from the exit. Can the ones of you that are on antidepressants truly say that you feel comfortable in your workplace? In 1989 I was hospitalized with Major depression, Panic disorder, and Melancolia (spelling?). They started me on Pamelor and xanax and still I never felt anxiety free. I quit the Pamelor after about 2 years. I was still having trouble being at work. I have 9 and 1/2 years until I can retire, hope I can make it that long. Sorry for rambling, I don’t talk to my husband about any of this because he just can’t seem to understand and so I just keep it to myself. I stopped going to therapy because it seemed that I had already heard most of what they were telling me, and it seemed to me that it was left up to me to apply the things that they had told me. Thanks for listening, Janet (What is a Troll?)
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