Bipolar Mania & Anxiety/Panic attacks

I have bipolar disorder, which was diagnosed when I was 15. In my mid 30's, I began having frequent panic attacks. They would vary in intensity and seem to cluster around stressful events. The rest of the time I had anxiety, but not to the level of panic.

This past week has been horrible.....I went into an interminable panic attack that wouldn't dissipate Wednesday night, and was almost out of my mind with terror and fear by Thursday morning. I thought I was dying, but knew I wasn't, because if I hadn't died within an hour of having these feelings, it was likely a panic attack, and would dissipate. (How come you can't psyche yourself out of these things?!!) But, it didn't, until I called my psychiatrist and he told me to take some Klonopin I had on hand. Of course, I had to see him that day, and he put me on Seroquel. He took me off the Seroquel today because of some nasty side effects, and I am so sure I am going to have one hell of a weekend. I do have some Klonopin left, and he directed me to use it as necessary. Wish me luck on that, because as you all know, once you have the panic attack(s), they return more frequently (and what is it that the professionals call it--self-perpetuating anxiety?).

My psychiatrist indicated that the panic attack/anxiety was a manifestation of a manic episode. This is the first time I've heard that, and I can't seem to find any verification thus far online.

My question to you all is: Do you have similar experiences? Is anyone else bipolar and panic-stricken? Another question: do you have the panic-attack continuously for hours and hours, or, as they once did for me, come and go?

Yes, many of times I will feel symptoms for long periods of time. When I wake up I'll be fine but when my brain gets going... things just get worse.

Yes, many of times I will feel symptoms for long periods of time. When I wake up I'll be fine but when my brain gets going... things just get worse.


It's encouraging not to be alone in this. Have you found a way besides drugs to handle it? If I may ask, are you also bipolar, or have panic disorder?
I find that I wake up fine also, but it hits me very shortly after awaking.
Any suggestions you can provide would be helpful.

When I feel like I really can't take it anymore and i'm on the verge of an attack... I usually take a klonopin. they work fast and seem to keep me calm for a long while.

When I feel like I really can't take it anymore and i'm on the verge of an attack... I usually take a klonopin. they work fast and seem to keep me calm for a long while.

My doc put me on Klonopin this week, and it seems to be doing the trick. I hate to take them, but I hate even more to go through the constant panic I was experiencing. It's been almost two years since I had to have Klonopin to control it. During the time prior, I was able to do deep-breathing and visualization to control my panic attacks.
This past week, however, was just one constant panic attack after another, and I can't tell you how relieved I am to be rid of it for now. I want to get off of the Klonopin asap, because they can be addictive.