panick attacks

Hi
I ve been suffering of panick attacks for 7 years can anyome please help me overcome this constant fear i have. recently i have been suffering more than before and does anoyone get the same symptoms as me of suffocation and not able to breath like there is no air around me anymore and the more i try to breath the more intense the feelings. i get this everyday but not as frequent as the chest pain and the back pain and so i am always fearing that there is something wromg with my heart above all this i have developed a plane phobia so cant travel anymore my life is ver restricted as a result i am always fearing everything i am always worried about my health and always on high alert with any symptom i have...i feel i cant cope anymore i jjust want a life free of these fears and b able to enjoy life like i used to 7 years ago!!!!!

Hi Intense anxiety,
I understand what what you are experiencing I have had those sensations as well. It is important to become informed, read through all the postings on this site and you'l know you are not alone. I purchsed the Linden method. The information in alone was worth the cost. What's more if you committ yourself to the program you can get over this and be free of what you are thinking and experiencing.
lisa

Hi
I ve been suffering of panick attacks for 7 years can anyome please help me overcome this constant fear i have. recently i have been suffering more than before and does anoyone get the same symptoms as me of suffocation and not able to breath like there is no air around me anymore and the more i try to breath the more intense the feelings. i get this everyday but not as frequent as the chest pain and the back pain and so i am always fearing that there is something wromg with my heart above all this i have developed a plane phobia so cant travel anymore my life is ver restricted as a result i am always fearing everything i am always worried about my health and always on high alert with any symptom i have...i feel i cant cope anymore i jjust want a life free of these fears and b able to enjoy life like i used to 7 years ago!!!!!

Dear Intense Anxiety,

I am so sorry you have been suffering from this disorder for so long. A lot of us have experienced the very same things, and I think if you browse through some of the threads in the forums, you will find some ideas that might help you.

A lot of people recommend the Linden Method as having been very helpful. I've not used it, and have used other resources in the past to overcome this disorder. I am currently in the throes of it again, but am also looking for relief.

My suggestion for you, as Lisa suggested, is to become more informed about the anxiety and the feelings your are having. They are very common; I cannot tell you how many times I felt I was having a heart attack only to find out it was a panic attack.

There are a lot of methods that you can employ to take your life back, and live free of fear and anxiety. One of my most constant suggestions (and one of the most controversial, it seems, on the forum), is for you to seek medical attention, preferably from a psychiatrist, or a good therapist. I am not adverse to having meds prescribed for a short-time to help relieve you of your intense anxiety, while you look into techniques and tools that will help you overcome your disorder. The meds would be only temporary, the treatment would be permanent.

I hope you are able to look over some of the threads in this forum, and find out that not only are you not alone, but that there are so many different treatment options. Only you can decide what what will work best for you.

I hope you keep us posted on your progress; we've all been there or are there, and do care about what you are going through.

I started having panic attacks approximately 2 and a half years ago. I know exactyly how everyone who is reading this feels, TRUST ME!!!! I went to my doctor and he tried to get me to take Zoloft, Paxil, Lorezepam, and finally after telling him that the only thing that works for me was Xanax he prescribed it to me. NOW, What I discovered was that the Xanax really worked. But it is only a quick fix to the real problem. Also, he was reluctant to prescribe the Xanax to me due to past patients having a tendency to become dependant on the medication. I have been reading a book by Lucinda A Bassett, called "From Panic to Power". I have to tell you that this book alone has helped me much more than the quick fix of Xanax!!! I found out in this book that alcohol is NOT one of the causes of anxiety attacks and I was sure that it was. Alcohol is a form of self medicating your attacks, or feelings, or panic. So take deep consideration in buying this book. It makes more sense than spending countless visits (Let alone costs) to see your doctor for more meds. Just so everyone knows, I am a Sales Manager of a large team of people that I have to speak in front of, train, and visit face to face with every day. It's working for me, so give it a try. It has to cost less than anything else![/b]

I don't believe I've read Ms. Bassett's book, but I have read many helpful books on the subject. One is called the Anxiety and Phobia Workbook, and is very helpful and provides insightful journaling activities that help you identify what triggers your attacks. However, there are so many others, a really good bookstore, or library will have at least a shelf dedicated to the subject, and one should check out as many as one can.

The question one has to ask themselves is: are you in constant suffering, where going to a doctor to temporarily relieve your anxiety with medications would help? I agree that medications are a quick fix, but do not advocate their long-term use. I believe that most doctors do not allow their patients to become dependent on these drugs (like Xanax), but work in conjunction with a therapist and/or counselor to help the patient learn the tools and techniques that will work best for them. I believe there are many other methods out there that work, one of the being cognitive behavioral therapy.

Or, do you feel strong enough to research out materials (self-help books, tapes, programs) to tackle it and apply it to you life and know that the suffering you are going through right now is minimal compared to what the suffering can and will be if you let the disorder fester.

Different things work for different people; one has only to browse through the threads of this forum to find others who've found relief in one way or the other.

Just one word of caution: do not believe the programs where they gurarantee they can cure you quickly (or your money back). I've heard some people say that they have worked for them, but let caution be your guide.

Seek in your heart and mind what you know would work best for you.

I know exactly how you feel about the feeling of no air. Ive had panic disorder for 14 years, and Ive felt it all. I have this happen most when Im driving while feeling paniced. When I am highly panicked I will get off of the road and take a few minutes to gather myself. As I feel Im a danger driving like that to myself and others. A few things that I have found that trigger my panic attacks are too much caffiene, hypoglycemia, not enough sleep, and pms. I do avoid these situations the best I can. I was surprised to read some of the other posts and hear the Lindon method mentioned. I was thinking about ordering it, and now I think I will for sure. I have to also add that many years ago I started practicing avoidance behavior and I nearly became agoraphobic. It is best to keep doing as much as you can each day and learn ways to cope and get through things. Sometimes the biggest relief and hope in the world to me is when I force myself to go out in public on my worst days and get errands done. Afterward I feel this rush, cuz I made it, I did it, Im still alive. Anyway, the no air feeling is part of panic. Try slow breathing and find something to distract you from focusing on the breathing, such as listening to the radio, looking and examining things around you, talking to someone and having them talk so you can focus on them instead of yourself. I hope Ive helped a little. I know its tough.

I know exactly how you feel about the feeling of no air. Ive had panic disorder for 14 years, and Ive felt it all. I have this happen most when Im driving while feeling paniced. When I am highly panicked I will get off of the road and take a few minutes to gather myself. As I feel Im a danger driving like that to myself and others. A few things that I have found that trigger my panic attacks are too much caffiene, hypoglycemia, not enough sleep, and pms. I do avoid these situations the best I can. I was surprised to read some of the other posts and hear the Lindon method mentioned. I was thinking about ordering it, and now I think I will for sure. I have to also add that many years ago I started practicing avoidance behavior and I nearly became agoraphobic. It is best to keep doing as much as you can each day and learn ways to cope and get through things. Sometimes the biggest relief and hope in the world to me is when I force myself to go out in public on my worst days and get errands done. Afterward I feel this rush, cuz I made it, I did it, Im still alive. Anyway, the no air feeling is part of panic. Try slow breathing and find something to distract you from focusing on the breathing, such as listening to the radio, looking and examining things around you, talking to someone and having them talk so you can focus on them instead of yourself. I hope Ive helped a little. I know its tough.

Dear Guest:

It soundsas if you've found several methods of helping you deal with your panic and anxiety over the years, but that you still feel you need a little more help. I really have to give you kudos for getting out there in public and getting your errands done despite the anxiety and panic, you are already on the road to overcoming and defeating this disorder!

I hope that whatever method you choose to help you finalize your defeat over this suffering will help enormously. Just be cautious in the guarantees they make, you've already developed a lot of the essential coping skills and techniques to help with panic.

Have you ever considered a therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders?

Best of luck in whatever method you choose, and let us know how you fare.

I’m a man of 30 years, living in Bangladesh. I’m suffering from Panic Anxiety Phobia for the last 8 years. It simply ruined my life. I don’t have much to tell; only I know what I lost. I will never get back what I lost. I underwent treatments for two years or so. But it helped a little. If there is anybody who is welling to help me by providing some printed articles, I will ever remain grateful.

I’m a man of 30 years, living in Bangladesh. I’m suffering from Panic Anxiety Phobia for the last 8 years. It simply ruined my life. I don’t have much to tell; only I know what I lost. I will never get back what I lost. I underwent treatments for two years or so. But it helped a little. If there is anybody who is welling to help me by providing some printed articles, I will ever remain grateful. MY email Address is "Shsumon@hotmail.com"