My sister

My sister has been having panic attacks for the last few years. At first, they only occurred while she was driving relatively long distances. Since our Mom died a year ago, they strike at any time.

Last weekend, I noticed she was showing signs of anxiety (facial tics, sudden movements of arms and legs, muscular tension) and asked her if she felt anxious. She usually lies and says "no", but this time she admitted she was. I asked her if she wanted to try one of my Xanax (which I take in order to sleep -- I don't have anxiety attacks). She's totally anti-drug and anti-modern medicine, but to my surprise, she took one.

When I take 0.5 mg Xanax in the evening, I am usually pretty sleepy about 15-20 minutes later. My sister took 0.5 mg, and she reported feeling nothing except "a little bit better".

It's hard for me to believe that she is experiencing SO much stress that this medication would not make her sleepy. I would like to know more about this experience of panic attack. Can you give me your feedback?

The fact that your sister has all that anxiety going on, all that adreneline pumping that the drug has less effect on you than her. probably if you were in a panic it might have less effect on you, besides everyone system is different and therefore every drug will effect everyone differently. That's why Doctors don't reccomend you share your medication.

When someone is feeling so anxious, it is rare for any drug to have therapeutic effect.

Anxiety disorder isn't caused by too much adrenaline! Anxiety causes too much adrenaline! So controling the Adrenaline might take the edge off the symptoms, but it won't cure the anxiety.

The only way to curb adrenaline release is to address the root cause of the anxiety which is in the Amygdala, the anxiety 'thermostat' that becomes 're-set' under anxiety disorders.

Charles

Suggest to your sister to see a GP and a therapist and one or the other or both will make some kind of difference, please encourage her as much as possible, and if she now is thinking about taking medicine then its a good time to take her to the GP to see which one would be best for her.

good luck !

Hi,
I believe your sister really needs medical treatment to calm down. As you describe it, she is very tense and stressed. It is physically possible but certainly reason for concern.

I am totally with takeiteasy! Don't home medicate. It is the reciepte for disaster. I fell addicted to medication as a teenager this way, it is hell! She needs the right medication at the right dose, with supervision by someone who knows what the medications do, too!
If she takes something and finds it helps she will just keep taking it and keep taking it and keep taking it until it kills her.

Ask her if she wants you to go to the doctor with her or talk to the doctor before she goes in. I found it so hard to tell the doctor what the problem is. I was so stressed and tired that I could not find words. I was so greatful for someone to arrange an appointment for me!

She is defenitly lucky to have someone this concerned about her! Keep helping her on the way to get better please!