I'm 44 and I have been battling Panic and Panic Disorder off and on now for about 20 plus years. It started for me in my senior year of college when I started having Panic Attacks which later developed into Panic Disorder. I've been seeing a Psychiatrist every two weeks now for about 16 or 17 years and I'm currently taking 200mg of Luvox daily to help me control my anixety and depression. I had been doing very well for past few years with very few episodes of panic. Most of my panic is related to ingesting anything that I think will make me panic again, so other medications, alcohol and in the past food. I've also been diagnosed with agoraphobia although I don't usually have fear like that. For the past month or so I'd been having panic attacks again which I was doing okay with. They were always upsetting, but they with infrequent enough that I didn't feel discouraged. Anyhow, about two weeks ago the Panic Disorder started up again. Now whenever I eat food, I become terrible anxious that I will have another panic attack. I have to force myself to eat meals and try to distract my self until I feel somewhat relaxed again. Sometimes I panic a little, sometimes I'm okay. There are a number of factors that I can pin point to why this has happened, and many of them were random. Life happens, work becomes stressful, it gets cold outside, our bodies age, we get sick. But I guess the truth is that I realized it was more then I could handle. It's been really upsetting and tiring and I guess I just wanted to reach out to others like myself who suffer with these issues. Feel free to say hello and I'm hoping everyone is doing okay tonight.
Hello, I'm new myself. I definitely think it's important to find a good therapist to work with. For me a lot of help started there. Like yourself I also had many good years without attacks and it can be tough when you feel yourself slipping back into that state. Good luck on your journey forward. There is lot of treatment and help for Panic Disorders.
I'm 44, and my panic attacks started when I was about 22 and in college. I've also had many years where I didn't have any issues, and have recently started having attacks again so I know what your going through. First off I recommend finding a good therapist who specializes in Panic and Panic Disorders. Are you currently seeking any treatment?
It sounds like your on the right track then. I've never taken Xanax because of my own phobias but I know it can work work well in tandem with an antidepressant. It's good that you called your theraphist. Theraphy has been very important in helping me sort out what causes my stress and aniexty. From there I look for ways to manage those things. The hard part for me is that it's not so easy to manage stress when your busy and not feeling well and have a lot going on in your life. That's always been a huge part of my own issues. For instance I would usually go to the gym and try and do some cardio when I can to help burn off some stress, but I've been injured for the past few months with back issues, and now I'm not going to the gym. See the problem.
Hey KellyM. I often try and drinkchamomile tea in the evening before bed and have found that it is very safe and there are no side effects. Tea is naturally calming and healthy for you, although I would recommend caffeine free teas such as Chamomile. Also a warm bath or shower before bed can also be very relaxing if you have time for that as well.
Personally I have trouble taking any medications. It's been very hard because eating or ingesting anything that I think can make me panic is part of my panic disorder. One technique I've found that is helpful is to simply distract myself with anything I enjoy until I feel calm again, so sometime is playing a video game or reading a book or sometimes watching an old TV show. Of course it's harder to do these things when I'm at work as you can imagine.
Hey tonino, I hope things are getting better for you. I've been battling with with Panic Disorder (on and off for almost 20 years) and I will tell you this. It will get better. There are bright days ahead. It takes time, and you have to learn to manage it somehow. This is the trick. Learning to managing you own anxieties is tough, but with practice it works. Stick with therapy as well, although if you don't like your psychiatrist and feel they are not listening to you, then I recommend finding another. Finding a good psychiatrist is a lot like dating, you will find that not all them are the right person for you.
For me a big issue is that I'm depressed a lot, so anything that cheers me up helps me relax. For me that's playing video games, watching dumb (and I mean really dumb) movies and TV shows, reading and exercise when I'm not injured. Currently I'm healing from a bad back, so exercise has been happening as much although I've been doing yoga with my wife which helps some.
So for me I battle with Depression and one of the biggest issues is Winter. I hate the cold weather and despise snow and ice. Right now I live the New England area of the U.S. and want desperately to move someplace warm, but it's not so easy. It would be hard to leave my job, since I think trying to find anything better right now would be stressful and my wife loves were we live and does not want to leave. So I'm stuck for now.
Does anyone else cope with Winter Blues and how do you manage it?
Hey Brewing. I remember thinking that I could never tell my wife that I'm dealing with Panic because I assumed that she would think less of me. It turns out in fact that telling her the truth was actually beneficial to me, and I believe has made us stronger.
Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. My wife often tells me the same thing, although for me one of my big issues is depression. So when I get down like that, I have a tougher time getting motivated to get outside. I did purchase a full spectrum UVA light box last winter and found it was helpful, although I've been bad about using it. According to my Dr it seems to be most benefical in the early morning hours and I'm often rushing to get out of the house and get to work, so for that reason I keep it on my desk at work. Which is probably not a great idea. On that note I will talk to my Dr about Vitamin D supplements and see what he suggests.
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