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[Buttons0110]

hello, I am new here, I have had anxiety and panic disorder for years and recently it has gotten worse with no reason. Just a little back story I began having these panic attacks where I feel like I’m having a heart attack and stroke all at the same time like chest pain face feels droopy and heavy jaw feels tense all while having like tunnel vision and feeling the most scared you could possibly feel. Well I started taking propranolol for these about 5 or 6 years ago and I hadn’t had a panic attack up until about 6-9 months ago. Now I have been having them a couple times a day without any reason I’ll be sitting at home relaxed watching tv when they start and they last anywhere from 30 min-a few hrs…I used to go to the ER when these would happen but lately I have just been living through it until it’s over miserably. I literally can’t take it anymore I can’t live like this for the rest of my life. My question is does anyone else experience panic attacks like this? Also I have went back to my dr and since I have a medication phobia it’s hard for me to take new medications if I do I have panic attacks until my brain decides that I trust the medication. Well anyway I changed back to it IR propranolol from the ER and have noticed that the feelings I have been having are related to my medication…I’m wondering if I should stop the propranolol and see or what I should do also why would this medication all of a sudden stop helping me. The psyche dr I see here doesn’t really seem to care it feels like and the other drs I have see to see if there is possibly something going on with my body to make the medication not help anymore don’t take me seriously. I don’t know what to do or where to go from here. I don’t really have anyone but my sister but she doesn’t understand and just says I’m sorry when I tell her how I’m feeling so idk what to do…any advice?

[Dolphin14]

Buttons0110

Welcome to the community.

That's a lot of panic attacks. I don't understand why the doctors wouldn't at least acknowledge that.

The issue must be your fear of medication? They can't prescribe if you are afraid to take it?

One thing I had to do when having a panic attack was move. I couldn't sit still and would often get my shoes on and get outside. Just walking up and down the driveway helped. Also sticking my head out the window for air. Might sound weird but I always felt trapped.

I was always totally exhausted after a panic attack. I can't imagine what you are experiencing

❤️🐬

[Buttons0110 in reply to Dolphin14]

There are several things I do when I feel it coming on grounding exercises such as naming things around me this never helps but I still try I take a shower sometimes this helps but sometimes it makes it worse sometimes I go for a drive but usually I end up at the ER with this, I used to exercise years ago when they first started and that seemed to help but I recently broke my ankle and it’s still healing so I haven’t been able to try this…also a lot of the times that I start to have these panic attacks I’m driving to work or it’s in the middle of the night…I will wake up from a dead sleep with a panic attack for absolutely no reason…so going for a walk or something probably isn’t the best idea at this time of night. I juat feel like there is not hope and I will feel like this for the rest of my life! I have 2 sons and if it wasn’t for them I don’t think I would be here anymore!

[Dolphin14 in reply to Buttons0110]

Absolutely safety is first. At night I would walk around the house and end out crashing on a random couch or something.

Being in the car is a safety issue as well. Please be careful and pull over.

Do they give you medication in the ER?

With time and lots of therapy my panic went away which I'm so grateful for. Anxiety took a bit longer but it's gone 99%.

I'm sorry I don't have a specific answer for you.

Keep your sons in your line of vision. They need you

[Buttons0110 in reply to Dolphin14]

No they don’t give me medication in the ER because as soon as I’m seen it goes away because I feel safe…but it costs a lot of money to go to the ER just to feel safe

[Dolphin14 in reply to Buttons0110]

It sure does.

[RaphaelAA]

Hi, Buttons, and welcome to the site. I'm so sorry you are going through this, and for such a long time. I have hard-earned learning experience and from that, advice/opinions to share that I hope will help you.

You don't have to/won't have to live this way the rest of your life, but you have to arrange a multi-faceted "campaign" to address the multiple things that are plaguing you. For years, I did just a little to address so many like problems and not only did this not work, but made me more hopeless because I thought, Well, I'm following advice and this is helping somewhat, so what else can I do?" The answer is, A LOT. Don't despair because I promise you, there are so many things to help you. That sounds overwhelming, but it isn't if you find the right people and are determined to get better and transform your life. I did. It's more than doable. I'm a completely different person: happy, purposeful, strong, lively, able. I believe in and respect myself now. All the stuff I did to get here made sense and were in sync. Some I don't have to do anymore because I've healed to the point where I am that "transformed" person.

I appreciate healthcare providers' work, but OMG, does any one of them out there realize that not just one thing is necessary to help people like us? It just keeps us limping along! After I had a physical and mental health breakdown--rock bottom--my husband was the one to support me and also give me some tough love, saying, You must do this, that and the other thing. I agreed.

You have anxiety and panic attacks for reasons. What are they? One is probably because of the way your brain is wired. I have tough brain chemistry and genetically disposed to these wonderful conditions. Find a good therapist, one that you click with. I suggest women for women and men for men. If you can get a PhD. or PsyD (Doctor of Pyschology) who has more training, yay. Look up EMDR. Be patient, but work at it. I think in-person is best until you make good progress, but certainly telehealth can figure into it. Once a week for a while. 2-3 years? You and your therapist can decide that. They are bound to do what's best for you. Then perhaps twice a month, then down the road, maintenance, which means to me once a month. After four years of therapy, I took therapy out of the equation with my therapist's blessing. Once you stop, you may want to go back later for a bit. I've gone in and out of therapy all my life and have learned different things from different therapists. The stage of my life dictated what was addressed and what I was ready to tackle.

Medication? Oh my! Give the girl a fighting chance and stop being bush-league! (That all is for your doctors, not you). SEE A GOOD PSYCHIATRIST, NOT A GENERAL PRACTITIONER--SHAME ON THEM FOR PRESCRIBING DRUGS FOR SUCH THINGS WHEN THIS IS NOT THEIR SPECIALTY--KEEPS YOU LIMPING ALONG! A psychiatrist who specializes in your kind of challenges. I started out with four psychotropic medications. Now I am down to three with no side-effects and will be on them the rest of my life. I have a brilliant, grumpy psychiatrist who did not give up on me. We both worked to find the right meds for me and the right doses. As I said above, I am a hard nut to crack and was very skeptical and despondent about anything helping me to a strong degree but HOLY SMOKES! The meds complement each other, I don't feel drugged, and I am a new person. Just like treating the body for an ailment, it is sometimes, like in our cases, necessary to treat our brains so we can handle life better and FEEL better. BTW, very important:

Our first meeting, he took a cheek swab to test my chemistry in order to rule in and out certain medications. It was a great way to quickly push the ball further down the road. If you want to get an idea of how these kinds of tests can help, mine was from Genomind Professional PGx. Cost me $250, but insurance may pay. If you can’t get this test, which is an accelerator to pinpoint what will work and what won’t, STILL forge ahead with trying medications with your specialist! I only had to see him four times in person. Now once a year by telehealth so insurance will keep paying for the meds.

How's your social life? I hadn’t realized that I had isolated myself. I've had a successful career but was retired at this time and will remain so. My husband said to me back then: Pick two things that will get you out of the house and able to meet people and have good interactions. I joined some gym classes and a book club. (Thought about taking a class where I could meet others with the same interest.) I was assertive as I could be without being weird about developing friendships and gained two. Two is kind of enough! It took a great deal of courage for me to do this. I found ways to lift my spirits and have more social interaction like taking a walk and smiling at people. Helping people, too, including volunteering, is a wonderful way to heal and learn and like I said, help others.

Right now and every single day, tell yourself a few things good about yourself and do AT LEAST one thing to try to make yourself smile. It also helps me to bring out the best in my appearance. It doesn’t have to be Oscar night, but just a few touches and a smile does wonders. Look back on the day and pat yourself on the back for the good moments and for just getting through it. I've been known to cry a bit, then move forward. What a great release.

I also work on myself. I try to be my highest self and surround myself with good, healthy things and people. This becomes more instinctive over time. I think what not to do is just as important as what to do.

Never, ever, ever feeled ashamed or apologetic about healing yourself and becoming healthy and happy/content and not selling yourself short. And don't you dare give up, Buttons! : ) We are all human and all struggle all our lives in varying degrees with similar and different stuff. This is life, but you can do a lot to bring out its better half until it becomes its 80%-90%. You are stronger than you know and more determined than you know. You wouldn't have joined and written your post if you didn't want a serious change. I know you deserve it and that you can do it.

Put both feet in, amass your arsenal and keep up the momentum. Believe in yourself; you are worthy and able. Love and be kind to yourself. Ask, learn, do, and you will rise. DO NOT GIVE UP.

RaphaelAA