Need advice around panic attacks

[Clurking]

Hi new to this. I am fed up w my aniexty attacks, they are getting worse. I feel the fear and carry on, I don't stop I do try and keep going w the panic, but now even the word aniexty is making my breathing go. I do the 5 secs in and out w my breath, I did it so much today I was sick. It does help a little, I try to do mindfulness, but hard if I am driving. It's ruin my life. Everything I do I'm having one. Think today I had about an hour not feeling anxious and breathless and that was cause I was at home. What more can I do. I'm on 200mg of sertraline. Tried giving up coffee for a week but aniexty was worse so started drinking it again, only have two cups a day. I had this once before when I was on venlafaxine I starting getting attacks a lot, and doctor swapped my tablets and I felt better, maybe i get immunes to the tablets as have been on different ones for a long time. Sorry for the rant.xx

[Titan4757]

Hi Clurking. I'm right there with you as are millions of others. Have you discovered anything in your past that triggers anxiety or is it maybe a chemical imbalance?

[Clurking in reply to Titan4757]

I don't know. I have quit alcohol and drugs for nearly six years, I isolated a lot and now starting to go out more and I'm feeling breathless, shaky and heart palpitations. I am lying in bed now and I am getting one, I am not worried about anything, I'm breathing in lavender and still feel it. I think it's to do w my tablets, as it happened before on taking other tablets, or hormones. Thank you for taking time to answer.

[fudge]

Venlaflaxine saved my life , only drink decaf coffee..

[retired1949]

Hi hope you are feeling a bit better. I have been told panic attacks are caused when you are not in control of your life. I took mine with a controlling husband and now divorced. Took a really bad one and phoned 999 as I thought I was dying!! Diarrhoea, sickness, shaking the lot. It is very scary. However things are better in my life now. Still on Venlafaxine and don't feel I want to come off them. Have tried but felt my "nerves" returning, so I am not trying again. I am 68 and if that's what I need to replace the Serotonin in my brain so be it. However I am in a happy relationship now and maybe that has helped. How is your life at the moment? Do you work? family? Also it is like a"fight and flight" when you take a panic attack. Try a paper bag and breath slowly in and out to get your pulse rate down. I know it is hard to do this and you feel really spaced out during an attack but you need to think "everything will be alright" and slow your breathing down. I feel for you, please let me know how you get on.

[Clurking in reply to retired1949]

I do work only 8 hours, I know the job and I get on well with the people, I still have them, I really don't think they w ever go, I really don't feel panicked, I do feel anxious that I have to do a shift and want it done right there and now. I feel tho that it's not visible to others, I'm not gasping for breath. I feel breathless i can feel my body shaking and heart palpitations, I still go out and do things but it is getting harder cause they don't stop. I even did mindfulness yesterday from 2pm first I was relaxed then I cud feel the shaky feeling and from then to 7.35pm I was still feeling breathless and shaky, I really don't know y they stay so long. I am real jumpy as well. Thank u for replying. Glad you have found a gd partner.x