Can’t take much more

[Kaaayla]

Hello how does everyone handle serve panic attacks? I just can’t. Like I get them out of nowhere but it’s every single day now .. like I’ll be sitting there get chest pains feel like I can’t breath my heart races so fast I’m shaking so much right now I just can’t calm down I know I’m stressed out I’m loosing my mum due to cancer but how does that make me have panic attacks I don’t get it. I feel like someone has a pillow over my head right now my heart rate is 174 why me why!! Everyone just says breathe through it but I can’t I feel like every time I’m about to die. I’m just so scared how can I keep going on like this I’m on sertraline I’m on diazepam when I need it just nothing is helping. Am I actually dying So shaky how do people calm themselves down or is it just me that is extra when I get like this I scream jump about I feel like I’m crazy 😢😢. Please someone help me I’m begging you Iv spoke to doctor over phone about it he’s like oh just take diazepam sick of living like this. Everyone around me is normal. I’m just not

[Pugglesworth]

I'm not a doctor nor a mental health professional.

Sorry about your mom.

Valium (diazepam) is not, to my knowledge, a good fit for panic attacks. Ativan (lorazepam) is better as it is fast acting. Both are benzos (benzodiazepine) and are meant for short-term use. I handle a severe panic attack by taking an Ativan; however, I haven't had a severe panic attack in quite some time, years in fact. I do have panic attacks: chest tightness, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate and blood pressure. This is accompanied by being forgetful, dizziness, sweat and more. Not fun. If I buy into the panic attack it could become severe, but I don't do that. How? By practicing deep breathing exercises, tapping, focusing on what I'm hearing (or seeing or my feet on the ground) and anything else I can throw at it. The panic slowly dissipates. It does suck, especially when I'm at work in a meeting, but I've learned to recognize the onset. I get at it early, when it's first forming, so it doesn't take root.

It sounds like you are new to panic. I can assure you that these attacks are treatable and, given time, decrease in frequency and severity. I honestly can't remember how long it's been since I've had an attack. It also sounds like you're being treated by your family doctor. I would suggest seeking out a mental health professional to help. A psychiatrist has a specialty in this area as do therapists.

Panic attacks are quite common.

[propjock]

I’m not a professional, and I have only my own experience.

I read a few of your posts. I am so sorry to hear you lost your dad to cancer, and now your mum is dying of it too. This is always sad, but when it happens to a young person like yourself, it is tragic.

I lost my mom and dad 15 months apart, and that hurt, but it is nowhere near the same, because I was about 60 and they were about 90. My peers are all going through the same thing.

Your friends are not going through this, I’m guessing, just you. Why you? Why the target on your family? I’m asking myself that. I believe in God, and I’m asking God that. I think I would be scared and angry.

I haven’t read all your posts, so bear with me if you have answered this question many times. Do you have someone to talk to, like a therapist, counselor, social worker, or clergy, who is trained in and experienced with grief and grieving? It is out whole body’s response to any loss. Losses are not limited to deaths, I’ve learned. The loss of a dream or hope for the future drives grief, too.

In my life, grief or more general fear of the future has gnawed its way out as intense fears of other things. When my own daughter neared the end of secondary school and would be moving away for college, I was fine with it, and I would tell you that with full conviction, complete honesty. I did that, my brother did that, my wife did that, it’s what young people do. I could look anyone in the eye and tell them that, and feel nothing. But I was terrified by other thoughts, for several years.

It was not until a wise old pastor asked a different question. “I can tell you really love your daughter. Tell me about some good times the two of you have had.” It’s almost 15 years, and my relationship with my adult daughter is one of the great joys of my life, but I am still tearing up as I write this. I missed my little girl so bad!”

I’m writing this so that you might understand how powerful a force grief can be, and understand what is happening to you, even if that doesn’t fix it. May you find strong help with facing and grieving your deep, deep losses. 😢

[Pugglesworth]

Oh: I didn't read your posts like propjock did. My apologies. You are not new to panic and have been at it for quite some time. Sounds like you have health anxiety and loss as part of the mix. This is tough.

I am sorry for your loss.

Health anxiety is particularly obnoxious. I have it as well. I get chest pain, dizziness, pins and needles, headache, nausea, cold, hot and more. I can relate. It sounds like you're healthy and have been checked out by your doc. What's the cause? Most likely muscle tension. We tense up and then tense up more to fight the tension. This creates a loop. We get tense anticipating the tension. Our muscles ache and throb all over. Our endocrine system gets out of balance from being in near-constant fight or flight mode. We struggle and resist throughout the day. More tension. We fight our bodies feelings and our body does what it was programmed to do: fight back.

What's the cure? Well, time is. We need to accept where we are. Our body is now in a habitual fight or flight state. We are out of balance. We want to get back to balance, but balance can't be forced. It is a mind/body state. When we're sick, we realize we're sick, do what we can and let the body take care of itself. That's what is called for here.

Claire Weekes wrote a book called 'Hope and Help for Your Nerves.' She was an Australian psychologist who wrote about exactly what you're going through. She suffered from panic attacks as well. I suggest you pick it up.

[Itzallgood1]

Maybe finding a doctor who would consider changing your meds.Also maybe take walks around the block to get fresh air. Sometimes if break your routine a little it might help. Again just my suggestion. Get out of the same routine style you may be stuck in.🌹

[Jimmyluke55]

Aww you poor lady I’m same love wake up shaking every morning it’s terrible xx