Panic attacks

[pamela67]

Keep having horrible panic attacks and iam in such a rut dont no which way to turn any more any advice please

[Hidden]

Pamela - My husband too! They are much worse when he is on the steroids and antibiotics - even when he has finished the course. I would suggest you go to your GP - I have read that others have been giving very helpful drugs. My husband carries a rescue remedy spray in his pocket and he finds that helps sometimes. Take care, TAD xx

[pamela67 in reply to Hidden]

Hi tad thankyou for your replie I am under my gp for depression and pn lots of different tablets dor it among other problems never felt so stuck as this before thankyou for your advice I have actually got some rescue remedy in my cupboard going to try some now xxx hope your husband panic attack ease to xc

[kimmy59]

Morning.

Years ago my sister suffered horrendous panic attacks, always carried a brown paper bag wherever she went.

Kim xxxx

[pamela67 in reply to kimmy59]

Morning kim thankyou for your reply somebody mentioned about the brown paper back iam going to give that a try xx

[happyfeet59 in reply to kimmy59]

Hmmm I read somewhere recently that they have changed the 'brown paper bag' advice and now advise something different - but I can't remember what! Perhaps someone else saw the same thing and will enlighten me.

[kimmy59 in reply to happyfeet59]

Well it always worked for sister, and I've used it myself in the past so I know it works.

Kim

[helingmic in reply to kimmy59]

I think this is the best advice. Also ask to be referred to the pulmonary nurse, and to Pulmonary Rehabilitation which is a full assessment with a set of exercises during 6 weeks. You may wonder why I tell you about exercises, while you are panicking to find a brown paper bag?! It's because exercises will give you more freedom to breathe.

Of course, they don't throw you into heavy lifting! These are gentle exercises within your limits.To be assessed is quite a good starting point, so you know where you stand. You can discuss your panic attacks with the nurse who will have quite an understanding experience of these. From my own experience, the first time my GP suggested I enrolled, I was very apprehensive, wondering what "they" would do to me.

Nurses are a splendid bunch, they know what to do for panic, reflux, etc. They know the drugs and how to use them. Moreover, they don't keep it to themselves! No, they share it with you, so you can grow in confidence and improve.

The six weeks you'd have with them is the key to better health, Highly recommended!

[stone-UK]

Hi

One thing you may consider, is to keep a thought diary.

You right your thoughts at the time of the attack, and what you where doing.

This will help your GP or others in deciding the cause and best course of action.

In may just as simple as a training in relaxation, or maybe a drug would help.

Mine is anxiety, I was offered a morthine based drug which I declined, ( like my driving to much) and was then given Cttaloprom which I use if and when usual for five days then stop.

I also do relaxation breathing .

Or even play games on my I-pad. Just to take your mind some where else.

[pamela67 in reply to stone-UK]

Hi stone thankyou for your reply my councellor mentioned about the thought diary when I spoke to her last week which I think is a great idea regarding the relaxation breathing iam quite new at it its just so hard yo practice especially when your in the mist of a panic attack which iam sure you will no as for medication iam on that already but its under review as it doesn't seem to be working properly thankyou for your advice really appreciate it kind regards pam xx

[rick1]

Breathing exercises help's me with panic attack's.

[pamela67 in reply to rick1]

Hi rick1 iam just learning to do the breathing exercise but still a newbie at it thankyou for your reply pam xx

[peege]

Have a look at some of the old posts in the above "Read Next" box.

Amongst the replies there is one from Helen, BLF trained therapist. They also have handouts re anxiety too.

Tel [phone]. They will also understand your medication (have a list to hand) and will know if there's anything there to exacerbate the anxiety and panic you're experiencing. xxxx Peeg

[pamela67 in reply to peege]

Hi peeg I will definitely have a look at tge next boxes and iam sure ive spoke to Helen before a lovely and helpful lady thankyou for your advice pam xx

[cofdrop-UK]

Hi Pamela

You might want to ask your GP to be referred to a pshychologist for a course of cognitive behaviour therapy. You could contact MIND - they have councelling but I believe it is more talking therapy rather than cbt, they may have some helpful leaflets they could send to you. Cognitive behaviour therapy helps you turn negative thoughts into positive and gives you ways of dealing with whatever situation is causing the fear. You are experiencing, as I guess you will already know, a natural body function 'fight or flight', which normally keeps us safe, but at an inapropriate time when the fear is only perceived - no less unpleasant for that. Some self help cob books can be helpful - Trevor Powell is good.

You could chat to BLF or No Panic are very good - here's a link

nopanic.org.uk/

Here is a link for a short meditation with the wonderful Ruth Kaye who is a healer at the Oncology Unit at St. James Hospital Leeds. I have had the good fortune to attend her group meeting and and had a few one to ones with her. Hope you find it relaxing.

youtube.com/watch?v=q50poCI...(Not working as expected?)

Good luck

love cx

[pamela67 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Hi cofdrop so sorry for the delay in messaging you back I did attempt to message you back yesterday but for some strange reason ots got lost some where regarding seeing a Therapists ive been seeing one for a while now and she a been teaching me some breathing techniques which have been working upto last few days when things got on top of me thankyou for links its much appreciated kind regards pam xx

[Hidden]

Hi think you could do with going docs to rule out infection's

As even my x gp could not tell the to apart.

You using anything new in ya home or is it stress.

Hope you start feeling better.

[pamela67 in reply to Hidden]

Hi dazinotsogood definitely dont think it's an infection think its more to do with stress ive had alot more then usual over Christmas hopefully things will start to calm down thankyou for your reply pam xx

[Hidden in reply to pamela67]

Hi Cheers hope ya get it resolved

[Bengunn]

Hi Pamela 67.How do your panic attacks manifest themselves,because in my experience there is usually a trigger that sets them off.Much love and empathy.Bengunn.xxx

[Bengunn]

Hi Again Pamela67.I have been reading some of your replies and someone suggested you keep a diary but be careful.A good friend of mine had really bad anxiety attacks after the death of his father and was having therapy then he himself decided that he would keep a record of how he felt when the attacks kicked off.The only trouble was that he became obsessed with it and if the results of his latest attacks did'nt match his records he would be even more wound up and in the end after talk with his family and therapist he finally destroyed it.He did get better eventually.The point being that diaries might work for some but not everyone.Bengunn.xxx

[pamela67 in reply to Bengunn]

Hi bengunn sorry for the delay in messaging back ove suffered with panic attacks all my life on and of but they have becpme more frequently recently Iam seeing a therapists and have been for a while trying to work through some un comfortable issues also I gave up smoking nearly 11 months ago and still finding that hard cause the ciggies was my safety net butdont intend to go near the ciggies again thankyou for taking the time to message me back pam xx

[moneal]

Panic attacks are one of our worst enemies, mine started after reading about the problems caused by copd, once the idea is in your head it takes some shifting. So it said showers, toilet and getting dressed would effect me and they did. I got help in hospital and then had a course of hypnosis which helped a great deal.

What I learnt was that you need something to occupy your mind, the hypnosis seems to work by your mind being able to think of a safe and relaxing place (in my case a rose garden). once I could imagine myself there, sitting down with a glass of wine, looking and even smelling the flowers the panic eased off, even better is that in situations when a panic attack might start I visit the garden and the panic goes away.

Another trick I have learnt is sitting on the toilet could cause an attack, so now I keep an old mobile phone with games on it next to the toilet, playing the games means I have concentrate on that instead of gasping for breath. You will find loads of help on this subject on this site. Hypnosis cd's and downloads are available quite cheaply, (anxiety attacks) they may sound strange the first time you play them but stick with them and you should feel the benefits. The good thing is you can play the disk and know there is nothing on it that can cause you any harm.

[onamission]

It seems to be a common complaint with lung conditions I also suffer with panic attacks