has anyone else been left with panic attacks following brain injury?

[deborah27]

I ask because I have.

[StrawberryCream]

Hi Deborah. Am sorry to hear that you are having panic attacks. Is there certain situations that trigger them? I haven't had a full panic attack ...... yet ..... but I do have a generalized anxiety disorder since bi which is rather pervasive now and keeps me in my own fortress of my home, avoiding people contact and only going out when essential. Have you had therapy such as CBT to help you manage them?

[deborah27 in reply to StrawberryCream]

thankyou for your reply. I find that the trigger for me it seems is a combination of tiredness and too much information to process. perhaps there's a problem in the family, a letter from the bank, the microwave stops working or some other combination. I then become all jumbled in my thinking and forget where to begin or what order to do things in etc... that seems to be when the adrenalin is released and the frightening symptoms start with a vengeance. real life sometimes makes no allowance for our needs. x

[razyheath43 in reply to deborah27]

yup and i didnot even have B.I ! it is rather delbating i have learnt to ban them! i do hope you both learn to manage soon xxxx

[sca2013]

Yes, you're exactly right about " adrenalin is released", which is actually a part of the whole complex of norepinephrine and that puts us into an extreme fight or flight mode and thus the panic. However there are some things you can do to get out of that panic by taking some simple actions. Here they are and by the way you only need to one from each group: The first step, to get us out of running on norepinephrine is by switching our brain chemistry to running on serotonin and then dopamine. The unusual thing about this is we can actually change our brain chemistry without drugs, herbs, or other potions. The actions I now describe will move you from operating from norepinephrine to serotonin and then to dopamine, where you are in your control power center. To move from norepinephrine to serotonin do one or more of the following - Lie on the floor for a few moments, or do some light fiction reading, or listen to soothing music, or do some coloring or work some simple puzzles, or go for a mild walk outside.

Then to move from serotonin to dopamine do one or more of the following: Read educational or philosophical books, or listen to upbeat music, or laugh, or watch comedies, work more challenging puzzles, or do strength exercises or tai chi, or get a massage, or do creative projects, or do things with your non-dominant hand, or learn something new, or go someplace new.

To take it one more step –

1.Make a list of 10 things you really like to do.

2.Next, narrow that list down to your top five.

3.Then your top two

4.Finally pick your top one.

5.Then write a story describing that person who is doing that thing and all the things they would be experiencing while doing that thing, including the qualities that person has.

a.Answer the question – Who would I be if I lived this quality 24/7 (Write this from the perspective of this character.)

If you have questions, please feel free to let me know. I hope that this can be of value for you to use.

Wishing many more peaceful moments in your life and feeling more in control of what is going on.

[lcd8]

Hi Deborah. I don't have panic attacks but do suffer from anxiety in general. I had a Stroke Mimic last year as a result and my GP put me on Citalopram 20mg.