HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Panic attacks?

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/1/2014 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
This week I started using cannibis (sp?) oil in place of lorazepam for the horrible insomnia and anxiety I'm experiencing. I take it about an hour before I go to bed and I sleep like a baby. I also saw the my LLD yesterday who spent almost 3 hours with me at my initial appt. I left with a tincture of fluid and instructions. She also okay'd my use of cannabis oil. I was excited because I can have the co-infection panel done while taking antibiotics, which will happen Mon and hopefully get results quickly. Anyway, today at work I had a strange episode...my stomach started burning, ears ringing, super hot, shaking, unable to get air. Then it passed after about 5 mins. I chalked it up to being part of whatever bacteria is sharing my space. Then tonight I went to bed and fell asleep. After some time...less than an hour I woke up in a full episode that lasted much longer and way more intense. It started out like a nightmare and ended with me turning on the light and waking my husband to talk it out, cool off, stop shaking...then writing in my journal for a half hour about how scared I was of being so out of control of my body. This last deal was weird because I realized it was a panic attack, but my brain was playing tricks, I think, making me see weird shapes flashing and like a freight train was about to hit me. If I wasn't such a practical person this would all sound like I'm crazy. But I seriously was in full panic. At least that's what it felt like. I'm so afraid of losing my mind before I ever really find out what's happening to me. I know in my heart it's Lyme disease, I feel like I haven't really started the battle and I'm already losing my ability to think clearly. It could be changing from drugs to herbs...I don't know. I'm afraid to go back to sleep.
Posted 11/1/2014 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
Oh oh. You might need to check the source of the oil. Otherwise, I would stop it.

Margaret
Posted 11/1/2014 4:38 AM (GMT 0)
For my daughter and myself, the coinfection bartonella was the cause of anxiety/panic attacks. I was so bad that I would cry to my husband that I was afraid to leave the house to get groceries. It was that bad.

Our daughter tested IND for lyme, positive for bartonella and negative for babesia through IGENEX. I have never been tested. All of our symptoms have resolved using herbs to treat bartonella and babesia.
Posted 11/1/2014 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
Whew, thanks for that, I will definitely, but I have an idea it may be too potent. I'm so sensitive to meds of any kind.
Posted 11/1/2014 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
I've only seen a panic attack once when I was at the store where the paramedics had to take this poor woman away. I worked with the rescue personnel who dealt with her and they told me what happened to her. I remember it vividly and felt so sorry for her. I can't really get her face out of my mind, that could be me tomorrow.
Posted 11/3/2014 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
Panic and anxiety attacks make you feel as if you're losing your mind or dying or both, neither of which is true. Very difficult to convince yourself of at the time. But they are actually harmless.
They also don't last forever: 45-hour at the very most, and the worst is over after about 20 minutes.
For whatever reason, the adrenal glands at the top of the kidneys have flooded your blood stream with Cortisol. This goes to your CNS and creates the horrendous feelings. You can't lose your mind from a panic attack. It would be like saying you could get cancer from a broken arm-there two completely different issues. Best thing to do-learn about diaphragmatic breathing (breathing down as if into the stomach area rather than up into the top of your lungs). When experiencing a panic attack-or if one seems to be coming on-sit or lay down, breath slowly and deeply (diaphragmatically) and at the same time try and just be aware of the feelings without any judgments about them. Thinking, "what if they get worse?...what if I lose my mind?, etc., will trigger more Cortisol production setting up a viscous cycle, making the attack feel much worse. It's sometimes very difficult to breath slowly during an attack-there's usually an overwhelming need to breath quick and shallowly, but that is hyperventilation and can create more panic all by itself. So you must force yourself to breath slowly and deeply. Once you've gottin through a few attacks this way, you'll lose much of your fear about them. Again, remember, you're not dying or losing your mind. And although they feel beyond awful, they cannot hurt you. The way you react to them determines how bad they will be.
Posted 11/3/2014 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Also, just because there is "Medicinal" pot doesn't mean it's harmless. Hash oil is incredibly potent and can easily give you
anxiety as well as bad dreams. And if you need to be healthy right now-this is not one of the ways to do it.
Posted 11/4/2014 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hudgens you described exactly how I was feeling. I am thankful for the breathing I've been doing over the last year as a stress reliever because that and about half hour of time got me thru the other night. I have since gone back to lorazepam with the intention of weaning off it. I just don't like how it makes me feel even a half dose of the prescription of .5 mil. It was prescribed as a sleep aid and it works for that but it makes me grouchy the next day. I hardly noticed the pot at all and hope to try it again when there isn't too much else going on with other meds. At the time I was writing the initial post I needed to blame something and in hind sight it realize I should have weaned. I do get a tiny warning before an episode. My stomach burns and my ears ring. If I do like what you said and sit down to breathe it fades and I'm left with a dull headache on top of my head along with feeling super tired.
Posted 11/4/2014 10:20 AM (GMT 0)
Very good info from the others, and panic attacks are very, very scary.
It is good that you are getting in touch NOW what they are, and ways to handle them. It's awful that you are having to deal with this, but knowledge is power, and remember,
you will heal, and they will end for GOOD.

One thing I'll add is I make myself remember to 'ground myself' when they begin. The act of thinking this, and then following through has been a life saver for me. I do this by stopping what I'm doing, and mentally, consciously making myself 'feel' something solid and grounded that is around me: the floor/ground if nothing else is around, solid furniture, a person (they should know what you are doing and why before), a wall, anything that is solid, and grounded, and for me, the larger the better.

This does a few things, one is causing our brain to focus on something OTHER than what our body is starting to do, with the corisol/addrenal activity. It also helps our physical, 'feeling' part of the body through our touch/skin to do the same thing, causing us to focus on getting us to a solid, safe connection that we feel.

I'm sure there are lots of things going on when I do this for myself, I just know with doing this, and the breathing, I've gotten much better at 'riding them out' with a lot less anxiety, stress, etc.

I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with all of this. I pray you will get the answers needed and soon.
Posted 11/4/2014 10:29 AM (GMT 0)
I reread your post, and realized that the panic attack could be from not taking the xanax the night before.

I am wondering how long you have been taking it for sleep? I've read, and others in here if I'm not mistaken, shared that withdrawal can be very difficult, and it's best to slowly wean off of it, rather than just stop. I pray that if you've been on it for a while (even maybe just a few weeks worth might be long enough?), then maybe this might be something to think about.

Also, stopping suddenly, and then adding the oil (is it just the CBD, or is it with THC, could mean something?), might all be a perfect storm kind of thing.

And, then if there is Bart, we can never really know what's going on, and why....but really hope that this NEVER happens again to you.

Please, never hesitate to drop in and ask a question. Or just vent, if needed. Or share good news. We love that!
Hang in there...
Praying for you..... gently hug.
Posted 11/4/2014 10:34 AM (GMT 0)
Me again...you said you left a dr appt with a tincture.
What is it, and did you start taking it?
How much, and when, and how?

Whenever we start any new substance, meds/tinctures/food and drinks even/supplements/etc can have a positive, negative or no change in our bodies.

Starting tinctures for L and/or co-infections can be very strong and cause a die off, or herx.

I'm wondering if you started on the tincture, and then this awful panic attack was brought on.

Hmmmm, always a puzzle. Hope you can figure this out.

Sleep is so necessary.
I am rooting for you!
Posted 11/7/2014 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
i used cannabis for about 7 years to manage my symptoms then one day I got symptoms like you. Except I also had trouble breathing, severe chest pains, pupil dialation, trembling etc. I basically went into anaphylactic shock. Now i'm deathly allergic to it for some odd reason. I even had to get rid of most of my belongings that were previously exposed to it. I am incredibly sensitive.
Posted 11/7/2014 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
also, if you didn't titrate off the benzos over the course of several months than you are most likely experiencing panic attacks due to benzo withdrawal.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply