Anxiety attack lasting longer now....

Hi and welcome!

I would really recommend talking to your doctor before starting back on any medication. It has been some time since you last took it, and your needs could have changed...so just to be safe, I would make an appointment and discuss this if you want to restart your meds.

It sounds like the Tylenol Cold set you off...probably from the high dose of caffeine and the upper-like quality that these medications seem to create. Even an OTC can be too strong for a lot of people.

I used to be able to take Dayquil to get me through when sick, but no more! It makes my heart race, and that is a trigger for panic in anxiety sufferers!

It sounds like you intially  had a reaction to the medication, which then caused the panic, and now you are in a cycle of anxiety/panic.

Try doing some relaxation and breathing exercises (we have some instructions in our Resource Guide...main page 3rd post) and cut out all caffeine for now.

I hope that you will start to feel calm again soon. Keep thinking positve thoughts, and tell yourself that you are going to be fine.

Let us know how you are doing soon.

Scaredy Cat

Tylenol Cold  contains Dextromethorphan.  DXM to relieve cough symptoms can cause side effects that include dizziness, anxiety, and nervousness.

I suspect this is what kicked you into anxiety.  Please do check in with your Dr. before starting up you meds as you worked hard to wean off of the meds. 

Kindly,

Kitt

Great to have a doctor in the family! I know that it is frustrating when the anxiety just seems to cycle...but it's not that unusual. It used to happen to me all the time, and now I still find that my anxiety comes and goes in waves (though I don't have the attacks, I still feel anxious) that can last for days sometimes.

This may be a new occurance for you, but hopefully your body and mind will calm soon, and you may not experience it again.

Best wishes on everything. Please consider staying on to post with us. We are a community built on support and understanding of each other's struggles and triumphs!:)

Have a relaxed weekend,

S.C.

Here's the thing, when you sort of relapse into anxiety you're prone to being more anxious after an attack. It seems like it's a lot harder to control anxiety after a bad episode because of the anticipation of a new one and the extent of attention you give to how your body feels.

It's a lot of brainwork, and it's a matter of changing your thought pattern. You can get through this without meds, you don't ever NEED medication, you're able and strong enough to do this on your own.

In addition to that, Xanax is very addictive and it's not the best thing to be on all of the time, so my suggestion is to refrain from taking Xanax unless you absolutely cannot go through the panic attack on your own.

Here's the upside of panic without medication; you go through the whole process and thus learn how to better control as well as what works best for you. For me, if I become distracted with something else even in the midst of an attack or run or something I will be able to think more clearly than sitting somewhere freaking out.

Have you seen any psychologists specializing in CBT yet? It would probably help.

Best of luck