I need help!

I just completed my first year of lawschool.  It was quite stressful.  I never had a panic attack prior to lawschool (I am 34).  about 2 weeks before fall finals, my panic attacks started.  They were so severe that I could not study.  Prior to the exam, I would see stars flying toward me, my heart would race, often I could not see the exam, I would sweat, feel faint, etc.  Luckily I managed to earn decent grades.  After fall finals, I did not experience another panic attack until about 3 weeks before spring finals.  I had done so well on fall finals that I felt even more pressure to do well on spring finals.  Hiring after lawschool is mostly based on first year grades.  My mother federal expressed me a few of her xanax and I got through spring finals.  Again, I preformed well, but had final exam nightmares for about 2 weeks after finals were over.  I chalked the panic attacks up to severe test anxiety and figured they would lessen as lawschool went on.  Last week, however, I drove 7 hours to visit my parents.  On my way back home (the trip is extremely desolate) I had panic attacks one after another.  This time the symptoms were different.  I felt that I could not breate (even though I knew I could) and felt like someone was choking me.  I felt like a heavy band was around my neck and chest and felt like I could not swallow.  These symptoms were unlike the ones I experienced prior to exams, but just as scary or scarier.  When I would arrive in a town and could see that there were people there, my symptoms would ease somewhat.  As soon as I drove on, they would be back.  I finally decided I could not go any further and my husband had to drive 4 hours to escourt me home.  As soon as I knew he was coming to get me, I felt better.  I can NEVER go through this again.  What kind of doctor do I need to see?  I do not have student health insurance and I am not sure the university doctor will prescribe the medications I am convinced I need.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Also, I thought I read that panic attacks only last ten to twenty minutes.  I am sure mine were longer!?  Or, can you get them one on top of another?

Hi momoftwins and welcome to HW.

They tell us that panic attacks only last for a short "discrete" period of time, but I for one disagree. I have had attacks that lasted well over an hour. You are not alone in this. Having just got through my own finals I can empathise with things being anxiety ridden at this time. Often, after an anxious time we can have a panic attack seemingly "out of the blue". It is scary and unfair, but as we relax, our mind can take over and let out the anxiety we suppressed. 

Boooo!

I would reccomend seeing your normal GP (doc) and asking for a referral to a counsellor and maybe some stabilising medication until things get a little better for you. I wish you all the best. This is tough stuff, but know that at HW we will be here to listen and support.

HI there
IF you feel this strongly about the meds you must talk to your doc and explain how you are feeling and at this point the bio feedback and CBT will not help ....AT THIS POINT

I am truly the biggest skeptic and I am doing CBT and for me it has worked and is working I do the free online one

Keep us posted on what your doc says and
STAY with us here
You are now no longer alone
You have the a/p family that DO understand

LUVS .............LYN

 OK, so I called the student health services and the first appointment is 2 1/2 weeks away.  I am having anxiety over my anxiety.  Does that make sense?  I have to drive to school and back home everyday (only a 5 minute drive) and am terrified because of my recent trip experience.  I have never been scared to drive before.  What can I do to get through the next 2 1/2 weeks?  Also, summer law finals are August 5th and my panic attacks usually start 2-3 weeks before finals.

Thanks for the reply Marthamae.  I liked what you said about taking time for therapy.  I know what is causing my test anxiety.  I gave up my career and moved my family 6 hours from home for lawschool.  I MUST suceed because this is plan "Z" for my family and I have huge financial stake in my schooling.  My husband is 19 years older than I am and he never set aside for retirement.  I see a day when I will have to support us all on my own.

Also, thanks for posting your experiences with panic.  It sort of solidifies in my mind that that is what I was experiencing.  My husband told me "its not real," but it sure FEELS real!

I wanted to give an update and also see what everyone thought.  I am still having panic attacks almost daily.  My doctor first prescribed Paxil.  I was on Paxil for 2 weeks and woke up one morning extremely dizzy, lightheaded, seeing double, etc.  I called the doctor's nurse and she said DO NOT take any more Paxil and come in and see the doctor.  I saw the doctor this morning and she seemed like she did not believe the dizziness was a side effect of the Paxil.  She seemed almost dissappointed with me!  Anyway, today she prescribed Celexa and beta blockers.  She said Xanex was addicting and would not give me that.  The thing is, I know Xanax works for me.  Does anyone here have any experience with the beta blockers?  If so, did it revieve your panic attacks?

Thanks for the tip about the clonazepam.  I have another follow up appointment in two weeks.  I will ask about this if the beta blocker does not work.

Hi, MomofTwins!

I'm sorry you're not getting the relief you need. I do know that Paxil is considered to be more of an antidepressant than an anti-anxiety drug, although it does have some success in treating anxiety (I am a good example). You may experience some withdrawal symptoms now that you've stopped taking it, but don't let that worry you. That's all they are, and they will pass.

That's interesting that your university practices both biofeedback and CBT specifically. They must be up on their knowledge in that center if they know about these things. CBT is, in my nutshell, just a more task-oriented version of standard talk therapy. My therapist and I discuss what's going on with me and what I can do, specifically, to deal with it in a healthier way. It feels pretty mainstream. Biofeedback is also starting to be viewed with less stigma nowadays. There are some older threads in this forum about it that might give you a better picture of what it does and how it's designed to work.

percycat

Thanks Percycat and P-Fit. I am going to start the CBT and biofeedback in August. For some reason they only offer it during the fall and I just get 6 sessions. Hopefully 6 will be enough and the meds will have kicked in by then.